California Southern Law School Explained
California Southern Law School |
Established: | 1971; Closed May, 2020 |
Head: | Judge Elwood M. Rich (1920–2015; Dean, 1971–2014) |
State: | California |
Country: | US |
Coordinates: | 33.9591°N -117.3914°W |
Ranking: | No USNWR Ranking |
Annual Tuition: | $8,020[1] |
Motto: | A Great Value in Legal Education |
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.[2] [3] 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.[4]
History
California Southern Law School was founded in 1971 as Citrus Belt Law School[5] by California Superior Court Judge Elwood M. Rich[6] to serve students in the Inland Empire of Southern California.[7] [8] 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.[9]
California State Bar CBE registration
California Southern Law School is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners[10] 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[11] 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.[12] Upon successful passing of the "Baby Bar" those students may continue with their law studies to obtain their J.D. degree.[13]
Facilities
California Southern Law School maintained its facilities in stand-alone buildings in the Magnolia Center Neighborhood[14] 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[15] in Downtown[16] 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).[17] The CBE requires prospective law students to complete a minimum of two years of approved college work or its equivalent before entering law school.[18] 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.[19] [20]
Law study
As required by the Committee of Bar Examiners,[21] 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.[22] [23] All classes are held on weekday evenings which allows students to pursue a legal education and maintain full-time employment.[24]
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[25]
- 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)[26]
- Thomas S. Hudspeth (J.D., CSLS '81) – Instructor, Torts (1985–2015) – Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1999–2012)[27]
Noted people
Successful California Southern Law School graduates are found in many areas of the Southern California legal community.[28] They include judges and other distinguished alumni.
Alumni judges
Other distinguished alumni
See also
References
- CSLS provides tuition financing. Veterans are eligible for G.I. Bill education Veterans' Benefits. Until TERI suspended lending, students were eligible for loans from The Education Resources Institute, Inc. (TERI)Book: REA's Authoritative Guide to Law Schools. 1997. Research & Education Association. Piscataway, New Jersey. 0-87891-478-1 . 417 .
- Web site: The Future of California Southern Law School . California Southern Law School . July 2, 2017.
- Web site: California Southern Law School :: Home. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629082940/https://www.cslawschool.com/. June 29, 2021. October 16, 2021. California Southern Law School. California Southern Law School has ceased enrollment operations and has permanently closed; our last class graduated in May, 2020..
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Requirements.aspx Admission Requirements California State Bar
- 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.
- Todd . Bruce . Elwood Rich: His 62 Years with the Court . Riverside Lawyer Magazine . 58 . 10 . 17 . Riverside County Bar Association . . November 2009 . January 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100930014551/http://riversidecountybar.com/barpubs/0911RL.pdf . September 30, 2010. dead .
- News: De Atley . Richard K. . Graduates of Riverside's 'great little law school' thrive . . . October 5, 2008. January 11, 2011.
- 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.News: Riverside University May Have To Close . The Press-Courier . . 4 . June 10, 1971. March 23, 2011.
- News: Kataoka . Mike . No-frills law school has legacy of success [excerpt] ]. . . January 31, 2005.
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=zQMaH_Vepxo%3D&tabid=2192 Committee of Bar Examiners Registered Unaccredited Fixed-facility Law Schools in California 11/15/2010
- Web site: ABAApproved Law Schools by Year . ABA website . April 1, 2011.
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Examinations/FirstYearLawStudentsExamination.aspx FYLSE Requirements
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=hmgSAnbvFi0%3d&tabid=2254 Description & Grading of the California First-year Law Students' Examination
- http://www.riversideca.gov/neighborhoods/neighborhoods-magnolia.asp City of Riverside Neighborhoods, Magnolia Center
- Web site: Riverside County Law Library . March 23, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100815064432/http://www.lawlibrary.co.riverside.ca.us/AboutUs.htm . August 15, 2010 . dead .
