Class Format
Live, Interactive Classes
Participating in live class is an important part of how students learn at St. Francis. For approximately three hours each week, you participate in live, interactive classes using our web-conferencing platform. Unlike some other online law schools that offer only chat capability and pre-recorded video lectures, St. Francis class sessions are truly interactive. Students participate live, face-to-face and voice-to-voice. You’re required to think on your feet and share your reasoning and perspective.
Live class sessions generally are held during the evening, between the hours of 6:00 and 7:30 pm Pacific Time, two nights a week.
Academics
Writing Assignments
We go beyond theory to help you build the practical, professional skills essential for success in the legal field. Our written assignments are designed to sharpen your legal research, writing, and analytical abilities—preparing you for St. Francis examinations as well as the State Bar of California. Weekly projects focus on structured legal writing, case analysis, and professional exercises that mirror real-world legal practice.
Independent Studying and Group Projects
A strong legal education requires a balance of independent study and collaborative problem-solving. Our coursework engages you in critical legal exercises, including case briefing, outlining, and responding to hypothetical legal scenarios that test your knowledge. We also incorporate team-based projects that develop essential lawyering skills such as oral advocacy and negotiation, equipping you for the realities of legal practice.
Exams
More than just assessments, exams provide critical preparation for your future in law. Our proctored online exams reflect the structure and rigor of traditional law school assessments. This testing approach is designed to help you build the confidence and expertise needed to pass the State Bar of California, positioning you for success throughout your legal career.
Faculty
Highly Credentialed. Highly Experienced.
At St. Francis School of Law, your education is guided by highly experienced, practicing attorneys who bring real-world expertise into the classroom. Rather than studying law under career academics, you will learn from legal experts who have successfully navigated complex cases and high-stakes legal challenges—professionals with deep subject-matter knowledge and years of practical experience.
This approach provides a practical, real-world perspective, helping you develop skills to analyze, interpret, and apply the law from day one while gaining a deeper understanding of how legal principles function in practice.
By the time you graduate, you will have the training, knowledge, and professional insight to confidently tackle legal issues—making you a valuable asset, no matter the career path you choose.
“I will tell people about St. Francis the same things that I tell my friends who have talked about, ‘Oh, I always thought I wanted to go to law school’; do it. Stop talking about it and do it. It will be perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences you’ve ever had. It has been a wonderful experience.”
Marilyn Gates • Class of 2023
“St. Francis is a really unique program, has phenomenal faculty and professors, and you’ll build some really great friendships with the students who attend. It’s a very collegial atmosphere, which I really enjoyed.”
Zach Worsley • Class of 2023
A New Approach to Academic Excellence
St. Francis has small class sizes, a highly experienced faculty, and practical skills training throughout the curriculum. Our innovative technologies support face-to-face classroom sessions and encourage increased student-faculty contact outside of class. It’s the ideal program for Juris Doctor students who want to learn at a deeper, more meaningful level.
St. Francis focuses on quality of legal training and professional skill development.
Our highly-accomplished faculty will prepare you to practice law with efficiency and confidence.
73% of our students taking the California General Bar Exam through July 2024 have passed the exam.
Cultivating our community partnerships spurs innovation and economic development.
We are committed to making quality career education more accessible to students.
Ready to purse your career-focused program at St.Francis?
We’re excited to give you the tools you need to build the futue you want.
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