California Southern Law School (CSLS) was a private part-time evening law school in Riverside, California. It admitted its last entering class in Fall 2016 and closed after the Spring 2020 semester.[1][2] It is registered with the California State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), but is not accredited by the CBE or approved by the American Bar Association. As a registered law school, CSLS graduates may take the California Bar Examination and upon passing the Bar, they are authorized to practice law in California.[3]
California Southern Law School is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners[7] of The State Bar of California (CBE), which authorizes CSLS to operate and to grant the Juris Doctor (J.D.) law degree. CSLS is not approved by the American Bar Association[8] or accredited by the CBE. As a registered "unaccredited" law school, CSLS students must take and pass the First-Year Law Students' Examination (commonly referred to as the "Baby Bar") administered by the CBE.[9] Upon successful passing of the "Baby Bar" those students may continue with their law studies to obtain their J.D. degree.[10]
California Southern Law School maintained its facilities in stand-alone buildings in the Magnolia Center Neighborhood[11] of Riverside, California. Facilities include offices, classrooms and a trial practice courtroom. Legal research and Writing classes are held at the Victor Miceli Riverside County Law Library[12] in Downtown[13] Riverside.
CSLS admits students meeting the Pre-Legal Education requirements set forth by the Committee of Bar Examiners and does not require the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).[14] The CBE requires prospective law students to complete a minimum of two years of approved college work or its equivalent before entering law school.[15] This requirement is generally met by receiving an Associate of Arts (AA) degree, Associate of Science (AS) degree or by having completed at least 60 semester (90 quarter) units of college work applicable to a Bachelor's degree at a regionally accredited or approved school recognized by the CBE, with an average grade at least equal to that required for graduation. As allowed by the CBE, prospective CSLS students can satisfy this requirement by taking certain College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests.[16][nb 4]
As required by the Committee of Bar Examiners,[17] California Southern Law School offers a four-year law curriculum. The CSLS program covers all bar examination subjects likely to be tested by the CBE.[18][19] All classes are held on weekday evenings which allows students to pursue a legal education and maintain full-time employment.[20]
Successful California Southern Law School graduates are found in many areas of the Southern California legal community.[24] They include judges and other distinguished alumni.
Mary Ellen Daniels ('84) – President (2003–2004), Riverside County Bar Association[43][44]
L. Alexandra Fong ('00) – Riverside County Counsel's Office[45]
Katie Greene ('79) – Honored by blackvoicenews.com as a Community Builder for her 14 years service with the Public Service Law Corporation (PSLC)[46] (2010 Hardy L. Brown Gala)[47][48]
^Judge Rich opened Citrus Belt Law School shortly after the private vocational Riverside University, which had a law program, was closed by state and federal regulators."Riverside University May Have To Close". The Press-Courier. Oxnard, California. June 10, 1971. p. 4. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
^Students meet can CBE Pre-Legal Education requirements by obtaining a score of 50 in the following CLEP tests, offered by the College Board:
Either the College Composition or the College Composition Modular examination; plus,
Two/four other examinations (12 credits total) in: Composition and Literature (Humanities examination only); Foreign Languages; History and Social Science; Science and Mathematics; Business
^"California Southern Law School :: Home". California Southern Law School. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021. California Southern Law School has ceased enrollment operations and has permanently closed; our last class graduated in May, 2020.
^Armstrong, Jason M. (August 15, 2007). "Man of the Robe". Daily Journal. Los Angeles, California: Daily Journal Corporation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.(subscription required)
^Armstrong, Jason M. (October 24, 2003). "Survivor Would Do It All Again If Necessary". Daily Journal. Los Angeles, California: Daily Journal Corporation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.(subscription required)