Choosing the right law school is a pivotal step towards a successful legal career. For aspiring lawyers in California, understanding the landscape of law schools, their accreditations, and specializations is crucial. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of law schools in California, categorized by their accreditation status, to help you navigate your options and make informed decisions about your legal education journey.
Understanding Law School Accreditation in California
In California, law schools fall under different categories based on their accreditation, each impacting the scope and recognition of the legal education they offer. The primary accrediting bodies are the American Bar Association (ABA) and the State Bar of California. Additionally, there are registered unaccredited law schools. Understanding these distinctions is key to choosing a law school that aligns with your career goals.
ABA Approved Law Schools: The Gold Standard
ABA accreditation is widely considered the gold standard for law schools in the United States. Graduating from an ABA-approved law school offers significant advantages, including broader recognition across states and enhanced career opportunities, particularly in larger law firms and federal positions. These schools meet rigorous standards set by the ABA concerning faculty, curriculum, and resources.
Below is a list of ABA-approved law schools in California, offering a robust foundation for your legal career:
| Law School | Location | Contact Information | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Western School of Law | San Diego | 225 Cedar Street San Diego, CA 92101 619-239-0391 | www.cwsl.edu |
| Chapman University Fowler School of Law | Orange | One University Drive Orange, CA 92866 888-242-1913 714-628-2500 | www.chapman.edu/law |
| Golden Gate University School of Law* | San Francisco | 536 Mission Street San Francisco, CA 94105 415-442-6600 | www.ggu.edu/schools/law |
| Loyola Law School | Los Angeles | 919 South Albany Street Los Angeles, CA 90015 213-736-1000 | www.lls.edu |
| Pepperdine University Rick J. Caruso School of Law | Malibu | 24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90263 310-506-4611 | www.law.pepperdine.edu |
| Santa Clara University School of Law | Santa Clara | 500 El Camino Real Santa Clara, CA 95053 408-554-4800 | www.scu.edu/law |
| Southwestern Law School | Los Angeles | 3050 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90010 213-738-6700 | www.swlaw.edu |
| Stanford Law School | Stanford | Crown Quadrangle 559 Nathan Abbott Way Stanford, CA 94305 650-723-2465 | www.law.stanford.edu |
| University of California Berkeley Law | Berkeley | 225 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94720-7200 510-642-2274 | www.law.berkeley.edu |
| University of California Davis School of Law (King Hall) | Davis | 400 Mrak Hall Drive Davis, CA 95616 530-752-0243 | www.law.ucdavis.edu |
| University of California Law San Francisco | San Francisco | 200 McAllister Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415-565-4600 | www.uchastings.edu |
| University of California Irvine School of Law | Irvine | 401 East Peltason Drive, Suite 1000 Irvine, CA 92697-8000 949-824-0066 | www.law.uci.edu |
| University of California Los Angeles School of Law | Los Angeles | 1242 Law Building 385 Charles E. Young Drive East Los Angeles, CA 90095 310-825-4841 | www.law.ucla.edu |
| University of San Diego School of Law | San Diego | 5998 Alcalá Park San Diego, CA 92110 619-260-4600 | www.sandiego.edu/usdlaw |
| University of San Francisco School of Law | San Francisco | 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117 415-422-6586 | www.usfca.edu/law |
| University of Southern California Gould School of Law | Los Angeles | 699 Exposition Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90089 213-740-2523 | www.gould.usc.edu |
| University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law | Sacramento | 3200 Fifth Avenue Sacramento, CA 95817 916-739-7191 | www.mcgeorge.edu |
| Western State College of Law at Westcliff University | Irvine | 16715 Von Karman, #100 Irvine, CA 92606 714-738-1000 | www.wsulaw.edu |
*Note: Golden Gate University School of Law is currently not accepting new students.
California State Bar Accredited Law Schools: Focus on California Practice
The State Bar of California also accredits law schools. These accredited institutions provide a legal education specifically tailored to California law and bar examination requirements. This accreditation is ideal for students who are certain they want to practice law in California. These schools may offer more flexible learning options, including online and hybrid programs.
