Bachelor of Science in Legal Assistant (BSc LA) – 4-Year Degree Plan

University of Justice (USJ) to University of Houston (UH) Transfer Guide

This 120-credit plan outlines a structured path for students pursuing a legal assistant degree, with transfer equivalents to UH. Courses are designed to align with career-specific skills and general education requirements, ensuring smooth transferability. Courses at USJ use the JUST prefix with 4-digit IDs, while UH equivalents use standard law and liberal arts prefixes.

Year 1: Foundations of Legal Studies & General Education

Semester 1 (15 credits)

JUST1010 – Legal Research & Writing I (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3301 – Legal Research & Writing (3)

Description: Introduction to legal writing, annotated codes, and case law research.

JUST1100 – Intro to Legal Assistant Studies (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 2300 – Introduction to Legal Studies (3)

Description: Overview of legal systems, paralegal ethics, and career pathways.

ENG1101 – English Composition (3)

Transfer to UH: ENGL 1301 – Composition I (3)

Description: Development of writing and critical thinking skills.

MATH2200 – Intro to Legal Statistics (3)

Transfer to UH: MATH 2311 – Statistics (3)

Description: Statistical methods for litigation support and legal analytics.

HIST1050 – U.S. Constitutional History (3)

Transfer to UH: HIST 2310 – U.S. History Survey (3)

Description: Historical context of constitutional law and governance.

Semester 2 (15 credits)

JUST1200 – Legal Terminology & Office Practices (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 2320 – Legal Terminology (3)

Description: Mastery of legal jargon, court procedures, and administrative workflows.

JUST2100 – Civil Law I (Torts) (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3341 – Torts (3)

Description: Study of personal injury law, negligence, and liability.

ENG1102 – Advanced Composition (3)

Transfer to UH: ENGL 1302 – Composition II (3)

Description: Technical writing and argumentation for legal contexts.

PSYC1010 – Introduction to Psychology (3)

Transfer to UH: PSYC 2301 – General Psychology (3)

Description: Human behavior concepts applicable to legal client interactions.

ART1120 – Introduction to Ethics (3)

Transfer to UH: PHIL 1301 – Ethics (3)

Description: Moral reasoning in legal decision-making.

Year 2: Legal Specializations & Core Competencies

Semester 3 (15 credits)

JUST2210 – Legal Research & Writing II (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3302 – Intermediate Legal Writing (3)

Description: Advanced appellate briefs and legal memoranda.

JUST2300 – Contract Law (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3342 – Contracts (3)

Description: Formation, enforcement, and breach of contracts.

JUST2400 – Legal Ethics & Professional Conduct (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3370 – Legal Ethics (3)

Description: Ethical standards for paralegals and legal professionals.

BIOL1100 – Introduction to Biology (4)

Transfer to UH: BIOL 1303 – Principles of Biology (4)

Description: Biological principles for legal cases involving forensic science.

ECON1010 – Principles of Economics (3)

Transfer to UH: ECON 2305 – Intro to Macroeconomics (3)

Description: Economic principles in business law and litigation.

Semester 4 (15 credits)

JUST3100 – Family Law (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3360 – Family Law (3)

Description: Divorce, custody, and domestic relations.

JUST3200 – Real Estate Law (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3345 – Real Property Law (3)

Description: Property transactions, deeds, and zoning laws.

JUST3300 – Criminal Law & Procedure (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 3343 – Criminal Law (3)

Description: Elements of crimes, defenses, and court procedures.

HUMN2020 – Cultural Diversity in Law (3)

Transfer to UH: HUMN 2301 – Cultural Foundations (3)

Description: Diversity training for legal practitioners.

COMM1010 – Public Speaking (3)

Transfer to UH: COMM 1314 – Public Speaking (3)

Description: Effective communication in courtrooms and client meetings.

Year 3: Advanced Legal Practice & Technology

Semester 5 (15 credits)

JUST4100 – Legal Technology & Data Security (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4380 – Legal Technology (3)

Description: E-discovery, cloud storage, and cybersecurity in law.

JUST4200 – Corporate Law & Business Entities (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4340 – Business Organizations (3)

Description: LLCs, partnerships, and corporate governance.

JUST4300 – Intellectual Property Law (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4346 – IP Law (3)

Description: Trademarks, patents, and copyright law.

MATH3200 – Quantitative Methods for Legal Analysis (3)

Transfer to UH: MATH 3360 – Applied Legal Math (3)

Description: Mathematical modeling in litigation strategy.

ENGL3400 – Technical Writing for Legal Industries (3)

Transfer to UH: ENGL 3342 – Technical Writing (3)

Description: Drafting pleadings, contracts, and legal bulletins.

Semester 6 (15 credits)

JUST4400 – Advanced Legal Research (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4301 – Advanced Legal Research (3)

Description: Expert use of LexisNexis, Westlaw, and legislative databases.

JUST4500 – Healthcare Law (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4347 – Health Law (3)

Description: HIPAA compliance and patient rights.

JUST4600 – Environmental Law (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4348 – Environmental Law (3)

Description: Regulatory frameworks for natural resources and pollution.

PHIL3010 – Philosophy of Law (3)

Transfer to UH: PHIL 4301 – Jurisprudence (3)

Description: Theoretical foundations of justice and morality.

JUST4700 – Internship Preparation (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4390 – Internship Seminar (3)

Description: Resume building, networking, and job placement.

Year 4: Capstone & Professional Development

Semester 7 (15 credits)

JUST4800 – Internship in Legal Practice (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4391 – Legal Internship (3)

Description: Hands-on experience in a law firm, court, or corporate setting.

JUST4900 – Legal Project Management (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4392 – Legal Project Management (3)

Description: Timelines, budgets, and case management tools.

JUST5000 – Alternative Dispute Resolution (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4349 – ADR (3)

Description: Mediation, arbitration, and negotiation strategies.

JUST5100 – Legal Writing for Specialists (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4302 – Advanced Legal Drafting (3)

Description: Writing for intellectual property, tax, or corporate law.

ENGL4500 – Capstone Paper (3)

Transfer to UH: ENGL 4399 – Capstone Project (3)

Description: Final research thesis on a legal topic.

Semester 8 (15 credits)

JUST5200 – Law and Technology Ethics (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4371 – Tech Ethics (3)

Description: AI, surveillance, and data privacy law.

JUST5300 – Global Legal Systems (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4350 – Comparative Law (3)

Description: International law and cross-border practices.

JUST5400 – Career Development (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4395 – Career Strategies (3)

Description: Certification prep, networking, and licensure.

JUST5500 – Legal Innovation (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4398 – Legal Innovation (3)

Description: Startups and law firm management in the digital age.

JUST5600 – Capstone Presentation (3)

Transfer to UH: LAW 4399 – Capstone (3)

Description: Oral presentation of capstone project.

Key Features

All courses at USJ are 3–4 credits (120 total).

UH transfer courses maintain credit hours and content alignment.

General education includes humanities, sciences, and social sciences.

Final year emphasizes internships, ethics, and emerging legal tech.

Enroll Now!