Taft Law School is a
private for-profit online
In computer technology and telecommunications, online indicates a state of connectivity and offline indicates a disconnected state. In modern terminology, this usually refers to an Internet connection, but (especially when expressed "on line" o ...
law school in
Santa Ana, California. It was founded in 1976 and operates through the Taft University System (
William Howard Taft University). The school offers
Juris Doctor (J.D.) and
Master of Laws
A Master of Laws (M.L. or LL.M.; Latin: ' or ') is an advanced postgraduate academic degree, pursued by those either holding an undergraduate academic law degree, a professional law degree, or an undergraduate degree in a related subject. In mos ...
(LL.M.)
law degree programs.
Although the school is
accredited
Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
by the
Distance Education Accrediting Commission
The Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), formerly the National Home Study Council and then as the Distance Education and Training Council, is a non-profit national educational accreditation agency in the United States specializing in t ...
, it is not accredited by the
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. Founded in 1878, the ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of aca ...
or by the
State Bar of California.
The
Law School Admission Council
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is a nonprofit organization whose members include more than 200 law schools throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. Its headquarters are in Newtown, Pennsylvania (about 15 miles north of Phil ...
lists Taft Law School as a "Non-ABA-Approved Law School" and explains that most states do not "permit graduates of these schools to take the bar examination" nor "admit to their bars a graduate of a non-ABA-approved law school."
The California State Bar
Committee of Bar Examiners categorizes Taft Law School as a "registered unaccredited correspondence law school."
As such, its graduates must pass the
First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in order to be eligible to take the California General Bar Examination.
Bar pass rates
In July 2015, 6 graduates took the California Bar Examination for the first time and none passed. In the administration of the same exam 15 graduates were repeat takers, and only one individual passed. In February 2015, a total of 21 graduates took the exam (15 repeat takers) and only 7 passed. In July 2014, 22 graduates took the exam (11 repeat takers) and 3 passed.
Notable people
*
ED Denson (J.D., '99), Music industry executive and attorney
*
Jonathan Falwell
Jonathan Pate Falwell (born September 7, 1966) is the senior pastor at the Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, and campus pastor at Liberty University.
Education
Falwell earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty Universi ...
(J.D. '05) – senior pastor at
Thomas Road Baptist Church
Thomas Road Baptist Church (TRBC) is a Baptist megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia, located on the campus of Liberty University, which it founded and is closely affiliated with. In 2016, a church spokesperson stated they had an average weekly atten ...
and son of
Jerry Falwell
*
Jim Rice
James Edward Rice (born March 8, 1953), nicknamed "Jim Ed", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder and designated hitter. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26, 2009, as the 103rd member voted in by the BBWAA. Rice p ...
(J.D.), member of the
Idaho Senate
The Idaho Senate is the upper chamber of the Idaho State Legislature. It consists of 35 Senators elected to two-year terms, each representing a district of the state. The Senate meets at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise, Idaho.
Composition of ...
*
Orly Taitz
Orly Taitz ( he, אורלי טייץ; born August 30, 1960) is an Israeli-American political conspiracy theorist and political candidate. A dentist, lawyer, and former real estate agent, Taitz was a figure in the "birther" movement, which prom ...
(J.D. '02) – lawyer for the
birther movement
References
External links
*
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Law schools in California
Distance Education Accreditation Commission
Distance education institutions based in the United States
For-profit universities and colleges in the United States
1976 establishments in California
Educational institutions established in 1976
Education in Santa Ana, California
Online law schools in the United States
Unaccredited institutions of higher learning in California