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Earning AMU's Legal Studies Degree Online

Our legal studies associate program is delivered online, providing flexibility and convenience for working professionals.  This legal degree offers quality education designed to help develop the analytical, technical, and communication skills necessary for engaging in responsibilities associated with law, law firms, and legal services.

This program offers foundational knowledge often required for nonlawyer responsibilities such as paralegal or legal assistant work, legal documents expertise, legal analysis, compliance, jury consultancy, and victim advocacy.

Learning online can help develop proficiency with using technology, an important attribute in today’s professional environment.

 

 

Curriculum Overview

The Associate of Science in Legal Studies introduces students to concepts often used in legal theory, legal and factual research, legal services, legal writing, civil practice, legal ethics, and by paralegals.

AMU’s program features legal studies coursework that offers a comprehensive understanding of the American legal system and judicial system itself. Our legal studies program also exercises skills in effective writing and communication, legal reasoning and critical thinking, and interpersonal and organizational management. 

Our associates in legal studies is an opportunity for busy adults to further their education and explore interests in online law studies. Many faculty have extensive legal backgrounds and share their real-world knowledge in various settings.

How to Pay for this Degree

Getting a college degree is an investment in your future. However, it can be tough to determine how to pay for your legal studies degree. There are several options available, depending on your circumstances and eligibility.

American Military University’s Preferred Military Rate is {{{UndergradPreferrredMilitaryRate}}} per credit hour for undergraduate and $250 per credit hour for master’s-level courses. The rate is available to all U.S. active-duty servicemembers, National Guard members, and Reservists. Military families, including parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents, are also eligible to receive the Preferred Military Rate.

Veteran benefits can assist those who are pursuing a legal studies degree. AMU has trained financial aid advisors available to help veterans navigate and maximize GI Bill® benefits. Veterans and their families are also eligible for AMU’s Veterans Grant, a 10% savings on tuition for undergraduate and master’s-level programs. Eligible family members are parents, spouses, legal partners, siblings, and dependents.

Federal financial aid is another way to pay for a legal studies major. This could include grants and loans from the government. Typically, grants do not need to be repaid, while loans do require repayment.

To apply for federal student aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year they plan to attend school.

Employer education benefits can also help cover the cost, either through tuition reimbursement or direct support. Many organizations partner with AMU to offer additional benefits to partner employees or members. Check with your Human Resources department to find out whether your employer is a partner or offers tuition assistance. 

Though AMU does not offer any, scholarships are one way to manage the costs of continuing your education. You may also choose to pay out of pocket. The University also offers payment via credit card, e-check, digital payments, and automatic debit plans. 

AMU financial aid advisors are available to help answer your questions about financing your studies.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.
The Preferred Military Rate supersedes all university grants and special promotions and cannot be combined with other special pricing.
Tuition grants cannot be combined with other special University rates, promotions, or grants. Only one tuition grant can be applied per course registration. 

 

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What is the Difference Between an Associate Degree in Paralegal vs. Legal Studies?

You may be wondering how an associate degree in paralegal compares with an associate’s degree in legal studies. Either may be appropriate to help build proficiency to support a legal team.

A paralegal program provides students with fundamental knowledge of specific laws related to the legal profession. Paralegal studies typically cover civil procedure, contracts, and torts. Paralegal programs often involve significant coursework in areas such as litigation and family law.

On the other hand, a legal studies degree is broader in scope. This type of degree focuses more on general topics within legal systems like ethics, public policy, legal history, and constitutional law. AMU’s program combines these areas of study with more focused coursework such as real estate law, criminal law and procedure, and civil litigation.

 

law student

What Comes After You Earn This Degree?

Earning an associate’s degree in legal studies introduces individuals to the legal field in areas such as civil law, family law, as well as contract and employment law.

This degree also may be foundational to prepare students for nonlawyer responsibilities that are often required in job duties such as paralegal work, preparing legal documents, legal analysis, compliance, jury consultancy, and victim advocacy.

After earning this degree, a bachelor's degree might be a next step. AMU offers a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in the discipline.

Interested in law school? There are many majors that can help provide solid grounding. This associate's degree program may be one to consider, along with majors in criminal justice, philosophy, political science, and sociology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Often, students weigh the worth of a program based on the quality of their learning. A legal degree online program that offers expert insight from skilled faculty members with real-world experience can be a significant value for students. So, programs that feature faculty with backgrounds as lawyers, legal assistants, paralegals, and the like, may provide great value for the student.

Legal degree programs, including an associate’s degree in legal studies, provide a broad framework for the exploration of the law from a multidisciplinary perspective. This area of study typically develops and sharpens legal studies majors’ skills in effective writing and communication, legal research and writing, and critical thinking.

Law and legal studies are similar but have differences. Law is a system of rules and regulations. Governments or governing authorities establish laws to govern and maintain social order. Legal studies is an interdisciplinary field of study. It examines law and legal systems through the lens of history, philosophy, sociology, and political science. Legal studies degrees do not qualify someone to become a lawyer. The practice of law requires additional education, training, and a license to practice. In summary, law is a practice, while legal studies is an academic discipline.

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