- http://www.riversideca.gov/neighborhoods/neighborhoods-downtown.asp City of Riverside Neighborhoods, Downtown
- http://www.cslawschool.com/csls06.htm CSLS Admission Requirements
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Requirements.aspx State Bar Pre-Legal Education Admission Requirements
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=t0VddBQXW_g%3d&tabid=2264 CBE College Equivalency Rule 4.25(B) Policy
- 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
- http://rules.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-2KV5j0w6Cw%3d&tabid=1227 CBE Requirements
- http://cslawschool.com/csls08.htm CSLS Law Study Legal Requirements
- http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=VQF73Jr-8iE%3d&tabid=245 State Bar CBE Scope of the California Bar Examination
- http://www.cslawschool.com/csls03.htm CSLS Mission, Purpose and Objectives
- News: Schwarzenegger Names Eight New Judges to Superior Courts Statewide . Metropolitan News-Enterprise . Los Angeles, California . Metropolitan News Company . May 25, 2007. March 23, 2011.
- Web site: California Baptist University, Faculty, Jim Bishop, J.D. . January 13, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101228181152/http://www.calbaptist.edu/studentlife/faculty/jbishop.aspx . December 28, 2010 . dead .
- http://www.martindale.com/Thomas-S-Hudspeth/133465-lawyer.htm Martindale-Hubbell Profile
- http://cslawschool.com/grads.htm CSLS Practicing Grads
- Web site: Santa Barbara County Judicial Officers . January 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110721021740/http://www.sbcourts.org/general_info/judicial_officers/beck.htm . July 21, 2011 . dead .
- [Riverside County, California|Riverside County]
- Thierbach . Donna . Judicial Profile: Hon. John G. Evans . Riverside Lawyer Magazine . 60 . 2 . 20–21 . Riverside County Bar Association . . February 2010 . January 12, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100929194350/http://riversidecountybar.com/barpubs/1002RL.pdf . September 29, 2010. dead .
- Butler . Ed . BenchMarks: Douglas N. Gericke . San Bernardino County Bar Association . 9 . . January 2005 . January 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101129131403/http://sbcba.org/judges/gericke.pdf . November 29, 2010. dead .
- Butler . Ed . BenchMarks: Art Harrison . San Bernardino County Bar Association . 4–5 . . March 2007 . January 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101220134646/http://sbcba.org/judges/Harrison_Art_0703.pdf . December 20, 2010. dead .
- Butler . Ed . BenchMarks: Christopher J. Warner . San Bernardino County Bar Association . 7 . . October 2003 . January 11, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101220135033/http://sbcba.org/judges/Warner.pdf . December 20, 2010. dead .
- News: Hernandez . Barbara E. . Ex-minister becomes court commissioner . . . November 11, 2003. January 11, 2011.
- Armstrong . Jason M. . Man of the Robe . Daily Journal . Daily Journal Corporation . Los Angeles, California . August 15, 2007. January 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110423104128/http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D888057%26sdivId%3Dtab3#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D888057%26sdivId%3Dtab3 . April 23, 2011 . dead.
- Governor Appoints Several Riverside Residents to Government Positions . The Black Voice News . Brown Publishing Company . . August 22, 2007. March 24, 2011.
- Web site: Superior Court of California, County of Imperial Judicial Officers . January 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110120180232/http://www.imperial.courts.ca.gov/judicial_officers.htm . January 20, 2011 . dead .
- Web site: Riverside Community College District Board Members . January 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100527181151/http://www.rcc.edu/administration/board/members.cfm . May 27, 2010 . dead .
- Web site: Athena International, The Athena Award Program . March 22, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903020925/http://www.athenainternational.org/pages/athena_award_/14.php . September 3, 2011 . dead .
- News: RCC to unveil 'Wall of Honor' today . . . March 1, 2011. March 22, 2011.
