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Social and Behavioral Sciences

Undergraduate Symposium

The Undergraduate Student Symposium, sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, presents student projects and performances through oral presentations, paper submissions, and poster displays.
Paralegal Studies Major

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Description

The bachelor of science degree in paralegal studies is approved by the American Bar Association. A paralegal, as defined by the American Bar Association, is "a person qualified by education, training, or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity, and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible." The goal of the program is to prepare students for entry-level paralegal positions in the common areas of law practice. Paralegals are nonlawyers, and therefore, are prohibited from the unauthorized practice of law. This program trains paralegals, and is not a program for training lawyers or legal administrators. Students pursuing a bachelor of science degree in paralegal studies are required to submit a paralegal portfolio at an exit interview with the program coordinator prior to degree conferral.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the Paralegal Studies Program are to:

  1. Provide students with a broad-based education in both liberal arts and paralegal studies
  2. Provide paralegal courses that enable students to obtain substantive legal knowledge, develop analytical skills, and apply the knowledge they have learned to tasks routinely performed by paralegals
  3. Be responsive in course offerings to the needs of paralegals and attorneys
  4. Ensure that students are familiar with the ethical guidelines for paralegals
  5. Provide students with the opportunity to utilize software that is used in most offices dealing with law-related issues
  6. Familiarize students with the paralegal profession and the opportunities that are available to them upon completion of the program

The paralegal studies major is offered during the evening on NSU’s main campus.

What Does a Paralegal Do?

Paralegals perform many vital and useful functions for law firms, the business community, and government agencies. Some of the services that paralegals perform are:

  • Research and investigation
  • Document preparation and organization
  • Client interviewing
  • Title searches, closings, foreclosures, and other real estate work
  • Litigation support and assistance
  • Law office management

What Makes NSU's Paralegal Studies Program Unique?

  • The program is approved by the American Bar Association
  • The program houses a chapter of Lambda Epsilon Chi, a national academic honor society for paralegal students
  • All legal courses are taught by Florida Bar attorneys and Florida judges
  • Concentration on practical, hands-on application
  • Training in legal software applications used by Florida law firms
  • Training in computerized legal research
  • Internship opportunities with private law firms and government agencies
  • Students leave with a professional portfolio to bring to employment interviews and to use as a resource manual on the job
  • Convenient classes for working individuals, offering small, evening classes and selected online paralegal classes
  • Opportunities for court observation

Learning Outcomes

A successful paralegal studies graduate is expected to:

  1. Explain the basic theories, doctrines, concepts, and associated principles that comprise the knowledge base of law, with specific emphasis on torts, contracts, wills and trusts, civil procedure, litigation, family law, business organizations, real estate, and criminal law
  2. Use critical-thinking skills to analyze and evaluate relevant facts and supporting material
  3. Use communication and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with clients, attorneys, judges, court personnel, and coworkers
  4. Categorize, organize, prioritize, and evaluate complex factual and legal issues
  5. Use legal-research skills to research and find statutes, cases, and other primary source material, and to draft legal documents

Dual Admissions Option

Please refer to the Dual Admissions Web site for additional information.