JFK School of Law at NCU

Legal Studies Program

The JFK School of Law at NCU offers a fully online American Bar Association (ABA) approved bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies as well as a fully online ABA-approved paralegal certificate. The American Bar Association promotes the highest standards for quality legal education, ethical conduct, and legal professionalism.

The Bachelor’s degree is unique – students automatically earn a Paralegal Certificate at completion of the core program – making them job ready upon graduation!

Note: The Paralegal Certificate, the Paralegal Certificate (Advanced Legal Technology Specialization), the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies, and the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies (Advanced Legal Technology Specialization) programs at NCU are not enrolling new students in future cohorts. All courses of study will no longer be approved by the American Bar Association as of February 2023.

Mission

The mission of these programs is to provide a balanced and varied substantive law curriculum with a focus on the practical application skills necessary to work as an ethical legal professional. Students will be qualified to participate in the delivery of legal services, having enhanced their knowledge of the American legal system, and increased their ability to articulate and apply law and legal theory to real world issues. Graduates are able to pursue careers as paralegals*, assisting in the legal activities of law firms, businesses, corporations, hospitals, financial institutions, and governmental agencies. Graduates can also work in related professions which interact with law or use the programs as a foundation for law or other graduate school.

Note: The policies and procedures in this section of the catalog apply to both the paralegal certificate and the Bachelor of Arts in Legal Studies programs.

Goals and Objectives

The Legal Studies programs enable students with the knowledge, skills, tools, and values to become an effective member of the legal team.

Upon successful completion of their course of study, students should be able to:

Conduct legal research using appropriate sources and databases.
Apply legal analysis to predict outcomes to specific factual situations.
Articulate legal analysis through written and oral communications.
Use software applications commonly utilized in a legal environment.
Draft legal documents.
Describe the ethical obligations and limitations of legal professionals in specific factual situations.

Note: Paralegals may not provide legal services directly to the public, except as permitted by law.

Our curriculum requires that students must take at least nine semester credits or the equivalent of legal specialty courses through synchronous instruction.

Our curriculum complies with California Business and Professions Code Sections 6450-6456 requiring paralegals to be educated at an accredited institution offering a minimum of 36 quarter units of legal specialty coursework.