Juris Doctor Degree Program

Practical Professional Skills & Real-World Legal Knowledge

Our four-year, online Juris Doctor (JD) degree programs provide high‐achieving career professionals with the flexibility to earn their law degree while continuing to excel in their careers. You’ll experience a rigorous, practical curriculum taught by experienced faculty in an interactive, state-of-the-art online learning environment

Explore Essential Legal Coursework

You’ll complete at least 130 quarter credits of instruction, including the following fundamental law school courses:

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  • Torts
  • Contracts
  • Criminal Law
  • Constitutional Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Civil Procedure
  • Real Property
  • Evidence
  • Business Associations
  • Community Property
  • Trusts
  • Wills and Estates
  • Remedies 
  • Introduction to Legal Research and Writing
  • Advanced Legal Writing

This comprehensive curriculum ensures that you will become the great researcher and writer you need to be to win cases and help clients. Over a dozen elective courses may enrich your experience in areas such as Employment Law, Intellectual Property, Professional Skills, Contract Drafting, Administrative Law, Compliance, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and Litigation skills such as Discovery. View our full JD curriculum here.

Gain Practical Professional Skills

As you complete your coursework, you will  explore your strengths, build professional legal competencies, and grow your skills in areas such as:

  • Drafting legal documents 
  • Legal research
  • Writing
  • Negotiation
  • Mediation
  • Arbitration
  • Counseling 
  • Critical thinking
  • Effective communication
  • Fact investigation

Learn From Expert Faculty

You will gain this practical skillset from professors who have hands-on experience in the subjects they teach. With law degrees themselves and in-depth expertise, these subject matter experts know what it takes to succeed in the competitive legal landscape and the fast-moving business world. Rather than focus on theory, you will discover how to tackle difficult legal issues with the goal of obtaining real results for clients.

Prepare for the Bar Exam

When you successfully complete the St. Francis J.D. program, you are eligible to sit for the Bar Examination in the State of California, assuming all other eligibility requirements imposed by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California are met. Plus, you’ll have the legal knowledge and practical professional skills you need to hit the ground running.

As the first not-for-profit online law school in the U.S., St. Francis provides the coursework, classroom, faculty, and academic support to prepare students for success.

“St. Francis opened the opportunity for me to attend law school and prepare for a career in law, not only through technology-enabled “anywhere” learning but also by including practical application in addition to legal theory. The experienced faculty members are engaging and inspiring and have shown sincere interest in helping me and each of my classmates to gain a working knowledge of the law. I am both challenged and fulfilled by the experience!”

Mary McCaffrey (Class of 2016)

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Take the first step in joining a network of experienced, educated professionals. Learn how St. Francis can help you move ahead in your career.