Nation’s First Online Law School Approved for Veteran's Education Benefits

Veterans Entitled to Education Benefits for J.D. and E.J.D. Programs 

New York (June 28, 2000) -- Concord University School of Law, the nation’s first online law school and a division of Kaplan, Inc., announced that it has received program approval from the United States Veterans Affairs Department. Effective January 20, 2000, Concord's online Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Executive Juris Doctor (E.J.D.) degree programs are eligible for educational benefits offered to active military members, veterans and their dependents. This benefit enables students stationed worldwide to enroll in Concord's top-quality legal program, and study law at their convenience, with various reimbursements depending upon the program and the participant.

"Concord's unique online, accessible legal education will be a definite plus for service men and women who are stationed overseas or in the United States and who want to continue their education despite geographic location," said Dean Jack Goetz. "Not only does Concord open doors for these students, but the educational VA benefit allows family members to get connected to a US legal education, no matter where they are stationed." Since Concord Law School is a fully online program, entitlements do not depend on any particular state residency. Veterans and dependents can inquire about particular details by calling 1-888-442-4551 or visiting the Department of Veterans Affairs at http://www.gibill.va.gov.

The Concord curriculum corresponds to that of most leading American Bar Association law schools, and lectures are presented using audiovisual streaming technology. Students also attend professor-led dialogues where they discuss and debate legal concepts, and study the same casebooks and textbooks as those of their peers at law school campuses nationwide. In addition, students interact with each other and with professors via message boards, chat rooms, and one-on-one meetings on e-mail or by phone.

"I am delighted that Concord is now approved for Veteran's educational benefits," said Lieutenant William Jolly, a 1st year Concord student who is stationed in the Great Lakes Naval Hospital. "Concord has given me the chance to serve my country and simultaneously attend law school, which has always been a goal for me. Concord enables me to pursue a solid education regardless of my scheduling constraints or location."

Since opening in 1998, Concord has pioneered the delivery of high quality legal education on the Internet. The school serves working professionals, homemakers, family caretakers and others whose circumstances prevent them from pursuing a legal education at a fixed facility law school. More than 450 students are enrolled at Concord, including alumni of such prestigious universities as Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, MIT, the University of California Berkeley, Duke and the University of Chicago. More than one third of the students already hold advanced degrees. Concord is now the nation's second largest part-time law school. Concord has been authorized to award the J.D. degree by the Bureau of Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education in California, and is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education Training Council. Concord has complied with the registration requirements of the State Bar of California, which permits its graduates to apply for admission to the California Bar. Upon passing the California Bar Examination, graduates will be qualified to practice in California courts. They may also apply to practice in many of the Federal courts. Graduates who want to practice in other state courts may be eligible under reciprocity rules and should contact the bar in those states for details.

For more information about Concord prospective applicants may visit the web site, www.concordlawschool.com, or call 1-888-228-7737.

Concord Law School is the flagship program of KaplanCollege.com, a web site launched in April 2000 by Kaplan, Inc. featuring nearly 500 online professional development and continuing education courses, and certification and degree programs for working professionals. Courses are available in Nursing, Education, Criminal Justice, Real Estate, Legal Professions, Management, General Business and Computing/Information Technology. To date, 3,800 students have enrolled in KaplanCollege.com programs. Kaplan, Inc. (www.kaplan.com) is a premier provider of educational and career services for individuals, schools and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Press Contact: pubrel@kaplan.com, (212) 492-5965