Northwestern California University School of Law

[Cop-Attorney]

I am at the beginning of my search for a LD law school.  I currently have the BarBri prep course and several CD's on Torts, Contracts and other Bar topics that I will be studying concurrently with NWCU. 

I believe that Northwestern offers the best price/bar-pass-rate ratio.  I have read many of the Distance Education Law School posts here and truly believe that this school seems the best match for me.  I have been in law enforcement for 15 years and after another 9 or so years would like to practice law as a criminal defense attorney/PI atorney.

Are there any current students who are now taking the bar or who have passed and are practicing that can provide input...?

How important are the grades at NWCU?  or is it just the bar prep and pass that is important?

Any chance at NWCU becoming calbar approved?

Please advise...

[ailsaclover]

Northwestern California University School of Law is an online correspondence based separation instruction organization established in 1982. It is approved by the California State Bar to grant the Juris Doctor endless supply of a California Bar Qualifying Program. It is enlisted as a graduate school with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.

[legalpractitioner]

Odds are 20-1 against you will come out with a law license.  The bar pass rate does not take into account all the other attrition and failure to pass the First year Law Exam.  But if you go to a ABA school the odds are 1 - 3 in your favor.  My suggestion is don't do DL unless you have no other alternative.  Yes you can succeed with a DL school but the odds are only slightly better than the roulette wheel.

[jcrew7]

I am aware of a couple of classmates in the NWCU program who are currently in law enforcement.  We love their input in Crim Law and Crim Pro class discussions.  I am in my 3rd year of the NWCU program.  Passed the FYLSE on my first attempt as did all of my study group partners from the school. 

There are multiple reasons for one to enter an online program.  For me it was that I still have children at home and the nearest university was over an hour away and it would run me nearly $100,000 to complete my degree.  Law is a wonderful subject that really can be studied without being in a classroom however, don't think that I don't have brick and mortar envy.  I would love to be in school but also did not want to leave my family for that many hours per day and also want the lovely flexibility to not have to work to pay off loans but have the ability to work for a cause (and generally "causes" don't pay so well!) 

Enjoy the decision making process.  No scenario is perfect so find the one that you feel works best for you.  I will say that I was absolutely prepared for the FYLSE with a combination of great writing instruction through the program as well as Professor Flemings Baby Bar Prep course.  In a way I feel grateful to have already taken the FYLSE as I have a little understanding as to what the actual Bar exam will be like. 

Warm regards, SJ

[legalpractitioner]

Sounds like you have a good shot.  Work on the essay questions stuff, that is where online students are usually weakest.