California Southern Law School

Short description: Private law school in Riverside, California

Not to be confused with University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA), Southern California Institute of Law (Santa Barbara, CA), the distance learning school California Southern University (Irvine, CA), nor the unaccredited institution called "Cal Southern University", located in Houston, TX, and registered in the South Pacific Island of Niue..

California Southern Law School

Motto| A Great Value in Legal Education
Established| 1971; Closed May, 2020
School type| Private Law school
Dean| Judge Elwood M. Rich (1920–2015; Dean, 1971–2014)
Location| Riverside, California, US
[ ⚑ ] : 33°57′33″N 117°23′29″W﻿ / ﻿33.9591°N 117.3914°W﻿ / 33.9591; -117.3914
USNWR ranking| No USNWR Ranking
Website| Official website
ABA profile| Non-ABA School

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]

## Contents

* 1 History
* 1.1 California State Bar CBE registration
* 2 Facilities
* 3 Academics
* 3.1 Pre-Legal Education requirements
* 3.2 Law study
* 3.3 Judicial Instructors
* 4 Noted people
* 4.1 Alumni judges
* 4.2 Other distinguished alumni
* 5 See also
* 6 Notes
* 7 References
* 8 External links

## History

California Southern Law School was founded in 1971 as Citrus Belt Law School[nb 1] by California Superior Court Judge Elwood M. Rich[4] to serve students in the Inland Empire of Southern California.[5][nb 2] It took its original name from the Citrus Belt League of the Inland Empire, but changed the name in 1990 to California Southern Law School.[6]

### California State Bar CBE registration

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]

## Facilities

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.

## Academics

### Pre-Legal Education requirements

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 3]

### Law study

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]

### Judicial Instructors

Judges and commissioners who have taught at CSLS include:

* Angel M. Bermudez (J.D., University of San Diego School of Law) – Instructor, Trial Practice (2011–2014) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County[21]
* Jim Bishop, Interim Dean (2014–present) (J.D., McGeorge School of Law (University of the Pacific) '75) – Instructor, Contracts (1976–2017) – Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Business Law, California Baptist University, Riverside; Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1990–2008)[22]
* Thomas S. Hudspeth (J.D., CSLS '81) – Instructor, Torts (1985–2015) – Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1999–2012)[23]

## Noted people

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.

### Alumni judges

* Barbara J. Beck ('74) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), Santa Barbara County[25]
* John G. Evans ('79) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County[26][27]
* Douglas N. Gericke ('76) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino County[28]
* Arthur A. Harrison ('86) – Superior Court Judge, San Bernardino County[29]
* Christopher J. Warner ('77 honors) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino County[30]
* Dale R. Wells ('93) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County[31][32][33]
* Christopher W. Yeager ('77) – Presiding Judge, Superior Court, Imperial County[34]

### Other distinguished alumni

* Virginia M. Blumenthal ('75) – Member, Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees;[35] recipient of the Athena Award[36] from Athena International;[37] Los Angeles Daily Journal, "Top Women Litigators of 2007"[38] and "Top Women Litigators 2008"[39]
* Edwin Butler (1949–2010) ('94) – Journalist and Law Librarian, San Bernardino County Law Libraries[40]
* Terry E. Caldwell ('75) – Mayor and City Council Member (1972–2010), Victorville, California[41][42]
* 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]
* Michael A. Ramos ('88) – District attorney, County of San Bernardino (2002–2019) and Member, California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board[49][50][51]
* Joe S. Rank ('83) – Riverside County Counsel (2005–2009)(Ret.)[52][53][54]
* Michael A. Scafiddi ('95) – President (2008–2009), San Bernardino County Bar Association[55]

## See also

* List of colleges and universities in California

## Notes

1. ↑ California Southern Law School is the DBA for Citrus Belt Law School, a corporation registered with the California Secretary of State , number C0629839, filed July 23, 1971. It has filed a FBN with the County of Riverside, County Clerk, file number R-201104190, exp. 4/12/2016 . It is licensed by the City of Riverside Finance Department, Account No. BL00007353. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given CSLS an A+ Reliability Rating as an Accredited Business since March 10, 1976.
2. ↑ 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): pp. 4. June 10, 1971. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VXRLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8iMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6402,2009618&dq=riverside-university&hl=en. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
3. ↑ 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

