Fast Track Law Degrees

Northwestern University School of Law

• Northwestern Law made headlines by becoming the first top tier law school to offer a two-year JD (See References 1). Students in this competitive program complete the same amount of credit hours as traditional law students, but they finish their coursework within two calendar years (five semesters). Students complete a summer term (starting in May) before joining the traditional JD students for fall and spring terms. The second summer term is spent working, and then the students return to complete another fall and spring term before graduating in May. To qualify for this program, applicants must have a minimum of two years of post-undergraduate work experience.

  Northwestern University School of Law
  375 East Chicago Avenue
  Chicago, IL 60611
  312-503-3100
  law.northwestern.edu

California Western School of Law

• The trimester system at California Western School of Law enables students to complete their JDs in two years. Students can begin classes in either the fall or spring. The program is flexible, allowing students who complete one year of study (two trimesters) to plan the rest of their schedule.

  California Western School of Law
  225 Cedar Street
  San Diego, CA 92101
  619-239-0391
  cwsl.edu

University of Kansas School of Law

• First-year law students at the University of Kansas School of Law can start classes in the summer. Students who start in the summer attend two consecutive five-week sessions. Those who start classes can in the summer can participate in the accelerated program, which takes two full calendar years to complete.

  University of Kansas School of Law
  1535 W. 15th Street
  Lawrence, KS 66045
  785-864-4550
  law.ku.edu

University of Dayton School of Law

• Students who start classes in May at the University of Dayton School of Law can finish their JD degrees in two years. Students can attend classes during the summer, fall and spring their first year, then they take their second summer off. Students are encouraged to pursue an externship, gain work experience, participate in a law clinic and sign up for extracurricular activities during their summer off. Students then finish up the following fall and spring semesters to graduate.

  University of Dayton School of Law
  300 College Park
  Dayton, OH 45469
  937-229-3211
  law.udayton.edu