Learn Skills that Will Give You the Edge to Apply to Law School or Pursue a Career in Public Affairs

Interested in law school, politics or public affairs? With a Legal Studies major, you’ll develop a firm understanding of the law. Enthusiastic professors inspire you to develop strong communication skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of the social and political context of legal issues.

Explore philosophy to build analytical and logical thinking skills and examine argumentation, politics, and ethics to understand their functions in law. The rigorous curriculum of the Legal Studies program provides the foundation you need in pre-law and international law coursework. You can pursue a practical internship outside of the classroom and take advanced courses focusing on issues such as First Amendment rights and war crimes.

The legal studies major is truly interdisciplinary with elements of communication, philosophy, history, political science and international studies. NSU's Halmos College of Arts and Sciences pre-law program provides exceptional resources including programs that offer interaction with alumni active in the legal community, mentoring programs, LSAT prep, and Journey to Law School Canvas page. Workshops and seminars hosted by the Department of Humanities and Politics pre-law program prepare students for acceptance into law school.

Why Should You Major in Legal Studies at NSU?

Prepare for Law School

With a Legal Studies degree, you have a lot of flexibility in job location. You can also devote your career to an area of law you’re interested in (e.g. corporate, family planning, litigation etc.) or pursue other careers in government settings. The bachelor’s degree in legal studies prepares students for law school and an array of related professions in trade, politics, business, public affairs, and public service. Besides law school, graduates of the program also consider other graduate programs in politics, management, international affairs and nonprofit operations.

Learn more about Career Preparation

Average Starting Salary

The average salary for lawyers in May 2019 was $122,960 (requires an advanced degree).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Shark Destinations

You’ll find NSU Legal Studies alumni all around the country, practicing law and working in public service, non-profit and the private sector. Some companies you’ll find our alumni at include Law Offices of Jason Turchin and Universal Court Reporting, Klehr, Harrison, Harvey, Branzburg LLP, BDO USA and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. * They also work in a variety of fields including government sector, corporate, business and real estate law.

*Data provided by NSU’s Office of Career Development

During your undergraduate studies, you’ll have a number of mentorship opportunities and both simulated and real-world law experiences. You’ll have opportunities to work with practicing attorneys and judges as part of the Mock Trial team. You can also earn hands on experience as an intern with local law firms and organizations such as J.K. Closing Real Estate Attorneys, the Immigration Law Offices of Richard A. Hujber and the Legal Aid Service of Broward County.

As part of the pre-law mentorship program, you can visit the law firm of 1995 Legal Studies alumnus John Stevens, Stevens & Goldwyn PA to interact with attorneys and legal professionals who will provide guidance on how to forge a career in the law.

Learn more about Experiential Learning

Reserve your seat in one of NSU’s graduate or professional schools while you earn your bachelor’s degree. With NSU’s Dual Admission program, you don’t have to worry about competing with thousands of other students for a spot in a highly selective graduate program. This Premier Program gives you an opportunity to get a head start on your career, so you can start earning sooner.

Dual Admission Programs

Your NSU professors are dedicated to ensuring that you have a great academic experience. They regularly review the curriculum to make updates that give you an edge in today’s ever-changing world. As an NSU Legal Studies major, some sample courses that you could take include Crime and the Constitution, Judicial Politics and Process, Individual Rights and the Law and War Crimes. Visit the B.S. in Legal Studies curriculum to view detailed course descriptions and plans of study.

View Curriculum

Integrating minors across the arts and science curricula allows NSU's Halmos College undergraduates to be creative and critical thinkers through their diverse learning experiences. You’ll gain fresh perspectives by thinking experientially as well as experimentally.