book Master of Arts in Legal Studiesbook

As we approach the twenty-first century, the field of law continues to respond to social and technological changes that could not have been envisioned a decade ago. Keen competition in the marketplace, consumer awareness, cost containment, technological innovation and alternative methods for resolving disputes have created a need for better educated legal personnel to assume new roles in the legal field.

To address new and growing areas in the law, MSU has developed the Master of Arts in Legal Studies. The courses of study offer a unique opportunity to integrate theory with practice, achieving the twin objectives of educational and professional growth.

Through a broad range of subjects, the Master of Arts in Legal Studies provides graduate instruction to develop the student's critical understanding of the law. This degree offers academic opportunities leading to career advancement in law and law-related fields. The MA serves the needs of a diverse community of students interested in law at the graduate level for whom law school is not the educational objective.

The Master of Arts in Legal Studies provides graduate instruction in Legal Studies through a broad range of subjects which develop the student's critical understanding of the law. This degree provides academic opportunities leading to career advancement in law-related fields. It provides a General Program for students who desire advanced preparation in Legal Studies with optional concentrations in Legal Management, Information and Technology. and Dispute Resolution


Course Offerings

Course offerings are on the cutting edge of specialty areas such as alternative dispute resolution, legal technology, law office management, trademark law, ethics and professional responsibility. The M.A. serves the needs of a broad range of students interested in law at the graduate level for whom law school is not the educational objective.

MA Course Rotation - Approved 12.01.00

Watch for the Future of Law and Entertainment Law - Summer of 2001

Approved Course Rotation Beginning Spring 2001   Click on number for description         Blue=LMIT Red=DR Blue/Italic=Both Concentrations              
                             
Course Name Type Number SP01 SU01 FA01 SP02 SU02 FA02 SP03 SU03 FA03 SP04 SU04 FA04
                             
ETHICS REQ LSLW501 Xr     Xr     Xr     Xr    
RESEARCH METHODS REQ LSLW511     Xr     Xr     Xr     Xr
                             
STAT REG ANAL LMIT LSLW512   X           X        
PRIV CIV RESP G LSLW520       X           X    
ADMIN LAW G LSLW531         X           X  
TRADEMARKS G LSLW538           X           X
CRIM TRIAL PREP G LSLW540             X        
ADV COMP SYS LMIT LSLW541 Xp       Xp     Xp    
CYBERLAW LMIT LSLW545       X       X      
LAW OFF MGMT LMIT LSLW550       Xp   Xp     Xp     Xp
NEGOTIATION DR LSLW551       X         X      
      SP01 SU01 FA01 SP02 SU02 FA02 SP03 SU03 FA03 SP04 SU04 FA04
MED THEORY & PR DR LSLW552 X       X     X    
ARBITRATION DR/LMIT LSLW553         Xd     Xd     Xd
CONFLICT MGMT DR LSLW554   X     X       X
FAMILY MEDIATION DR LSLW555     X         X      
DR WKPLC LMIT/DR LSLW556 Xd   Xd     Xd     Xd    
LEG FIN MGMT LMIT LSLW557                 X      
CROSS CULTURAL DR LSLW558       X           X    
LEG INFO MGMT LMIT LSLW572     X     X       X    
HUMAN RTS LAW G LSLW574     X         X       X
LEGL ASPCTS LMIT LSLW578 X       X       X      
PRIV SECT CMP LMIT LSLW579           X         X
                             
      SP01 SU01 FA01 SP02 SU02 FA02 SP03 SU03 FA03 SP04 SU04 FA04
d=both concentrations                            
r=required                            
p=paralegal program also                            


Last Updated on 5/3/01
By Jack Baldwin LeClair
Email: leclairj@picard.montclair.edu

Three Areas and Two Concentrations

The General Track is an opportunity for students to choose courses across concentrations. It is suggested for teh generalist who desires greater flexibility and/or quicker progress through the program.

The M.A. in Legal Studies offers concentrations in two dynamic and growing fields for legal professionals. TheLegal Management, Information and Technology concentration is designed to prepare students to create, administrate, and manage human resources, compliance mechanisms, and technological processes which involve the application of statutes, case law, and administrative regulations which define the rights and responsibilities of individuals and corporations in industry and in the public sector. The core of the concentration is a series of courses which illuminate the process of private and public sector compliance, human resource law, and technology in regulating and controlling the efficiency of the relationship between employer and employee, between corporations and government, and among corporations. The advanced curriculum allows students to sculpt their program in order to achieve their personal goals in the technological management of private law firms, corporations, or government service.

Dispute Resolution provides students with practical applications and theoretical considerations in negotiation, mediation and other alternative or contemporary processes. The federal courts as well as the New Jersey Supreme Court have begun to mandate the incorporation of dispute resolution into many aspects of the judicial system. The private provision of dispute resolution is also growing. In corporate employment, a dispute resolution concentration enhances the value and mobility of an employee in areas such as human resources and employee relations. Additionally, law-related education in primary and secondary education includes a focus upon the area of peer mediation.

For further information contact about General Program or Legal Management, Information, and Technology or the Dispute Resolution Program contact: Prof. Jack Baldwin LeClair leclairj@chss.montclair.edu
Phone : 973.655.7953

Requirements

Candidates for admission to the Master of Arts in Legal Studies must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and meet Montclair State University's minimum requirements for the Graduate Records Examination. In addition, candidates should have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.75 for their undergraduate work and in the three undergraduate prerequisite courses (an introductory law course, civil litigation, and legal research). Candidates who do not meet these criteria may be accorded deferred matriculation status and permitted to enroll in a maximum of two graduate courses in the M.A. program. If they attain a minimum of 3.0 in those graduate courses, then they may be granted full matriculation status for the M.A. program.

Students must choose one of the following tracks within the Master of Arts:

Students select twenty-four credits in accord with their areas of concentration or interest. Each student's program is designed in consultation with the Graduate Advisor, Dr. Jack Baldwin Leclair. All students are required to write a Master's Thesis on an approved topic.

The Master of Arts in Legal Studies provides advanced educational preparation for law-related fields. The Department of Legal Studies also offers a post-baccalaureate Paralegal Studies Certificate Program which is an appropriate course of study for entry level preparation. The Master of Arts in Legal Studies provides advanced educational preparation for law-related fields. The Department of Legal Studies also offers a post-baccalaureate Paralegal Studies Certificate Program which is an appropriate course of study for entry level preparation.

{short description of image}GENERAL PROGRAM OF STUDY

right arrowPROF. JACK BALDWIN LECLAIR- Graduate Director, M.A in Legal Studies and Concentration Advisor, Legal Management, Information and Technology

  right arrow DR. BARBARA NAGLE --Concentration Advisor, M.A in Legal Studies, Dispute Resolution.

Revised October 2000