Law Schools

• Law Schools in California Approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)
• Law Schools in California Approved by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CALS)
• Unaccredited Law Schools in California

Rules and Fees

• Accredited Law School Rules
• Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules
• Unaccredited Law School Rules 
• Guidelines for Unaccredited Law School Rules 
•  Accredited and Unaccredited Law School Fees 

Law Schools in California Approved by the America Bar Association (ABA)  

The following schools are approved by the American Bar Association and by such approval are deemed accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners.

  *  Provisionally approved by the ABA - June 14, 2011
**  Provisionally approved by the ABA - March 16, 2012

Law Schools in California Accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CALS)

The following schools are accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners.

Unaccredited Law Schools in California

The lists below are published for informational purposes only. Please refer to the Unaccredited Law School Rules for the requirements for registration as:

• an unaccredited correspondence law school;
• a distance-learning law school; and
• a fixed-facility law school

Neither the committee nor the State Bar's Office of Admissions will advise prospective students on the advantages or disadvantages of studying law through correspondence, distance-learning or fixed-facility law schools or the quality of the legal education programs provided by the listed schools.

Prospective students should refer to available resources such as the law school pass/fail statistics on the bar examination and First-Year Law Students' Examination current and former students, pre-legal advisers located on college or university campuses and other career counselors, among others.

Applicants seeking admission to practice law in California will receive credit for their law study at a registered unaccredited law school only if such study is completed in accordance with the Admissions Rules.

Students attending registered unaccredited law schools are required to take the First-Year Law Students' Examination and must pass it within three administrations after first becoming eligible to take the examination, which is upon completion of the first year of law study, in order to receive credit for law study undertaken up to the point of passage.

If the examination is passed on a subsequent attempt, only one year of law study credit will be given toward meeting the legal education requirements needed to qualify to take the California Bar Examination.

Registered Unaccredited Correspondence Law Schools in California

Print Version 

The following institutions are currently registered by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as unaccredited correspondence law schools. A correspondence law school is a law school that conducts instruction principally by correspondence. A correspondence law school must require at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.

Registered Unaccredited Distance Learning Law Schools in California

Print Version

The following institutions are currently registered by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as unaccredited distance-learning law schools. A distance-learning law school is a law school that conducts instruction and provides interactive classes principally by technological means. A distance-learning law school must require at least 864 hours of preparation and study per year for four years.

Registered Unaccredited Fixed Facility Law Schools in California

Print Version 

The following institutions are currently registered by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California as unaccredited fixed-facility law schools. A fixed-facility law school is a law school that conducts its instruction principally in physical classroom facilities. A fixed-facility law school must require classroom attendance of its students for a minimum of 270 hours a year for four years.