| Northwestern California University School of Law | |
| Motto | “Quality – Opportunity – Affordability” |
|---|---|
| Established | 1982 |
| School type | Private Online Correspondence law school |
| Dean | Michael P. Clancey |
| Location | Sacramento, CA, US |
| Enrollment | |
| Faculty | |
| Bar pass rate | 38% (5/13) (February 2011 1st time takers)[1] |
| Annual tuition | $3,650 ($2,850 for new enrollees)[2] |
| Website | Northwestern California University School of Law |
Northwestern California University School of Law is an online correspondence based distance education institution founded in 1982. It is authorized by the California State Bar to award the Juris Doctor Degree upon completion of a California Bar Qualifying Program. While regulated by the California State Bar, it is not approved by the American Bar Association.[3][4]
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The school delivers courses entirely through a distance education format. The main teaching medium is the Internet by means of a fully integrated electronic teaching platform with interlaid videoconferencing technology.[5]
The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Law (BSL) and Juris Doctor (JD) law degree program, as well as a Paralegal certificate program. Those who are successful in the degree program receive the BSL degree at the end of 2 years and a JD degree at the end of 4.
The program is registered with the California State Bar as a correspondence law school, which means students to whom the school awards the JD degree are eligible to take the bar examination and become licensed to practice law in California, and indicates that the school meets certain standards of the Bar.
The JD program is not accredited by the California State Bar[6] or American Bar Association, which do not accredit online programs.
For the years 1997 through February 2011, 177 Northwestern California graduates have taken the California Bar Examination as first-time takers; of that number, 47 passed the examination for a pass rate of 27%.[7]
In October 2010, thirty-four students took the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination (the “Baby Bar”) for their first time. Twelve (35%) passed, compared to 23% for first-time takers from all correspondence law schools and 24% for first-time takers from all schools. Thirty took the examination after previously failing it at least once. Three (10%) passed, compared to 8% for repeaters from all correspondence law schools and 16% for repeaters from all schools.[8]
The school’s pass rate on the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination (the “Baby Bar”) has been as high as 47%. This occurred in October 2005 when thirty-two students took the examination for the first time and fifteen passed. The overall average for all first-time takers from all schools on that exam was 32%.[9]
The current Dean of Northwestern California University School of Law is Michael P. Clancey, who is a member of the California Bar.[10] He is a former United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate.[11]
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