## References

1. ↑ "The Future of California Southern Law School". http://www.cslawschool.com/about/the-future-of-california-southern-law-school/. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
2. ↑ "California Southern Law School :: Home". https://www.cslawschool.com/. "California Southern Law School has ceased enrollment operations and has permanently closed; our last class graduated in May, 2020."
3. ↑ Admission Requirements California State Bar
4. ↑ Todd, Bruce (November 2009). "Elwood Rich: His 62 Years with the Court". Riverside Lawyer Magazine (Riverside, California: Riverside County Bar Association) 58 (10): 17. http://riversidecountybar.com/barpubs/0911RL.pdf. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
5. ↑ De Atley, Richard K. (October 5, 2008). "Graduates of Riverside's 'great little law school' thrive". The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, California). http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_lawschool06.10145a1.html. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
6. ↑ Kataoka, Mike (January 31, 2005). "No-frills law school has legacy of success [excerpt"]. The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, California). http://cslawschool.com/pressart.htm.
7. ↑ Committee of Bar Examiners Registered Unaccredited Fixed-facility Law Schools in California 11/15/2010
8. ↑ "ABAApproved Law Schools by Year". ABA website. http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/aba_approved_law_schools/by_year_approved.html. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
9. ↑ FYLSE Requirements
10. ↑ Description & Grading of the California First-year Law Students' Examination
11. ↑ City of Riverside Neighborhoods, Magnolia Center
12. ↑ "Riverside County Law Library". http://www.lawlibrary.co.riverside.ca.us/AboutUs.htm.
13. ↑ City of Riverside Neighborhoods, Downtown
14. ↑ CSLS Admission Requirements
15. ↑ State Bar Pre-Legal Education Admission Requirements
16. ↑ CBE College Equivalency Rule 4.25(B) Policy
17. ↑ CBE Requirements
18. ↑ CSLS Law Study Legal Requirements
19. ↑ State Bar CBE Scope of the California Bar Examination
20. ↑ CSLS Mission, Purpose and Objectives
21. ↑ "Schwarzenegger Names Eight New Judges to Superior Courts Statewide". Metropolitan News-Enterprise (Los Angeles, California: Metropolitan News Company). May 25, 2007. http://www.metnews.com/articles/2007/judg052507.htm. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
22. ↑ "California Baptist University, Faculty, Jim Bishop, J.D.". http://www.calbaptist.edu/studentlife/faculty/jbishop.aspx.
23. ↑ Martindale-Hubbell Profile
24. ↑ CSLS Practicing Grads
25. ↑ "Santa Barbara County Judicial Officers". http://www.sbcourts.org/general_info/judicial_officers/beck.htm.
26. ↑ Riverside County Board Supervisor John J. Benoit newsrelease, July 21, 2008
27. ↑ Thierbach, Donna (February 2010). "Judicial Profile: Hon. John G. Evans". Riverside Lawyer Magazine (Riverside, California: Riverside County Bar Association) 60 (2): 20–21. http://riversidecountybar.com/barpubs/1002RL.pdf. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
28. ↑ Butler, Ed (January 2005). "BenchMarks: Douglas N. Gericke". San Bernardino County Bar Association (San Bernardino, California): 9. http://www.sbcba.org/judges/gericke.pdf. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
29. ↑ Butler, Ed (March 2007). "BenchMarks: Art Harrison". San Bernardino County Bar Association (San Bernardino, California): 4–5. http://www.sbcba.org/judges/Harrison_Art_0703.pdf. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
30. ↑ Butler, Ed (October 2003). "BenchMarks: Christopher J. Warner". San Bernardino County Bar Association (San Bernardino, California): 7. http://www.sbcba.org/judges/Warner.pdf. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
31. ↑ Hernandez, Barbara E. (November 11, 2003). "Ex-minister becomes court commissioner". The Press-Enterprise (Indio, California). http://www.press-enterprise.com/newsarchive/2003/11/14/1068791169.html. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
32. ↑ Armstrong, Jason M. (August 15, 2007). "Man of the Robe". Daily Journal (Los Angeles, California: Daily Journal Corporation). http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm?seloption=NEWS&pubdate;=01/01/2000&shNewsType;=SEARCH&NewsId;=888057&sdivId;=tab3. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
33. ↑ "Governor Appoints Several Riverside Residents to Government Positions". The Black Voice News (Riverside, California: Brown Publishing Company). August 22, 2007. http://www.blackvoicenews.com/more-sections/business/41174-governor-appoints-several-riverside-residents-to-government-positions.html. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
34. ↑ "Superior Court of California, County of Imperial Judicial Officers". http://www.imperial.courts.ca.gov/judicial_officers.htm.
35. ↑ "Riverside Community College District Board Members". http://www.rcc.edu/administration/board/members.cfm.
36. ↑ "Athena International, The Athena Award Program". http://www.athenainternational.org/pages/athena_award_/14.php.
37. ↑ "RCC to unveil 'Wall of Honor' today". The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, California). March 1, 2011. http://www.pe.com/localnews/riverside/stories/PE_News_Local_W_rccwall02.2222c2c.html. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
38. ↑ Armstrong, Jason W. (May 10, 2007). "Top Women Litigators of 2007". The Daily Journal (Los Angeles, California: The Daily Journal Corporation). http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm?seloption=NEWS&pubdate;=01/01/2000&shNewsType;=SEARCH&NewsId;=886127&sdivId;=tab3. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
39. ↑ "Top Women Litigators 2008". The Daily Journal (Los Angeles, California: The Daily Journal Corporation). May 14, 2008. http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm?seloption=NEWS&pubdate;=01/01/2000&shNewsType;=SEARCH&NewsId;=893979&sdivId;=tab3. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
40. ↑ Pacheco, J'Amy (May 2010). "Edwin Butler Remembered as 'Wonderful and Remarkable'". Bar Bulletin (Rancho Cucamonga, California: Western San Bernardino County Bar Association) X (5): 1–2. http://www.wsbcba.org/asp/admin/newsbulletin/getPDF.asp?ID=39. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
41. ↑ Holland, Don (December 24, 1999). "Retrospective: Caldwell stands firm despite High Desert's changing landscape". Daily Press (Victorville, California: Freedom Communications, Inc.). http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/caldwell-20972-desert-high.html. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
42. ↑ California State Bar Members, Terry Edward Caldwell
43. ↑ Armstrong, Jason M. (October 24, 2003). "Survivor Would Do It All Again If Necessary". Daily Journal (Los Angeles, California: Daily Journal Corporation). http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm?seloption=NEWS&pubdate;=01/01/2000&shNewsType;=SEARCH&NewsId;=552942&sdivId;=tab3. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
44. ↑ Kataoka, Mike (October 21, 2003). "Amiable advocate leads county Bar". The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, California). http://www.press-enterprise.com/newsarchive/2003/10/21/1066724772.html. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
45. ↑ Boyd, Jeffrey A. (September 2010). "Opposing Counsel: L. Alexandra Fong: Not just a small town girl . . .". Riverside Lawyer Magazine (Riverside, California: Riverside County Bar Association) 60 (8): 22–23. http://riversidecountybar.com/barpubs/1009RL.pdf. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
46. ↑ "Public Service Law Corporation". http://www.riversidecountybar.com/public-service/.
47. ↑ "Recognizing 38 Community Builders: Hardy Brown Birthday Celebration". The Black Voice News (Riverside, California: Brown Publishing Company). December 9, 2010. http://www.blackvoicenews.com/news/45429-honoring-38-community-builders.html. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
48. ↑ California State Bar Members, Katie Greene
49. ↑ "San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office". http://www.sbcounty.gov/da/about_da.asp.
50. ↑ "Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board". http://www.vcgcb.ca.gov/board/appointee.aspx.
51. ↑ California State Bar Members, Michael Ramos
52. ↑ "Riverside Office of the County Counsel, Office History". http://www.countyofriverside.us/government/departments/countycounsel/officehistory.html.
53. ↑ California State Bar Members, Jody S. Rank
54. ↑ Cruz, Mike (January 5, 2011). "Michael A. Ramos begins third term as San Bernardino County D.A.". Redlands Daily Facts (Redlands, California: Los Angeles Newspaper Group). http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_17021003?source=rss. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
55. ↑ Butler, Ed (March 2008). "SBCBA Profiles: Michael A. Scafiddi". San Bernardino County Bar Association Bulletin (San Bernardino, California: San Bernardino County Bar Association) 36 (5): 4–5. http://www.sbcba.org/bulletins/Bulletin0803.pdf. Retrieved January 27, 2011.

