Dominican University Online Legal Studies Career Guide
That’s Dominican.
The Value of Completing Your Bachelor’s Degree in Legal Studies Skilled legal professionals are found in nearly every industry across both the public and private sector.
Advocates
Legal professionals form the backbone of a civilized nation, ensuring compliance with the law and safeguarding the rights of its citizens.
We offer a combination of core curriculum and focused, specialized coursework that can help you personalize your education and develop the skills to match the career you want. In pursuing your degree, you may choose up to two of the concentrations listed below, and complete courses designed to suit each one.
Criminal Justice Disability Advocacy
This noble path offers a wide variety of functions and occupations, which is what has lead careers in law to carry with them such draw and prestige.
Labor Relations
Sustainability Studies Public Administration Paralegal Studies
Law & Social Justice
Specialists Officers Assistants
Criminal Justice
Focus on criminal law and procedure as you prepare for further education in criminology or an expanded law enforcement career.
Dominican University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies (BLS) degree offers students a solid foundation in legal theory and practice. Whether you’re seeking to eventually pursue a career in law or open the door to new job opportunities as a legal services professional, the BLS program can help you secure the skills you need to reach your goals. The curriculum of each unique, distinct concentration offered by the program is designed to help you expand your knowledge in your areas of interest, helping you build a more fulfilling career.
Disability Advocacy
The program is designed to be as flexible and dynamic as the legal field and the many industries related to it. Not only will you be equipped to move on to law school or another post-graduate professional program, such as an MPA or a master’s degree in criminal justice, but you can pursue employment requiring a bachelor’s degree across a number of diverse industries and positions.
Paralegal Studies
In this Career Guide, we’ve outlined a few of the paths down which your education with Dominican University may lead you. Explore the many ways the online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies can help you enter or advance in this exciting field!
Sustainability Studies
Learn to defend the rights of individuals with special needs in legal, social, or educational settings.
Labor Relations
Study collective bargaining, negotiations, and employment law with this concentration built for those interested in mediation, labor, and human resources.
Law and Social Justice
Become a defender of the public interest with this concentration geared towards the promotion of civil rights and ethical law practice. Enhance the skills necessary to succeed as a paralegal or legal assistant as you study the position itself, as well as the latest in tools and techniques employed by today’s legal professionals.
Public Administration
Explore careers with governement agencies, analyze public policy, and learn the nuances of administrative law. Learn to act as the natural world’s legal advocate, developing the skills to pursue environmental law and incorporate sustainable practices in your organization.
Pursue In-Demand,
Dynamic Career Paths
You’ll find just a few of the extraordinary careers potentially available to the graduates of the Dominican University online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies program listed below, along with the concentrations that might interest someone pursuing each career.
Projected Job Growth 2010 - 2020 (%)
Paralegal / Legal Assistant
Professions in the legal field are seeing a notable degree of growth, with a number of occupations projected to expand at a rate above or near the national average (11 %).
17 %
Paralegal / Legal Assistant 20 %
Labor Relations Specialist
15 %
EEO Representative 21 %
Growing Careers in the Legal Field
Human Resource Specialist
22 % 10 % 8% Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-2020 employment projections.
Disability Advocate Attorney Law Enforcement
Paralegals and legal assistants perform a number of tasks to support attorneys and businesses. The majority of them work in law firms, corporate legal departments, or government positions. They prepare briefs, gather information, and conduct research to help attorneys enter the courtroom with the best information possible. Additionally, paralegals and legal assistants are often called upon to draft correspondence and contracts. This field is growing at a steady pace, offering a number of intriguing job opportunities. The Dominican University BLS with a concentration in sustainability studies can prepare you specifically for a career as a defender of environmentally responsible practices. Focusing on both the nuances of environmental law and the best practices in sustainability, this concentration can help you learn to support a law firm or organization that focuses on disputes concerning our natural resources. Concentrations of Interest: Paralegal Studies Law and Social Justice
Labor Relations Specialist Experts in contract negotiations and collective bargaining, labor relations specialists act as advisors to management on matters related to the administration of employee contracts and disciplinary procedures. They frequently serve as liaisons between unions and corporations, calling the two parties together to discuss contract negotiations or employee grievances. They’re also called upon to monitor an organization’s adherence to the contracts they have in place. Often seen as integral to the contract proposal, negotiation, and drafting process, the labor relations specialist field is expected to grow at a very fast pace according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Concentrations of Interest: Labor Relations Law & Social Justice Criminal Justice
Growing Careers in the Legal Field Continued...
