Making the Most of California Law Schools

Explore CA law schools to earn a degree that could boost your business
By Emmet McMahan Making the most of California law schools requires you to understand that a law degree is not just for lawyers. It is also useful for many other professionals including administrators, business investors and politicians. The most common law degree awarded in the United States is the Juris Doctor (J.D.), which is usually granted through a three-year graduate program.
 

Law schools in California must be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) before the state bar association will allow a graduate to sit for the bar exam. The ABA specifies precise requirements of accredited schools, including factors such the contents of its library and the minimum amount of instruction time. In addition to completing the required course work, there are three important credentials to strive for while in law school:

1. Membership in the law review of California law universities; this membership is based on grades and writing ability, and many employers may include this in their hiring criteria.
2. Moot court; this experience can distinguish students as effective oral advocates and provide practical legal training.
3. Membership in the Order of the Coif; this is based on grade point average.
   

Find out the ranking for law schools in CA

A law school's ranking is extremely important to an attorney's career. Graduates of the most elite laws schools typically fill prestigious positions such as clerkships for the Supreme Court.
Try: Brian Leiter's Law School Rankings provides multiple rankings for law schools each year based on different criteria. ULinks.com provides a list of the top 20 law schools in the United States in addition to other education resources.

Research California law universities according to their courses of study

Many online sites describe the specific areas of specialization for various law schools. These sites frequently provide additional resources about each law school to determine if it is a good fit for you and your business career.
Try: LLM Guide provides a detailed description of the law degree programs in California, including the curriculum. Education Online Search provides a profile of California law schools and an overview of their programs.

Learn more about the admissions process of part time law schools in California

You can improve your chances of being admitted to California part time law schools by knowing which criteria the admissions boards most value. Highly-ranked law schools typically accept only a small percentage of the total applicants.
Try: California Southern Law School is a highly-regarded part-time law school in California that provides specific information on its admission requirements. University of West Los Angeles offers a part-time program and requires specific admission standards from its part-time students.

• A student graduating from lower-tier California law colleges may wish to concentrate on job opportunities in that school's home market as local businesses typically employ area alumni. Lower-tier California accredited law schools may also have a national scope when it caters to a specific type of student, such as a historically black or Christian university.