Our History

The Pursuit of Life-Long Learning

Taft Law School was founded in 1984 making us the oldest nationally accredited distance education law school in California. For more than 30 years, we have been proud to offer an opportunity to students for whom finances, location or life commitments make a tradition law school education difficult or impossible.

Few people would have projected when we offered our first continuing education programs to certified public accountants in 1976, that Taft Law School would evolve into one of the most respected nationally accredited distance learning law schools in the country. The law school’s first degree program was the Juris Doctor Program, which was first offered in 1984. In 2008, The Taft University System separated its School of Law from William Howard Taft University’s Schools of Business and Education. While remaining under common control, Taft Law School is now an independent educational institution.

In June 2003 William Howard Taft University (including its School of Law) was awarded accreditation by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. Taft Law School as a division of The Taft University System has been continuously accredited since.

Taft Law School is dedicated to Bernard E. Witkin (1904-95), a legendary legal scholar and a believer in life-long learning.

Our Mission

The mission of The Taft University System, comprised of William Howard Taft University and Taft Law School, is to offer unique, innovative distance learning educational programs at a reasonable cost to qualified applicants, providing for positive career outcomes in the law, business, and education sectors.

Admission Exclusions

Due to regulatory changes, Taft Law School is not accepting for admission, applicants who reside in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.