Concord Law School Reviews

  • 60 Reviews
  • Los Angeles (CA)
  • Annual Tuition: $14,445
56% of 60 students said this degree improved their career prospects
72% of 60 students said they would recommend this school to others
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Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 6/24/2013
  • Degree: Economics
"I have completed my first year of Concord Law School and wanted to share my opinions to any that might be considering it as an option. I had a lot of questions before I started so I hope this will answer some of yours. I've wanted to write a review for a while but decided not to do so until year one was in the books. My greatest concern going in was whether the quality of my education would be that of a brick and mortar school. Well it's impossible to say for sure as I have never attended one of those so I have no frame of reference. However, I have undergrad bachelor degrees in both Economics and History from a prestigious university and I can honestly say that I never worked as hard at those as I did at this. The education is real, and you will get what you put into it. If you're not willing to put in the time (bare minimum 20 hours a week I'd say) you probably won't be successful. The Staff is very supportive. They will answer your questions and are constantly there for you, but they will not do the work for you. The level of interaction from the faculty is very high. Any email I ever sent to a Professor with questions on the material was answered within 24 hours. The essays you submit will be returned with feedback, and the feedback is often more voluminous than the essay itself. Speaking with friends of mine that went to some of the top brick and mortar law schools in the country, you do not find this sort of assistance and feedback in most places. In addition, I'm reading the same textbooks and learning the same material as those friends of mine did. The curriculum itself seems to be largely the same as any traditional school. The only difference is I attend my lectures online. Speaking of the lectures, there are two kinds: Pre-recorded and live classes. What's great about these is if you missed something, you can always rewind or pause. In my undergrad days if I stepped out, missed a class, the Professor mumbled, etc...you're screwed, you better have a friend with good notes. Not here, and I loved that. Also, the live classes are recorded and archived to ensure the same convenience. I would recommend that anyone considering this determine exactly what they want the education for. If you want to practice law, make sure you are living in a state that will allow you to take the bar with an online JD. I do not want to practice law, but work in a profession that values a legal education. For someone like me the tuition of a brick and mortar school made no sense since I don't plan on being a practicing attorney, but this program and its more reasonable tuition was a perfect solution. If you live in a state where it is currently not possible to take the bar exam with an online JD and you want to practice there, that should obviously factor in to your decision making. If you have a job, family, children, etc. and still want to pursue a legal education, this is a great choice as it allows maximum flexibility in your schedule. Concord also does a fantastic job of preparing you for the school's final and the California First Year Law Student Exam. They have a review program to go over all the material learned throughout the year and then a live review weekend in California the weekend before the exam. I just concluded that and was very impressed. These people care and they want you to do well. Negatives...not many to be completely honest. If high tuition/debt are no issue and you want to go to school full time and have no conflicting responsibilities (basically, you're fresh out of college), then I'd probably go with a brick and mortar school that everyone has heard of because employers will recognize it on my resume. The stigma might be the drawback, but once again it's on you. If you can pass the California bar afterwards (one of the hardest in the country) that's all that counts, and plenty of people from Concord have taken and passed the bar. So if the circumstances make Concord attractive, I wholeheartedly recommend the school. I have found the experience to be extremely rewarding and I do not doubt the validity of the education. I'm very confident that I wouldn't have learned anything in a traditional school setting that I didn't learn here. After all, it's the same material...California makes sure of it by making you take the first year exam. Finally, I saw there were a few negative comments about financial aid. I don't use financial aid, but I have had to work with the billing office for a few things and although the process was not as smooth as possible, it worked out in the end. But it's only fair to mention that the Financial Aid office has nothing to do with Concord staff. The school is owned by Kaplan, and Kaplan staff administers the financial aid. One really has little to do with the other when writing a review."
