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. It is registered as a law school with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.Online law educationThe 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.Degrees offeredThe school offers a Bachelor of Science in Law and Juris Doctor 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 university has the approval of Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.AccreditationThe 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 accredited by the California State Bar.Bar pass ratesFor the years 1997 through July 2011, 191 Northwestern California graduates have taken the California Bar Examination as first-time takers; of that number, 50 passed the examination for a pass rate of 26%.Baby Bar pass ratesIn October 2010, thirty-four students took the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination for their first time. Twelve 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 passed, compared to 8% for repeaters from all correspondence law schools and 16% for repeaters from all schools.
