FAQs
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Admissions FAQs
What are the admissions requirements?
You must register with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) and submit applications via the LSAC website. To be eligible for the JD Flex program you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
A complete JD Flex program application consists of the following:
- Completed and signed application form
- Personal statement
- Current resume
- Additional statement of interest (if applicable)
- Character and fitness addendum (if applicable)
- Fellowship application essay (if applicable)
- Letters of recommendation (must submit at least one; we accept up to four)
- A current LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS) law school report, including a valid LSAT score, all post-secondary transcripts, and any transfer and/or foreign-earned credits
For details, see our Application Requirements page.
If you received undergraduate instruction in a language other than English, you may need to arrange for submission of a TOEFL score. See the English Proficiency section of the International Applicants page.
Am I required to interview for admission?
In general, no. Admissions does not perform interviews for the JD program, but students are invited to speak one on one with Admissions counselors to learn more about the law school and a law degree, and to discuss their plans for their legal career. These conversations do not factor into the admissions decision.
How are my LSAT scores submitted to GGU?
If you take the LSAT, your score is part of your Credential Assembly Service (CAS) file and is automatically reported. All applications are submitted via the LSAC.org portal. You must have a valid LSAT score. LSAT scores that are less than three years old are preferred, and scores that are more than five years old will not be considered (no exceptions). Read more about the LSAT.
Do you accept GRE scores?
Not currently. We accept only LSAT test scores.
How do I apply?
First, request information and speak to an admissions advisor to learn more about the JD Flex program. If you have not done so already, create a Law School Admission Council (LSAC) account and register with the Credential Assembly Service. You can then apply to the Golden Gate University School of Law online JD Flex program through your LSAC account. LSAC will consolidate your LSAT score(s), post-secondary transcripts, and letters of recommendation into a single Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report, which is sent to each law school you indicate.
You must use the electronic application form available through the LSAC website. Read the application form thoroughly and follow the instructions carefully.
Do all applicants need to begin the program in the fall term?
Yes.
Is an undergraduate degree required?
Yes, an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. It may be in any subject area. You must provide all undergraduate and graduate (if any) school transcripts directly to LSAC for inclusion in the CAS Report.
AT MINIMUM, APPLICANTS MUST POSSESS A BACHELOR’S DEGREE FROM AN ACCREDITED UNDERGRADUATE INSTITUTION BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION.
If admitted, you will be required to submit an official transcript reflecting the bachelor’s degree and conferral date. GGU Law will withdraw offers of admission from admitted students who cannot show proof of a conferred bachelor’s degree. Read more about requesting transcripts from LSAC.
Are transfer credits accepted?
Students who have successfully completed at least one academic year at an ABA- or CBA-accredited law school may apply to transfer to GGU Law as a continuing student. There is no application fee for transfer students. Learn more about applying as a transfer student.
The new JD Flex program begins with its first 1L cohort fall 2021. Transfer credit will not be accepted for this cohort group. However, the possibility to transfer into the Flex JD program will begin fall 2022.
Is it possible to transfer from the on-campus program to the online JD Flex program or vice versa?
Transfer requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Is there a fee for applying?
No, there is no fee to apply.
Tuition and Financial Aid FAQs
How much is tuition?
The estimated overall tuition cost for the JD Flex program is $1,750 per unit. For a detailed breakdown of costs, see Tuition and Financial Aid.
Does the JD Flex program have a different tuition rate for out-of-state residents?
No. We are a private school and all law students are charged the same per-unit rate.
Are students in the JD Flex program eligible for financial aid?
Yes, financial aid is available for students in the JD Flex program.
If you are an international student, Funding for US Study Online is an extensive database of scholarships, fellowships, and grants that may help you find financial aid. The information is maintained by the Institute of International Education (IIE). This resource includes all types of funding programs, for all levels of post-secondary study, across the full range of academic areas.
Curriculum FAQs
What does the curriculum look like? What courses will I take?
The curriculum page helps you understand what the curriculum will look like and the courses you might take.
How much time will I need to dedicate to my studies? What can I expect in terms of workload?
The JD Flex program requires an estimated time commitment of 35‒40 hours per week. This estimate includes both time spent in on-campus every-other-weekend classes, time working through your online coursework, and studying and preparing for classes. The exact number of hours depends on your credit load.
When will my classwork be on campus and when will it be online?
During the fall and spring terms, your coursework is a combination of online plus on campus:
- You meet on campus every other Saturday and Sunday, comprising a total of approximately eight Saturday/Sunday sessions over the course of the fall and spring terms. You do not meet on campus during the summer term.
- Additionally, you have online coursework. The online components are asynchronous, meaning that you perform them on your own time, according to a schedule that works for you, but you complete them within specified deadlines. Online coursework may consist of reading or writing assignments. You may, for example, be asked to post a response to an online discussion board.
- Final examinations for fall and spring terms may be take-home, proctored online, or proctored on campus, depending on the course.