Anonymous
  • Reviewed: 1/3/2013
  • Degree: Legal Studies
"I just finish and pass my 1L and moving into 2L. I think this is the law school to attend if you are not just studying but working as well. This is also the school for you if you have hard time getting into an aba school.Since my undergraduate gpa is not even 3.0 and I was only waitlisted on an aba school. This school gives me a chance to get my JD and become a lawyer. I like the instructors, they are very supportive and knowledgeable. I agree with some of the people that I had some difficulty obtaining financial aid initially.Over all, it is a great school and I believe you can transfer to an aba school after you pass baby bar. I will try to do that. Finally, I am very happy where I am now. My advice for you is to pray to God and God will open doors for you and make things possible for you. Thanks for reading."
Tanya
  • Reviewed: 5/30/2012
  • Degree: Law
"I graduated from Concord Law School in 2010. The program was rigorous, challenging, and took over my life for a few years. All the pain staking day after day study sessions, paid off on graduation day! This program is not designed for anyone who is not completely committed to spending 30 hours a week on their law studies. This is not a program that you can skate on through.The professors are outstanding and set high standards and expectations on their students. The results are a high quality education preparing you to be an attorney. I personally chose Concord Law School because of the flexibility that allowed me to continue working as a full-time Adminstrator and full fill my dream to obtain a law degree. One month after graduating from Concord Law School, I was working in the world of law making over 1k starting out.My time and money spent at Concord Law School was worth the investment! I reccommend Concord Law School to anyone who is willing to set a goal to complete the program and than give 100% to your studies for the next four years. I guarrentee you will be perpared and ready to be an attorney."
JK
  • Reviewed: 12/17/2011
"Like many, I would not have been able to attend law school without the ability to keep working and go to class from where ever I might have been in the world on any given day. Concord Law is a very good school. The subjects and concepts taught are the same as those taught in Harvard, Yale or any other aba school you can name. I had several professors and lecturers that graduated from those law schools. Do a search for Arthur R Miller, the first couple of years you hear that guys voice in your sleep. Not being a aba certified school is an irritation but the obstacles imposed by living in a state other than California are not that difficult to overcome with a little creativity and time. One day the aba will certify distant learning schools of which I guarantee Concord Law will be the first and it’s probably not too far off in the future.The best advice that I can give is that law school is not easy, and the decision to attend should only be made after fully considering the price that is required. I’m not referring to the financial price, although it is considerable. I’m talking about the emotional, physical and psychological price that is required by law school of anyone willing to undertake the endeavor. It is significant. After that, law school is what you make of it at Concord or any other place."
David
  • Reviewed: 6/2/2011
"I couldn't have become a lawyer without the distance option. I thought Concord was the best choice out of all the distance schools. Now I'm a practicing attorney and law school pedigree makes absolutely no difference to my career or the results I get for my clients.Concord provided a pretty good legal education. I did my undergraduate work at Cal, and I can say without a doubt that the professors at Concord in general are much more attentive to the students than the ones at Cal were. I'm surprised to hear the comments of disgruntled students. I'm curious how much they actually tried to contact the professors. I found them to be pretty responsive and helpful by-and-large (absent a few duds).I laughed at the comments about the "cheerleading lady" in the Capstone Class. Indeed, she was annoying, but her partner, Professor Bracci is actually one of the best bar prep lecturers in the nation--so it all balances out.I was challenged and stretched all the way through. The curriculum was rigorous. All-in-all, a great program.The only rub is this...The students by-and-large are sub-par. For example, out of the 40 students in my 1L class, only 4 actually passed the bar exam. And this was BEFORE Concord was approved for federal student loans. Now the student quality is really dismal.Student comments in class chats were generally lame and showed a lack of preparation and understanding. The prospective students who stated that the admission process was rigorous are fooling themselves. Concord will take anyone with a BA and a credit card. Now, with Federal Student Aid, they will take anyone with a BA and a delusion.If you are smart and hard working, you will do well with Concord. Otherwise, you will probably end up bitter like many of the posters to this site.Good luck!"
