2021 NSU Fact Book

2021 FACT BOOK 89 For more than 40 years, the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law has been an innovator in legal educa- tion. The Juris Doctor (J.D.) program curriculum emphasizes highly practical training, so graduates are ready to serve clients immediately upon gradua- tion. With concentrations in international law; health law; and intellectual property, technology, and cybersecurity law, the legal education program combines cutting-edge pedagogy with community- based clinical education. Notable alumni of the College of Law include numerous judges and state and local government officials. Many are partners in major law firms and serve on community boards and as pro bono volunteers throughout South Florida and the nation. NSU Law is at the forefront of clinical legal education and guarantees every student a live-client experience through in-house clinics and a wide array of extern- ships. In-house clinic opportunities are available in the Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Law Clinic, Sharon and Mitchell W. Berger Entrepreneur Law Clinic, Children and Families Law Clinic, and the Dispute Resolution Clinic. Students also have the opportunity to participate in externships in civil law, consumer bankruptcy, and criminal justice and through consumer protection, criminal justice, and judicial internships. This highly regarded program provides on-site opportunities for law students to work with lawyers in government agencies, nonprofit companies, and law firms. Recent alumni are invited to participate in the Law Launchpad Program, providing new attorneys with the infrastructure and basic training needed to get their practices started, while also offering legal assistance to the local community at an affordable cost. In addition, NSU Law is committed to instilling in students the ethics of pro bono service, community engagement, and public service. The NSU Law Legal Research and Writing Program has been ranked 16th nationally, the Trial Advocacy Program is ranked 36th nationally, and the Health Law program is ranked 57th nationally and is tied for the highest ranked program in Florida by U.S. News & World Report . NSU Law takes pride in being among the most diverse law schools in the nation. The entering class of 2020, for example, included a student body that was 33 percent Hispanic, 52 percent white or Caucasian, and 6 percent Black or African American. Approximately 5 percent of the class were foreign lawyers, eligible to practice law outside the United States. In addition, PreLaw Magazine has ranked NSU Law as among the most diverse law schools in 2021. Diversity and inclusion at the college are reflected in the wide range of affinity groups representing African American, Asian, Hispanic, Jewish, and LGBT law students—as well as interest groups such as those for business law, health law, entertainment and sports law, and intellectual property law. Special programs available at NSU Law include dual-degree programs with many of NSU’s other colleges and dual-degree programs abroad in Rome, Barcelona, Jerusalem, Prague, and Sheffield, England. NSU Law has expanded beyond J.D. education into every aspect of higher education. The online Master of Science in Law program enables professionals to supplement their career by earning degrees in education law, employment law, health law, and law and policy. The LL.M. program, launched in January 2019, is designed to maximize value for attorneys who seek to learn new practice areas and improve the value of their services. The B.S. in Paralegal Studies and the Paralegal Postbaccalaureate Certificate program provide rigorous, critical problem-solving education for students and working professionals who aspire to assist public and private sector attorneys in preparing for hearings, trials, and successful client relationships. Minors in Paralegal Studies and Law, Science, and Technology complement a student’s education. Shepard Broad College of Law