Concord University School of Law Opens Concord Law Center with LL.M in Health Law

Online Law School Provides Post-JD Programs to Attorneys

Los Angeles, CA, July 17, 2001 - Concord University School of Law, the nation's only entirely online law school, announces the opening of the Concord Law Center, which will provide online course instruction to law graduates and attorneys. The Law Center begins courses this September with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law program. Like Concord Law School, the Law Center's online instruction allows students the flexibility of choosing when and where they study, and at an affordable tuition. The courses follow the format of Concord Law School's nationally recognized pedagogy, which includes streaming audio and video lectures and asynchronous studies. Additionally, live discussion sessions are systematically woven into each course offering, and Internet-based tools such as dedicated bulletin boards and listservs are employed to facilitate communication and course work.

"Concord's LL.M. in Health Law program is designed for legal practitioners from all over the world who want the most current health care information to build and enhance their practices," said Donna Skibbe, Executive Director of Concord Law Center and Vice President of Concord University School of Law. "The program follows the success of Concord Law School, which is educating more than 700 working professionals who want to achieve a law degree but cannot disrupt their work and family obligations. The entirely online format of the program, which is accessible from any location, provides the flexibility necessary to accomplish professional educational goals while working."

The LL.M. in Health Law program offers a broad-based health law foundation to develop or advance a health law practice. The primary focus of the course work is on the application of a core of health law concepts to each student's practice. Upon completion, graduates of the program will be prepared to apply this knowledge in a wide variety of settings that deal with health law and policy including law firms, hospitals, insurance companies, managed care organizations, consulting firms, legislatures, and law schools.

The LL.M. Health Law curriculum was built with a conceptual practical balance. The courses evaluate our health laws, the public policies that provide the basis for those laws, and future trends," said Candace Elliott Person, Director of the Health Law LL.M. Program and Professor of Law. "Students will have the opportunity to choose electives and specialize in the area best suited to their professional needs. As proven with Concord Law School, online learning works very well in legal education. In addition to individualized study, students will work together on real-world projects including concept papers, policies, legislation, compliance plans, contract negotiations, and much more."

The Master of Laws Health Law Program at Concord is a 28-unit program. Courses are held in 15-week trimester terms and the program must be completed within three (3) years. In January 2002, the Law Center will begin offering courses leading to a Master of Laws in Taxation. The LLM programs have been approved by the California Bureau of Postsecondary Private & Vocational Education (BPPVE). For more information, please visit www.concordlawcenter.com.

The LL.M. degree programs are designed for law school graduates and practicing attorneys who desire an in-depth knowledge of Heath Law or Taxation. Concord Law Center also plans to offer shorter non-degree specialty programs such as mediation training and Internet-based legal research classes, designed for individuals who wish to build their skills in the specific areas.

Concord University School of Law is the nation's first entirely online law school and is the second-largest part-time law school in the country, based on the size of the first-year entering class. Concord's current student body of approximately 700 includes working professionals and others whose family and/or work obligations have made Concord Law School the right choice for them. Concord has been authorized to award the Juris Doctor degree by the California Bureau of Private Post-Secondary and Vocational Education and has complied with the registration requirements of the State Bar of California, which permits its graduates to apply for admission to the California Bar. In January 2000, Concord received accreditation under a pilot program from the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Concord is part of The Kaplan Colleges group of institutions (www.kaplancollege.edu) which also includes Kaplan College and The College for Professional Studies. Each of the institutions within The Kaplan Colleges is separately accredited and authorized and offers a variety of career-oriented programs in both online and traditional classroom formats. Kaplan, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO).

Press Contact: Liz Lindley liz_lindley@kaplan.com
(212) 492-5890

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