Mac Chinsomboon
  • Reviewed: 12/11/2010
"I have to say that I'm really impressed with the program and the faculty. No where else (not even at a brick and mortar school) can you get a wide range of professors. Not only are the students attending from all around the world (literally), but also the professors.Unlike a brick and mortar that ONLY has professors from one physical geographic region, I had professors that were well known in their fields, teaching from all over the country. For instance, my patent law course had lectures from a Harvard law professor, etc. I have an undergraduate engineering degree from U of CO, and did my business school grad degree at MIT, and Concord is just as tough (it's no cake walk, not even close).Just like some of the other postings have noted on here, you get out of it, what you put into it. I actually started the program for "fun" before, and had to actually withdraw because I underestimated it.I then decided to start up again, having had a better understanding of the undertaking. It's now almost 2011 and I just finished my very very last class. I'm still doing it for "fun", but like I said, it's really tough, but I've learned a WHOLE LOT.Granted, there are some inconveniences in that there's no physical place to go to (like a poster has noted here with their financial aid), but the benefits outweigh those issues (and there will always be issues with anything you try any where).I didn't use finaid as the program, but I did have contact with that office only because there was some mixed up paperwork (so, it is true what the prior poster noted), but it was also during the period when Kaplan U fully took over Concord, and I imagine there was some integration pains ... to be expected, having worked in corporate America long enough to know.Speaking of finaid, the program is incredibly inexpensive, when compared to a traditional school. So ... on to take the Bar ... lets see how that "fun" goes .. wish me luck!"
Sara
  • Reviewed: 11/15/2010
"Concord might be great if you can pay for your tuition up front, but if you are on financial aid, they will take your enrollment fees and drop you for "non-attendance" before your financial aid is disbursed, and it will prevent you from getting in somewhere you really want to go. Their Financial aid department was very, very, very rude. They hung up on me, yelled at me, promised me that after my tuition was paid my excess funds would be disbursed so that I could afford the books and required security certificate, but I never saw one cent, and they kept the tuition. They wouldn't allow me to log in until I had the certificate, they wouldn't disburse my money so I could get it, and then they dropped me for non-attendance.Now I have to start over with the application process, I am 9 weeks into the semester; these are the people who are supposed to teach about justice and fairness. Don't be poor if you want to attend this school."
SHERRY LYNN MACMANES
  • Reviewed: 10/26/2010
"Having completed about half of 1L, and reading some of the reviews here, I feel the need to comment. I have found the staff at Concord to be very helpful, and willing to give direction and guidance. However, they will not do the work for you, and there is alot of work! Many students are disappointed with their grades the first year. Yes I had a 3.85 when I completed my BA, and lets just say no, I don't have that now. But if I did have a 3.85 at this time, I truely would be wasting my money, because I would already know this material.Some students are frustrated with their essay grades, because as they point out, they spotted all the issues, however there is more to essay writing than simply issue spotting. Spotting issues is only the first part. The work pace is grueling, especially in the JD program, but it is what is required in order to qualify for the bar.Think very hard before you enter this program, you have to work your a** off, and you don't always get the grade you hope for, but if you decide to accept the fact that maybe, just maybe you don't know everything and ask for clarification, and learn from your mistakes, you will improve in your performance. The faculty here will not hold your hand, but they do root for you, and offer assistance. The faculty also responds proptly to any emails or questions students ask.However if you ask a question, your most likely going to have to have read the material assigned, because if the answer is straightforward and contained in the reading, you will be directed to do the reading. The professors will clarify the answers, but they will not give them to you. Some students unfortunately receive a rude awakening when they come to Concord, they are unfamiliar with what is expected in law school, and are under the impression that because Concord is online it will be easier than traditional schools. People the expectations are the same, you may have a more flexible schedule because its on line, but the amount of work is the same, actually it is slightly more since Concord requires students to practice essay writing thruout 1L, which many schools do not require."
