Accreditation Status

Pacific Coast University School of Law (PCU) is registered with the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), as an unaccredited distance learning law school. PCU has received authorization from the CBE to confer a Juris Doctor degree upon our graduates' successful program completion.

Requirements
for Degree

Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree candidates must fulfill the following minimum requirements

864 Hours of Preparation:

There is a minimum requirement of 864 hours of preparation and study each year for four years to complete our J.D. program. A year is defined as any consecutive twelve (12) month period.

84 Semester Units:

Our students are required to complete 84 or more semester units, where classes are typically 3-4 semester units.

2.0 Minimum GPA:

Students at PCU must maintain a grade point average no lower than 2.0

Completion of all Course Work:

To complete our J.D. program, students must successfully complete the thirteen Bar-tested subjects: Business Associations, Civil Procedure, Community Property, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Property, Remedies, Torts, and Wills and Trusts.

Graduation with Distinction:

The Juris Doctor with Distinction is awarded to students who pursue their entire Law course at PCU with an overall 91% (3.5 GPA) or higher.

First-Year Law Students' Examination
("The Baby Bar")

All PCU students must undertake the First-Year Law Students Exam (FYLSX), commonly known as “The Baby Bar” after the completion of their first year of law studies. This examination serves as a crucial milestone in evaluating a students’ foundational understanding of legal principles and their ability to apply them. Successfully passing “The Baby Bar” is a prerequisite for continuing legal education at PCU. This approach ensures that students grasp the fundamentals before progressing in their legal studies. The First-Year Law Students Exam serves as both a challenging benchmark and a pivotal step in preparing PCU students for the rigors of their legal education and eventual entry into the legal profession.

Questions & Facts

When can I take the FYLSX?

Upon completing the first year of law school at Pacific Coast University School of Law (PCU) in May/June, students become eligible to undertake the First-Year Law Students Exam (FYLSX) in June. The June exam results are typically released in mid-August, providing students with timely feedback on their performance. Alternatively, students can take the exam in October, with scores anticipated to be returned in mid-December.

If I take courses without passing the FYLSX, will I get credit for law study?

Per §1.3 of the State Bar’s Guidelines for Unaccredited Law School Rules: “The First-Year Law Students’ Examination, as referred to in the Unaccredited Law School Rules, is the examination specified in California Business and Professions Code § 6060(h) and Rule VIII of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California. Students attending unaccredited law schools intending to qualify to take the California Bar Examination must take the examination upon successful completion of their first year of law study. Students who pass the examination within the first three administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it will receive law study credit up to the time of passage of the examination. Students who pass the examination on an attempt following the third administration of the examination after their first becoming eligible to take it will only receive credit for one year of law study toward qualifying to take the California Bar Examination.”

Ensuring your Success

Here at Pacific Coast University, we want to ensure your success by making sure you are meeting essential goals on your journey to taking the Bar. Our educational framework is designed to guide you through the foundational aspects of legal studies, preparing you thoroughly for the challenges ahead. We prioritize academic excellence and the cultivation of the skills and knowledge required to excel in the legal profession. With a focus on your journey toward the Bar, Pacific Coast University is here to ensure that you meet and exceed essential milestones, empowering you to confidently navigate the complexities of legal education and emerge as a capable and successful legal professional.

Eligibility to Sit for the Bar Exam in Other Jurisdictions

Guideline 1.3 of the California State Bar’s Guidelines for Unaccredited Law School Rules, provides:

“Students attending unaccredited law schools intending to qualify to take the California Bar Examination must take the examination upon successful completion of their first year of law study. Students who pass the examination within the first three administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it will receive law study credit up to the time of the passage of the examination. Students who pass the examination on an attempt following the third administration of the examination after their first becoming eligible to take it will only receive credit for one year of law study toward qualifying to take the California Bar Examination.”

Per Guideline 2.3(D) of the State Bar's Guidelines for Unaccredited Law School Rules:

“Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California. A student intending to seek admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.” The Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admission Requirements, a publication by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, provides detailed information on bar admissions requirements in all jurisdictions.

Per State Bar Guideline 5.22 of the Unaccredited Law School Rules:

“A student who does not pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination within three (3) administrations after first becoming eligible to take the examination must be promptly disqualified from a law school’s J.D. program. A student who passes the First-Year Law Students’ Examination within three (3) administrations after first becoming eligible to take it will receive credit for all legal studies completed to the time the examination is passed. A student who does not pass within the three (3) administrations after first becoming eligible to take it, but who subsequently passes, is eligible for re-enrollment in the law school’s J.D. program, but will receive credit for only one year of legal study.”

Information About Admission to the State Bar of California and the California Bar Examination

The State Bar of California maintains information about qualifications to sit for the California Bar Exam, including dates, fees, and locations at https://www.calbar.ca.gov/admissions/examinations

PCU's Bar Examination
Passing Rate

Statistics for previous bar exam pass rates, including historical data for individual law schools in California, can also be found here.

Take the Next Step with PCU Law

Are you ready to start your legal journey? Our online juris doctor degree (JD) program is waiting for you. Discover how PCU Law can provide you with the education, support, and opportunities needed to succeed in the legal field. Contact our admissions team today to learn more.