Bachelor of Arts in General Legal Studies
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Bachelor of Arts in General Legal Studies Degree at a Glance
TRANSFER
Transfer up to 60 credits to meet the 120-credit requirement. Earn your degree in two to four years. Tulane SoPA’s General Legal Studies Program does not accept the transfer of credits for paralegal or legal studies courses completed at paralegal or legal studies programs that were not approved by ABA’s Standing Committee on Paralegals at the time the courses were taken.
FACULTY
Nationally recognized faculty who practice what they teach and help you succeed beyond the classroom.
LOCATION
Flexible online courses that match your schedule. Accelerate your career without putting your life on pause.
BENEFITS
Course credit for experience and 20% tuition discounts available.
ADMISSIONS
Rolling admissions. No test scores. No recommendations. Three start dates. We make the admission process easy.
ABA Approved
Both the General Legal Studies Bachelor of Arts degree plus Paralegal Certificate and the Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies were approved by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Paralegals in the 1980s, making ours the oldest ABA-approved program in the region Our general legal studies curriculum reflects the rigor and quality that ABA requires and legal employers demand.
Paralegals are trained professionals who work under the supervision of licensed attorneys. Paralegals are not lawyers and are not permitted to practice law or to provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.
What You Will Learn While Earning Your Degree in General Legal Studies
On completion of the General Legal Studies Program curriculum, graduates will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe and analyze the jurisdictions and functions of the state and federal civil, criminal, and administrative court systems.
- Perform legal research and factual investigations using both print and electronic methods and summarize findings in legal memoranda and briefs.
- Cite authorities consistent with the adopted legal citation manual (The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.)
- Draft memoranda of law and legal correspondence.
- Identify, draft, and file standard pretrial and litigation documents in Federal and State Courts.
- Use industry-standard law office technology to organize and manage documents, files, billing data, and dockets for trial and other law practice management purposes.
- Identify and apply the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the NALA and NFPA ethics guidelines.
- Legal Research and Writing
- Hands-on experience in the latest Legal Technology
- Legal Ethics
- Litigation and Introduction to the Legal System, including courtroom tours
- GLSP 5900 Practicum: internship course, providing hands-on law office experience and guidance in professionalism and career development
- Benchbook, compiling written work from throughout your studies to create a professional portfolio
The School of Professional Advancement awards the Bachelor of Arts in General Legal Studies degree following the successful completion of 120 credits.
Students must complete 84 credits, or 28 courses, of general education courses and electives. Review the general education course requirements.
The major consists of 36 credits. Upon completion of prerequisite courses, students will complete a practicum course that includes a 100-hour law office internship and classroom component focusing upon legal professionalism and job search skills. Learn more about the degree in General Legal Studies courses and descriptions.
To ensure compliance with ABA requirements, all students must complete at least 3 GLSP classes (9 credits) via in-person or synchronous transmission format.
Expert Faculty
Our program faculty is composed entirely of practicing attorneys and paralegals, who offer our students the benefit of real-world legal experience and immediate access to the professional networks that support career success. In addition to core legal skills courses that emphasize legal technology, research, writing, and analysis, we offer a full menu of electives that allow you to explore important areas of substantive law, followed by a final-semester practicum class composed of a 100-hour internship and classroom instruction focusing on job search skills.
SoPA Faculty Feature
"As a SoPA professor and lawyer with over a decade of experience, I prepare students with the practical knowledge and skills they need to excel in their legal careers."
Jacqueline Putnam Epstein, J.D.
General Legal Studies
Professor of Practice
SoPA Student Spotlight
"I worked full-time as a ramp supervisor at the airport while I completed my degree at Tulane thanks to the SoPA program that is tailored to help working professionals obtain a degree with online and night classes."
Christina Gourley
Tulane SoPA class of 2018
Engaging & Flexible Student Experience, On-Campus & Online
Partnerships that translate into industry certifications, credit for experience, & career advancement opportunities.
We’ve developed the most interactive courses around.
Our courses are constantly refreshed and informed by what leaders in legal fields expect from graduates.
Navigate degree requirements and prepare for the workforce with help from our academic advisors and career counselor.
Tuition and Aid
Tulane SoPA is more affordable than traditional private university tuition. With limited fees and a 20% tuition discount (if qualified), cost is on par with many state schools.
All tuition is charged by the credit hour and we have minimal fees. Visit our tuition page to see our current tuition rates and use our net price calculator.
We strive to make higher education affordable by offering 20% discounts, financial aid, and credit for work and life experience. Learn about financial aid, discounts and scholarship opportunities to fund your bachelor's in General Legal Studies today.
Admissions
Apply anytime—no test scores or letters of recommendation are required.
For undergraduate programs, applicants must have obtained a high school diploma or a general equivalent diploma and will fill out a short application. Review admissions information for your General Legal Studies degree.
Tulane’s General Legal Studies Program does not accept the transfer of credits for paralegal or legal studies courses completed at paralegal programs that were not approved by ABA’s Standing Committee on Paralegals at the time the courses were taken. All transfers of credit for paralegal courses must comply with SoPA’s policies and ABA Guidelines and are subject to review by the program director.
You may transfer up to 60 credits to our undergraduate programs. Review admissions information for applying as a transfer student.
Earn Your Degree in General Legal Studies at Tulane SoPA
Interested in putting your skills to work for your future? Start your application today to earn your degree in General Legal Studies from a world-renowned university.
Enter your email to download our General Legal Studies e-brochure.
By submitting this form, you agree to receive information about the Tulane School of Professional Advancement’s programs via email, phone and/or text. You may opt out at any time.
