NWCU Law, so far.

I could be wrong but I think Oak Brook has a residency requirement towards the end.

 

This is the page which I believe that North refers to. It is that of Taft Law graduate Ed Denson who successfully passed the California Bar a few years ago. He describes his study method here in great detail. It should be noted that he is passionate about law and was very involved in many causes before, during and after his studies:

http://www.asis.com/~edenson/lawstudy.html

John

 

Hey, Wanna JD!

GO OR IT!

Please keep in mind that there is one ENORMOUS difference between a NWCal Bar type JD and almost any other non-accredited degree.

With THIS degree you are eligible to take a major Bar exam and become a lawyer. And do it without mortgaging your future.

Also keep in mind that these folks have one institutonal end; to make you a lawyer. That's not the case at some major schools.

After a few years, the source of the JD becomes much less important than your experience and reputation. That's why twenty states will allow you to take their bar exams with a non accredited JD after a few years of practice.

MAYBE SOMEDAY I'll do their JSD...

Nosborne, JD

 

I believe there is a one-week orientation session all students must attend at the beginning of the program.

Further, there is a "Principles of Life" seminar prospective students must complete prior to acceptance (maybe it's just me but this sounds kind of funky).

Further still, there is a practice skills requirement; students must take Trial Ad or ADR. The former, ostensibly, is offered during one of the school's conferences in OKC.

 

Thanks for the well wishes!

I did not find out about Oak Brook early enough for the next Baby Bar, and they require I take off for a week and go down there. I have difficulty with the religious aspects as well.

 

Oak Brook's bar-pass rate certainly is impressive for a non-accredited DL law school.

I'm curious what their drop out rate is prior to taking the exam. Some schools may string along underperforming students in order to keep them paying tuition, while other schools may flunk weak students in order to keep their pass-rate high. Either way, an incoming student's chances of succeeding remain low.

Does Oak Brook even admit individuals who aren't fundamentalist Protestant Christians?

Like far too much of higher education, on both the left and the right, this school has always seemed like a finishing school for activists. It may be a law school, but it's a law school on a mission.

That kind of militancy might actually contribute to a higher pass-rate, since it could suggest greater student motivation. There will be fewer of the sort of dissatisfied individuals who decide to try law school on a whim.

 

Interesting. I've been purchasing some used law study materials from Amazon, and I received a box today with some audio tapes I ordered last week.

Right on top there was enclosed a booklet with scripture (quotes from Matthew and John, etc. I've ordered hundreds of used books from Amazon, without a single such enclosure.

Hmmm...perhaps it is one of the students from Oak Brook...I'm sure they use similar supporting books and audiotapes.


It kinda freaked me out. I'm not exactly religious.

 

That being the case, what would be your approach to answering the following questions on OBCL's application?

3C. Discuss why you agree with the mission statement and the statement of faith of Oak Brook College.

3D. How did you come to know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?

3E. How has God worked in your life to renew your mind and develop His character in you? (See Romans 12:1-2.)

3G. Why do you think God has called you to be an attorney?

 

For #3E --

http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=NIV&passage=romans+12:1-2

Romans 12
Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual[1] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

It doesn't seem too farfetched to say that the question and the above quote seem to imply that they require that you practice law such that you support the word of God as they see it.

THAT is scary.

I would never make it past their front door....I'm openly bi-sexual. Hahaaaa! I look very feminine and carry myself as such, but eventually, they'd ask me a bunch of questions about my life and I wouldn't lie.

I'd be bounced so fast...

....but then, I could have some fun if I purchased a few copies of this book and sent it with my application...

What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/188636009X/103-7545490-9333436

 

What exactly constitutes maintaining a law practice for 5 years? Browsing the NWCU's website, it mentions a graduate who maintained a practice from out of state. Is one or two cases a year a practice?

 

What constitutes a practice for bar qualification varys with the admitting jurisdiction. Some states are quite strict; they want full-time practice as a lawyer or judge or law professor. You have to produce letters from several clients. Others seem to be more concerned with active membership in the state Bar association without asking what you DID with your law license.

Nosborne, JD

 

Oh, and I agree with everything Ed Danson has to say on his web site. Good advice for ANY law student!

Nosborne, JD

 

I wrote him a note and he responded saying he's doin great and having fun! I can't wait until that is me! He works as a defender of activists and criminal lawyer.

 

I have no doubt it will be you in time. Just hang in there (I know I sometimes feel I have been plugging away for a while myself). It seems to be tenacity which makes the difference between finshing and being ABD.

Again, best wishes.

PS I guess I've got 4 years to begin making contributions to the ACLJ

{For those not in on the joke it (ACLJ) is the American Center for Law & Justice. It is a conservative answer to the ACLU that stands up for the civil liberties of Christians}.

North

 

"Active" Practice

A very good question, Dave. Nosborne is right-- the meaning of "active" practice varies by jurisdiction. It is a very relevant issue for me as I hope to be licensed in Colorado at some point, which is quite strict in this area. They require at least five years of "active and substantial" practice. While I'm still yet to get a super clear answer from them on what this entails, it is clearly not working on a few cases from time to time. They are looking for evidence of a genuine practice, at least at a part-time level.

I work in the publishing industry (drafting contracts, negotiating deals with agents, authors, etc.) and will likely open an office in CA and make an attempt at this "active" practice requirement.

I, like wannaJD, am a current student at NWCU.

 

Re: "Active" Practice

Hi matt! I PM'd you.

 

Any update from the NWCU students? How did you do?

 

Any?

 

NWCU

So, I've read a few posts. A couple of them quite negative against NWCU....

I can only add that as a non-student, I have been in contact with them for almost six (6) months, on and off with questions, concerns and so on. I have had nothing but positive experiences with them thus far.

Their pass rates are fair - as fair as any other distance programs.

I believe that they give you the basic tools (as any school) and it's what you make of it.

For the person on the other string who found fault with the owner...I simply feel that if you get that riled up by a man who is the owner who is abrupt, you probably don't have the thick skin you need. Personally, I would not take it so close to my heart. I'd perhaps email him and or ask him to refer me to someone.
That being said, I've not spoken to him. Ms. Mary Driscoll however, has been a godsend to me.

 

--if someone has a problem with the owner they should not be signing a contact for 4 years and try to deal with someone under him. they should simply move on to another school..


--and i dont know either person, but without more details saying u need a thicker skin isnt really that valid. the guy really didnt right something that bad about the guy.. it also makes me wonder if u with 3 posts work for the school


here was the orig post referred to by atlas1212
I called to ask him about the school (I'm not sure what his name was but her often referred to the school as "his school"). I was extremely polite and he was arrogant as hell. He was like, "My school is by far the cheapest and has one of the best bar passage rates out there. If you are concerned about it not being ABA approved, go somewhere else, it's not my problem. I don't want students. I want students who are going to be loyal. "

He was extremely defensive about all the questions I asked. He could be a good guy, but when researching your options for an unaccredited program, you should not be afraid or intimidated out of asking legitimate questions. He was curt to begin with, but when asked questions about the instructors, current bar passage rates or how he compares to other mail order law schools he got legitimately ticked off.

I'm not bashing the guy. I'm just sharing my personal experience. Maybe he was having a bad day, but it completely turned me off from going there. Made the place seem shady as hell. I was already concerned that many of the instructors had their JD's from NW. And the fact that the only bar passage rate listed was from their first year which was like 60% or something like that. When asked about current rates he dodged the issue.