- News: Armstrong . Jason W. . Top Women Litigators of 2007 . The Daily Journal . Los Angeles, California . . May 10, 2007. March 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110423104128/http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D886127%26sdivId%3Dtab3#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D886127%26sdivId%3Dtab3 . April 23, 2011 . dead.
- News: Top Women Litigators 2008 . The Daily Journal . Los Angeles, California . . May 14, 2008. March 23, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110423104128/http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D893979%26sdivId%3Dtab3#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D893979%26sdivId%3Dtab3 . April 23, 2011 . dead.
- Pacheco . J'Amy . Edwin Butler Remembered as 'Wonderful and Remarkable' . Bar Bulletin . X . 5 . 1–2 . Western San Bernardino County Bar Association . . May 2010 . March 24, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20120321193222/http://www.wsbcba.org/asp/admin/newsbulletin/getPDF.asp?ID=39 . March 21, 2012. dead .
- News: Holland . Don . Retrospective: Caldwell stands firm despite High Desert's changing landscape . Daily Press . . Freedom Communications, Inc. . December 24, 1999 . January 12, 2011.
- http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/65365 California State Bar Members, Terry Edward Caldwell
- Armstrong . Jason M. . Survivor Would Do It All Again If Necessary . Daily Journal . Daily Journal Corporation . Los Angeles, California . October 24, 2003. January 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110423104128/http://www.dailyjournal.com/subscriber/SubMain.cfm?shCenFileName=SEARCH&shNewsType=Search&selOption=Search&NewsId=7#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D552942%26sdivId%3Dtab3#section=tab3.cfm%3Fseloption%3DNEWS%26pubdate%3D01/01/2000%26shNewsType%3DSEARCH%26NewsId%3D552942%26sdivId%3Dtab3 . April 23, 2011 . dead.
- News: Kataoka . Mike . Amiable advocate leads county Bar . . . October 21, 2003. March 23, 2011.
- Boyd . Jeffrey A. . Opposing Counsel: L. Alexandra Fong: Not just a small town girl . . . . Riverside Lawyer Magazine . 60 . 8 . 22–23 . Riverside County Bar Association . . September 2010 . January 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20100928121540/http://riversidecountybar.com/barpubs/1009RL.pdf . September 28, 2010. dead .
- Web site: Public Service Law Corporation . January 13, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110219012158/http://riversidecountybar.com/public-service/ . February 19, 2011 . dead .
- Recognizing 38 Community Builders: Hardy Brown Birthday Celebration . The Black Voice News . Brown Publishing Company . . December 9, 2010. March 22, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20101216072528/http://www.blackvoicenews.com/news/45429-honoring-38-community-builders.html . December 16, 2010. dead .
- http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/165172 California State Bar Members, Katie Greene
- Web site: San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office . January 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101223145206/http://www.sbcounty.gov/da/about_da.asp . December 23, 2010 . dead .
- Web site: Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board . January 13, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101103162231/http://www.vcgcb.ca.gov/board/appointee.aspx . November 3, 2010 . dead .
- http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/141025 California State Bar Members, Michael Ramos
- Web site: Riverside Office of the County Counsel, Office History . January 11, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110125131745/http://www.countyofriverside.us/government/departments/countycounsel/officehistory.html . January 25, 2011 . dead .
- http://members.calbar.ca.gov/fal/Member/Detail/113607 California State Bar Members, Jody S. Rank
- Cruz . Mike . Michael A. Ramos begins third term as San Bernardino County D.A. . . . . January 5, 2011. March 22, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110720082905/http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_17021003?source=rss . July 20, 2011. dead .
- Butler . Ed . SBCBA Profiles: Michael A. Scafiddi . San Bernardino County Bar Association Bulletin . 36 . 5 . 4–5 . San Bernardino County Bar Association . . March 2008 . January 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110719115111/http://www.sbcba.org/bulletins/Bulletin0803.pdf . July 19, 2011. dead .
External links