Description of Program
The School of Law seeks to graduate well-rounded attorneys who are prepared to pass the California Bar Examination and to practice law competently and ethically. The law school curriculum and support activities are designed to produce qualified and compassionate attorneys who have a commitment to the highest quality of representation for their clients.
Courses include all of the subjects tested on the California Bar Examination and a variety of electives and practical skills-training classes for today’s practice of law.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the JD program, all applicants (regardless of the category of admission they fall under with the exception of “Special Status”) must have a completed application including official transcripts and personal statement and (1) a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; or (2) an associate of arts or science degree from an accredited university; or (3) a minimum of 60 undergraduate college-level credits completed with a “C” or better.
It is not required, but it is recommended that potential students also submit a Resume and/or Letters of Recommendation and an official LSAT score.
All letters of acceptance to the JD program by the Admissions Committee are conditional upon 1) review of official transcripts by the Office of the Registrar and 2) acceptance of sufficient undergraduate credits to satisfy this requirement.
Applicants for Standard Admission
To be considered for standard admission to the Juris Doctor program, applicants must have (1) a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university; or (2) an associate of arts or science degree from an accredited university; or (3) a minimum of 60 undergraduate college-level credits completed with a “C” or better, and a completed application including official transcripts, an official LSAT score, and a personal statement. It is also recommended that applicants have an official LSAT score.
All letters of acceptance to the JD program by the Admissions Committee are conditional upon 1) review of official transcripts by the Office of the Registrar and 2) acceptance of sufficient undergraduate credits to satisfy this requirement.
Applicants for Admission with Special Status
Applicants who do not meet the above education criteria for admission with regular status may be considered for admission with special status. A special status student is one who, through life, work, and experience, has demonstrated a level of accomplishment and maturity required to succeed in law school.
In addition to a completed application, including official transcripts and personal statement, and an official LSAT score, special status applicants must also (1) submit at least two letters of recommendation attesting to their apparent ability to study law and (2) achieve an LSAT score at or above the 50th percentile. After completion of the first year of law study, special status students must take and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination administered by The Committee of Bar Examiners.
Applicants for Admission with Advanced Standing
Applicants who have previously attended law school may apply for admission with advanced standing. Such applicants must fulfill the same application requirements as beginning students, stated above, and demonstrate that they are in good standing at the law school last attended through submission of an official letter from the school’s dean or registrar and an official transcript. Applicants with prior law school experience at an unaccredited school will be considered for admission with advanced standing only if they have passed the First-Year Law Students’ Examination.
The Admissions Committee will determine the amount of allowable transfer credit. Only academic courses completed within the previous 27 months and in which a good-standing level grade was attained will be considered for transfer credit.
Applicants Previously Dismissed from Law School
An applicant who is not in good standing at their prior law school for any reason must demonstrate that they possess the requisite ability to succeed at the study of law and that the prior academic disqualification was caused by extraordinary circumstances not likely to reoccur. The applicant must present credible evidence that the disqualification was not caused by the applicant’s lack of capability to satisfactorily study law, but resulted from a traumatic event or serious hardship that prohibited the applicant from performing at their normal level. If more than two years have elapsed since disqualification, an enhanced potential to succeed in the study of law must be demonstrated. Transfer credit will only be considered if the student was advanced to the second year at the prior law school, subject to the same restrictions stated in the above section for applicants with advanced standing.
Any applicant who was previously disqualified from another law school must submit an official LSAT score with their application to be considered.
Degree Requirements
NCU awards the Juris Doctor degree to students who fulfill the following requirements:
- Successful completion of 82 units of study in accordance with the prescribed curriculum
- Successful completion of all required courses
- The maximum amount of credit for internships and independent studies allowed in the 82 credit-hour JD program is 8 credit hours. This credit maximum of 10% of the total hours required for graduation is set by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
- Completion of at least 50 credit-hours of the degree requirements through enrollment in courses at the John F. Kennedy School of Law at Northcentral University
- Achievement of a cumulative grade point average of 2.4 or higher and fulfillment of all conditions imposed by the Academic Standards Committee
- Completion of degree requirements in no more than 16 academic terms, including summer sessions, unless an extension is otherwise approved by the Academic Standards Committee
- Submission of diploma application when credit complete and academic program requirements have been met
- Satisfaction of all financial obligations to the University
- No Incompletes on the transcript; and
- Are not on academic probation
California State Bar Requirements
Registration as a Law Student
Rule V, Section 1 of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California states that all law students must register with the State Bar no later than 90 days after beginning their law studies. Registration is a prerequisite to taking the California Bar Examination. Forms are available from the State Bar website at www.admissions.calbar.ca.gov. Each student is responsible for obtaining the form and submitting it to the State Bar by the deadline.
First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX): Special Status Students
In accordance with state law and rules of The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, ”special” status students are those admitted with less than 60 qualifying semester units of undergraduate work. A student admitted with special status is required to take and pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination after completion of the first year of study (after completion of Torts, Contracts, and Criminal Law) to be eligible to advance into their second year of law school. Special Status students who do not pass the FYLSX following their first year of study will be academically disqualified from the School of Law and are unable to progress to the second year of law school.