Karen Saffron
  • Reviewed: 10/7/2010
"A few years back it appeared that my job would be "out sourced", so before the next shoe fell, I decided that I needed to get a profession that was "out sourced proof, down-sized proof, re-org'd proof, as I was a single mother of 2 kids. Boldly stated my co-workers, I decided to go to Law School. I knew that it would have to be the evening division no mater what I did, so I applied to many regional schools and was accepted to many. I finally settled on Georgetown University.After the LSAT, essay, phone interview, and a personal interview based on phone interview, AND many dollars...I was in! Yeah, I was in for it...I worked my butt off for my 1L at Georgetown U., but so would any one at ANY school given the material that one must complete in that first year. I didn't have ANY outside activies, rarely slept, read continuously, researched and wrote non-stop, took care of children and worked fulltime.My point is this: Its work! One gets what they put into it..if you work hard then you will see the benefit, however if you are less than committed to giving up ALOT of personal time, then this profession and school may not be for you....Honestly, I wouldn't want to pay for the services of a person who didn't have that kind of work ethic. As the saying goes: "garbage in, garbage out"...its what one makes of it and also what they put into it...TRUST ME...Not once did a PROFESSOR call me to check on me to see if I was dead or alive..eating, sleeping ok, sick, could pay my bills etc. It's also called living a grown up life too. I now know what I'm capable of doing and not doing having completed 1L at Georgetown U.Having said that, I also know that NO MATTER where I go to finish law school, IT WILL take that same work ethic, amount of time each day and dedication to complete my assignments if I EXPECT to pass the BAR which is my goal. I know this..One must possess a Bachelor Degree before attempting this profession as there is NO other way around it...Thats why in Undergrad school its called"Pre-Law". I got very little from sitting in a classroom and listening to lectures that I couldn't figure out anywhere. As soon as you learn what it takes to get the A in a class, then that is what you do...nothing more..its a game to be played and those who play it best win!The best law practiced is not found in a classroom, but in real life and those experiences will be your teachers...you just need a method to take and exam. this is a method. This law business is not always pretty, soft, or caring, but quiet efficient. My simple explanation of how I completed 1L at Georgetown should be an example of how serious it can get..I had to compete with myself and others day in and out for standing in a class and for my grades..NO SLACK...it was that brutal at times, but I survived, got A's and B's for 1L and am proud of my hard work.Now, later I am ready to finish the marathon called Law School..not sure where or how yet, but after reading many comments here, am considering this school. I know that no matter the venue, all of the work comes from me..NO ONE can take the exams for me nor the bar..life does not work that way...so, I hope some find this helpful to understand that this profession and its requirements are not to be taken lightly..this is a serious commitment, just like med school would be and by commitment..I mean of your personal time..it can't be half-stepped..if you don't study for an exam, then the best you can expect is a zero..if you don't turn in writing assignments, then expect a zero.My professors were some of the most demanding and yet complex to figure out as to what I needed to do to get the grade, but once done..then it all worked...I played the game they handed me for the year and won! Everyone can win at this game...but one must figure it out for themselves and Play to WIN...Again, take what you will from this...but believe me..it takes hard work, dedication, and stubborness to finish, no matter where you go to play this game! regards, kds"
Linda
  • Reviewed: 9/26/2010
"Staff are bad education is bad, they don't care about you, their financial aid is bad, you will never be able to pass baby bar, with this school. I am sure, they won't post this, because they only post good stuff about them. You are crazy to go there."
Brandon
  • Reviewed: 8/10/2010
"I had the oppurtunity to go to a "traditional" law school or Concord. I must have asked 20 lawyers who were friends of mine and they all said that ultimately, the choice is and will always be mine. It depends on what you want to do with your law degree they also added.I talk constantly with friends who are currently enrolled in University of Houston,Thurgood Marshall and Univeristyy of Houston law schools, and they say that while the physical obvious differences are there, the education and knowledge seems to be the same. One even stated that unless I want tons of debt and want to pursue a career where the name of the school is very important, there is nothing wrong with Concord being great for in-house-counsel or for assistance with contracts. I am currently 2L and enjoy it!!"
Mick Blaine
  • Reviewed: 7/3/2010
"Let me first start by saying - INVEST in your education by applying to a law school with a mission for your to pass the baby-bar and bar. Without either you are history. BUT don't invest if you don't have the time or committment to LEARN, which means you must change your life so it resolves around law school and yes, Concord.If you can't do this then you will become one of the "dissenters" listed here. If you are thinking of law school but not sur of Concord. I've been to both and law school you sit down with a class is the WRONG move. Why? Because their mission IS very different then the baby-bar or bar.Instructors have their own favorite areas to test and most certainly won't be the area tested on the baby-bar. And I will suggest to you again that you CAN'T move forward until you pass the baby-bar. The good news is that passing the baby-bar means you know the law. If you don't pass, chances are you don't.It is all what you make of it. If you are lazy or can't pull yourself away from facebook then don't bother with this program because you are wasting Concord's time, your time and our time (because in the end we future lawyers want to look good too). Good luck!"
