Lifelong Learning Programs

17.1 LLL - Lifelong Learning Programs

In addition to our credited MBLT and JD offerings, The Colleges of Law offers professionals the opportunity to take select courses and professional certificates for no academic credit through the Lifelong Learning (LLL) program.   

1. Program Goals  
   The Lifelong Learning program provides working professionals with access to practical knowledge of the law and emergent trends in the legal profession, enabling them to become informed and innovative problem solvers within the workplace. It is specifically designed for individuals who want to learn about a legal topic, continue their education in the law, or gain a professional certificate in legal and legal-adjacent subjects. The Lifelong Learning programs are for those already engaged in the legal profession who want to update their skills and those who want to learn about specific legal subjects. Lifelong Learning students may register for individual courses or professional certificates.
    
2. Ineligibility for Bar Exam 
   
   The Lifelong Learning programs do not offer the necessary education for those who wish to become lawyers. The LLL programs are offered online with some in-person opportunities. 
   
   The Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California requires that the following language be included in this Catalog:  

Except as provided in rule 4.30 of the Admissions Rules (Legal Education in a foreign state or country), completion of a professional law degree program at this law school other than for the Juris Doctor degree does not qualify a student to take the California Bar Examination or satisfy the requirements for admission to practice law in California. It may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy requirements for admission to the practice of law in any other jurisdiction. A student intending to seek admission to practice law should contact the admitting authority in the jurisdictions where the student intends to qualify to sit for the bar examination or to be admitted to practice for information regarding their legal education requirements.  

17.2 LLL - Length of Program

1. The LLL programs are part-time and online. Courses in the LLL program are taught over eight weeks. In week 8, instruction ends on the first Monday. Each week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday other than week 8. Exceptions may occur and will be announced by e-mail. Students are cautioned not to make discretionary plans that will prevent them from participating in the online class or completing course assignments.  
2. Each calendar year consists of three semesters, each with two terms. COL offers six terms of courses (Spring 1, Spring 2, Summer 1, Summer 2, Fall 1, and Fall 2) each year. LLL students may take courses in any term, and professional certificate students may begin their program in any term. See the MBLT Academic Calendar for term dates.  
3. Professional certificates consist of four courses selected from the list of available courses for each professional certificate, see section 16.2. 
4. Professional certificates must be completed within two years of the beginning of the first course taken in the selected certificate program registration. 
5. Any deviation from the prescribed program must be requested in writing and approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Programs or the Dean.  

17.3 LLL - Professional Certificates

The Colleges of Law offers four distinct Professional Certificates: Business Operations, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Law, and Technology. To qualify for a professional certificate, students must successfully complete four courses within a single certificate. Successful completion is defined by receiving a C+ or better, as defined in section 15.1(A), and will be recorded as a P on the student’s record. A record of the student’s letter grade will be maintained for use if the student transfers to the MBLT program.

17.4 LLL - Individual Courses

Working professionals are invited to take LLL courses in any term they are offered. LLL courses are taken along with JD and MBLT students. Courses are thorough and intensive, and LLL students should be prepared to complete work at a graduate school level. Each semester, a list of course offerings will be available online or by contacting the LLL program at lifelonglearning@collegesoflaw.edu.
 
Successful completion of a course occurs when a student receives a C+ or better, as defined in section 15.1(A), which will be recorded as a P on the student’s record. A record of the student’s letter grade will be maintained for use if the student transfers courses to the MBLT program.

17.5 LLL - Registration Procedures

1. Before the start of each session, continuing Professional Certificate students will be notified by their JURIS e-mail address of information about tuition, fees, class schedules, academic calendar, and registration deadlines by the Lifelong Learning Program Manager. Required books and course information will be communicated by Student Services. Students are responsible for purchasing or obtaining the required books through outside vendors. The Academic Catalog is available to students at catalog.collegesoflaw.edu. Course information is found in Canvas, the online Learning Management System.  
2. COL will contact students registering for their first course or the Professional Certificate program with information about registration, an Orientation webinar, and passwords for access to Westlaw. Students will also be provided information about accessing their COL email, the Student Gateway, and Canvas..  
3. Students will be provided with a JURIS e-mail account and log-in credentials to the School’s e-learning platform shortly after registering and paying for a course or certificate program.  
4. See Sections 6.2 and 6.3 for policies on adding and dropping courses and the refund schedule.  
5. Subject to course availability, students wishing to enroll in more than one course per term should contact the Lifelong Learning program manager.  

17.6 LLL - Transfer to the MBLT

1. Single courses and professional certificate courses may be transferred to the MBLT when an LLL student applies to and is admitted to the MBLT program. Courses taken in the professional certificate program or individually must meet the academic standard of the MBLT and pay a transfer fee.
      
2. Courses successfully completed within two years before the student’s MBLT program start date are eligible for transfer.
    
3. Transfer fees equal the difference between the amount paid for each LLL course and the current tuition fee for each MBLT course. Professional certificate individual course fees equal the amount paid for the professional certificate divided by four. 

17.7 LLL - MCLE Credits

1. Lifelong learning courses are designed to support student professional growth. Courses may qualify for self-reported MCLE credit through the California Bar.
    
2. Upon request, students who successfully complete a lifelong learning course will receive an electronic certificate from The Colleges of Law to document their course completion. 
    
3. We encourage students to familiarize themselves with the California Bar Association’s policies and procedures to ensure that their chosen course is eligible for MCLE credit. Students who plan to self-report for MCLE credit may have to provide additional documentation, such as the course description from this catalog and the course syllabus.