If you are thinking about going for an Associate’s degree in legal studies, you have the option of going down two paths. You can either take the Associate of Arts (AA) in legal studies route or the associate of science (AS) in legal studies one.
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Difference between an AA in Legal Studies and AS in Legal Studies
Though both associate degrees touch upon the core areas required for developing a preliminary understanding of legal issues, an associate in arts in legal studies is more oriented towards the arts and social sciences. These include courses relating to:
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Creative Writing
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Foreign Languages
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English
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History
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Literature and
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Computer-based topics
The associate of science on the other hand lays more emphasis on technical areas such as mathematics and the applied sciences.
Overview of the Program Structure
The courses included in the associate in legal studies are geared towards preparing students in developing the required skills and acumen for work in the legal sector. This includes organizations such as government agencies, private law firms, regulatory or compliance related offices as well as other non-profit organizations.
The course outline in a typical associate degree in legal studies targets the following core areas.
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An introduction to the American legal system
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Professional values and ethics in a legal environment
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Legal research, analysis and writing
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Civil Litigation
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Business Law
In addition to the afore-mentioned topics, there are also certain electives that focus more on certain subsets of legal studies. These may include:
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Corporate law
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Elder law
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Criminal law and related procedures
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Wills and Estates
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Bankruptcy
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Collections
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Personal injury
In the case of an AS in legal studies, the following courses and areas may also be a part of the curriculum.
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College algebra
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Quantitative methods
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Elective science
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Social sciences
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Humanities
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Computer applications
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Accounting
Why Should You Opt for an Associate Degree in Legal Studies?
The associate’s degree in legal studies has been designed to facilitate students in achieving certain professional skills and capabilities. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
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Organizational – Thinking, planning, assessing and execution.
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Teamwork – working with other legal professionals
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Written and oral communication
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Technological
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Service delivery
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Career approach
Where they may not put you in the shoes of hotshot lawyer Harvey Specter from the TV show Suits right away, but these will definitely serve as a solid footing for you to chalk out a challenging and rewarding career path.
Where an AA or AS in legal studies will not get you all the way to working as an attorney, a paralegal for that matter, it will still enable you to possibly qualify you for a variety of professional positions in the legal sector.
Legal Assistants
They assist lawyers in the preparation and filing of cases. They also have to do most of the logistical and research-related work that goes into compiling witness testimonies and other documents that are connected to the case.
Median Annual Salary - $46,990
Expected Job Growth (2012 - 2022) – 15% to 21%
*Figures sourced from O*Net
Insurance Policy Processing Clerks
Interview potential clients and acquire information from them to process insurance applications. They also collect premiums and update records accordingly.
Median Annual Salary - $35,700
Expected Job Growth (2012 - 2022) - 8% to 14%
*Figures sourced from O*Net
Insurance Claims Clerks
These professionals process insurance claims and review whether they are complete prior to being filed. They may also have to dig around for missing information in offices or warehouse records as well as use computers to search through databases.
Median Annual Salary - $35,700
Expected Job Growth (2012 - 2022) - 8% to 14%
*Figures sourced from O*Net
License Clerks
Collect fees for various licenses and maintain customer records in an organized manner. Address license-related queries and provide legal guidance in cases of non-compliance and policy violations.
Median Annual Salary - $34,830
Expected Job Growth (2012 - 2022) - 8% to 14%
*Figures sourced from O*Net
Bill and Account Collectors
They track down and inform clients and customers that have been unable to make timely payments. They employ various modes of communication such as fax, mail, email, telephone and even make personal visits. Their duties also include accepting payments, maintaining records for various clients and disconnecting services if need be.
Median Annual Salary - $32,480
Expected Job Growth (2012 - 2022) - 15% to 21%
*Figures sourced from O*Net