Legal Studies
The Legal Studies major provides an excellent background for students interested in pursuing professional careers within the legal system. The major takes a liberal arts approach to the discipline, strongly incorporating the Connected Learning philosophy of the College. Each major culminates in the senior year with a year- long Capstone Experience. This experience includes both a full year Justice Studies Internship and a full year Senior Capstone class. The Legal Studies major is uniquely prepared to conduct legal research and other professional work in government, the courts, agencies, and businesses. Legal Studies students also participate in a series of on-campus "mock trials." Lasell students also have the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate competitions such as the American Mock Trial Association Program and the John Marshall School of Law Undergraduate Mock Trial Competition. The program also offers an introduction to the study of law for students interested in entering law school, as many Legal Studies graduates pursue graduate or law school degrees. There is also a Pre-Law advising program (described elsewhere in the Catalog) housed in the Justice Studies department that provides advising assistance for students considering law school. Lasell College is a certified location for administering the "LSAT, the Law School Admission Test. In addition the College is a site for the administration of the “MPRE,” the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam. This test is required by all new practicing students of the law. Graduates of the program receive a Bachelor of Arts degree.
By planning early in consultation with an academic advisor, students may be able to reduce the time it takes to complete a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies to 3 or 3½ years.
The following goals and associated learning outcomes delineate what we strive for students to achieve when they complete the major program of study in Legal Studies:
Goal 1: Disciplinary principles
Upon completion of the major program of study in Legal Studies, students will be able to
- demonstrate an understanding of disciplinary concepts
- demonstrate an understanding of issues of diversity in the field
- demonstrate civic/social responsibility
Goal 2: Professional skills
Upon completion of the major program of study in Legal Studies, students will be able to
- compare occupations and career paths in the discipline
- evaluate ethical and moral issues in a professional/disciplinary context
- perform effectively in a professional environment
Goal 3: Analytical thinking skills
Upon completion of the major program of study in Legal Studies, students will be able to
- think critically about issues in the discipline
- demonstrate effective quantitative reasoning skills
- evaluate appropriate source materials
Goal 4: Communication skills
Upon completion of the major program of study in Legal Studies, students will be able to
- communicate effectively in writing
- communicate effectively orally
- demonstrate competence in use of technology and computing skills
Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Core Courses | ||
LS101 | Foundations of American Legal System(KP) | 3 |
LS202 | Legal Research & Analysis | 3 |
LS203 | Justice, Law & the Constitution | 3 |
LS301 | Legal Writing & Reasoning | 3 |
LS325 | Evidence | 3 |
LS441 | Selected Topics in Justice & Law I | 3 |
LS442 | Selected Topics in Justice & Law II | 3 |
LS443 | Justice Studies Internship & Seminar I | 3 |
LS444 | Justice Studies Internship & Seminar II | 3 |
POLS101 | American Government | 3 |
POLS201 | State & Local Government | 3 |
POLS210 | Political Theory | 3 |
SOC101 | Sociological Imagination (KP) | 3 |
Choose 1 from the following: | ||
CJ323 | Justice, Class, Race & Gender | 3 |
POLS202 | Issues in Contemporary Political Thought | 3 |
PSYC316 | Psychology of Diversity | 3 |
SOC221 | Contemporary Social Problems | 3 |
SOC301 | Race & Ethnic Relations | 3 |
SOC335 | Social Policy | 3 |
Choose 4 from the following: | ||
CJ101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice (KP) | 3 |
CJ201 | Criminology | 3 |
CJ202 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
CJ203 | Juvenile Delinquency & Gangs | 3 |
CJ205 | Forensics | 3 |
CJ206 | Drugs & Society | 3 |
CJ207 | Criminal Investigations | 3 |
CJ210 | Special Topics in Criminal Justice | 3 |
CJ303 | Domestic Violence | 3 |
CJ305 | Crime & Popular Culture | 3 |
CJ309 | Children & Violence | 3 |
CJ312 | Corrections | 3 |
CJ313 | Police & Society | 3 |
CJ314 | White Collar and Organized Crime | 3 |
CJ315 | Global Technology & Crime | 3 |
CJ316 | Criminal Procedure | 3 |
CJ317 | Comparative Justice Systems | 3 |
CJ318 | Violence & Aggression | 3 |
CJ319 | Victimology | 3 |
CJ321 | Probation, Parole & Other Sanctions | 3 |
LS204 | Criminal Law | 3 |
LS210 | Special Topics in Legal Studies | 3 |
LS213 | Mock Trial Practicum I | 3 |
LS214 | Communication Law | 3 |
LS215 | Entertainment Law | 3 |
LS304 | Litigation Practice | 3 |
LS305 | Comparative Law & Legal Systems | 3 |
LS307 | Tort & Personal Injury Law | 3 |
LS311 | The American Court System | 3 |
LS320 | Philosophy of Law | 3 |
POLS202 | Issues in Contemporary Political Thought | 3 |
POLS208 | Contemporary International Relations | 3 |
POLS302 | The Conspiracy in American Politics | 3 |
POLS320 | Policy Making & the Political Process | 3 |
Major Requirements: 54 credits
Core Curriculum Requirements: 27-33 credits
Unrestricted Electives: 33-39 credits
Minimum credits required for graduation: 120
Course listed below fulfills Knowledge Perspective requirement:
Individuals & Society
LS 101 Foundations of American Legal System
LS101 - Foundations of American Legal System(KP)
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to the law. Students are introduced to the basics of the legal system in the United States including its organization and operation. The course covers major areas of legal practice and the legal principles that apply. Legal concepts are explained and legal terminology defined.
