Juris Doctor
JURIS DOCTOR (J.D.)
Through our Juris Doctor (J.D.) program, students develop the practical, theoretical, and cultural skills needed to become “citizen lawyers,” practicing with a tireless commitment to their clients, to their communities, and to the justice system.
Our accredited J.D. degree program thoroughly prepares graduates to sit for the California Bar Exam through a collaborative learning environment that emphasizes discussion and debate. Studying alongside a diverse cohort, students come away with the cultural competence that helps them confidently advocate for clients from all walks of life and strengthens the legal profession as a whole. Juris Doctor students study under working lawyers, judges, and elected officials, many of whom live and practice in the Santa Barbara and Ventura communities. Culminating with a pro bono internship under a practicing attorney or judge, the program equips students with the practical and theoretical skills that translate into a successful professional career.
Juris Doctor Program Overview
EVENING
PART-TIME
CREDITS
84
YEARS
3.5-4
Get a first-class law degree without the debt
Our affordable J.D. program reflects our commitment to high-quality, cost-effective education.
Learn from well-connected faculty
The J.D. faculty includes practicing judges, lawyers, and elected officials working within the local community. They bring real-world experience straight into the classroom.
Benefit from a diverse student body
Our J.D. students come from all walks of life, with a variety of backgrounds and perspectives that energize and diversify the classroom and the legal profession.
Join an engaged, vibrant community
J.D. students and graduates join a lively community of scholars, educators, practitioners, and public—one that is always engaged in dialogue about the law and its intersection with daily life.
Schedule
Fall and Spring Classes
Santa Barbara Campus 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. / Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday
Ventura Campus 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. / Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday
Summer Classes
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. / Monday–Thursday and some Saturdays (depending on electives)
Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be licensed to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek licensure to practice law outside of California at any time during their career should contact the admitting authority for information regarding its education and licensure requirements prior to enrolling at this law school.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
J.D. program applicants are considered for admission in one of three categories defined by the State Bar of California—regular, special, and transfer. Requirements and application materials vary slightly depending on which admissions category applies.
REQUIREMENTS AT A GLANCE
Regular J.D. Students
- One of the following from an accredited college or university:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Associate degree
- 60 semester units of academic college credits
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- At least one letter of recommendation
- A 750-1,000 word typed, double-spaced personal statement detailing your motivation, skills, and suitability to pursue a J.D. degree at The Colleges of Law
- Students for whom English is the second language: TOEFL scores or English composition class transcripts (if proficiency is not otherwise demonstrated)
Special J.D. Students
- At least two letters of recommendation
- A 750-1,000 word typed, double-spaced personal statement detailing your motivation, skills, and suitability to pursue a J.D. degree at The Colleges of Law
- Students for whom English is the second language: TOEFL scores or English composition class transcripts (if proficiency is not otherwise demonstrated)
- CLEP test scores of 50 or higher
- Personal interview with the dean of The Colleges of Law
Transfer J.D. Students
- All admission materials required of either a regular or a special student
- Certified transcripts from law school(s) previously attended
- Letter of standing from the dean of law school(s) previously attended
J.D. APPLICATION CHECKLIST
To be considered for admission to the California J.D. program, ALL must submit the following:
- Completed online or mailed application form
- A required, nonrefundable application fee of $50
- At least one letter of recommendation
- Certified transcripts of academic work
- All special student applicants must additionally:
- Submit scores from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) Tests
- Submit an additional letter of recommendation (two total)
- Arrange for a personal interview with the dean of The Colleges of Law
- All transfer student applicants must additionally submit:
- Certified transcripts from previously attended law school(s)
- A letter of standing from the dean of previously attended law school(s)
Please contact our Admissions Officeif you have any questions regarding your application.
TRANSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS
All Juris Doctorate program applicants are required to submit certified transcripts in a sealed envelope from the school(s) where coursework was attempted. Transcript requirements depend on where, and to what level, degrees have been taken:
Applicants with a bachelor’s degree: Submit a certified transcript from the school awarding the degree OR a current CAS report.
Applicants without a bachelor’s degree: Submit a certified transcript from each college or university attended.
Applicants educated outside the United States: Submit an evaluation from a Credential Evaluation Service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. This must be a detailed report providing a categorized listing of courses with individual grade equivalents and overall grade point average.
Unofficial transcripts can be used to make a preliminary evaluation of your qualifications until certified transcripts are submitted. If you have completed our education prerequisites, but need more time to obtain certified transcripts, contact the Admissions Office.
TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS
Some applicants are required to submit scores from standardized tests during the admission process:
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): Applicants for whom English is not the first language may be required to submit TOEFL scores if proficiency is not otherwise demonstrated. For further information, contact the Admissions Office.
