Concord holds two graduation ceremonies each year in Los Angeles—one in February and one in July. Both are held on the Saturday following the administration of the California Bar Exam. The ceremony and reception are celebratory events that attract large crowds of the graduates’ families and friends.
Graduation speakers have included Barry Diller, CEO of InterActiveCorp., James E. Towery, former President of the State Bar of California, Mark I. Harrison, Gerald M. Rosberg, Vice President of Planning and Development at The Washington Post Co., Caroline H. Little, former CEO of The Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive.com business, Pauline A. Schneider, a partner in a Washington, D.C. law firm, Cornell Professor Peter W. Martin, and Michael Lambert, executive director of the DETC.
Concord's largest graduating class to date crossed the stage at the Skirball Cultural Center in March 2008. John E. Moye, Concord lecturer and prominent Denver attorney was the speaker. In August, then Kaplan Chairman and CEO Jonathan Grayer celebrated Concord's 10th anniversary in his remarks.
In 2009, the February speaker was State Bar of California President Holly Fujie. In a twist on tradition, Concord's August ceremony was conducted by its alumni with Joy Nonnweiler (JD W'07,) Michael Justen (EJD W'08,) and Ross Mitchell (JD S'04) as speakers.
Professor Arthur Miller of New York University and formerly of Harvard Law School addressed the graduates in February 2010. Professor Miller has long been associated with Concord as a supplementary lecturer. Wake Forest University Professor Steve Nickles was the speaker at the summer ceremony. Professor Nickles teaches a JD course at Concord and serves as a program director for the Small Business Practice LLM program.
Following the conferring of degrees, the Concord ceremony is marked by the presentation of awards to graduates for particular accomplishments:
Kaplan Award for Legal Services
The award is presented to the Concord graduates who have demonstrated excellence in professionalism and exemplary service to the community through their LEEP or EJD Practicum externship.
DETC Outstanding Graduate Award
The award is presented to the graduate who has demonstrated dedication and outstanding academic excellence in the pursuit of an online legal education.
Sue Lane Award
The award is presented in memory of Sue Lane, the first registrar of Concord Law School, to the graduates who best embodies her character, dedication, and pursuit of excellence.
Executive Juris Doctor Award for Academic Excellence
The award is presented to the EJD student in the graduating group who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average.
Jack R. Goetz Award
This award for academic excellence is in honor of the founding Dean of Concord Law School, Jack R. Goetz. It is presented to the graduate of each class who achieved the highest cumulative grade point average.
Concord graduation award winners are listed on our “Wall of Fame.”
At the conclusion of the graduation event, it has become Concord tradition to hold a swearing-in ceremony where Concord graduates from previous classes who have recently passed the bar take the oath of admission to the State Bar of California.
One might think that graduates of an online school would be content with a cyber-based graduation event, but that has not been the case at Concord. A high percentage of graduates participate in the ceremony, with guests coming to Los Angeles from all over the country—and often the world. The ceremonies are an affirmation of the community that is built during the years a student spends at Concord