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#Best Online Bachelor s in Legal Studies - 2015 s Best

Editor s Picks: Online Schools for Legal Studies

Faculty Accessibility

The award for best faculty accessibility goes to the Arizona State University Online for providing all of its online students with the same curriculum as those enrolled in its traditional programs. The school s online courses and programs are administered by 320 online specific instructors, according to U.S. News World Report, and also has an online student to faculty ratio of just 5-to-1.

Alumni Engagement

Kaplan University Online wins our award for best alumni engagement for offering a number of ways for graduates to stay in touch. All Kaplan graduates can access the school s dedicated alumni webpage. where they can connect with fellow graduates and also enroll in a number of benefits offered by the institution. The school provides graduates access to its Career Network website, where students can use career tools like personal branding, resume coaching, and an online job posting board specific to Kaplan alums.

New Online Student Orientation

The award for best new online student orientation goes to Arizona State University Online for offering a dedicated online student orientation website that provides students with several tutorial videos designed to help familiarize students with all of the school s online learning capabilities. The orientation concludes by helping students set up their Spark online community account, which allows new students to connect with fellow students and alumni in their area.

Explore a Bachelor s Degree in Legal Studies

If you re curious about the legal system and want to learn about court proceedings, gathering evidence, the judicial process, and legislation, you may want to consider earning a bachelor s degree in legal studies online. Online education will allow you to earn your degree without having to attend a physical classroom, and it provides flexibility that will allow you to attend class around your schedule. In most cases, an online bachelor s degree can be earned in around four years. However, the amount of time it takes you will depend on several factors, including your program s specific requirements, how many transferable credits you have earned and are able to use toward your degree, if you re able to successfully complete each class, and whether you re a full-time or part-time student.

Class Curriculum

Legal studies majors will learn all about the judicial and court systems, legislation, and penalties that apply to those who violate the law. Each program will vary and have slightly different curriculum, but the following are some of the more common courses found in a legal studies program:

• The U.S. Legal System and Judicial Process. This class will focus on the history and structure of the judicial and court systems in America. Students will learn about what influences have shaped this country s judicial and court systems, as well as compare the U.S. systems to those in other countries.
• Constitutional Law. This class will consist of an in-depth study of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Students will learn about the history of these documents and how they apply to judicial decision-making today.
• Civil and Criminal Procedure. This class will focus on the procedures used by the court system when handling civil and criminal cases. Students will learn about topics including using evidence, search and seizure regulations, disclosure, sentencing and penalties, and court proceedings.

While pursuing your online bachelor s degree in legal studies, many of your assignments may consist of researching and writing papers. You can expect to study and research topics such as previous court cases, past and current legislation, the structure of the U.S. court system, criminal trial proceedings, and due process. Some programs may incorporate mock trials and require you to essentially prepare for trial by conducting research and gathering all necessary information.

Building a Career

Many people use their bachelor s degrees in legal studies to get into law school and pursue a higher degree, while many others use their bachelor s degree to begin a career as a paralegal. Law firms, major corporations with legal departments, and government offices hire paralegals to assist lawyers prepare for trials. A paralegal s duties include gathering information and evidence, finding and interviewing witnesses, drafting legal documents, and researching past cases and any information relevant to their current case.

Earning an online bachelor s degree in legal studies doesn t guarantee you ll be hired after graduation, but more and more paralegal positions are projected to become available. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows an expected 18% increase in employment for paralegals through the year 2020. The BLS also shows that the average salary for paralegals is $46,680 a year. However, your income may vary based on several factors, including the industry you work in, who you work for, what city and state you work in, and your level of experience.

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