Taft Law School

Taft Law School is a private for-profit online law school in Santa Ana, California. It was founded in 1976 and operates through the Taft University System (William Howard Taft University). The school offers Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) law degree programs. Although the school is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, it is not accredited by the American Bar Association or by the State Bar of California. The Law School Admission Council lists Taft Law School as a "Non-ABA-Approved Law School" and explains that most states do not "permit graduates of these schools to take the bar examination" nor "admit to their bars a graduate of a non-ABA-approved law school." The California State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners categorizes Taft Law School as a "registered unaccredited correspondence law school." As such, its graduates must pass the First-Year Law Students' Examination (Baby Bar) in order to be eligible to take the California General Bar Examination. Bar pass rates In July 2015, 6 graduates took the California Bar Examination for the first time and none passed. In the administration of the same exam 15 graduates were repeat takers, and only one individual passed. In February 2015, a total of 21 graduates took the exam (15 repeat takers) and only 7 passed. In July 2014, 22 graduates took the exam (11 repeat takers) and 3 passed. Notable people ED Denson (J.D., '99), Music industry executive and attorney Jonathan Falwell (J.D. '05) – senior pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church and son of Jerry Falwell Jim Rice (J.D.), member of the Idaho Senate Orly Taitz (J.D. '02) – lawyer for the birther movement