Decades ago, California’s Legislature and Supreme Court recognized the need for an affordable and flexible pathway to become a licensed attorney in California. To do so, the State Bar of California was authorized to govern and regulate a system of non-ABA approved law schools that offer graduates their J.D degree and eligibility to take and pass the California bar examination.
Known as “opportunity law schools” they include California accredited (CALS) and California registered (unaccredited) law schools. They charge far less tuition than any ABA law school and offer evening and weekend classes, with many located in rural and urban communities throughout California. Such law schools offer similar law programs but differ in that some teach on-campus, while others teach online.