Legal Studies
It’s no secret: the law surrounds us every day. We owe it to each other to assist and advocate whenever we can.
Winona State University is all about improving the world, and the Legal Studies programs have been giving students the tools they need to help others since 1973.
Explore what the Department of Legal Studies at WSU can offer you and how you can make a difference in the world.
Programs for All
Whether you’re interested in becoming a lawyer or a non-legal professional—or you’re headed to law school—you’ve got tons of options with our programs of study.
Students may select from:
- 1 graduate certificate
- 2 Bachelor of Science degrees
- 1 Bachelor of Arts degree
- 1 pre-professional pathway
- 1 undergraduate minor
Learning Enrichment Opportunities
As a Legal Studies student, you can broaden your knowledge and skillset in a variety of ways outside the classroom.
Boost your resumé by completing an internship in the legal field or a publication-worthy law research project.
You can also join WSU’s Mock Trial team and compete in national American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) tournaments. You’ll practice in our very own on-campus courtroom, located in Maxwell Hall.
Real-World Impact
Beginning Spring 2022, Legal Studies students can use their expertise to help real-world clients from southeast Minnesota expunge their criminal records—for free—through the on-campus Criminal Expungement Clinic.
For people who wish to seal or destroy their criminal records of past crimes, the expungement process can be very expensive.
However, expungement often allows individuals to live a full life in society after serving their sentence.
WSU students improve the world by providing greater access to justice for the local population.
You’ll give many people the opportunity to receive state benefits, rent an apartment, and even get a job.
This clinic is associated with Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) and the non-profit Let’s Erase the Stigma.