Jonathan Eisenhower
  • Reviewed: 6/8/2010
"I've stopped by to give my ONE cent for I am so burried in student loans that I can not afford to tip in TWO.I may not belong here but am suspicious of the amount of negative feedback. As a 3L at Emory Law I can tell you that NO ONE there has ever held my hand (even the nerdy looking dude I sit next to everyday); so this notion that at brick and mortar facility you will have (servants) people ready and willing to guide you to the bathroom when you are about to loose your breakfast is pure rubish and non-sense. It is a jungle out there!If you are attending this online school, you must do what you go to do with what you have--give your all and 1000% more. That is the only way you will be able to nail it and also overcome questions about your academic qualifications.Attending law school in a brick and mortar is not easy - I can not imagine doing this online (not because of Concord's curriculum) but because I am not cut out for this method (yet) and believe that people who are doing it are brave and ultra disciplined.If nothing else, ONLINE graduates who pass this so called BABY BAR and CalBar Exam should be given top jobs at top law firms. And, if you choose to become a trial lawyer, KNOW THIS: No one can learn the intricacies of becoming a trial lawyer at law school (NO ONE!!!). Trial lawyers can only master their skills with real world practice. End of story."
Carol King
  • Reviewed: 6/2/2010
"I completed my EJD in 2009 and would highly recommend the school. The staff is supportive, but they require you do your work first. My interactions with professors were always enlightening, but don't expect to be handed an answer. I enjoyed their extensive knowledge and experience, willingness to encourage, and questions were responded to in about 24 hours (usually less).Being comfortable with technology and communication via computer is necessary so that it is not a distraction. The technical assistance is friendly, patient, and kind even when you make a very silly mistake (which I did.). The technology used runs extremely well and is very easy to use.Your assignments and timelines are clearly posted, items are promplty graded with explainations of the answers provided, the recorded lectures run smoothly and easily, and the live class sessions are easy to participate in and follow. This is a place for people who want to work very hard. The recommended minimum of 2 hours a day is probably not sufficient for most people. I regularly put in 4 hours a night and 6 hours each day of the weekend.This school really does on-line education the way it should be done. Like all things you get from it what you put into it."
Luis
  • Reviewed: 3/23/2010
"After much research, I selected Concord to attend school. As time was winding down, both ALU and Concord were neck and neck. But one thing struck me. It was a comment one of the Concord Advisors said during a brief telephone conversation. I said, whats the Bar passing rate of those who do not have undergraduate degrees? She said, "we do not admit students without a Bachelors degree and 3.0 average. One must have endured and worked hard to attain a certain level of education to succeed." That struck me. Its the one thing no other school said during the process. In addition, nearly all independent reviews stated that Concord had become the Harvard of the web. With all this in mind I chose Concord and will start class April 6. Now, all those out there still looking. Do your own research and make up your own mind. I took time to research in order to come to this decision. Good luck guys! "
Luis
  • Reviewed: 1/31/2010
"For three months now I've been searching the web for a reputable on-line law school. The traditional fixed time school was not an obtion, so I had to depend on the on-line programs for a law school possibility. So for the last couple months I've been searching the web for reviews on all the schools that participated in providing a quality education. As I narrowed the field down to three, my choices became Concord, Northwestern California and Taft. Each school boasted its number of bar passing students and its longevity in the field of on-line legal education.In reality, all three were right. Each had many students who had passed both of the CA Bars and were doing quite well in their new profession. But there was one thing missing. The law school experience.Concord, has the law school community that would lend support to each of its students. It simply feels as if one is about to get up and start going to class everyday. In addition, at least from the outside looking in, it seems as if the student is given a great deal of opportunity to engage with fellow classmates and with professors.But here is where I take issue with many of the dissenter's on these message boards. If one is in Law School, does not one need to put in the hours to pass both the curriculum and the bar. I would assume that the law school professor cannot take the exam on one's behalf. Also, there is much to do on the actual law school a person attends. So I take it that if I were to become an attorney, go to trial and opposing cousel is Harvard educated, that that individual will automatically win. I don't think so. If anything at that point he/she and I are on the same level and its up to preparation and facts as to who wins or looses.Now I do agree that many miss guided individuals attend on-line law schools and do not do well at all. Well, I guess things happen, "you had your shot". But, if the individual works hard, does allot of research and is very serious about the task at hand, then the sky is the limit."
