_school_of_law.gif)
Northwestern California University (NWCU) School of Law
Encyclopedia
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. While regulated by the California State Bar, it is not approved by the American Bar Association.
(JD) 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 JD program is not accredited by the California State Bar or American Bar Association, which do not accredit online programs.
The school’s pass rate on the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination (the “Baby Bar”) has been as high as 47%. This occurred in October 2005 when thirty-two students took the examination for the first time and fifteen passed. The overall average for all first-time takers from all schools on that exam was 32%.
Online law education
The 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 offered
The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Law (BSL) and Juris DoctorJuris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(JD) law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
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.
Accreditation
The 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 not accredited by the California State Bar or American Bar Association, which do not accredit online programs.
Bar pass rates
For the years 1997 through February 2011, 177 Northwestern California graduates have taken the California Bar Examination as first-time takers; of that number, 47 passed the examination for a pass rate of 27%.Baby Bar pass rates
In October 2010, thirty-four students took the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination (the “Baby Bar”) for their first time. Twelve (35%) 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 (10%) passed, compared to 8% for repeaters from all correspondence law schools and 16% for repeaters from all schools.The school’s pass rate on the California First-Year Law Students’ Examination (the “Baby Bar”) has been as high as 47%. This occurred in October 2005 when thirty-two students took the examination for the first time and fifteen passed. The overall average for all first-time takers from all schools on that exam was 32%.
Faculty
The current Dean of Northwestern California University School of Law is Michael P. Clancey, who is a member of the California Bar. He is a former United States Marine Corps Judge Advocate.Alumni
- James E. Gilleran, ('96) Director of the U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Thrift SupervisionOffice of Thrift SupervisionThe Office of Thrift Supervision was a United States federal agency under the Department of the Treasury that charters, supervises, and regulates all federally- and state-chartered savings banks and savings and loans associations. It was created in 1989 as a renamed version of another federal agency...
(OTS) - Max HardbergerMax HardbergerFlorian Max Hardberger is an American adventurer, ship captain, aviator, ship recovery specialist, admiralty lawyer and author of maritime fiction and non-fiction adventures.- Education :...
, maritime security specialist and author. - Mark Whitacre, President of Archer Daniels MidlandArcher Daniels MidlandThe Archer Daniels Midland Company is a conglomerate headquartered in Decatur, Illinois. ADM operates more than 270 plants worldwide, where cereal grains and oilseeds are processed into products used in food, beverage, nutraceutical, industrial and animal feed markets worldwide.ADM was named the...
’s Bioproducts division who become a whistleblower under U.S. federal whistleblower statutes. The movie The Informant starring Matt Damon was based on Whitacre’s role in the ADM price-fixing case.