Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law
Encyclopedia
The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law are private law schools
located in Santa Barbara
and Ventura, California
. They operate together with the same Dean
and president.
in Ventura and Santa Barbara.)
. They are not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
The program is a part-time evening curriculum with classes generally held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in Santa Barbara and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Ventura. The academic calendar consists of two 15-week semesters and a 10-week summer term. Typically students complete the program within three to four years.
The school places emphasis on black letter law
and practical experience. Students are required to take Legal Research and Advanced Legal Writing prior to their third year. Additionally, students are expected to complete a legal internship.
The average class size is approximately 25 students.
On the July 2008 California Bar Exam, of the first time exam takers, all seven graduates from the Santa Barbara campus who sat for the exam failed and one of seven graduates from the Ventura campus passed the exam. Out of fourteen repeater exam takers between the two schools, five passed.
exam is optional.
Law school in the United States
In the United States, a law school is an institution where students obtain a professional education in law after first obtaining an undergraduate degree.Law schools in the U.S...
located in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
and Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
. They operate together with the same Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and president.
History
The Ventura campus was founded in 1969 and the Santa Barbara campus was added in 1975. As of 2007, the colleges have over 1,600 alumni. (In 1986, Dr. Stanislaus Pulle split from the college and founded the Southern California Institute of LawSouthern California Institute of Law
Southern California Institute of Law is a private law school with campuses in Santa Barbara and Ventura, California. The two locations are operated together with the same Dean and president, Stanislaus Pulle. The Ventura and Santa Barbara campuses were founded in 1986 when Dr. Pulle left Santa...
in Ventura and Santa Barbara.)
Academics
Graduates of the colleges earn the Juris Doctor degree and are eligible to take the California State Bar Examination. The colleges are accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of CaliforniaState Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
. They are not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA).
The program is a part-time evening curriculum with classes generally held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in Santa Barbara and on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in Ventura. The academic calendar consists of two 15-week semesters and a 10-week summer term. Typically students complete the program within three to four years.
The school places emphasis on black letter law
Black letter law
The black letter law refers to the basic standard elements for a particular field of law, which are generally known and free from doubt or dispute...
and practical experience. Students are required to take Legal Research and Advanced Legal Writing prior to their third year. Additionally, students are expected to complete a legal internship.
The average class size is approximately 25 students.
On the July 2008 California Bar Exam, of the first time exam takers, all seven graduates from the Santa Barbara campus who sat for the exam failed and one of seven graduates from the Ventura campus passed the exam. Out of fourteen repeater exam takers between the two schools, five passed.
Admissions
The colleges place emphasis on diverse students bodies and thus allow several paths for admission. The LSATLaw School Admission Test
The Law School Admission Test is a half-day standardized test administered four times each year at designated testing centers throughout the world. Administered by the Law School Admission Council for prospective law school candidates, the LSAT is designed to assess Reading Comprehension,...
exam is optional.
Tuition and student aid
The total cost of the program is $31,900. However, since the program is not ABA approved, it does not qualify for federally insured student aid or grants. An exception is that programs for veterans education can be used at the colleges.Scholarships
The following scholarships and grants are available to eligible students: Trustees’ Scholarships, Dean Richard Goldman Scholarship, Law School Book Award, Alumni Scholarship Fund, McMahon Justice Scholarship, Legal Community Scholarships, Local Community Scholarships, Legal Publisher’s Awards, and Emergency Child Care Grants.Superior Court judges
- Nancy Ashley, Stanislaus CountyStanislaus County, CaliforniaStanislaus County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. As the price of housing has increased in the San Francisco Bay Area, many people who work in the southern reaches of the Bay Area have opted for the longer commute and moved to Stanislaus County for the...
- James Brandlin, Los Angeles CountyLos Angeles County, CaliforniaLos Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
- Edward F. Brodie, Ventura CountyVentura County, CaliforniaVentura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
- Edward Bullard, Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara County, CaliforniaSanta Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
- Troy Childers, Kern CountyKern County, CaliforniaSpreading across the southern end of the California Central Valley, Kern County is the fifth-largest county by population in California. Its economy is heavily linked to agriculture and to petroleum extraction, and there is a strong aviation and space presence. Politically, it has generally...
- Frank Dougherty, Merced CountyMerced County, CaliforniaMerced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced...
- Ersel Edwards, Nevada CountyNevada County, CaliforniaNevada County is a county located in the Sierra Nevada of California, in the Mother Lode country. As of 2010 its population was 98,764. The county seat is Nevada City.-History:Nevada County was created in 1851 from parts of Yuba County....
- Charles Henry, Siskiyou CountySiskiyou County, CaliforniaSiskiyou County is a county located in the far northernmost part of the U.S. state of California, in the Shasta Cascade region on the Oregon border. Yreka is the county seat. Because of its substantial natural beauty, outdoor recreation opportunities, and Gold Rush era history, it is an important...
(retired) - David W. Long, Ventura County
- Rebecca Riley, Ventura County
- Colleen Toy White, Ventura County
District attorneys and public defenders
- Mark Arnold, Public Defender, Kern County
- Patricia Ann Dark, Assistant District Attorney, Santa Barbara County
- Joyce Dudley, District Attorney, Santa Barbara County
- Christie Stanley, District Attorney, Santa Barbara County