College of Law

University of La Verne, College of Law History

University of La Verne College of Law was established in 1970 and is a private institution. The 7-acre campus is in a suburban area in inland southern California. The primary mission of the law school is to teach students to be effective legal professionals who use their skills an talents for the benefit of their communities, to imbue these students with pride in the legal profession, and to promote diversity within the law school community, accomplished by providing full- and part-time law programs with high academics standards. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Ontario area. Housing for students is not available on campus, but there is a student housing network which enables students to connect with others who are also seeking housing. Additional listings of available housing options in the area are available.

University of La Verne, College of Law Academics

Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; the maximum of credits that may be applied varies. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration) and J.D./M.P.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration).

The College of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, entertainment law, environmental law, family law, intellectual property law, international law, juvenile law, labor law, litigation, media law, securities law, sports law, tax law, and torts and insurance. In addition, clinics include the Disability Rights Legal Center (worth 3 to 6 units) and the Justice and Immigration Center (worth 6 units). There are also clinical externships. Seminars are open to upper division law students. Current seminar offerings are Law, Science and Medicine; Philosophy and Law; Environmental Law and Policy; and Global Issues in Constitutional Law. Internships are available. Credit is given for study abroad programs. Tutorial programs include the Peer Assistance Support System (PASS), Graduate Mentor Program, and workshops. There is also an Academic Support Program. The most widely taken electives are Entertainment Law, Real Estate Law, and Sales.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 60 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Analysis and Writing, Legal Research I, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Appellate Advocacy, Business Organizations, Constitutional Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Lawyering Skills Practicum, Professional Responsibility, and Wills and Trusts. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 2 day program, 7 hours total.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0.

University of La Verne, College of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 97,233 hard-copy volumes and 208,841 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 2320 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, NEXIS, WESTLAW, Wilsonline Indexes, VersusLaw, LLMC Digital, HeinOnline, Legal Scholarship Network, Berkeley Electronic Press, Philosopher’s Index, CCH Legal Professional Library, RIA Checkpoint, BNA Core Plus Library, UN Treaty Database, and WorldTradeLaw.net are available to law students for research. Special library collections include a selective federal and California depository library. Recently, the library double the bandwidth of the wireless network. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 5118 to 1 and to students is 674 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students through the Minority Outreach Programs and CLEO. Requirements are not different for out-of-state students. Transfer students must have one year of credit, competitive LSAT score and undergraduate GPA, and Letter of Standing. Preadmissions courses consist of Legal Analysis and Writing.

University of La Verne, College of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 1007 applied, 429 were accepted, and 109 enrolled. Seven transfers enrolled. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 49; the median GPA was 3.3 on a scale of 4.33. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 33; the highest was 90.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. Minimum acceptable LSAT percentile is 33 and minimum acceptable GPA is 2.0 on a scale of 4.33. The most important admission factors include LSAT results, GPA, and general background. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

The application deadline for fall entry is July 1. Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, transcripts, and a nonrefundable application fee of $60. Notification of the admissions decision is 4 to 6 weeks after application is completed. The latest acceptable LSAT test date for fall entry is February. The law school uses the LSDAS.

University of La Verne, College of Law Financial Aid

About 96% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, is $35,556; maximum, $53,797. Awards are based on need and merit. Required financial statement is the FAFSA. The aid application deadline for fall entry is May 15. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application at time of acceptance.

University of La Verne, College of Law Students

About 42% of the student body are women; 31%, minorities; 3%, African American; 14%, Asian American; and 13%, Hispanic. The average age of entering students is 26; age range is 21 to 55. About 22% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 69% remain to receive a law degree.

The primary law review is the Journal of Juvenile Law. Moot court competitions include Roger J. Traynor California Moot Court Competition, National Criminal Procedure Moot Competition, and Frederick Douglass National Moot Court Competition. Law student organizations include Student Bar Association, Delta Theta Phi Law Fraternity, and Hispanic National Bar Association. Campus clubs and other organizations include Law Review, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Black Law Students Association, Entertainment Law Society, J. Reuben Clark Society, and Moot Court.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered day only and must be completed within 3 years. For part-time students, courses are offered both day and evening and must be completed within 4 years. New full-time students are admitted in the fall; part-time, fall and spring. There is an 8-week summer session. Transferable summer courses are offered.