College of Legal Studies
Equip yourself to make an impact on society when you pursue a career in Paralegal Studies or Criminal Justice.
The criminal justice system impacts every member of society
The College of Legal Studies consists of programs in Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice, both of which offer Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees. The Paralegal Studies program also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate.
Criminal Justice
The criminal justice system impacts every member of society and represents one of the most important relationships between citizens and government. Graduates will be equipped with the skills necessary to enter this honorable field. They will be qualified for employment in law enforcement, corrections, probation, and parole at the local, state, or federal levels. They’ll also be eligible to work within the Department of Juvenile realm with opportunities as correction classification specialists, caseworkers in child protective services, and as social service caseworkers.
Students in the Justice and Criminal Justice programs have access to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to examine and analyze data during their coursework.
Paralegal Studies*
The legal profession plays a critical role in society by maintaining law and order and ensuring justice. Paralegals are an integral part of the profession, enhancing the service that attorneys provide and society’s access to justice. Paralegals work at the elbow of the attorney and help them accomplish their clients’ goals, while enhancing the client’s experience. Graduates will be qualified to work directly for practicing attorneys in private law firms. They will also be equipped to work in legal departments of businesses and government agencies--including the court system. All Paralegal Studies programs are approved by the American Bar Association. Students have access to a print law library that includes a representative of almost every legal resource a paralegal can anticipate using in practice. Additionally, they also have access to and train in commercial electronic database research. Students in the program become members of the National Society for Legal Technology and receive training in legal-specific software programs.
*IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Sullivan University has chosen to teach out all paralegal studies programs to include the Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies and Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies. The last student in a paralegal program is scheduled to complete by December 31, 2022. The University requested to formally withdraw ABA approval for all paralegal studies programs. As of the June 30, 2023 withdrawal date, the paralegal studies programs will no longer be approved by ABA. Any student who does not complete the program before the withdrawal date will not have graduated from an ABA approved paralegal education program and may not represent themselves as having graduated from an ABA approved paralegal education program.
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Associate of Science in Criminal Justice:
Graduates of the Associate of Science in Criminal Justice degree program will be able to:
- Articulate the functional aspects of the criminal justice system relevant to law enforcement, the judicial system, corrections, emergency management, juvenile justice, and crime prevention techniques.
- Identify key terms and concepts related to the police, court system, corrections, emergency management, juvenile justice, and crime prevention techniques.
- Develop, present, and defend a strategic plan to effectively reduce crime and delinquency.
- Locate professional journals, trade journals, web-based resources, and database information associated with professional development within the justice and public safety administration profession.
- Identify professional certificates/certifications associated with the justice and public safety administration profession.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice:
Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree program will be able to:
- Critically articulate law enforcement, the judicial system, corrections, emergency management, juvenile justice, and crime prevention techniques.
- Identify and analyze social and cultural issues related to crime and delinquency
- Develop, present, and defend an in-depth strategic plan to effectively reduce crime and delinquency.
- Locate professional journals, web-based resources, and database information associated with professional development within the justice and public safety administration profession.
- Use decision-making and problem-solving techniques in a variety of justice and public safety administration activities.
The College of Legal Studies is remarkable in that all faculty bring real-world experience into their classrooms. They have all worked in their field of study, many of whom continue to do so while teaching. Students have a unique opportunity to learn from these faculty members, who demonstrate how the classroom material relates to the careers the students are seeking. The College of Legal Studies offers practical training, arming graduates with the skills expected by employers in the field. Unlike the traditional college experience, this training starts at the beginning of the student’s academic experience and continues throughout.
Jennifer Gaither is the Dean of the College of Legal Studies. She earned her Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies and Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Sullivan University and went on to graduate from the University of Louisville Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Kentucky as well as in two federal courts. Gaither’s Sullivan story does not begin with her Associate Degree. Her father--also a lawyer--was a full-time faculty member in the Paralegal Program from the late eighties until his passing in 2004. In 2000, Gaither began her first faculty position at Sullivan as an adjunct professor while she continued to practice law. After her father’s passing, she took over his full-time teaching position. She transitioned to Dean of the College of Legal Studies in 2019. She is incredibly passionate about the legal profession and hopes to share that with her students.
Jennifer Gaither