LSAT (Law School Admission Test): For most J.D. applicants, where potential for success at the College is indicated by undergraduate record and work and life experiences, an LSAT score is not currently required for admission. In other instances, an applicant will be asked to submit an LSAT score before the Admissions Committee will give further consideration to an application. Regardless of requirements, all applicants may wish to take the LSAT with adequate planning and preparation, as there is a correlation between LSAT scores and law school grades.
CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) Tests: Applicants who have not completed enough undergraduate academic units to otherwise qualify for admission will be required to take CLEP Tests. Further information is available at the Admissions Office.
If you have taken a test but need additional time to obtain your score, contact the Admissions Office.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SPECIAL STUDENTS
CLEP Test Requirements
Special students must take the following CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) tests:
The College Composition test or the College Composition and Modular test, plus one of the following options:
Two additional tests, each designed to correspond to full-year courses (six semester hours each), or
Four additional tests, each designed to correspond to semester courses (three semester hours each), selected from at least two of the following subjects:
- Composition and Literature (Humanities Examination only)
- Science & Mathematics
- Business
- History & Social Sciences
- Foreign Language
First-Year Law Students’ Examination
After completing the first-year curriculum, special students are required to take the state bar’s First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX). Under state bar rules, a special student who does not pass the examination may continue law studies if otherwise in good academic standing, but failure to pass by the third consecutive administration of the test after becoming eligible will result in loss of academic credit and dismissal from law studies.
Additional information about attending law school as a special student is available from the state bar.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
Transfer Student Criteria
To be considered as a transfer student, no more than two years will have elapsed since the applicant was enrolled at the prior school. If more than two years have elapsed, you may apply for admission as a beginning student without transfer credit.
Transfer Credit
An applicant from an accredited law school may be admitted with transfer credit for courses successfully completed at the prior law school, up to a maximum of 30 semester units. An applicant from an unaccredited law school or correspondence law school may be admitted with transfer credit only if the applicant received a score of 580 or higher on the state bar’s First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX) and for courses tested on the FYLSX (Torts, Contracts, Criminal Law).
Enrollment Periods
Due to the cyclical nature of course offerings at The Colleges of Law, a transfer student admitted with advanced standing will be allowed to enroll only during a summer session or fall semester.
Admission After Prior Law School Disqualification
An applicant previously disqualified from, or without good standing at, a prior law school will rarely be admitted. However, the Academic Standards and Admissions Committee will consider such applicant’s admission on essentially the same basis applied to former students of The Colleges of Law who apply for readmission after academic exclusion, as follows:
An application for immediate readmission (when less than two years have elapsed since academic disqualification) will be considered only if the applicant can substantiate that the exclusion was caused by exigent circumstances of an extreme, unavoidable, immediate, and personal nature.
An application for delayed readmission (when more than two years have elapsed since academic exclusion) must document that, during the period since exclusion, the applicant has engaged in work, study, or other activity which provides a compelling reason to conclude that there now exists a materially greater potential for success in a law degree program. The applicant must also submit an LSAT score (normally at or above the 50th percentile).
Academic Calendar
FALL | SPRING | SUMMER |
---|---|---|
J.D. students admitted | J.D. students admitted | |
15 weeks | 15 weeks | 10 weeks (required) |
J.D. CURRICULUM
Our J.D. students benefit from rigorous, engaging courses that interweave fundamental legal principles with the practical skills needed for a successful career in law. Class sessions emphasize thoughtful analysis and lively discussion that bring the law to life. Each student also receives experiential legal learning through a pro bono internship under the supervision of a practicing attorney or judge.
REQUIRED COURSES
CALIFORNIA BAR EXAM
Students who complete our J.D. program are academically eligible to sit for California’s General Bar Exam. It’s no secret that this two-day exam is one of the toughest in the nation, with a pass rate that typically hovers around fifty percent. For students juggling law studies with work and family responsibilities, the exam can pose a significant challenge. Faculty and staff at the Colleges of Law share a strong commitment to helping students succeed on the exam.
Our required curriculum covers every bar-tested subject and includes Bar Studies, a course designed to help students meet the exam’s intellectual and time-management challenges. We also offer presentations, panel discussions, and workshops on Bar Exam preparation.
More information about the Bar Exam, as well as information about additional prerequisites for practicing law in California, can be found on the State Bar of California website.
What is a J.D. Degree?
A Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree is the degree program that leads to becoming a practicing lawyer. A J.D. is a graduate degree that prepares students to take the bar exam and practice law. The Colleges of Law J.D. program is located in California, which qualifies students to take the California Bar Exam.
Is The Colleges of Law Juris Doctorate program offered part time?
Yes, the J.D. program can be completed full time with evening classes to offer flexibility for working students.
How long does it take to complete a J.D. program in California?
The Colleges of Law J.D. program can be completed in three-and-a-half to four years. After the coursework is completed, students are eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam.
What is a Juris Doctor salary?
The average salary for a Juris Doctorate graduate is $109,651 in the U.S., according to ZipRecruiter.*
*Data was collected in 2023.