NEWPORT BEACH, CA—St. Francis School of Law, an online Juris Doctorate degree program, and the first not-for-profit online law school operating in the United States, is pleased to announce it has been granted accreditation by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, effective immediately (as of August 21, 2020). The announcement was made by Greg Brandes, dean of St. Francis School of Law.
The innovative online law school had much to recommend it already, including small class sizes, accomplished faculty and impressive pass rates for both the First Year Law Students Exam and the California General Bar Exam. Now, St. Francis School of Law also is fully accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. After inspecting St. Francis, the State Bar team recommended full, immediate accreditation because St. Francis fully complies with the Committee of Bar Examiners’ accreditation standards.
St. Francis, which has been operating since 2011, began with a vision of using technology to deliver an outstanding Juris Doctor program. The school’s president, Dr. Jill Langen, said, “St. Francis has always been, and will continue to be, a leader in innovative legal education.”
Brandes continued, “At a time when colleges, universities and law schools the world over are trying to figure out how to do online learning, St. Francis has, for nearly a decade, effectively focused on student success, high quality curriculum, formative assessment and practical skills in the online setting.”
As a result of the new accreditation, current St. Francis students may see some slight schedule adjustments and other minor logistical updates, but in most significant ways, the school plans to continue its successful program of legal education unchanged. This includes the low student-to-faculty ratio, live class discussions and ongoing academic support, which have allowed this rigorous law program to serve its students so well to date. New students will start joining the accredited program immediately.
“St. Francis’ focus has always been on pairing excellent doctrinal training with superb preparation for the practice of law,” said Langen. “Perhaps just as importantly, our graduates find they build relationships with faculty and fellow students that are meaningful and last a lifetime.”
