New Charlotte law school hits major milestone as it begins admissions process
Elon University School of Law can now accept students for its new campus in Charlotte after getting approval from accreditation officials, the university announced on Monday.
The American Bar Association approved the Elon Law Flex Program in December and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges formally approved its campus in the South End neighborhood in late January.
Leaders from the law school campus in Greensboro announced plans in September, and the approvals last month and in December give Elon official permission to extend offers of admission, university officials said.
Elon created the program to meet the needs of working professionals and students who can finish the program over four years, rather than the traditional 2 1/2 years.
The admission requirements in Charlotte will be the same as the full-time program in Greensboro. Requirements includes Law School Admission Test scores, transcripts, a resumé and recommendation letters. The law school only accepts applications submitted through the Law School Admissions Council.
So far, Elon has received several dozen completed applications for the Flex Program. Offers of admission will be decided on a rolling basis after the admissions committee meets to go over information from the interviews.
More than 550 people have expressed interest in the Flex Program as of Monday through online forms,the university said.
Around 35 students are expected to enroll for classes starting in August.
Flex students in Charlotte will be offered the same elective courses offered at the campus in Greensboro, while others will be tailored for Charlotte’s market. Those classes include banking, health, sports and entertainment law, the university said.
The law school will cost a total of $130,000 over the four years for students, according to the university. Tuition will be charged per credit hour.
Elon’s presence in Charlotte allows the law school to deepen its relationship with a legal community that welcomes students, interns and graduates, said Dean Zak Kramer in a news release. He added that close to 10% of alumni live and work in the region.
Kramer said the flex program is a way to help aspiring people in and around Charlotte achieve their goals of becoming a lawyer.
About Elon and its new Charlotte law school
This will be the only in-person law school offered in Charlotte since the for-profit Charlotte School of Law closed in 2017 for losing a state license because of problems with admissions and student aid law issues.
Elon was founded in 1881. More than 7,000 students are enrolled at the private university in Alamance County.
Its law school in Greensboro was established in 2006 and received full ABA accreditation in 2011. More than 400 students were enrolled last year.
Located at 330 W. Tremont Ave., Elon’s regional center in Charlotte is also offering The Sports Experience, an academic program for students majoring and minoring in sports management.
