Program Overview

Undergraduate Law / Legal Studies

The undergraduate law program at Suffolk University is designed to provide students with the knowledge and practical skills needed to begin their service in the legal profession. Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the program teaches students the fundamental principles of the legal system and the various professional opportunities that await them in the legal field.

Program Overview

The undergraduate law major is designed for students interested in the legal field, as well as those preparing to apply to law school. The core curriculum mimics the first year of law school, introducing key legal concepts while strengthening students' knowledge of legal research and writing. The major also incorporates all courses needed to start a career in the legal field immediately as a paralegal, now more commonly referred to as a non-lawyer legal professional.

Learning Goals and Objectives

The program's learning goals and objectives include:

• Understanding legal concepts
• Communicating effectively orally and in writing
• Using critical thinking skills
• Being effective legal researchers
• Understanding ethical behavior in the workplace
• Making ethical decisions in the workplace
• Appreciating the importance of professional ethics and demonstrating an understanding of the code of ethics that applies to attorneys as well as paralegals
• Understanding legal analysis and research
• Effectively using legal research tools, including technology
• Mastering new resources, including secondary authority, legislative histories, and administrative materials
• Understanding the legal analytic method
• Understanding legal procedure and the role of the paralegal in the American legal system
• Analyzing rules of precedent in substantive legal areas
• Applying legal principles to real-life cases

Program Options

The program offers several options, including:

• The Major: The undergraduate law major is designed for students interested in the legal field, as well as those preparing to apply to law school.
• The Minor: The law minor requires five courses, including three required courses (Ethics & Legal Practice Skills, Introduction to Law, and U.S. Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties) and two elective courses.
• 3+3 Bachelor's/JD Program: A select number of outstanding Suffolk undergraduates may gain early admission to Suffolk University Law School at the end of their junior year, allowing them to earn their bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor degree in six years instead of the customary seven.

Curriculum

The law major curriculum includes a range of courses, such as:

• Introduction to Law
• Legal Research and Writing
• Ethics & Legal Practice Skills
• U.S. Constitutional Law & Civil Liberties
• Legal Analysis and Research
• Legal Procedure and the Role of the Paralegal

Transfer Credit Policy

The Undergraduate Law Program does not automatically accept Legal Research and Writing courses as equivalent to those courses at Suffolk University. Requests to accept transfer credits for Legal Research and Writing courses taken at other schools are reviewed on an individual basis by the Program Director, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and the Registrar.

Beyond the Classroom

The program offers a range of experiential learning opportunities, including:

• Internships with local law firms, governmental agencies, judges, legislators, or court systems
• Participation in the Suffolk University Political Research Center
• Involvement in the Suffolk Votes initiative
• Attendance at events hosted by the Ford Hall Forum and the GBH Forum Network

Success after Suffolk

Graduates of the program have gone on to pursue a range of careers, including:

• Paralegal
• Litigation Paralegal
• Police Sergeant
• Representative
• Business Immigration Analyst
• Patent Paralegal
• Head of Marketing
• Business Development Representative
• Writer/Multimedia Producer

Note

Please note that only licensed attorneys can practice law and give legal advice. The Undergraduate Law Program will no longer be an ABA-approved paralegal studies program after August 2024, and students graduating after this date will not graduate from an ABA-approved paralegal studies program.