Paralegal Studies Title
» » » »

Paralegal Studies Major Curriculum

The paralegal studies major 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 B.S. in 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.
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.
Curriculum Requirements

LEGS courses offered online require proctored exams at approved sites.

General Education Requirements (30 credits)

Students are required to complete 30 credit hours as part of the General Education Program.

Paralegal Studies Major Requirements (54 credits)

Core Courses (45 credits)
LEGS 1150 Introduction to Law and the Legal Profession (3 credits)
LEGS 2100 Legal Research and Writing I (3 credits)
LEGS 3050 Criminal Law and Procedure (3 credits)
LEGS 3210 Computer Applications for the Legal Profession (3 credits)
LEGS 3260 Real Estate Practice I (3 credits)
LEGS 3300 Torts and Civil Litigation (3 credits)
LEGS 3360 Wills, Trusts, and Estates I (3 credits)
LEGS 3400 Business Relations and Organizations (3 credits)
LEGS 3550 Family Law (3 credits)
LEGS 4110 Legal Research and Writing II (3 credits)
LEGS 4270 Real Estate Practice II (3 credits)
LEGS 4310 Advanced Litigation (3 credits)
LEGS 4370 Wills, Trusts, and Estates II (3 credits)
LEGS 4410 Corporate Regulation and Change (3 credits)
SPCH 1010 Public Speaking (3 credits) OR SPCH 2020 Argument and Debate (3 credits)

Major Electives (9 credits)
Select 9 credits from the following courses, a maximum of 6 credits of which can be in Special Topics courses, and a maximum of 6 credits of which can be in Internship courses:
LEGS 4060 Debtor and Creditor Relations (3 credits)
LEGS 4470 Emerging Technologies and the Legal Profession (3 credits)
LEGS 4560 Elder Law (3 credits)
LEGS 4900 Special Topics in Paralegal Studies (3 credits)
LEGS 4950 Internship in Paralegal Studies (3 credits)

The academic program and curriculum requirements listed on this page are from the 2012-2013 edition of the NSU Undergraduate Student Catalog. Students are bound by policies and curricula published in the catalog in effect the semester they enter the university, unless an agreement is made with appropriate NSU administration officials allowing them to abide by policies published in a later catalog.