Concord Law School

Concord Law School was established in 1998 as an alternative distance learning platform to provide prospective law students with an affordable, flexible option for obtaining a high quality legal education. In that same year, 33 students were accepted into the program, which led to the first graduation ceremony for Concord Law School students in 2002. In 2003, Concord Law School students sat for the bar examination in California for the first time and returned a 60% pass rate. In this same year, Concord Law School established the Concord Law School Honor Society and students founded the Student Bar Association.

In 2000, with a population of over 500 students, Concord Law School received initial accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). The following year, the school was awarded full accreditation by the DETC and became eligible to accept students using military benefits tuition programs. In this same year, Concord Law School expanded offerings to include an externship program and a preparation program for the First Year Law Students Examination.

Concord Law School became the first online law school to be associated with a regionally accredited institution upon the 2007 merger with Kaplan University. This greatly expanded the acceptance of distance learning as an option for law students and opened the door for students to receive federal financial aid.

Since its inception, Concord Law School students have gone on to open private practices, become attorney members of the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California and participate in the American Constitution Society Constance Baker Motley National Moot Court Competition.

Concord Law School is committed to providing increased access to a high quality legal education in a student-centered environment. Through the interactive online Learning Management System (LMS), students have access to faculty members, student groups, a law library, the student lounge and the Student Roster, where classmates can create personal profiles and organize offline study sessions. This platform is also used for the delivery of course materials, attending live online classes and completing examinations.

Through this innovative approach to the study of law, Concord Law School equips students with the critical thinking, research, problem solving and practical skills needed to succeed as a legal professional.

Accreditation

Concord Law School became the first online law school associated with a regionally accredited higher education institution upon joining the Kaplan University family in 2007. Concord Law School is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, and is an institutional member of the International Association of Law Schools and the Council for Higher Education.

Additionally, Concord Law School is registered with both the American Bar Association (ABA) and the State Bar of California. These organizations do not accredit online and distance learning law schools; however, registration with the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners provides students with the opportunity to apply for admission to the Bar upon completion of prerequisites set forth by the Committee of Bar Examiners. Students who wish to practice law outside of California will need to contact their state’s bar association to determine eligibility for admission.

Schools of Education

As part of the larger Kaplan University family of schools, Concord Law School focuses solely on delivering a quality legal education to students via the Internet. Concord Law School offers a four-year, part-time Juris Doctor (JD) degree program and a three-year, part-time Executive Juris Doctor (EJDsm) degree program. The Executive Juris Doctor degree program assists students in furthering their current career by obtaining a legal education, while the JD degree provides the legal education required by the State Bar of California and prepares students to apply for the Bar exam and admission into the State Bar of California.

Scholarships Offered

Scholarship options for Concord Law School students include scholarships offered through community groups, government agencies or professional organizations, as well as Veterans Administration benefits.

Financing Options

Concord Law School participates in a variety of student financial aid programs including federal and state programs, private lending programs and military financial aid programs. Other financing options include tuition payment plans, federal and state grants and work study options.

Credit Earning Options

Completed course credits from most accredited law schools in the United States can be transferred to Concord Law School with the submission of transcripts and course descriptions. Transfer credits for the Executive Juris Doctor degree program will be reviewed by the Associate Dean of the program on a case-by-case basis. Transfer credits for the Juris Doctor degree program must first be evaluated and certified by the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners prior to consideration by Concord Law School.