LS202 - Legal Research & Analysis
This course serves as an introduction to American constitutional interpretation. Topics to be covered include legal precedent, legal issues surrounding the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, the role of the Supreme Court as a political institution, and the Court’s interpretations of issues dealing with the Bill of Rights. Prerequisite: LS 101.
LS203 - Justice, Law & the Constitution
This course serves as an introduction to American constitutional interpretation. Topics to be covered include legal precedent, legal issues surrounding the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, the role of the Supreme Court as a political institution, and the Court’s interpretations of issues dealing with the Bill of Rights.
LS204 - Criminal Law
This course examines the history and contemporary practice of criminal law. Topics include the purposes of the law, categories and general features of crime, elements of criminal offenses for prosecution, and categories of defenses. Prerequisite: LS 101 or CJ 101.
LS210 - Special Topics in Legal Studies
This course provides specialized offerings in Legal Studies in order to satisfy interests of both faculty and students. Examples of topics are: Property or Real Estate Law. Cyberlaw, or Law and Education.
LS213 - Mock Trial Practicum I
This course engages students in preparing for trial advocacy through analyzing American Mock Trial Competition (“AMTA”) case materials and engaging in the practical skills of questioning witnesses through direct and cross-examination, applying rules of evidence, formulating and making objections, preparing opening and closing statements, and arguing the law applicable to the particular case. Through this course students learn rules of evidence, court procedures, trial strategies, legal advocacy and taking on various roles in courtroom proceedings. Essential skills acquired include debate, public speaking, professional collaboration and teamwork and critical thinking. This “connected learning” course introduces students to law in an applied setting and the students will participate in one or more intercollegiate scrimmages and/or invitational tournament in preparation for the AMTA in February. Participation in LS 216: Mock Trial Practicum II (1 credit) and the regional AMTA Mock Trial Regional competition in the spring is required. Students are permitted to repeat this course. Department Chair/Instructor permission required. (Fall Semester as needed)
LS214 - Communication Law
This course provides students with a basic understanding of the law and governmental regulations that apply to communication practitioners. Course topics include the First Amendment, defamation and libel, invasion of privacy law, copyright, advertising regulation, obscenity, pornography, internet law, protecting “news sources” for journalists, FCC regulation of broadcasting, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Prerequisite: COM 101 or LS 101.
LS215 - Entertainment Law
This course will explore legal and regulatory issues as they affect the entertainment industry including an examination of: intellectual property, antitrust regulation, agent, manager and other entertainment contracts, administrative regulation and constitutional issues in the music, television, live performance and motion picture industries. Prerequisite: COM 101 or LS 101.
LS216 - Mock Trial Practicum II
This course is a continuation of Mock Trial Practicum I. Students refine the skills and knowledgethey developed in Mock Trial Practicum I and they engage deeply in the facts of that year's AMTA caseand the related courtroom procedures.The class will meet regularly, preparing for at least one invitational tournament, and culminating in the AMTA Regional tournament in February.There is also the potential to advance through additional rounds. Students will be required to also meet and practice outside standard meeting times. Participation in LS 213 Mock Trial Practicum I is expected. Students are permitted to repeat this course.Department Chair/Instructor permission required. (Spring semester as needed)
LS301 - Legal Writing & Reasoning
This course focuses on the development of fundamental skills necessary for successful legal writing that could assist in employment in a law office, such as drafting correspondence, developing various documents, and preparing legal memoranda. It looks at legal research, writing, and reasoning as a continuum, since the results of nearly all legal research must be submitted in written form. Legal writing is examined as a three step process. The steps consist of identifying the document’s purpose, audience, and constraints; developing a structure and draft; and editing and rewriting. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisites: LS 101 & LS202.
