Overview

Legal Skills and Professionalism (1 Credit) LAW 0523 (Fall Semester)

Listed in Course Wizard as: Legal Study Skills (LSS) I (1 Credit) LAW 0523

Legal Skills and Professionalism (1 Credit) LAW 0527 (Winter Semester)

Listed in Course Wizard as: Legal Study Skills (LSS) II (1 Credit) LAW 0527

The Academic Success and Professionalism (ASP) Program begins in 1L with two required semesters of Legal Skills and Professionalism (LSP). In LSP I and II, students self-assess and develop the essential legal skills that make up the three pillars of the ASP Program: critical reading, logical reasoning, and professional identity. These are the skills needed to excel in law school, pass the bar exam, and succeed in the practice of law. Students learn how to prepare for class and study for exams. Students train in time management, preparedness, responsible conduct, professionalism, and self-directed learning. LSP I and II are required first-year courses for all students.

Elements of Legal Analysis (ELA) I (1 Credit) LAW 1007

This Fall semester, second-year Academic Success and Professionalism course is open to all second-year students and mandatory for the following students: (1) any student who matriculated into the College of Law prior to Fall 2020 whose GPA was below 3.1 in either of the student's first two semesters of law school; and (2) any student who matriculated into the College of Law in Fall 2020 or later whose first-year cumulative GPA was below 2.75. Transfer students may be required to take ELA I or II upon transfer to NSU Law at the discretion of the academic dean, but foreign lawyers on the accelerated graduation track are exempt from these courses.ELA I builds on the first year's foundation and consists of individualized sessions, small group sessions, workshops, and writing labs, all of which are designed to improve the skills needed to successfully complete law school and become licensed to practice law.

Elements of Legal Analysis (ELA) II (1 Credit) LAW 1008

This Winter semester, second-year Academic Success and Professionalism course is open to all second-year students and mandatory for the following students: (1) any student who matriculated into the College of Law prior to Fall 2020 whose first-year cumulative GPA was below 3.1 and who, after completing the first semester of the second year of law school, does not have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above, and (2) any student who matriculated into the College of Law in Fall 2020 or later whose first -year cumulative GPA was below 2.75 and who, after completing the first semester of the second year of law school, does not have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or above. Transfer students may be required to take ELA I or II upon transfer to NSU Law at the discretion of the academic dean, but foreign lawyers on the accelerated graduation track are exempt from these courses. ELA II consists of individualized sessions, small group sessions, workshops, and writing labs, all of which are designed to continue honing the student skills needed to successfully complete law school and become licensed to practice law.

Florida Bar Exam (FBE) Lab  (2 Credits) LAW 1833

FBE Lab is a required course in the final year of law school dedicated to preparing students for the Florida portion of the Florida Bar Exam. In the course’s weekly lectures and workshops, students review and/or gain a first exposure to all subjects tested on the Florida Bar Exam and engage in active training by taking practice test questions in both essay and multiple choice formats and analyzing explanatory/sample answers.

Florida Bar Exam (FBE) Lab (2 Credits) LAW 1834

This course (LAW 1834) is the online section of Florida Bar Exam Lab (Law 1833), and is subject to the limitations applied to distance learning courses set forth in the Code of Academic Regulations. For ease of reference, the description for LAW 1833 is as follows: This is a required course in the final year of law school dedicated to preparing students for the Florida portion of the Florida Bar Exam. In the course’s weekly lectures and workshops, students review and/or gain a first exposure to all subjects tested on the Florida Bar Exam and engage in active training by taking practice test questions in both essay and multiple choice formats and analyzing explanatory/sample answers.

Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) Lab (3 Credit) LAW 1831

This is a required course in the final year of law school dedicated to preparing students for the Multistate Bar Exam ("MBE") portion of the Bar Exam. In the course's live weekly sessions, students review subjects tested on the MBE and engage in an active training regimen, taking practice MBE questions and analyzing explanatory/sample answers.

Workshops and Other Events

ASP Professors of Practice offer a variety of programming for students throughout the school year, including skills workshops, group academic counseling sessions and drop-in sessions, and Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) and Bar Exam Planning workshops. ASP Professors of Practice may also collaborate with faculty, other departments, and student organizations to offer special academic or bar support sessions upon request.

Individualized Coaching

ASP Professors of Practice are available to work one-on-one with students on time management and academic skills development, either by request from the student or by referral from a professor.

The Academic Success and Professionalism Program’s support for our students does not end with graduation. ASP Professors of Practice continue to support our graduates as they study for the bar exam, through our innovative coaching program. Each graduate is assigned an expert bar coach, who provides support, counseling, and mentoring during bar preparation in June and July for May graduates taking the July bar exam and in January and February for December graduates taking the February bar exam. Furthermore, the program supplements each student’s commercial bar preparation course, offering additional opportunities to develop and practice the skills and content knowledge required for success on the bar exam and offering support and community during the stressful months leading up to the bar exam.