In the summer terms, instruction is primarily online, with limited on-campus requirements, if any. Final examinations in the summer term may be take-home or proctored online.
Do I have access to faculty during the week?
Yes. Faculty have office hours and are available to you during the week.
Can I take on-campus courses from the standard GGU JD course catalog?
We anticipate you will follow the curriculum designed for the JD Flex program, but yes, you have the opportunity to take on-campus elective courses from our on-campus JD programs. You can choose electives that fit your schedule, including externships, clinic work, and other opportunities.
Can I select an area of specialization?
You may apply to participate in one of two focused curricular tracks in either (1) Intellectual Property Law (with an optional Patent Law or Technology and Data Privacy specialization) or (2) Social Justice & Public Interest Law. You are not required, though, to apply to or remain in a specific curricular track.
Am I required to select a career track?
No. Selecting either the Intellectual Property Law or the Social Justice & Public Interest Law career track is optional. You do not need to determine an area of specialty while you are in law school. You can take a traditional law school track and select the electives that interest you.
Is there an alternative option if I cannot attend one of the on-campus components?
On-campus classes and events require physical attendance. However, if you need to miss an on-campus class and know that ahead of time, check with your professor about their makeup policy and whether a recording of the class is available.
Are there extra costs associated with the on-campus components?
No.
Am I responsible for my own travel and hotel costs?
Yes, you will be responsible for your own transportation and hotel accommodations if needed. Please ask your admissions advisor for recommendations. A special discounted rate is available to JD Flex students at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis.
Program FAQs
Why should I attend GGU?
Located in the heart of San Francisco’s legal, financial, and technology district, GGU has been San Francisco’s law school since 1901. Innovation is our tradition, and our partnerships make it possible. When you join the GGU community you get access to institutes and partnerships that advance your career and expand your horizons.
We believe that legal education should be accessible for all and that the justice system can only serve everyone if the lawyers within it represent our society. JD Flex enables you to earn a JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school, in one of the most dynamic legal centers in the world, without the need to make impossible choices between your goals, work, family, and other obligations.
Why JD Flex?
Students choose the JD Flex program for many reasons. Here are just a few of them:
- Maximize Your Time — Balance your career, family, and educational goals with a curriculum designed for your schedule. Up to one-third of the units required to graduate are online. On-campus courses meet every other weekend, not during the week.
- Earn Your JD — ABA-approved and ranked #11 nationally, our professional part-time JD program offers innovative learning with a global perspective taught by nationally-acclaimed faculty members.
- Build Your Future — Gain the practical skills to make an immediate and valuable legal impact and join a professional network that’s 17,000 alumni strong and counting.
Can I enroll in the JD Flex program if I live outside the California Bay Area?
Yes. Students who live in the Bay Area or other parts of California are enrolled in the program, as well as students who commute from other states.
How long will it take me to complete the JD Flex program?
Students have the option of completing the JD Flex program in 11 terms (3 years plus 2 semesters, graduating in May) or electing the accelerated track (3 years plus 1 semester, graduating in December). In both options, students take intensive bar preparation coursework in the semesters before they graduate, thus ensuring a successful bar preparation period regardless of when they decide to take the bar exam.
This is my first time taking an online plus campus-based program. How will I know what to expect?
Our program features an online, on-demand pre-orientation that introduces you to the learning platform you’ll use for your online classes. The orientation addresses campus resources, 24-hour technology support, academic success resources, and other helpful information. You’ll discover how to interact with other students in the class, how to engage with your professor, and how to navigate assignments.
The on-campus orientation gives you the opportunity to engage with professors and other students in person. Get to know faculty members, law school staff, peer mentors, student group leaders, and GGU alumni. Familiarize yourself with the campus and the immediate surroundings in downtown San Francisco.
These two orientation experiences ensure that you’re comfortable with the program and learning platforms before classes begin. Our goal is for you to have the most dynamic and engaging experience possible.
What technology is required to participate in online courses?
You will need regular and reliable access to a computer and high-speed internet. You will need a laptop or desktop computer with video conferencing capabilities, including a separate webcam or an integrated camera.
Note that mobile and tablet devices will not provide the full capabilities you need.
For more specific details about system requirements for the online course components of your courses, see this article about Canvas system requirements. Canvas is the name of the learning management platform you will use to access your online courses.
Is GGU an ABA-approved law school?
Yes. Golden Gate University School of Law is fully accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (ABA), the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State of California, and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). GGU Law is also a member in good standing of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).
Where will I be eligible to sit for the bar exam after graduation?
You will be eligible to sit for the bar exam in California or the jurisdiction you choose upon completion of the JD Flex program. For complete information about admission to the State Bar of California, visit their website.
If you intend to practice elsewhere, the National Conference of Bar Examiners website lists each state’s requirements and contact information for each state’s bar exams.
Important Dates
Application Deadline
June 1st, 2023
Start Date
August 19th, 2023
JD Flex Orientation
August 18th, 2023
Upcoming Events
Next JD Flex Webinar TBD