Pepperdine Caruso School of Law offers an accelerated, two-year Juris Doctor (JD) degree that is paired with the opportunity to simultaneously earn a certificate from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. This distinctive and innovative approach blends rigorous legal education at a leading institution with significant skills and training geared toward practicing law in the 21st century. The Accelerated Option is a great choice for motivated students willing to work at a faster pace to finish law school sooner.<br><br>The Accelerated Option provides graduates with the opportunity to enter the workforce a year before the traditional three-year degree program, gaining an early advantage on the path to professional success. After an initial summer session beginning in May, the accelerated option students enroll in the regular first-year JD classes and continue to matriculate in the regular JD program. In total, students take classes in four semesters and two summer sessions. Students in the Accelerated Option have a more fixed schedule, but also have the opportunity to select from a broad range of elective courses, clinics, externships, all student-edited journals (including the Pepperdine Law Review), and inter-school moot court and trial competitions.