LS304 - Litigation Practice
This course is designed to provide instruction pertaining to key areas of litigation. These areas include interviewing, document handling, preparing evidence, interacting with clients, preparing motions, legal arguments and trials. Prerequisite: LS101 of Permission of Dept Chair.
LS305 - Comparative Law & Legal Systems
This course introduces students to the complex issues involved in comparing various laws and legal systems around the contemporary world. The course focuses on the main legal systems in terms of the structure and sources of their laws and against the historical and political background in which these laws were formed. Prerequisite: LS 101.
LS307 - Tort & Personal Injury Law
This course is designed to give the student a basic overview of concepts in tort and personal injury law. Topics to be covered include: defamation, negligence, intentional torts, and general personal injury law. Prerequisite: LS 101.
LS311 - The American Court System
This course provides students with a working knowledge of the major structures and basic legal concepts that underlie the criminal courts. In addition, the course explores the rules of criminal procedure, including their underlying assumptions, how they evolved, and the goals they hope to achieve. Students learn how the dynamics of the courtroom and the criminal justice system itself affect the actual application of the law. Prerequisite: POLS 101 or LS101
LS320 - Philosophy of Law
This course explores selected philosophical issues in law. Topics include human and civil rights, personal autonomy and the right of the state to regulate conduct, the extent to which an individual’s rights should be sacrificed for the common good, and other concepts of justice.
LS325 - Evidence
This course provides a detailed examination of the law of evidence. Topics include types of evidence, principles of exclusion, evaluation and examination of evidence, competency of witnesses, and the rule against hearsay evidence and the exceptions to this rule. Prerequisite: LS 101 or CJ 101.
LS401 - Justice Studies Internship & Seminar
This course provides an opportunity for participants to be in an individually arranged, college-supervised internship for 12 hours per week in a professional work setting related to the student's interest. Each student is monitored during the internship by the faculty advisor and attends a corresponding classroom seminar each week. Prerequisite: Senior standing and Permission of Dept Chair.
LS402 - Selected Topics in Justice & Law
This upper-level course is designed to identify and discuss issues of justice in society today, including but not limited to issues of gender, race, and other relevant historical and contemporary political issues and movements. It is the capstone course for the Legal Studies major. Limited to Legal Studies majors. Prerequisite: Junior/Senior Standing.
LS441 - Selected Topics in Justice & Law I
This fall portion of the Capstone course is designed to identify and discuss various legal and political issues in society today, including but not limited to issues of gender, race, and other relevant historical and contemporary political topics and movements. This first semester develops the student’s ability to research, write and debate current issues. This is a writing intensive and speaking across the curriculum course. Limited to Legal Studies and Law and Public Affairs majors. Prerequisite: Senior standing.
LS442 - Selected Topics in Justice & Law II
The spring semester of the Capstone course focuses on the process of producing a final legal research paper on one of the topics of the first semester. Students hone their research and writing skills culminating in the presentation of a final capstone project presentation. This is a writing intensive and speaking across the curriculum intensive course. Prerequisites: LS 441 and Senior standing.
LS443 - Justice Studies Internship & Seminar I
This course provides an opportunity for students to be in an individually arranged, college-supervised internship for 120 hours in the fall semester in a professional work setting related to their interest. Each student is monitored during the internship by the faculty advisor and attends a corresponding classroom seminar each week. Prerequisite: Senior standing.
LS444 - Justice Studies Internship & Seminar II
This course provides an opportunity for students to be in an individually arranged, college-supervised internship for 120 hours in the fall semester in a professional work setting related to their interest. Each student is monitored during the internship by the faculty advisor and attends a corresponding classroom seminar each week. Prerequisite: Prerequisites: LS/CJ 443 and Senior standing
![](/images/facultyProfiles/New/Bucci130.jpg)
Linda Bucci
Professor & Program Chair of Justice Studies, Graduate Chair of Criminal Justice
Office: Plummer
Email: lbucci@lasell.edu
![](/images/facultyProfiles/New/KellieWallace_Headshot_130-x130.jpg)
Kellie Wallace
Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice
Office: Putnam, Office G26
Email: kwallace@lasell.edu
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