Curriculum-At-A-Glance

4 concentrations, 8-16 units per semester, Clinic and Externship Opportunities, Full-Time and Part-Time Program Options

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.

Professor Michael Dorff, who's been a faculty member at Southwestern since 2003, will also be teaching in the Online J.D. Program.
Professor Michael Dorff, a longstanding member of the Southwestern faculty since 2003, will also be teaching in the Online J.D. Program.

Highly Qualified Faculty: Learn from the Best, Wherever You Are

Southwestern Law School'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. 

Full-Time J.D. (3 years)
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
Part-Time J.D. (4 years)
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 

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