Welcome to the Clayton State Legal Studies Program and Paralegal
Program, administered
by the Department of Social Sciences.
Our Legal Studies Program and Paralegal Program is one of an elite group
of programs in Georgia that is approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). This approval signifies a high degree of quality in our curriculum and
in our student resources.
Our full-time instructors are all attorneys with a combined 40 years of teaching experience. Our curriculum has been carefully developed to provide students with the hands-on training they will need to be successful in the legal field.
Students have a variety of options from which to choose:
(1) a B.S. degree in Legal Studies, for students who want to pursue a degree that emphasizes practical skills plus analytical and conceptual thinking, legal research & writing, a study of the evolution of various legal theories, a solid understanding of substantive areas of law, and the role of law in society. It also allows students to take courses in a variety of departments throughout the university. The B.S. degree is a good option for students who plan to work in fields impacted by law and legal regulation or who are considering law school or other fields of graduate studies.
(2) a Paralegal Certificate, with a focus on practical paralegal skills, legal terminology, legal research and writing, and substantive law courses. The Paralegal Certificate is open to students who already possess a bachelor's degree or a qualifying A.A. or A.S. degree.
(3) an A.A.S. degree in Paralegal Studies, with the same focus as the paralegal certificate, and an additional emphasis on general education, for students who do not already possess a degree and who do not want to seek a four-year degree at this time.
(4) a Minor in Legal Studies, for students majoring in other disciplines across campus who plan to work in fields impacted by law and legal regulation. A Legal Studies minor is also a good option for students who are considering law school. The minor in Legal Studies does not prepare students to work as paralegals and is not approved by the American Bar Association.
PARA-coded courses are offered in the evenings and/or online. General education courses are offered in the evenings, online, and/or during the day.
Please refer to our Admissions Link for important information regarding entrance requirements for our programs.
As one of the only ABA-approved paralegal programs in Georgia, we offer students the opportunity to obtain an ABA-approved paralegal certificate or degree just 15 minutes south of downtown Atlanta. Another distinguishing feature of our program is the availability of the HOPE Grant to our qualifying paralegal certificate students. Many of our certificate majors qualify for the HOPE Grant which pays for a large portion of a student’s tuition and expenses. As a member school of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University offers our students an array of resources and educational opportunities.
The purpose of the Legal Studies Program is to provide students with the skills necessary to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under the supervision of an attorney. Paralegals and other non-lawyers are prohibited from practicing law.
Our students are trained to:
Clayton State University Legal Studies and Paralegal Program
College of Arts & Sciences
2000 Clayton State Blvd.
Morrow, GA 30260
Phone: (678) 466-4600
Fax: (678) 466-4669
©2012 Clayton State University
2000 Clayton State Boulevard · Morrow, GA 30260 · (678) 466-4000
College of Arts & Sciences
Clayton Hall
Phone: (678) 466-4700