Frequently Asked Questions

To be accepted at Concord Law School at Purdue Global, you must satisfy all three steps in our application process, as well as meet the minimum academic standards outlined below.

Juris Doctor and Executive Juris Doctor Program: Applicants who earned their bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (such as the Distance Education Accrediting Commission) will be considered for admission to Concord's law programs. In general, students should have a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average from their undergraduate work.

Learn more about our admissions requirements.

As part of the admissions process, if you are applying for the Juris Doctor degree program, your study must be evaluated by a credential evaluation service approved by the Committee of Bar Examiners and you must demonstrate English proficiency by having earned a TOEFL score of 550/213/80 or higher or completion of at least 2 years of college-level study within the United States. (Executive Juris Doctor applicants may use Purdue Global-approved evaluation services).

Learn more about our admissions requirements.

A significant advantage of attending Concord Law School is the added scheduling flexibility. There are several starts per year, so students do not have to wait for the traditional once per year cycle.

There are three steps in our application process, as explained below:

1. Submit your online Request Information Form.
2. Complete the Concord Online Admissions Exam.
3. Submit your completed application online.

We review all submitted materials to confirm that you meet admission qualifications. Your application is then presented to the Concord Admissions Committee for consideration.

Learn more about our admissions requirements.

A person who earns a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Concord Law School and meets the other regulatory requirements is eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination. If that person passes the exam and meets the State Bar of California’s other admissions requirements, he or she can be admitted to practice law in California.

Note that the JD program does not qualify graduates to take the bar examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to the practice of law in any other jurisdiction. A student seeking admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California may need additional experience/education to qualify for that state's bar. Students should visit Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for state-specific requirements. Students are highly encouraged to confirm state requirements from the appropriate bar admissions office for their state of residence.

Learn more about sitting for the California Bar Exam.

Concord does not have formal recognition or approval in any state other than California. Bar admission is a state-by-state matter. Admission to the State Bar of California may provide a basis for your application to sit for the bar exam in other states—either immediately after admission or after a specified period of active law practice. For example, graduates who pass the California Bar Exam and gain licensure in California may then immediately pursue licensure in the states of North Carolina and Wisconsin. For information about licensure available in these and other states outside of California, please visit Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page. Students are highly encouraged to seek guidance from the appropriate bar admissions office for their state of residence.

Bar eligibility requirements vary by each state. For the state of California, residency is not required.

Learn more about sitting for the California Bar Exam.

If you earn your Juris Doctor (JD) degree from Concord Law School and obtain a California license to practice law, there may be a number of opportunities available in other states, including acting as in-house counsel in corporations and practicing in the federal court system. Even without a bar license, a JD degree or EJD degree may make you eligible for a variety of positions within the legal field or in business or various industries, regardless of the state in which you reside.

Learn more about the professional paths available.

You’ll find that Concord Law School tuition rates are considerably lower than private and most public law schools. However, your total cost does vary, based upon the degree path you choose. Our JD program is 4 years in length, requiring more time and classes. Our EJD program is shorter: just 3 years total.

Visit the tuition page for a detailed cost breakdown.

In addition to base tuition fees, you will need to pay for textbooks, computer equipment, an online provider to access the curriculum, and certain student services fees.

You likely have some of the needed equipment or services already, such as a qualifying computer and Internet provider, for example. Check Concord Law School Technical Requirements.

For detailed cost estimates, visit the tuition page.

Our Student Finance Coordinators are glad to assist you with the process of applying for Federal Student Aid. Just call 877-757-8189 and ask to be connected to the Student Finance Office.

Learn more about your financial aid options, including a variety of federal and private lending programs.

Concord is proud to offer scholarship opportunities to further our mission of providing affordable, accessible legal education. A limited number of scholarships are available for first-year students who demonstrate the talent, drive, and academic ability to become successful law school students.

Learn more about our scholarships.

Concord Law School is one of the first online law schools to be accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, but is not accredited by the ABA. While the American Bar Association (ABA) does not accredit fully online schools, the Committee of Bar Examiners in California does accredit schools in this category. Due to its accreditation by the Committee, Concord has the authority to offer a Juris Doctor degree that qualifies recipients to take the California Bar Examination to be admitted to practice in California.

