NW Cal Law School development

I see from the NW Cal web site that NW Cal JD graduates are eligible for admission into the ABA accredited, on-line St. Thomas LLM program.
I have no idea whether this program would make NW Cal grads eligible to take the bar in those states that accept an ABA LLM.
As always, CHECK FIRST!
It might be cheaper overall and more useful to pass in CA and practice there for a few years than to earn the St. Thomas degree.

Nosborne, JD

 

Well, I think that's a good assessment! The STU Tax LL.M. runs about $25k IF completed in three trimesters (one year). Basically, that would entail taking 3-4 courses per trimester (i.e. full-time!). It's possible to take fewer courses, obviously, but then the cost escalates rapidly since there's a $1500 (non-refundable)database fee for each trimester in which a student is enrolled. Taking a couple of courses per semester puts the cost of the degree in the $30k range.

 

Well, the other consideration is that there are a good many states that will accept a NW Cal JD if the applicant has a few years of practice in California. It seems to me that far fewer states will accept even an ABA LLM and I rather suspect that the states that WILL accept the LLM will ALSO accept the JD plus experience. In short, better to earn a living in California for a few years than spend a bunch of money on an LLM of more limited value.
Also, I believe that some of the states that accept the LLM require that it be a "general" LLM with a number of required basic law courses. St. Thomas' degree is limited to international taxation, isn't it?

Nosborne, JD

 

Yes, the STU LL.M. that's offered online is a tax LL.M. (concentrations are international, U.S., or e-commerce). Another LL.M. is offered (Intercultural Human Rights) but only on campus in Miami.

Regarding the issue of a "general" LL.M., I was under the impression that those programs were primarily intended for grads of foreign law schools. I really don't know of any ABA accredited school that offers such a degree to sort of "cure" a non-ABA accredited J.D., do you?

 

Point of clarification: there is no such thing as an ABA-accredited LLM program. The ABA does not accredit LLM programs.

From the ABA website:
"The American Bar Association's approval of a law school extends only to the first professional degree in law (J.D.) offered by a law school. ... ABA approval does not extend to any program supporting any other degree granted by the law school. Rather the content and requirements of those degrees, such as an LL.M., are created by the law school itself and do not reflect any judgment by the ABA regarding the quality of the program."
http://www.abanet.org/legaled/council/prior.html

NW's website is promising but vague:
"Some states, it should be noted, may allow our graduates to take their bar exams for bar membership without prior membership in California or elsewhere and without prior active practice if they have a JD law degree from our school and an LLM degree from an ABA approved school. ... Certain ABA law schools with classroom type (resident) LLM programs may also accept our JD degree graduates as LLM students. Their catalogs usually indicate that they require, as a prerequisite to enrollment, the prior conferment of a Juris Doctor degree from an ABA approved law school. In reality though, these schools often will accept graduates of schools that are not ABA approved, and in doing so, apply a relaxed standard that looks at the "complete picture" of an applicants background and experience."
http://www.nwculaw.edu/faq#11

Haw anyone, anywhere, ever communicated with a student who got a California-approved but not ABA-accredited JD and did enter an LLM program at a school with an accredited JD program? Or who then parlayed this into eligibility to take the bar exam in another state?

 

In reviewing the various state requirements, make sure you read the fine print.

Many states require the FIRST law degree be earned at an ABA school.

 

Re: Re: NW Cal Law School development

 

Well, it probably is a very unlikely scenario. However, probably due to the reduced time frame for the LLM as apposed to the JD (1 year to 3). It would probably be easier to justify. Just my 2 cents.

 

The ABA does not accredit LLM programs except for the U.S. Army's law school in Virginia. (No, I don't understand this either!)

I believe that there is at least ONE contributor to www.malet.com that got into the California Bar with a University of London D/L LLB and a U.S. LLM from "a school whose JD program is ABA accredited."

A general LLM is usually directed at foreign lawyers seeking to learn U.S. law. However, "Rules can sometimes be bent," as the good Dr. Bear reminds us. Most of these programs are offered by private law schools and where there's money there may be a way...

Nosborne, J.D.

 

I forgot to mention that it is exceedingly COMMON for holders of non ABA JD degrees to be admitted to various state bars based on a few years' practice in the degree holder's school's home state.

Nosborne, JD

 

Oh, and the sole state I know of that discriminates against correspondence JDs is Texas.

Nosborne, JD

 

Curious, indeed. Then again, the JAG school is situated somewhat differently since, to the best of my knowledge, the only degree offered is an LL.M. (i.e. no J.D. program whatsoever).

 

Maybe easier to justify but rather difficult to actually accomplish. You can do an LL.M. in 1 year but =only= if you take a full load. I've been through about half of one program and can't see how anyone could do one full-time and hold down any kind of a serious job. The lawyers I know who have an LL.M. either did it part-time or went FT and clerked (if that).

 

Certainly more common than the non-ABA J.D./ABA LL.M. route (not to mention far less expensive).

Bottom line, though, is the only 100% DL route goes through STU since it's the only school (whose J.D. program is ABA accredited) that offers a DL LL.M.

 

But I lust after NW Cal's JSD. It's the cheapest JSD in the COUNTRY! Too bad it probably has no value.

Nosborne, JD

 

Since DETC begins to accredit DL law schools, and Taft is applying for it, I wonder whether NWCU is interested in DETC accreditation.

 

Yup, probably no value but I'll bet it involves as much work (or pretty close) as an SJD from any other law school that offers one. Regardless, you're correct; it IS dirt cheap (I mean, those are close to mill prices, for God's sake!).

 

On the other hand, how valuable is ANY SJD? You don't need one to teach or practice or do any other thing pertaining to the law...

Nosborne, JD
(Who still lusts after the NW Cal JSD 'cause it would look cool on the wall)

 

True. But, if one graduated from a lesser-known, bottom-tier law school and had a burning desire to become a professor of law, an SJD from, say, Harvard, would certainly be useful for that purpose.

Nosborne, JD
(Who still lusts after the NW Cal JSD 'cause it would look cool on the wall)

Only reason I'd consider doing it! Still a lot of work just for "coolness".

 

I have thought about it; we don't have PhDs in law...wonder what a dissertation in law would be like?

Nosborne, JD