Applications for the FYLSX are accepted only through the online application process available at www.admissions.calbar.ca.gov.
A Special Status student who passes the FYLSX on their second or subsequent effort may apply for readmission to the School of Law. If the student is readmitted, they may receive credit only for the first-year courses successfully completed.
Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE)
In addition to passing the Bar Exam and obtaining a favorable Determination of Moral Character, all persons applying for a license to practice law in California must also take and pass the MPRE, which is given by the National Conference of Bar Examiners multiple times a year. Information about and registration for the MPRE can be found at https://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpre.
California Bar Examination
Two separate application forms are required in conjunction with the Bar Examination: (1) Application to take the California Bar Examination and (2) Application for Determination of Moral Character. Applications are accepted only through the online application process available at www.admissions.calbar.ca.gov.
The student is responsible for submitting the application to the State Bar by the established deadlines.
State Bar of California Rules
The State Bar of California rules also mandate attendance policies and other areas of enrollment and academic progress. The rules are available through The Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California, 180 Howard Street, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415.538.2303, or at www.calbar.ca.gov.
Residency Requirements
Students are responsible for complying with the residency requirement of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California. These rules establish the minimum number of units and weeks in residence of law school study necessary for eligibility to take the California Bar Examination.
In addition to satisfying the residency requirement set by The Committee of Bar Examiners for eligibility to sit for the California Bar Examination, students admitted to the School of Law are required to complete a minimum of 25 credit hours of the degree requirements in residence at NCU.
Students who move from part-time to full-time, or the reverse, need to ensure that their schedules of classes will satisfy this residency requirement.
Internship Requirement
All School of Law students are required to complete 60 hours (one unit) of pre-approved legal internship work. Satisfactory completion of this work in a public interest placement or credit in either the School of Law Housing Advocacy Clinic or Elder Law Clinic will also satisfy the Juris Doctor Service Learning Program requirement.
Internship Program
Students are encouraged to participate in internship opportunities in off-campus placements, including non-profits, government offices, and private firms. The internships are supervised by attorneys.
Students work one-on-one with the attorney, assisting them and gaining valuable expertise in a given field. Students are required to complete a minimum of one unit in a public interest internship or clinical program. No more than eight units of off-campus internship can be applied to the degree.
Internship Program and Clinic Requirements
Students placed in an internship allowing for Certified Student status may also complete The State Bar of California’s application for such certification. The application is available by download at www.admissions.calbar.ca.gov. Please be sure to carefully read the materials included with the application packet, including the Rules Governing the Practical Training of Law Students. Note that, at a minimum, Certified Student status requires:
- Good academic standing
- Completion of one full year of at least 270 classroom hours of law study, in good academic standing, at an accredited law school
- Current enrollment in or completion of Civil Procedure and Skills; and
- Supervision by a presently active member of The State Bar of California who has been admitted and is in good standing for at least five years when supervision commences
The School of Law may impose, at its election and with or without notice, such additional eligibility requirements as are reasonable under the circumstances or as required by The State Bar of California.
BarBri Bar Review Program
The John F. Kennedy School of Law at Northcentral University has teamed with BarBri, one of the nation’s preeminent bar examination companies, to offer its students a uniquely customized bar study program. Beginning in their first year of law school, all registered law students receive a full California Bar Examination study program included with their tuition and university fees.
First and second-year law students are offered customized study aids and tools to assist them in their law school courses. Students in their final year of law school will take 2 courses (5 units) of early bar examination preparation – Extended Bar Review A and B. Upon completion of both courses, students are seamlessly transitioned into the full two-month BarBri Intensive Bar Review Program. Upon completion of the Early Start Paced Program, students are seamlessly transitioned into the full two-month BarBri Intensive Bar Review
These are completely customized and unique bar study programs designed to increase the overall success rate of School of Law students on the California Bar Examination.
Spring Admission Program
The School of Law recognizes that some applicants are ready to begin their law studies well before the traditional Fall Semester admission period. For such applicants, we have created our Mid-Year Admissions Program designed to get them started with their studies in the Spring Semester. Once their initial Spring and Summer sessions are complete, students in the Mid-Year Admissions Program join other first-year students entering the following Fall Semester and continue their studies as one cohort with minor adjustments.
Curriculum
The School of Law offers both full-time and part-time programs.
The three and four-year curriculum plans for the Juris Doctor degree consist of a carefully sequenced schedule of 82 units.
Please refer to your Academic and Finance Advisor for additional policies regarding curriculum planning and matriculation requirements.
Deviations from Standard Curriculum
Any student who deviates from the standard curriculum, whether with or without approval, cannot be guaranteed a specific graduation date, nor can s/he be assured of compliance with the residency requirement of The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California for eligibility to take the California Bar Examination. Deviation from the standard curriculum without prior written permission from the Dean’s office may result in administrative withdrawal from non-conforming courses.
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