How Does Your School Match Up?

09 Aug How Does Your School Match Up?

Personally, I need deadlines.  I need a lot of deadlines.  I like to consider myself a self starter but I also know that if given too much reign I will get behind and end up cramming.  When I looked for an online law school I was looking for something with a good price range, good reputation, and with a forum similar to the University of Phoenix (this is where I had previously attended college).  Unlike me though, many are looking for the most flexible curriculum possible to balance their schedules and to match up with their learning styles.  We reached out to our readers and asked them what they thought about their school.

Before we let our readers take it away I would like to post some statistics.  As we all know (or hopefully we know about at this point, if not check out our article on the First Year Law Students Exam) the FYLSE pass rate is very important in gauging what our chances are of passing on our first try.

I personally spent hours hounding through the internet looking for pass rates and this is what I got.  I apologize for the lack of information but I think it speaks volumes regarding the transparency online law schools are required to produced.  Now, don’t get me wrong, we all knew this going in.  If you google “online law school” most of the sites are complaint sites but you also find those success stories buried deep within.  I personally know many alumni who are practicing attorneys.  Keep posted for their stories soon!

Now, I want to preface this with a short explanation and thank you.  Writing a review of a law school and placing your name on that review is terrifying.  If you aren’t completely happy and write those inadequacies in the article with your name, there is concern that you may face litigation, it is law school, taught by attorneys after all.  So, thank you to those who were brave enough to allow us to post your name and thank you to those who wrote but were still uncomfortable being named.  I totally get it!

Northwestern California University School of Law

“In the beginning I did not have much thought on the quality of professors at NWCU. They seemed adequate,  I was learning, all was well. At the end of my year I cannot help but RAVE about the quality of the education that I received. They are a bit harsh at times, but for your own good. Its actually entertaining to watch someone get chewed out for a silly answer due to not paying attention or lack of reading prior to class. This has happened to me twice, I’ve since learned to come to class prepared. On top of being knowledgeable, some of the professors I learned from in my first year actually wrote the book on law, literally!

Professor Flemming , who runs Flemmings Fundamentals of Law, offers courses, writes bar reviews, speaks at other universities and gives workshops teaching others how to prepare for bar exams. I found it extremely valuable to have access to him every week. People pay thousands of dollars to be educated by him for a few days. The fact that my meager $3,000 tuition gives me access to get feedback and coaching on my writing is definitely a win.” ~ Written by Myi BaAll

St. Francis School of Law

“St. Francis is challenging work. Don’t assume that just because it’s online it’s easy to coast through. We have very small classes and because of this you will be called on regularly in class. The Socratic method is in operation, and you must be ready and willing to provide analysis on the spot and back it up substantively. We’re in live class three hours a week, and I spend probably about an additional 18-20 hours per week preparing for class, doing legal research, preparing homework and taking tests. I also spend about 1-2 hours a week chatting offline with classmates. You must do at least 18 hours of studying per week, including class and tests, and log this.

Live class is held through Webex. You will be on camera — I learned I grimace and make all sorts of strange facial expressions, which was somewhat discomfiting (I’ve since learned to control them more). Professors are all practitioners. Some of them are amazing — intelligent, enthusiastic, tough and fair. Some of them are a little less than stellar, but in no way have I felt held back by their teaching. This compares to my prior legal education, and I think to any educational situation: not every person is going to be a superstar. Some are adequate, and that’s fine as long as you’re willing to put your own work in. Overall, I’d say the teaching compares well to what I received before.” ~ Anonymous

Concord Law School Online

“What can I say?  I am biased, I attend Concord and I love it.  I love Professor Bracci, he is like a magical unicorn to me.  I do not like the discombobulation that has happened with all the purchases of Concord.  We have been bought by Kaplan, bought by Purdue, hopefully no one else.  The Financial Aide doesn’t speak to the Admissions, the Admissions doesn’t talk to Student Services, its a mess.  But that is all side stuff.  As a student I don’t really know if what I am learning will stack up in real law life but I do know that the education they have given me so far has allowed me to pass the FYLSE on the first try and that I have a pretty strong student group.

Concord does keep raising tuition and they keep making changes and with changes come mistakes and “woops” moments.  I hope that as Concord continues to transition they remember their reason for being “to provide an affordable law education to those who normally could not”.  I like the online platform but sadly that too shall change soon.  I guess what it comes down to is you are either in or your out. You close your eyes and jump in the fire.  If you don’t get burned then you grow to like the fire.  Concord has grown on me and I guess I am a Boilermaker, but more than a Boilermaker, I am a Bracci supporter.  I love this school because of him (and professor Dodge) although its hard to forgive the removal of Professor Pleasant; but I am in it to win it!” ~ Anonymous

As it usually ends, it is all up to you.  Take the information you have and make an informed decision and remember to send us your comments, we love to hear from you!