Below are California State Bar accredited law schools:
| Law School | Location | Contact Information | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal Northern School of Law | Chico | 1395 Ridgewood Drive, Suite 100 Chico, CA 95973 530-891-6900 | www.calnorthern.edu |
| The Colleges of Law (Santa Barbara Campus) | Santa Barbara | 20 East Victoria Street Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-979-9860 | www.collegesoflaw.edu |
| The Colleges of Law (Ventura Campus) | Ventura | 4475 Market Street Ventura, CA 93003 805-765-9300 | www.collegesoflaw.edu |
| Empire College of Law* (A branch campus of Monterey College of Law) | Santa Rosa | 3035 Cleveland Avenue, Suite 101 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-736-6777 | www.empirecollegeoflaw.org |
| Humphreys University Drivon School of Law | Stockton | 6650 Inglewood Avenue Stockton, CA 95207 209-478-0800 | www.humphreys.edu |
| JFK School of Law at National University | San Diego | 9388 Lightwave Avenue San Diego, CA 92123 616-245-6016 | www.ncu.edu |
| Kern County College of Law (A branch campus of Monterey College of Law) | Bakersfield | 1731 Chester Avenue, Suite 200 Bakersfield, CA 93301 831-582-4000 | http://kerncountylaw.org/ |
| Lincoln Law School of Sacramento | Sacramento | 3140 “J” Street Sacramento, CA 95816 916-446-1275 | www.lincolnlaw.edu |
| Monterey College of Law | Seaside | 100 Col. Durham Street Seaside, CA 93955 831-582-4000 | www.montereylaw.edu |
| Northwestern California University School of Law | Sacramento | 2151 River Plaza Drive, Suite 306 Sacramento, CA 95833 916-920-9470 | www.nwculaw.edu |
| Purdue Global School of Law | Los Angeles | 10100 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 362 Los Angeles, CA 90067 866-522-7747 | www.purduegloballawschool.edu |
| San Joaquin College of Law | Clovis | 901 Fifth Street Clovis, CA 93612 800-522-0994 | www.sjcl.edu |
| San Luis Obispo College of Law (A branch campus of Monterey College of Law) | San Luis Obispo | 4119 Broad Street, #200 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 831-582-4000 | slolaw.org |
| St. Francis School of Law | Newport Beach | 895 Dove Street, 3rd Floor Newport Beach, CA 92660 800-931-2694 | www.stfrancislaw.com |
| Thomas Jefferson School of Law | San Diego | 701 B Street San Diego, CA 92101 619-297-9700 | www.tjsl.edu |
| Trinity Law School, Trinity International University | Santa Ana | 2200 North Grand Avenue Santa Ana, CA 92705 714-796-7100 | www.tls.edu |
| University of La Verne College of Law and Public Service | Ontario | 320 East D Street Ontario, CA 91764 909-460-2000 | http://law.laverne.edu |
| University of West Los Angeles School of Law – San Fernando Valley Campus | Chatsworth | 19900 Plummer Street Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-775-4500 | www.uwla.edu |
| University of West Los Angeles School of Law – West Los Angeles Campus | Inglewood | 9800 South La Cienega Boulevard, 12th Floor Inglewood, CA 90301 310-342-5250 | www.uwla.edu |
*Note: Empire College of Law is currently not accepting new students and teaching out current students.
Registered Unaccredited Law Schools: Opportunities and Considerations
California also permits registration of unaccredited law schools, which fall into three categories: correspondence, distance-learning, and fixed-facility. While graduates from these schools can qualify to take the California Bar Exam, it’s important to understand the specific requirements and potential limitations. Students of unaccredited law schools must pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination to receive full credit for their legal studies. Careful consideration and research are advised for prospective students of these institutions.
Registered Unaccredited Correspondence Law Schools
These law schools primarily conduct instruction through mail or online correspondence.
| Law School | Location | Contact Information | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Institute of Law | Torrance | 18411 Crenshaw Boulevard, Suite 416 Torrance, CA 90504 888-412-4593 | www.InstituteOfLaw.com |
| Oak Brook College of Law and Government Policy | Fresno | P.O. Box 26870 Fresno, CA 93729 559-650-7755 | www.obcl.edu |
| Taft Law School | Santa Ana | 3000 West MacArthur Boulevard, Suite 300 Santa Ana, CA 92704 800-882-4555 | www.taftu.edu |
Registered Unaccredited Distance Learning Law Schools
These institutions deliver legal education primarily through online, interactive platforms.
| Law School | Location | Contact Information | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abraham Lincoln University School of Law | Glendale | 100 West Broadway, Suite 600 Glendale, CA 91210 213-252-5100 | www.alu.edu |
| California School of Law | Santa Barbara | 5276 Hollister Avenue, #262 Santa Barbara, CA 93111 844-500-9200 | www.californiaschooloflaw.com |
| Pacific Coast University School of Law | Long Beach | 1650 Ximeno Avenue, Suite 300 Long Beach, CA 90804 562-961-8200 | www.pculaw.org |
| San Francisco Law School* Alliant International University | Emeryville | 1475 66th Street Emeryville, CA 94608 415-626-5550 | www.alliant.edu/sfls |
| Southern California Institute of Law | Ventura | 1280 South Victoria Avenue #120 Ventura, CA 93003 805-644-2327 | www.lawdegree.com |
*Note: San Francisco Law School is currently not accepting new students.
Registered Unaccredited Fixed-Facility Law Schools
These law schools offer classroom-based instruction.
| Law School | Location | Contact Information | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Desert Trial Academy College of Law | Indio | 45-290 Fargo Street Indio, CA 92201 760-342-0900 | www.cdtalaw.com |
| Lincoln Law School of San Jose | San Jose | 384 South Second Street San Jose, CA 95113 408-977-7227 | www.lincolnlawschool.edu |
| Western Sierra Law School | Oceanside | 3548 Seagate Way, Suites 110 and 250 Oceanside, CA 92056 760-855-3137 | www.wslawschool.com/ |
Making Your Choice: Factors to Consider
Choosing a law school is a significant investment in your future. Beyond accreditation, consider these factors:
- Career Goals: Do you aim for national practice or focus on California? ABA accreditation offers broader portability, while State Bar accreditation is California-centric.
- Learning Style: Do you prefer traditional classroom settings, online learning, or a hybrid approach? Different schools offer varying modalities.
- Specializations and Programs: Research schools known for specific legal fields that interest you, such as environmental law, intellectual property, or criminal law.
- Location and Community: Consider the location’s convenience and the school’s community and culture.
- Cost and Financial Aid: Law school is expensive. Explore tuition, fees, and financial aid options at different institutions.
- Bar Passage Rates: Review the bar passage rates for each school, particularly if considering State Bar or unaccredited options.
Conclusion: Your Path to Becoming a California Lawyer
Navigating the world of California Lawyer Schools requires careful research and understanding of accreditation types. Whether you choose an ABA-approved, State Bar accredited, or registered unaccredited institution, your commitment to legal education and bar preparation will be crucial. Use this guide as a starting point, explore school websites, connect with admissions offices, and embark on your journey to becoming a lawyer in the Golden State.
