Juris Doctor Program
The John F. Kennedy School of Law at Northcentral University offers an online program leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) degree. The program is designed to meet the individual needs of the student in the most supportive environment possible.
Students at the School of Law have a rich diversity of backgrounds and life experiences. Some are recently out of undergraduate studies while others are from professions and occupations. Our students range in age from their early 20s to their 60s.
The School of Law is committed to the highest quality of legal education. Students receive a thorough grounding in substantive law and in the practical skills necessary to become competent practitioners. No effort is stinted to develop the principles and proficiency in legal analysis, writing, research, and advocacy. In addition, we encourage all students to pursue internships and clinical programs in order to experience practical application of the substantive law and to develop valuable relationships with the legal community.
As part of the law school’s mission statement, the School of Law advocates the participation of the lawyer in public service. Our clinical and internship programs introduce the student to the valuable work lawyers play in improving the lives of the disadvantaged. All students are required to complete a minimum of 60-hours of public interest legal work.
Mission Statement
The mission of the School of Law is to provide a challenging and comprehensive legal education in a supportive learning environment to a nontraditional and diverse community of learners dedicated to the professional, ethical practice of law and the pursuit of social justice.
- Our academic program is intellectually challenging and personally demanding, requiring students to balance their community, employment, and family commitments with their educational goals.
- Our academic program provides students a balanced substantive and practical legal education, focused on building the skills and competencies necessary to gain admission to the practice of law and to meet the rigorous professional demands of law practice in a compassionate and thoughtful manner.
- Our academic program encourages student participation and collaboration, access, and mutual understanding, and employs a variety of teaching methods to promote a more productive learning environment.
- Our students come from varied educational, professional, and cultural backgrounds. Their life experiences contribute to the quality of the educational program and will enhance their ability as practitioners to respond to the human considerations and values at the heart of all legal issues.
- Our students and graduates have a strong interest in community service, in promoting social justice, and in participating in the legal process in creative and productive ways beyond traditional adversarial models.
- Our graduates are highly competent and responsible legal professionals who value their clients; who counsel them toward fair, just, and creative resolutions of their conflicts; and who are aware that the law should not be used as a tool to promote individual greed, unfair results, or abuse of the legal system.
Programmatic Accreditation
The School of Law is accredited by The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. Accreditation by The Committee of Bar Examiners permits graduates from John F. Kennedy School of Law at Northcentral University to take the California Bar Examination upon graduation and, when the graduate passes and complies with all other admission requirements, to practice law anywhere in California, in both State and federal courts.
Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be admitted to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek admission to practice law outside of California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admission requirements.
NCU makes no promise or guarantee that a student who completes the Juris Doctor degree will be licensed or admitted to practice law in California or any other State. Individual States have their own specific requirements for sitting for the bar exam including, but not limited to an individual’s history and character to pass the Character review. Further, some states do not acknowledge State Bar of California approval as qualifying a student to take the Bar admission.