Webinar presented on March 13, 2025, by Yvonne Cherena-Pacheco, dean of admissions at NSU law school, and Jessica Garcia-Brown, director of undergraduate law. 

B.S. in law 

Only seven colleges in the U.S. have undergrad law programs. NSU is one of only a few programs with law professors teaching undergraduates, in the building of the law school. 

Alongside your B.S. in law, you can get a concurrent post-baccalaureate certification in paralegal studies. You can minor in paralegal studies or in law, sci, & technology. You can earn a certificate in paralegal studies using electives required for an undergrad degree. Paralegal studies is American Bar Association approved. The ABA issues guidelines for law education.

With the B.S. in law you have three possible concentrations or pathways:

1. paralegal studies
2. law, science, & technology
3. health law

NSU has a dual admission program with a 3+3 option or a 4+3 option. You get real-world experience through law-related internships and learn skills for entry level positions in law-related jobs while working toward law school.

Undergrads can attend speaker forums and collaborate with grad students right from first year. 

English and political science, common undergraduate degrees for law students, are more abstract than the law B.S. This program has an experiential component. You learn methods such as how to research and write like a lawyer, and you learn using current events.

Core Curriculum (15 Credits)

• Intro to Law and Legal Professions
• Legal Research Methods and Reasoning
• Administrative Law (like Dept. of Ed policy, regs for agencies)
• Elements of Constitutional Law
• Business Relations and Organizations
• You also need 24 credits from the College of Law or other colleges.

You can earn any bachelor’s and the J.D. Dual admission applicants must interview during Shark Preview weekend. Program lengths: 6 years (3+3) or 7 years (4+3). You still have to take the LSAT to be admitted to the law school. Dual admission is not binding. If you change your mind you’re not obligated to go to law school.

Study abroad opportunity: Nova Southeastern partners with Coventry University law school in England, so you can collaborate with British law students and learn comparative law.

Benefits of the undergraduate law program include job opportunities, mentoring by J.D. students, work in law clinics, and the dual admission law program. As an undergraduate student, you can participate in a moot court team, be a student member of the Broward County Bar Association, and work for an undergraduate law journal.

With bachelor’s you can be a judicial assistant, government worker, court reporter, mediator, or jury consultant. NSU has a special class in mediation.

There’s a scholarship worth $10k over four years from a law firm that wants to encourage students to pursue law.

In my opinion. . .

This seems like a good program for those who are fairly sure about wanting to go to law school, and the dual admission program can ease the stress of applying, though you still need to take the LSAT. On the other hand, I believe that law schools value students who have a broad education before they narrow their sights on law. Also, a law school’s ranking can impact your job prospects. Definitely discuss the pros and cons with your family and counselor before deciding on your pathway.