Curriculum-At-A-Glance
Our cutting-edge curriculum is taught by outstanding faculty and will equip you with the legal, analytical, and practical skills that are key to becoming a successful lawyer. All classes in the program are offered online, and most are offered asynchronously with optional Zoom sessions to allow you maximum scheduling and geographic flexibility.
Highly Qualified Faculty: Learn from the Best, Wherever You Are
ºÚÈË̽»¨'s Online J.D. Program isn't just any online program—it's an extension of our campus, and that includes our exceptional faculty. Taught by the same full-time and adjunct faculty who teach our residential courses, the online program offers you unparalleled access to experts in the legal field who are committed to your academic and professional success.
Our faculty members bring a wealth of professional experience and academic accolades, providing not just theoretical instruction but also real-world insights that will help prepare you for a successful legal career.
Concentrations
Southwestern offers opportunities to study different areas of law. In addition, online students can customize their J.D. by participating in the following concentrations:
- Civil Litigation & Advocacy
- Entertainment & Media Law
- Public Interest Law
- Technology Law & Entrepreneurship
Although Online J.D. students will be eligible to participate in these four concentration programs, students who want or need to complete the program entirely online will not have the full selection of concentration electives available. Online J.D. students will be able to take residential electives in person, should their schedule allow. Southwestern is also exploring offering some residential electives in hybrid format, meaning that Online J.D. students would be able to participate via livestream.
Please view the Concentrations & Customizations page for Concentration requirements.
Online J.D. Required Courses
The charts below list required and recommended courses, but students will have an opportunity to explore electives and experiential opportunities.
1L Required Courses |
---|
Constitutional Law I and II |
Constitutional Criminal Procedure or an Elective |
Contracts I and II |
Criminal Law |
Foundations of Law and Practice |
LAWS I and II |
Property |
Torts |
1L Required Courses |
---|
Contracts I and II |
Criminal Law |
Foundations of Law and Practice |
LAWS I and II |
Torts |
2L Required Courses |
---|
Business Associations |
Civil Procedure I and II |
Electives |
Evidence |
Experiential Requirement I |
Legal Profession |
Practical Lawyering Skills |
Upper Division Writing Course |
2L Required Courses |
---|
Civil Procedure I and II |
Constitutional Law I and II |
Constitutional Criminal Procedure or an Elective |
Property |
3L Required Courses |
---|
Cal Bar Writing: Skills and Strategies |
Community Property |
Electives |
Experiential Requirement II |
MBE: Skills and Strategies |
Wills & Trusts |
**10-16 units per semester
3L Required Courses |
---|
Business Associations |
Community Property |
Evidence |
Legal Profession |
Practical Lawyering Skills |
Upper Division Writing Course |
4L Required Courses |
---|
Cal Bar Writing: Skills and Strategies |
Electives |
Experiential Requirement |
MBE: Skills and Strategies |
Wills & Trusts |
**8-11 units per semester