Nigel Sedarar
  • Reviewed: 12/15/2009
"I took this course because I was at a point in my life when it was not possible to attend a fixed-hours, fixed-facility school. I passed the baby bar and then most recently the CA bar (second time), so will shortly be a practicing California lawyer.Despite the convenience of Concord and my success in the bar exam, I cannot recommend it because in my view it does not do its job properly. I found the professors to be distant and unhelpful. Very few of my questions got serious answers and because there was no physical contact with them, I could not persist and the questions never got answered. Many of the "professors" are not such. They seem to be lawyers doing this job part time, and the students get attention proportional to whatever reward the staff must be getting. It shows.I must also mention the "capstone" course. It is a cheerleading session in which the professor led chants of "we can pass" or some such mantra. Of course, most do not pass. Where regular ABA schools filter out the applicant pool using the LSAT or other admissions criteria, Concord seems to use the baby bar and ultimately the actual bar exam to do it.The whole experience could be more serious, more scholarly and challenging, but it is not. Concord seems to refuse to acknowledge that it is not different enough, while still being proud of being different.If, like me, you have to do it this way and it works for you then fine. But be warned. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you. You will be making this a success and Concord will have little to do with it."
Tanya
  • Reviewed: 2/13/2009
"I am currently in my second year in the EJD program. I love the on-line program because I can be home with my family, work full-time as a school Admin., and take 24 credits per year. The program is very hard and demanding. You need to be dedicated and willing to give up some of your past hobbies to be able to keep up with the modules and stay on track. The professors are great and are always ready to answer any questions that one has. The professors are full of knowledge, and treat the students with respect. I am very happy with the education I am getting from Concord Law school."
Jeanine
  • Reviewed: 7/15/2008
"Having tried traditional law school in the past, I found Concord's dedication to their student body's success inspiring. Once you are accepted, and the application process is rigorous, the faculty and staff are very supported and do everything they can to help you succeed. I enjoyed being able to take my exams in my pajamas from home and the fact that I could attend a lecture at 3am if I couldn't sleep. The flexibility is key for those of us that are trying to balance a full time job plus school. I hope that in the future, Concord will be able to be accredited. This is one drawback to this form of law school. It requires the student to take the First Year Law Student's exam and restricts the ability to practice in other states unless first passing the CA Bar exam. It would also be helpful if there was a way to download lectures onto a CD or iPod. I did enjoy the fact that you got to sample the teaching styles of professors from Law Schools from across the country, and you could listen to a lecture multiple times to get what you needed out of it. Overall, I was very pleased with my choice to earn my JD online through Concord."
Samantha
  • Reviewed: 7/15/2008
"Concord Law School’s Juris Doctor Program allowed me to earn my law degree online. I never expected to earn my law degree online, and that is I why I looked in to Concord, it seemed worth looking into. The part-time program worked for me and the time frame I expected for myself to achieve my goals. The feedback I received helped me feel I was gaining a comprehension of the material I was learning. Truly thinking that I grasped the material built my desire and confidence to continue. However, taking classes via video lectures and online classes could sometimes prove to be an intimidating process. Never having been introduced to learning while being remotely connected to professors and other students was an interesting obstacle for me to overcome. In the end, getting used to learning via video was one obstacle I overcame, knowing that I was working towards something I really wanted. Some days it wasn’t’ ease, but I am glad I worked through it and achieved something."