Earn a Law Degree Online in California

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Start Earning Your JD Degree Online

Concord Law School at Purdue University Global is a state-accredited, 100% online law school in California. Our online Juris Doctor (JD) program can help you become a lawyer and prepares you to sit for the California Bar Exam, regardless of your location.^* You will find a rigorous and convenient online law program that allows you to work if you need to and doesn’t require you to move to be near a traditional campus.

Why Choose Concord Law School

Named to The Princeton Review's Best Online JD Programs list.^†
Accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
No LSAT required^‡
One-third of the average tuition of California ABA-accredited law schools
100% online since 1998
Innovative curriculum that includes national externships, competitive moot court program, postgraduate legal incubator program, and more
Experienced, supportive law faculty
More than 2,500 alumni
Preparation for the California Bar Exam

An Affordable Online Law Degree

Enrolling in an online law school in California can be a more affordable option than traditional law schools. Concord’s Juris Doctor tuition is one-third of the average tuition at a California ABA-accredited law school.

Tuition chart comparing program tuition for 2020-2021 as a bar graph. Tuition for Concord is $49,680, average tution for all ABA programs is $139,350, and average tuition for California ABA programs is $172,883

Source: American Bar Association. Based on the published tuition rates of 193 ABA-approved programs. Calculation uses average tuition for a nonresident full-time student for a 3-year period. Concord Law School's Juris Doctor is a part-time 4-year program, which equates to 3 years of full-time study.

Concord Law School Accreditation in California

Due to Concord Law School’s accreditation by the Committee of Bar Examiners, Concord has the authority to offer a Juris Doctor degree that qualifies recipients to take the California Bar Examination and obtain admission to the practice of law in California.

With a California law license, you may be eligible to practice outside the state, depending on each state’s rules or the field you specialize in.* Interested students should refer to Licensure.PurdueGlobal.edu for information on licensure and state authorizations and check the rules of each jurisdiction.

ABA Accreditation

The American Bar Association (ABA), the national accreditor for law schools, does not accredit fully online law schools due to its requirement that law schools be primarily campus based. California, however, is one of the few states to accredit law schools independently of the ABA.

Learn more about Concord Law School accreditation.

Become a Lawyer in California with an Online Law Degree

If you are interested in becoming a lawyer by attending a California online law program, there are several things to consider, including the steps to becoming a California-licensed attorney and state accreditation and bar requirements. Learn more about how to become a lawyer in California.

Step 1: Apply Online and Enroll

Complete your bachelor’s degree.
Meet law school admissions requirements.
Enroll to earn your Juris Doctor at Concord Law School.

Step 2: Complete Your JD Program

Register as a law student with the California State Bar.
Graduate with a JD from Concord Law School.

Step 3: Prepare for the Bar

Undergo a background check and receive a Positive Moral Character Determination.
Take and pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam.
Take and pass the California Bar Exam.

Contact Concord Law School at Purdue University Global

10100 Santa Monica Boulevard
Suite 300
Los Angeles, California 90067

Phone: 877-757-8189
Email: infoconcord@concordlawschool.edu

Concord Law Success Stories^§

Throughout all my jobs, I harbored the dream to study and practice law, but never had the time or the money to do so. When I was 60, I met a lawyer who was still practicing law at age 100. I realized then that I could still become a lawyer and have a career practicing law.

Barbara Hodgson

JD Graduate, 2019

Concord Law School has prepared me to be able to do this work because they teach you the background and criminal law. They teach you how to do the legal research. They teach you how to do the citations. They teach you how to write papers. So, they really kind of prepare you for not only the bar exam, but the reality of what's out there in the legal profession.

Tracy Liberatore

JD Graduate, 2016

FAQs About Law Schools in California

Are online law schools accredited in California?

The American Bar Association (ABA) will not accredit fully online law schools due to the ABA’s limits on distance learning. However, the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California accredits law schools independently of the ABA. California’s accreditation rules do permit accreditation of fully online law schools. Concord is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, and its Juris Doctor graduates are eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam upon graduation.
How long is law school in California?

