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Frequently Asked Questions     What are the academic requirements for admission to ALU? Applicants must have an associate's degree or higher from a college or university of approved standing. 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 is a part-time, four-year evening or weekend program. All classes can also be taken online through the Internet at your convenience. 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 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 classes 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 offers classes on weekday evenings and Saturday mornings. Students can attend class twice a week. Unlike other law schools, ALU students also have the ability to take their classes, entirely online, through live interactive streaming video at the exact same time as their classmates at the main campus. Additionally, ALU students can take their classes at any other convenient time, day or night, through archived recordings of the very same class sessions. How large are the classes? The class size varies. Some classes, such as Saturday mornings, are very popular and may have 40 students present. Other days, such as Wednesday, frequently have as few as 15 students present. Of course, students are always welcome to take their classes live online in streaming interactive video, or later in the week on archived video. 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. Is financial aid available? Educational loans through a private finance company, Sallie Mae, are frequently utilized by our students. 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 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 only take one subject at a time allowing them to more time to focus on and master each subject.