Ra Non-aba Approved Law School

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by LadyExecutive, May 26, 2005.

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  1. LadyExecutive

    LadyExecutive Member

    I've been asked by a friend to find out from the forum if anyone knows of RA Non-ABA Approved D/L Law Schools in California or anywhere in the United States. My friend lives in Florida, has a B.S in Paralegal Studies degree, and a Masters Degree in a legal related degree (although I cannot remember which it is) yet she insists and prefers a JD degree as an informational mechanism rather than for practice. She is almost about to retire and has no interest in attending either of the two law schools here in Orlando.

    I was also told, this morning, and I wasn't aware of this until then, that Florida Bar has recently decided to allow attorneys from other states to practice here. There are conditions, I'm sure but I have not had time to confirm this contention or what the conditions are.

    Out of sheer curiosity, does one have to be a resident of California to sit the bar exam, if the student attended a CalBar approved institution?

    How good at California DL Law Schools about transfer credits? If a student has a Masters Degree in Law, for instance, typically, would the student still have to undertake three years of legal studies?
     
  2. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    There are NO regionally accredited distance learning J.D. programs. The reason is, WASC will not accredit any California law school that is not first accredited by the California Bar. The California Bar, in turn, accredits only resident B&M schools.

    There are several R/A resident J.D. programs that are not ABA accredited. Most are in California, i.e. LaVern, San Joaquin, New College, and Humphries but they are also found in Massachusetts, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia (I think).

    There are TWO DETC accredited California D/L J.D. programs, Taft University and Concord Law Center.

    I know of no legitimate American D/L J.D. programs outside of California.

    No California Bar qualifying D/L J.D. program may grant transfer credit for law study except that undertaken in another J.D. program acceptable to CalBar. The reason is, Bar qualifying J.D. programs have specific time and credit limits that non J.D.programs do not have.

    The rules on non Bar qualifying "J.D." degrees are much looser. The Bar does not regulate these programs.
    You need not be a resident of California to sit the California Bar exam.

    Distance LL.B. programs are available from the U.K., Australia, and South Africa. A D/L degree from NONE of these schools will by itself qualify that holder to take any U.S. state Bar exam. However, it is possible to use such a degree to enter a one year resident American LL.M. program at an ABA school and thereby possibly qualify in some states.
     
  3. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    Oh, one other claification:

    CalBar accredits certain resident law schools. About half the schools on CalBar's accredited list are ABA and the other half are accredited through CalBar's own accreditation process.

    But four years of part time study OUTSIDE an accredited school will also qualify the student to take the California Bar. There are basically three ways to do this:

    -study in an unaccredited, State approved law school;
    -study by correspondence with a State approved school; and
    -study in a Judge's chambers or lawyer's office.
     

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