Executive Juris Doctor
Description and Outcomes
The Executive Juris Doctor (EJD) program is a program pioneered by Concord to provide a law-based degree for those individuals who do not intend to become practicing attorneys. It is designed for individuals who are seeking an understanding of the U.S. legal system to enhance their current career, to open up employment opportunities, or for their personal growth. In addition to obtaining a thorough legal background, graduates will have sharpened their analytical reasoning and communication skills. Students in the EJD program will not be certified as meeting the requirements of the State Bar of California to sit for the California Bar Examination. The EJD offers more flexibility than the JD program without sacrificing a rigorous education in core legal subjects.
The EJD program requires completion of a minimum 72 credit hours, consisting of 30 credit hours in specific core classes and an additional 42 credit hours of electives. Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded an executive juris doctor degree.
Concentrations
In addition to general law studies, you may further specialize your degree by selecting one of four concentrations: business law, education law, health law, and law and technology.
The business law concentration could be beneficial for students who seek to enhance their knowledge of the law for use in their current position or to seek new employment opportunities in both private and public sector industries as well as nonprofits.
The education law concentration could be beneficial to students who are interested in the educational system or advocating for parents and students, including students with disabilities, in the education process. It is also a good fit for students who have a background in, or currently work in, a K-12 or postsecondary education setting who seek to enhance their knowledge of the law for use in their current position, or to seek new employment opportunities.
The health law concentration is designed for individuals with a background in the health care profession who seek to enhance their current position or seek new employment opportunities.
The law and technology concentration is designed for individuals with a technology background who seek to enhance their current position or who seek new employment opportunities.
While these concentrations are designed to prepare you to pursue employment in your field of study, or in related fields, Concord does not guarantee that you will be placed in any particular job, eligible for job advancement opportunities, or employed at all.
Learning Outcome Objectives
Concord has established the following core learning goals in connection with its Executive Juris Doctor program:
- Demonstrates knowledge of the role of law in society and the U.S. legal system.
- Demonstrates ability to analyze and explain legal solutions to a particular fact situation.
- Communicates clearly and effectively both in writing and orally.
- Demonstrates competency with specific legal practice skills.
- Demonstrates knowledge of the law in foundation law courses.
- Demonstrates the knowledge and skills to recognize and resolve dilemmas in an ethical manner.
- Models professionalism and knowledge of the importance of service to the profession and to the community at large, and an understanding of the unauthorized practice of law.
Required Disclosures
The method of instruction at this law school for professional law degree programs other than the Juris Doctor degree is principally by technological means including interactive classes.
Completion of a professional law degree program at this law school, other than the Juris Doctor degree, does not qualify you to take the California Bar Examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to practice law in California. It may not qualify you to take the bar examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to the practice of law in any other jurisdiction. If you are intending to seek admission to practice law, you should contact the admitting authority in the jurisdiction where you intend to qualify to sit for the bar examination or for admission to practice to receive information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.
Policies
Progression Requirements
You must complete both parts I and II of Contracts, Torts, and Introduction to Legal Analysis in the first two terms prior to taking any other courses in your program, with the exception of Criminal Law, which may be taken concurrently.
Notwithstanding any other policy regarding satisfactory academic progress or academic probation, if you are an EJD student and do not earn a 1.00 CGPA by the end of your first term, you will be academically dismissed from the School.
Final Exam Qualification Policy
You are required to attend regularly and punctually to your studies. To be able to take the final examination in a course, you must:
- Complete 100% of the required work (other than seminars) by finishing all modules prior to the scheduled final examination date.
- Participate in at least 80% of all seminars (100% for legal writing courses), either live or through the archive, by no later than one week (7 days) prior to the scheduled final examination date.
Graduation Requirements
You must successfully pass all required courses, complete 72 credit hours, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 1.70 to graduate with an EJD degree from Concord.
Students who meet all graduation requirements will be considered graduates of the University and may participate in graduation ceremonies. However, the diploma and transcript will be withheld until the financial obligations are satisfied.