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Earn a Law Degree Online in California

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Start Earning Your JD Degree Online

Purdue Global Law School 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 Purdue Global Law School

See Notes and Conditions section below for important information.

The Princeton Review Best Online JD Programs Logo

Purdue Global Law School was named to The Princeton Review's Best Online JD Programs list.

An Affordable Online Law Degree

Enrolling in an online law school in California can be a more affordable option than traditional law schools. Purdue Global Law School's Juris Doctor tuition is 65% less average tuition than California ABA-accredited law schools.

Tuition chart comparing program tuition for 2021-2022 as a bar graph. Tuition for Purdue Global Law School is $49,680, average tution for all ABA programs is $143,494, and average tuition for California ABA programs is $178,382.

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. Purdue Global Law School's Juris Doctor is a part-time 4-year program, which equates to 3 years of full-time study.

Purdue Global Law School Accreditation in California

Due to Purdue Global Law School’s accreditation by the Committee of Bar Examiners, Purdue Global Law School 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 state-specific licensure requirements.

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.

Contact Purdue Global Law School

2029 Century Park East, Suite 400, Los Angeles, California 90067

Phone: 877-757-8189

Email: InfoPGLaw@support.purdueglobal.edu

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

Step 2:

Complete Your JD Program

Step 3:

Prepare for the Bar

Purdue Global Law School Success Stories

[Purdue Global 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

See Notes and Conditions section below for important information.

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. Purdue Global Law School 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?

A traditional, in-person Juris Doctor (JD) program takes 3 years to complete for a full-time student and 4 years to complete as a part-time student. At Purdue Global Law School, the part-time JD program typically takes 4 years to complete.

Do I need to take the LSAT to go to law school in California?

Purdue Global Law School 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.

Learn more about the requirements to get into law school.

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 2022, 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.

See Notes and Conditions section below for important information.

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.

See Notes and Conditions section below for important information.

Do I have to be in California to take the California Bar Exam?

In-person administration of the California 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 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:

See Notes and Conditions section below for important information.

See Notes and Conditions section below for important information.