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The merger of Concord into Kaplan University in late 2007 made Concord the first online law school to be part of a regionally accredited university. [ 3 ] [ 1 ] However, the school is not accredited by the American Bar Association. [ 4 ] or by the California Committee of Bar Examiners. [ 5 ]

Because of the school's status as an unaccredited distance learning law school by the California Bar Association, Concord students must take and pass California's First Year Law Student Examination, colloquially called the "Baby Bar," after their first year of law study. Students may progress to advanced law courses and eventually sit for California's State Bar Examination once they have passed the Baby Bar. [ 5 ] [ 1 ]

The California State Bar reports that of the 196 Concord students taking the "baby bar" in October , 28 or 14.3% passed. The average for All Takers of the "baby bar" is 14.7% of 653 examinees.

The California State Bar report for the July Bar Exam states that of the 102 Concord graduates taking the Bar Exam, 30 or 29.4% passed. The figures for the February, Bar Exam are that of the 109 Concord graduates taking the California Bar Exam, 29 passed, a 26.6% rate. All takers of the February, Bar Exam, had a pass rate of 34.4% of 4445 examinees and in July, it was 61% of 8990 examinees. Total CA unaccredited had a 21.3% pass rate of 427 total examinees in July, . In February, , CA unaccredited distance learning had a total pass rate of 18.4% with 185 test takers.

Both a J.D. degree and an Executive J.D. (EJD) degree are offered. The recipients of J.D. degrees who pass the California Bar Exam and otherwise meet the California State Bar requirements are admitted to the bar and can practice law in California.

The JD program is a 92-unit, four-year program. Students are required to successfully complete at least 22-24 units of coursework between 48 to 52 consecutive weeks each year. Graduates of this program will have met the legal education requirement of the Committee of Bar Examiners, State Bar of California and may apply for admission to the State Bar of California. [ 6 ]

The EJD Program is a 72-unit, three-year program. Students who complete the EJD program are not eligible to sit for the California State Bar Examination. It appears to be designed for executives, administrators and professionals in various fields who seek graduate-level training in law but do not wish to practice.

Barry Currier has been the Dean of Concord Law School since June 2004. [ 7 ]

In November , Ross Mitchell, a 2004 Concord graduate, sued for, and won, the right to take the Massachusetts bar exam which is normally open only to Massachusetts or ABA accredited law schools. In a 6-1 decision, the state's Supreme Judicial Court ruled for Ross, citing his excellent law school record and the ability to represent himself and properly present his case. [ 8 ] Mitchell subsequently passed the Massachusetts bar exam in February . [ 9 ]

On March 17, , four former graduates from Concord Law School were admitted to the United States Supreme Court. This came on the heal of Concord Law School's 10th anniversary. [ 10 ]