Legal Studies

Legal Studies

The Legal Studies program at Southern Miss offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with the choice of two concentrations: Paralegal or Pre-Law.

The Paralegal* degree concentration is the oldest American Bar Association-approved paralegal education program in Mississippi. This degree track prepares students, upon graduation, to work as paralegals in private law firms, government offices, banks, and corporations. For nearly fifty years, the Paralegal track in Legal Studies has prepared thousands of students for success in one of the fastest growing career opportunities in the United States.

In contrast, the Pre-Law degree concentration is designed for students with different career goals within the legal community. It is an ideal course of study for students who plan to attend law school after earning an undergraduate degree. Since most classes in the major are taught by experienced attorneys, students in this Pre-Law track attain an unmatched level of readiness for law school.

(Because the Pre-Law degree track emphasizes law school preparation, it is not considered a paralegal education program and is not part of the American Bar Association approval process.)

*Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Request info Apply

What Will I Learn?

The courses offered in the Legal Studies program cover virtually every area of law, and all of our Legal Studies professors are lawyers - with combined decades of real-world experience in law practice. The paralegal track is designed to prepare students to enter the workforce as paralegals upon graduation. The pre-law track is a great foundation for any law-related graduate program. Students in both tracks will benefit from many courses in practical legal skills and access to internships and networking opportunities.

Practicing Lawyers, Dedicated Educators

The Legal Studies faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi includes practicing lawyers from various fields of practice who are as equally committed to teaching as they are the legal profession. Our faculty are dedicated to helping students reach their academic and professional goals, and providing mentorship along the way. Our graduates work, as paralegals, as lawyers, and as higher education administrators -- with a legal studies education, the opportunities abound for our graduates.

Availability