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Frequently Asked Questions     What are the academic requirements for admission to ALU? Applicants must have an earned bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. How do I apply to ALU Law School? Contact the School of Law Admissions Office at 213-252-5100 for complete information. Click on www.alu.edu. When does the next term begin? We admit first year students three times a year, in the fall, spring and winter trimesters. Do I need to take the LSAT? No. We have our own assessment test that applicants can take any time of the year at the school or online. Does ALU encourage minority and other non-traditional applicants? ALU seeks to enroll a highly qualified and diverse student body with the participation of students with different ages, perspectives and backgrounds. Once I submit my application, transcripts and take my assessment test, when will a decision be made? The review process generally can be completed within one to two days. What if I need help in my first year? The University has an excellent academic support program to assist its first year students. Is ALU a full-time law school? ALU’s Juris Doctor (JD) degree is a part-time, four-year legal distance learning education program. Classes may be taken on campus as an evening and weekend program. What degree do students obtain upon graduation? A Juris Doctor (J.D.). In order to practice law in California, one must pass the California Bar requirements and Examination. When was ALU founded? ALU was founded in 1996. For whom is this program designed? Primarily for working adults or anyone who finds it difficult to attend class or who travels frequently. Many of our students are too far away from a law school or feel more comfortable taking classes online. ALU is designed for people who can better fit law study into their busy schedule by taking their legal education online or in combination with classroom sessions. We are for you if you find taking only one class at a time, one day a week, for three hours total each week is more comfortable and satisfying. What opportunities are there for ALU Law School graduates? Graduates of ALU Law School who are admitted to the California Bar are permitted to practice law without any restriction, just as any other member of the Bar of California. They can join or form law firms. They can work as in-house corporate counsel. They can appear in any State or Federal Court in California. They can serve in government or the judiciary. They can even practice in Patent Court or Bankruptcy Court throughout America. The opportunities are incredible! When do classes meet? ALU can attend lectures entirely online through live interactive streaming video. Additionally, ALU students can take their classes at any other convenient time, day or night, through archived recordings of the same class sessions. ALU also offers opportunities to students to attend classes on campus in the broadcast studios, at the exact same time as their classmates are attending online. How large are the classes? The class size varies. Many working adults are able to attend the Saturday morning classes, so those classes can be very popular for students attending them live. On other days, such as Wednesdays, fewer students may choose to attend class live and opt to see that class in archived video instead. Who are the faculty members and what are their qualifications? ALU's faculty is composed of experienced professors (full -time faculty) and adjunct faculty consisting of practicing attorneys or judges from the area. All are licensed to practice law in California. Many have served in the field of legal education for several years. How long is the school year? The school year runs year-round in order to complete the program within a four-year period. Students, however, are only required to attend two three-hour classes per week, either at school or online. What is the cost of attending ALU? The present cost is $7,500.00 per year. Some minor additional costs may be added, such as $50 per year for computerized legal research systems ("Westlaw") usage. What is the cost of books for each year of study? The average cost of books per year is $700-$800. Do I have to pay my entire tuition in one single payment? ALU has a monthly payment plan with no interest charges. What opportunities are there for ALU Law School graduates to practice law outside of California? While the majority of our graduates practice law in California, some graduates of ALU Law School may decide to practice law in other states. Each state has its own standards for admitting attorneys. Study at, or graduation from, ALU and meeting the California Bar requirements may not qualify a student to take the bar examination in other states or satisfy the requirements to practice law in other states. Therefore, if a student intends to seek admission to practice law in a state other than California, the student should contact the admitting authority in that state for information regarding its legal education requirements for admission to practice law. What is one course at a time? Our students take one subject at a time rather than the typical model of studying four or more classes concurrently. This practice allows students with work and family responsibilities more time to focus on and master each subject.