North Carolina Law Schools

Explore NC law schools to earn a degree that could boost your business
By Mary Beth Doyle Attending one of the law schools in North Carolina and earning your law degree doesn’t necessarily mean you want to practice law. North Carolina law degrees can be put to use in a variety of different ways for your business, from learning about business investments to ensuring the administrative aspects of your company are in compliance with North Carolina and national laws.

There are a variety of North Carolina law schools throughout the state to choose from, or you can opt for an online law degree in North Carolina. Before you can seriously consider a North Carolina law degree, you’ll need to meet the academic requirements for North Carolina law schools, which includes taking the LSAT exam. You’ll also want to research North Carolina law school rankings and find accredited law schools in North Carolina. As you begin your search for North Carolina law schools, consider the following:

1. Seek out North Carolina law schools that have been accredited by the American Bar Association.

2. If your time is limited, seek out part-time law schools in North Carolina.

3. Find scholarships and loans to help you pay for tuition at North Carolina law schools.

Apply to accredited law schools in North Carolina

In addition to consulting North Carolina law school rankings, when it comes to deciding among North Carolina law schools, you should only consider ABA-accredited law schools in North Carolina. These institutions have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) to meet the standards set within the country's legal profession.
Try:  UNC School of Law and North Carolina Central University School of Law are both ABA-accredited law schools in North Carolina. For a complete list of accredited law school programs, check out the ABA’s website.

Consider part-time law schools in NC

If you run your own business, it can be difficult to find the time between work and home life to attend classes toward a North Carolina law degree. North Carolina part-time law schools are great options for busy business owners - or anyone, really - to get the education they seek.
Try:  The Charlotte School of Law has a part-time program, where students take 9 to 12 credit hours per semester and typically finish their law degree in North Carolina in four years. Concord Law School has a North Carolina online law degree program that can also be completed part time to fit your schedule.

Check out funding options for law schools in NC

Whether you opt for part-time law programs in North Carolina, or decide to bite the bullet and go full time, the cost of North Carolina law schools isn't cheap (the cost of the top two law schools in North Carolina run more than $10,000 a year). Fortunately, there are scholarships and private loans designed specifically for law students.
Try:  Search for scholarships for NC law schools at FastWeb. Also check out various scholarships available for the UNC School of Law. For law school loans, see Discover Student Loans, which offers federal Stafford loans as well as private education loans.

• Be realistic when determining how much time you'll have to spend each semester toward earning a North Carolina law degree. Most schools have a part-time option, so while it may take longer to get the degree, you'll have an easier time focusing on coursework - and your business - if you don't overload yourself.