The Northwestern California University School of Law is an online-only law school registered in Sacramento, California, founded in 1982.[3] It is accredited by the State Bar of California,[4] and is approved to award the Juris Doctor degree upon completion and graduation from the program. Although it is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, it is not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
| Northwestern California University School of Law | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motto | "Liberty with responsibility" |
| Established | 1982 |
| School type | Private online correspondence law school |
| Dean | Michael P. Clancey |
| Location | Sacramento, California, USA 38°36′21″N 121°30′44″W / 38.60583°N 121.51222°W |
| Enrollment | 1,085 |
| Bar pass rate | 63% (7/11) (July 2021, 1st time takers) 59% Cumulative 5-Year Pass Rate[2] |
| Website | nwculaw |
Online law education
editThe school delivers courses entirely through a distance education format. The main teaching medium is the internet by means of virtual classrooms, discussion boards, live online audio and video lectures, online study groups, and the use of videoconferencing. NWCU Law offers its courses through eJuris, an online law school platform developed by the school. All students are also provided with access to LexisNexis and to CALI.[5]
NWCU is a part time program spanning four years of continuous study. As a part time program the NWCU Law program is regulated according to the standards set by the State Bar of California, requiring a cumulative 3,600 hours of verified academic engagement and study. Foundational classes are taught in year long blocks requiring a 12-month course of study.
Degree offered
editNWCU offers the Juris Doctor (J.D.) law degree. Graduates receive the J.D. degree after the successful completion of their 4L year.[6]
Accreditation
editThe Northwestern California University School of Law is approved and accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Students to whom the school awards the JD degree are eligible to take the California Bar Examination and become licensed in the State of California.[7] The school is not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) due to being an online-only institution. As a result, students are generally not permitted to take the bar exam outside of California[7] immediately after graduation. Currently 23 states allow graduates to take their respective bar exams and be admitted to practice law after passing the bar in California and practicing for a set number of years[8]
Tuition
editNWCU's tuition is $3,900 per year, not inclusive of books or other expenses. The total tuition for the four-year program is $15,600.[9]
Notable alumni
edit- Max Hardberger, maritime security specialist and author.
- Mark Whitacre,[10][non-primary source needed] president of Archer Daniels Midland's bioproducts division, who became a whistleblower under U.S. federal whistleblower statutes.[11] The movie The Informant starring Matt Damon[12] was based on Whitacre's role in the ADM price-fixing case.
- Peter C. Park from Tulare County,[13] passed the California bar exam at the age of 17 years in December 2023, becoming the youngest person to pass the California bar exam.
- Sophia Park,[14] sister to Peter C. Park, passed the California bar exam at the age of 17 years and 8 months in November 2024.
References
edit- ^ https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/0/documents/JULY2021-CBX-Statistics.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ https://nwculaw.edu/pdf/BPC_6061.7%20Disclosures.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "History of the School". NWCU Law.
- ^ "Law Schools". State Bar of California.
- ^ "NWCU Student Catalog" (PDF).
- ^ "Degree Requirements".
- ^ a b "Accreditation | Northwestern California University School of Law". nwculaw.edu. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements" (PDF). National Conference of Bar Examiners.
- ^ "Tuition". NWCU Law.
- ^ "Mark Whitacre". www.markwhitacre.com. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
- ^ "Muirhead, S. "Whiteacre paid ultimate price" Feedstuffs: The Weekly Newspaper for Agribusiness Vol. 80, No. 22, June 2, 2008" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
- ^ IMDb The Informant! (2009)
- ^ "17-year-old from Tulare County becomes youngest person to pass California bar exam".
- ^ Yu, Yi-Jin. "17-year-old passes bar exam 1 year after brother reached same goal". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-11-16.