California (Santa Barbara) -- Santa Barbara College of Law -- Accreditation: California -- Year Founded: 1969

Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law are private law schools located in Santa Barbara and Ventura, California. The two colleges are operated together with the same Dean and president. The Ventura campus was founded in 1969 and the Santa Barbara campus was added in 1975 and currently has over 1,600 alumni. In 1986 Dr. Pulle split from the college and founded Southern California Institute of Law in Ventura and Santa Barbara.



Academic Program

The Colleges offer a Juris Doctor degree program for students studying to become attorneys in California. The Colleges are accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California. They are not accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA), limiting students bar eligibility to the state of California.

The program is a part-time evening curriculum with classes generally held on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at the Santa Barbara campus and Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at the Ventura campus. The academic calendar consists of two 15 week semesters and an additional 10 week summer term. There are four different tracks for completing the program. The tracks vary my start date and course load intensity. Typically students complete the program within three to four years.

The school places strong emphasis on black letter law and practical experience. Every student is required to take one course in Legal Research and one course in 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 LSAT exam is optional. The school will admit students with only a high school diploma. Superior Court Judge David Long is one such person.

Tuition

The total cost of the program is $31,900, making it significantly cheaper than ABA approved law school programs. 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. Most students participate in private loan programs offered by commercial banks.

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.



Contact the School

Administration Offices
Santa Barbara College of Law
Santa Barbara College of Law
20 E. Victoria Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 966-0010
Fax: (805) 966-7181

Email: sbcl@santabarbaralaw.edu

www.santabarbaralaw.edu

Ventura College of Law
Ventura College of Law
4475 Market Street
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: (805) 658-0511
Fax: (805) 658-0529

email: vcl@venturalaw.edu

www.venturalaw.edu

FAQ

Accreditation
Q: Are the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law accredited?

Affordability
Q: What does the program cost?
Q: Must I pay in advance?
Q: Is financial aid available?

Applying for admission
Q: What score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required for admission?
Q: Can I be admitted without a bachelor’s degree?
Q: What if I don’t have 60 undergraduate units?
Q: From whom should I obtain the required letter of recommendation?
Q: What should I include in my personal statement?

Starting the JD program
Q: When can I begin law studies?

The program
Q: When are classes held?

The faculty
Q: Who will be my instructors?

The student body
Q: What is the composition of the student body?
Q: What is the average class size?

California Bar Examination
Q: After I graduate from the College of Law, can I sit for the Bar Examination?
Q: What can I do before classes start to better prepare myself for law school?

To see the answers please click the link below:

http://www.santabarbaralaw.edu/faq.html