The typical full-time Juris Doctor (JD) program takes 3 years to complete, and the typical part-time program takes 4 years. Concord currently offers a 4-year, part-time JD program.
Do I need to take the LSAT to go to law school in California?

Concord has its own online admissions exam and does not require applicants to take the LSAT (unless they were previously academically dismissed from a law school). Most campus-based ABA law schools require the LSAT, although in recent years, some traditional schools have begun to accept the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as well.
What are the steps to becoming a lawyer in California?
There are four basic requirements to become a lawyer in California:
1. Complete your JD degree at a law school approved by the ABA or State Bar of California^*
2. Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
3. Pass the California Bar Exam
4. Pass California’s moral character and fitness screening.
What is the job outlook for lawyers in California?

As of 2021, California has the highest number of lawyers in the United States. That figure is projected to grow by 8.1% by the year 2028, producing an annual average of 6,150 job openings.

Highest Number of Lawyers: Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021, https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm#st.

Projected Job Growth: Source: Employment Development Department, State of California, Occupational Guides, https://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov/OccGuides/detail.aspx?Soccode=231011&Geography=0601000000 (updated August 2020). Long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Concord Law School does not guarantee employment placement or career advancement. Actual outcomes vary by geographic area, previous work experience and opportunities for employment.
Where do lawyers work in California?

About 71% of lawyers in California work in the private sector. Among those working in the private sector, most work for a law firm, and others work as solo practitioners or as in-house counsel. For those working at a law firm, about 63% work at a relatively small firm (between 2 and 50 attorneys) and 26% work at very large firms (200+ attorneys).

Thirteen percent of California lawyers work in government, with the highest number working for county governments. There are also paths in federal and state government, as well as city government and other roles. This breakdown between public and private lawyers in California is similar to the difference at the national level.

Source: The State Bar of California, Bar Brief 3, 2019, https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/BarBrief/Bar-Brief-3.pdf
Do I have to be in California to take the California Bar Exam? Is the California Bar Exam still remote?

From October 2020 through July 2021, the State Bar of California allowed bar applicants to take the bar exam online. In-person administration of the bar exam resumed in February 2022. California is exploring possible modifications to the bar exam, and it is possible that an online option may become available again in the future.
What law specialties are recognized in California?
There are a number of specializations for lawyers to pursue in California. The California State Bar Board of Legal Specializations certifies lawyers in the following areas of specialization:
- Admiralty and maritime law
- Appellate law
- Bankruptcy law
- Criminal law
- Estate planning, trust, and probate law
- Family law
- Franchise and distribution law
- Immigration and nationality law
- Legal Malpractice law
- Taxation law
- Workers' compensation law
Lawyers may also choose to pursue specialization from a California Board of Legal Specialization certified organization. These organizations certify lawyers in the following areas:
Certification Exams: Students are responsible for understanding the requirements of optional certification exams. Concord cannot guarantee students will be eligible to sit for or pass exams. In some cases, work experience, additional coursework beyond the Concord program, fieldwork, and/or background checks may be necessary to be eligible to take or to successfully pass the exams.

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Notes and Conditions - Please Read

*Accreditation: Concord Law School is part of Purdue University Global, which is regionally accredited. Concord Law School is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Due to its registration as an accredited law school with the Committee of Bar Examiners, Concord has the authority to offer a Juris Doctor degree that qualifies recipients to take the California Bar Examination and obtain admission to the practice of law in California.

Study at, or graduation from, Concord does not qualify graduates to take the bar examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admissions requirements.

Refer to Licensure.PurdueGlobal.edu for additional information on licensure and state authorizations.

Concord is not on the list of schools approved by the American Bar Association. The ABA Standards for the Approval of Law Schools currently do not allow for JD programs that are delivered fully online.

†Best Online JD Program: The Princeton Review list is unranked. The Princeton Review is neither affiliated with nor endorses Concord Law School at Purdue University Global. Logo from the Princeton Review. ©2022 TPR Education. All rights reserved. Used under license.

‡LSAT Requirement: LSAT may be required for students previously academically dismissed from law school.

§Testimonials: Testimonials were obtained by Concord Law School. The views and opinions expressed are those of the individual; student experiences may vary.