Equal Employment Opportunity Representative An equal employment opportunity (EEO) representative ensures the compliance of a company, agency, or organization with all equal employment opportunity laws and policies. EEO representatives constantly monitor and evaluate an organization’s practices to make sure that employees and contractors are treated without discrimination as a result of race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, or disability. They serve not only as interpreters of EEO law, but also as mediators when an issue arises, calling all parties together to discuss complaints. An eye for detail and a deep understanding of recruitment and training procedure are both essential for this position. Concentrations of Interest: Labor Relations Law & Social Justice Criminal Justice
Human Resources Specialist Human resource managers lead all of an organization’s policies regarding employee relations, compensation, benefits, safety, and staffing. As a result, the position requires an advanced understanding of the increasingly complex realm of labor law. They’re involved with all stages of employee development from recruiting to training, representing the organization as it seeks new workers and looks to retain talented employees. Experts in HR also work to maintain a healthy, communicative relationship between employees and management, leading mediation and exploring grievances or disputes. In a leadership position, they often supervise benefits and compensation for their company, requiring vast, detailed knowledge of the best practices for maintaining proper compliance. Concentrations of Interest: Labor Relations Law & Social Justice Criminal Justice
Disability Advocate Disability advocates are well-versed in providing individuals and groups with the legal and social support necessary to cope with debilitating illnesses, both mental and physical. They specialize in representing the needs of clients facing chronic, acute, or terminal diseases to employers, healthcare associations, and community resources. They serve to help their client procure the necessary care, support, and legal protection relative to disability benefits. Concentrations of Interest: Disability Advocacy Law & Social Justice Public Administration
Attorney Attorneys are typically the focal point of the legal world, supporting the rights of those involved in transactions, contract negotiation, criminal cases, and litigation. In the courtroom, the boardroom, and beyond, attorneys are expected to achieve the highest levels of familiarity with the law. From public defenders to corporate counselors to prosecutors, attorneys represent their clients across a wide array of industries, channels, and purposes. While law schools will accept students with a variety of collegiate backgrounds, the BLS program presents students with the opportunity to prepare for a rigorous law school curriculum. Throughout the BLS program, Dominican students will develop skills that lay a foundation for these challenges, including legal writing and a strong familiarity with legal terminology and processes.
Public Safety Careers that fall under the public safety categorization vary widely. Whether you’re interested in beginning or advancing a career as a community service officer, police officer, border patrol agent, firefighter, or private detective, a bachelor’s degree can help you stand out from other entry-level recruits. If you’re already an established public safety professional, our online program, with its specializations and flexibility, can help you begin a new chapter in your career or advance to higher-paying leadership positions. The program also builds the necessary foundation of skills for the pursuit of a master’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, or emergency management. Concentrations of Interest: Criminal Justice Public Administration Law & Social Justice Labor Relations
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition
About Dominican University Dominican University is a premier, not-for-profit, private school focused on social justice and motivating students to ethically search for truth. Today’s Chicago-based school was originally established in 1901 in Wisconsin (then known as St. Clara College), but moved to River Forest, IL in 1922. Founded as a Catholic institution, today’s school is focused on helping people of all backgrounds reach their academic and professional goals. In fact, Dominican University takes pride in offering flexible, convenient degree programs for working adults, including the online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, to help them advance the skills needed for success in many fields. Dominican University is a relationship-centered educational community rooted in the liberal arts and sciences. It is known for its rigorous and engaging academic programs, the care and respect with which it mentors students, and the enriching diversity of its students, faculty, and staff.
Other Resources for Career Information Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Satistics: To explore the projected growth, required education, estimated earnings, responsibilities, and job prospects for hundreds of the country’s sectors and occupations, visit http://www.bls.gov/.You’ll find a number of reports, statistics, and informational resources at your disposal to help you evaluate your next career move.
O*Net Online: For additional career analysis and statistics provided by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, visit http://www.onetonline.org/. Sites Related to Legal Studies http://www.americanbar.org (American Bar Association) http://www.paralegals.org (National Federation of Paralegal Associations) http://www.nala.org (National Association of Legal Assistants)
Sources:
Paralegal/Legal Assistant
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Legal/Paralegals-and-legal-assistants.htm Labor Relations Specialist
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1075.00 Equal Employment Opportunity Representative
http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1041.03 Human Resources Specialist
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Business-and-Financial/Human-resources-specialists.htm http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/13-1071.00 Disability Advocate
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Community-and-Social-Service/Social-and-human-service-assistants.htm For more information about Dominican University and the online Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, contact us at :
Attorney
Phone: (708) 524-6800 Email: spcs@dom.edu
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Legal/Lawyers.htm Law Enforcement
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Private-detectives-and-investigators.htm http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Police-and-detectives.htm http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecopro.t06.htm
Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies Online Legal Studies Career Guide
DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY 7900 West Division Street River Forest, IL 60305 T : (708) 524-6800 F : (708) 524-6864 spcs@dom.edu