Monterey College of Law

Monterey College of Law
Established 1972
School type Private Law School
Dean Mitchel L. Winick
Location Seaside, CA, US
36°35′48″N 121°53′29″W / 36.59667°N 121.89139°WCoordinates: 36°35′48″N 121°53′29″W / 36.59667°N 121.89139°W
Enrollment 120
Bar pass rate 75% (February 2014 1st time takers)[1]
Website Monterey College of Law

Monterey College of Law (MCL) is a private, non-profit law school founded in 1972 in Monterey, California. It provides part-time evening J.D. and Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) degrees. The school is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners[2] of the State Bar of California. The school is not an American Bar Association approved law school.[3]

History

Monterey College of Law was founded in 1972 to serve the communities of the California central coast. Alumni are community leaders, judges, lawyers, and business professionals. In August 2005, the College of Law moved into its home within the higher-education enclave being developed on the former Fort Ord Army base.[4] The College of Law joins California State University, Monterey Bay and the Monterey Peninsula Community College in creating a rapidly growing educational destination for higher learning alongside the historic Monterey Bay. The school opened its second building, a Certified LEED Platinum Community Justice Center,[5] in April 2010. By achieving LEED Platinum certification, it is only the second law school in the US to open a LEED Platinum facility. The new courtroom and mediation center meets the highest US Standards for environmentally sustainable design, engineering, and construction.

Academic programs

The J.D. academic program features a part-time, evening program with small classes. The College of Law is accredited by the California Board of Bar Examiners. J.D. graduates of the Monterey College of Law are eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam, and upon passing, be licensed to practice law in California. MCL alumni include many local attorneys, deputy district attorneys and judges. The law school has been recognized nationally for its innovative program to integrate the Apple iPad into the academic program.[6] Each law student and members of the core law faculty at Monterey College of Law were provided iPads during the 2010-2011 academic year as part of a unique pilot program. The law school is the first U.S. law school to adopt the iPad for both students and faculty.

The school is also the first California accredited law school to be granted authority to offer a two-year Master of Legal Studies degree (M.L.S.) for individuals who wish to seriously study law, but do not wish to pursue a traditional law degree. The law school has also been authorized by the Committee of Bar Examiners to offer a one-year LL.M. in International Law starting in Fall 2012. In Fall 2010, the law school also opened a new first-year law school program in Santa Cruz to provide better opportunities for legal education in Santa Cruz County.[7]

Admissions

Monterey College of Law seeks applicants with a solid academic record, a satisfactory score on the Law School Admission Test, and a strong desire to study law. The student body ranges in age from 20's to 60's and represents a broad spectrum of the community. Applicants are welcome who have completed a Bachelor's degree, an Associate's degree, or who have successfully completed at least 60 units of college credit in an academic (non-vocational) program.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ [http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/Portals/4/documents/gbx/FEBRUARY2014STATS_R.pdf fileticket=PL6VLVgQEIM%3D&tabid=270&mid=635 "General Statistics Report: February 2014 California Bar Examination"]. California State Bar. 30 July 2014.
  2. ↑ "Law Schools". The State Bar of California. 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  3. ↑ "ABA-Approved Law Schools by Year". ABA website. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
  4. ↑ "An Evolution of BRAC Remedial Programs." Volume 1 No. 1. Fort Ord Reuse Authority. http://www.fora.org/Reports/ESCA_Vol_1_Issue_1%28final%29.pdf. Accessed July 17, 2010.
  5. ↑ Kera Abraham (2010). "Monterey College of Law presents its ultra-green Community Justice Center". Monterey County Weekly. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Debra Cassens Weiss (2010). "Law School Dispenses iPads, Touts Downtime Study Opportunity". ABA Journal. American Bar Association. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  7. ↑ Kurtis Alexander (2010). "Monterey law school to open satellite campus in Santa Cruz". Santa Cruz Sentinel. MediaNews Group-Bay Area News Group. Retrieved 31 December 2012.

External links