## External links

* Official website
* State Bar of California, Future Lawyers

* v
* t
* e

Unaccredited (registered) California law schools

Unaccredited fixed facility
law schools in California|

* California Desert Trial Academy College of Law
* California Southern Law School
* Irvine University College of Law
* Larry H. Layton School of Law
* McMillan Academy of Law
* Pacific West College of Law
* People's College of Law
* Pinnacles School of Law
* University of San Luis Obispo School of Law
* University of Silicon Valley Law School
* Western Sierra Law School

Unaccredited correspondence
and distance-learning law
schools in California|

* Abraham Lincoln University
* American Heritage University School of Law
* American Institute of Law
* California Midland School of Law
* California School of Law
* California Southern University
* International Pacific School of Law
* MD Kirk School of Law
* Northwestern California University School of Law
* Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy
* St. Francis School of Law
* Taft Law School
* University of Honolulu School of Law

* v
* t
* e

Colleges and universities in the Inland Empire

Public universities|

* California State University, San Bernardino
* University of California, Riverside

Community colleges|

| Public|

* Barstow Community College
* Chaffey College
* College of the Desert
* Copper Mountain College
* Crafton Hills College
* Moreno Valley College
* Mount San Jacinto College
* Norco College
* Palo Verde Community College
* Riverside City College
* San Bernardino Valley College
* Victor Valley College

|

Private|

* California Preparatory College
* Community Christian College
* San Joaquin Valley College

Private universities|

* California Baptist University
* California Southern Law School
* La Sierra University
* Loma Linda University
* National University
* Ontario, Riverside
* University of La Verne
* University of Redlands
* Western University of Health Sciences

For-profit university branches|

* The Art Institute of California — Inland Empire
* University of Phoenix

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