On Tuesday, Elon announced<\/a> it has applied to the American Bar Association for approval to launch a full-time Juris Doctor program in Charlotte with classes targeted to begin in fall 2027.<\/p>\n What You Need To Know<\/p>\n Elon University announces intent to launch full-time law program in Charlotte If approved, the program would operate on Queens\u2019 campus, either upon completion of the planned merger or by way of a lease agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n Education leaders say Charlotte currently lacks a full-time law school, following the 2017 closure of the Charlotte School<\/a> of Law.<\/p>\n \u201cCharlotte needs a law school,\u201d said Zak Kramer, dean of Elon University School of Law. \u201cIt\u2019s the largest city in the country without a full-time program.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Elon already operates a part-time Law Flex<\/a>\u00a0Program in Charlotte.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Students in the four-year program said the format allows them to balance employment, school and family responsibilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cA game changer for me,\u201d said Kayla Price, a law student in the Law Flex Program and a paralegal. \u201cIt fit my lifestyle, it fit everything I needed to stay in Charlotte and also be able to work and continue to get practical experience at the same time.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The proposed full-time\u00a0program would expand Elon Law\u2019s presence in the city while maintaining its existing offerings.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat would be in addition to the program in Greensboro and the Law Flex Program,\u201d Kramer said. \u201cSo, the Law Flex Program will continue, we\u2019re just growing into a full-time program as well.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe Law Flex Program will go with the new program to the Queens University campus, but Elon has other programs in its [South End building], it\u2019s growing programs in this building, so we will make unbelievable good use of it,\u201d Kramer said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Law Flex Program first launched in Fall 2024, and currently has around 83 students between its two cohorts.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kramer said they\u2019re expecting a growing demand for Charlotte\u2019s full-time law program, as they aim to enroll a class of around 75 students, giving aspiring lawyers a chance to\u00a0develop partnerships in the Queen City\u2019s legal community.\u00a0<\/p>\n According to Juris Education<\/a>, the average cost of law school, including tuition and living expenses, totals about $230,000.<\/p>\n For private institutions, Juris Education reports the average tuition alone for a three-year program to be roughly $168,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n Elon leaders say the new full-time Charlotte law program, designed to be completed in two-and-a-half years, would mirror the university\u2019s Greensboro offerings, while providing a more cost and time-efficient option.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe full-time scale will be the same [cost] as the scale in Greensboro<\/a>,” Kramer said. “This year in Greensboro it was $136,000 all in. A lot of students get merit scholarships, so they end up paying less than that.”<\/p>\n “The benefit of being a 2.5-year program is its more cost effective, and it\u2019s faster because students don\u2019t have to pay for that second half of a third year, so they graduate with less debt and get out into the marketplace faster,”\u00a0Kramer said.<\/p>\n The location of the proposed law\u00a0school is closely tied to Elon\u2019s planned merger with Queens.\u00a0<\/p>\n Elon President Dr. Connie L. Book said placing a full-time law program on the Queens campus reflects what the merger aims to achieve.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt is something that together Elon and Queens could not have achieved independently,\u201d Book said. \u201cSo when we say stronger together, this is a great example of the kind of accelerated opportunity that the merger with Queens and Elon are bringing to Charlotte and beyond. A full-time law program is central to that vision.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe were going to have a full-time law program even if the merger hadn\u2019t been realized,\u201d Book said. \u201cBut the cost avoidance of having the relationship with Queens is a $31 million issue, meaning, I don’t have to build a new library, dining hall [etc.]\u00a0 So, we had [otherwise] imagined leasing a building and then doing improvements to it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Elon leaders said the new program will also benefit current students by giving them an infrastructure to enjoy on a higher education campus.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Flex Program has already started benefiting working professionals here in Charlotte,\u201d said Jack Randolph, a paralegal and student in the Law Flex Program. \u201cNow, having a full-time law school opens the doors for everyone, whether they\u2019re coming straight out of undergraduate or looking to change careers, and they feel like a full-time program works best for them.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Jack Randolph and Kayla Price are enrolled in Elon University’s Law Flex Program in Charlotte. The paralegals said they’re excited the institution is expanding to a full-time option for students in a growing area. (Spectrum News 1\/Jennifer Roberts)<\/p>\n Applications for the new program are expected to open in August 2026, pending ABA approval. Elon University said offers of admission cannot be extended until formal authorization is granted.\u00a0<\/p>\n Regulatory approvals<\/a> are still required before the merger between Queens University of Charlotte and Elon is finalized.\u00a0<\/p>\n Follow us on Instagram at\u00a0spectrumnews1nc<\/a>\u00a0for news and other happenings across North Carolina.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n
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The school is already operating a part-time law program in Charlotte\u00a0
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If approved, the new program will operate on the Queens University of Charlotte campus
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The moves come as Elon and Queens continue moving forward with plans to merge<\/p>\n![\"Jack](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/4f35fe9a-4e84-4b50-a891-afd8dc320ad9.jpeg\")
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