Concord is a part of Purdue Global, which is a regionally accredited university. We are proud of our rigorous law curriculum and our designation as the first online law school and first to be regionally accredited.

Learn more about our accreditation and approvals.

Whether the credits you earn at Concord Law School will transfer to another law school is up to each particular institution. Credits earned at traditional law schools may transfer towards your Concord Law School degree, saving you time and tuition cost. See how this varies by your chosen degree path below. Your Concord Law School Admissions Advisor will be glad to provide more details and guide you through the process.

JD Program

Students who have completed law study at schools located in the U.S. must have their legal study evaluated and certified by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California prior to Concord's acceptance and application of those credits into the JD program. Evaluation is not needed if transfer credits are California accredited or ABA approved for JD.

If you completed law study outside of the United States, it is recommended that you obtain an evaluation of your law studies by the Committee of Bar Examiners.

EJD Program

Transfer credits are subject to review by the Dean's Office, but generally require an agreement with the transferring institution. Transfer credits must be from a law school course, or there is an agreement with the other school in the case of master's, etc.

The Concord Law School program is 100% internet-based with a robust platform that assures you personalized attention at every step. We deliver an academically competitive legal education completely within a distance-learning environment.

You can earn your legal degree from the convenience of your office, home, or anywhere you have a dependable online connection. You’ll attend classes, participate in group discussions, interact with your professors and fellow students, complete assigned coursework, conduct research in our extensive legal library, and take quizzes, essays, and tests virtually. There is no fixed physical campus.

Please note: Juris Doctor students will need to take the California Bar Exam at designated physical locations within California.

Visit California Bar Exam to view more information about our pass rates.

The Juris Doctor (JD) program is designed for students who want to practice as an attorney: representing clients in court, providing legal counsel, preparing and delivering trial statements, leading depositions, negotiating settlements, and performing other traditional attorney functions. Due to Concord’s accreditation by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, this degree program prepares you to sit for the California State Bar exam and become a licensed attorney.

The Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) program is designed for professionals who want to add the advanced legal training of a lawyer, but who do not intend to practice law. The difference: you won’t have the additional regulatory hurdles of attorney licensure that include passing first year and bar exams, as well as postgraduation continuing education requirements. Because you’re not preparing for the bar, EJD degrees also require less class time and tuition: just 3 years versus the 4-year JD program.

During the first year, foundational courses are the same for both JD and EJD students. During the second and third years, the two degree programs take different paths. The JD student focuses primarily on traditional legal training and bar exam preparation. Students in the EJD program also continue building their advanced legal expertise, but with more freedom to customize their programs to more closely match a chosen industry or career path. Additionally, EJD students have more flexibility to take less than a full-time load.

Learn more about our programs.

The Juris Doctor Program (JD) and Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) program both require the following prerequisites:

• You must have earned your bachelor's degree from a recognized college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
• You should have a 3.0 or better cumulative grade point average from your undergraduate work.

The Juris Doctor Degree (JD) is a 4-year program, with a total of 92 credit hours required. See more details about the JD program curriculum and how those 92 credit hours are broken down annually.

The Executive Juris Doctor degree (EJD) is a 3-year program, with a total of 72 credit hours required. See more details about the EJD program curriculum and how those 72 credit hours are broken down annually.

How many hours you can expect to spend per week depends upon the type of degree you seek. JD students can expect to invest at least 25 hours per week, on average. EJD student hours can vary, given the more flexible nature of the program.

An EJD degree is ideal for professionals who want to add the knowledge and skills of a lawyer, but who do not intend to practice law. As an EJD graduate, you will have the legal knowledge to advocate more effectively on behalf of children, patients, or families; help people resolve disputes; review contracts; shape corporate policy; or communicate more confidently and knowledgeably with attorneys and legal teams.

Business executives, physicians, nurses, law enforcement officers, financial consultants, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders are just a few of many professionals who can benefit from advanced legal knowledge, but may not necessarily want to invest the time and money to obtain bar licensure. As a graduate with this degree, you are qualified to function in law-related positions that do not require a Juris Doctor or bar admission.

Learn more about our EJD program.