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The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law board of trustees elects three new members

Three distinguished leaders—Art Hernandez, Charlita Shelton, and Casey Summar—join governing board of the Central Coast’s leading law school focused on access, opportunity, and affordability

SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA – Arturo “Art” Hernandez, Charlita Shelton, and Casey Summar are the newest members of The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) board of trustees, the governance body that oversees the region’s oldest and largest independent law school.

Art Hernandez brings to COL extensive experience in education governance. He served on the board of the Rio Elementary School District followed by the Oxnard Union High School District, where he helped supervise an enrollment of more than 16,000 students across five high schools. Thereafter, Hernandez was elected to the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) board of trustees for Area 5 representing Oxnard. The VCCCD spans three community colleges—Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College—and serves 39,000 students annually.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Charlita L. Shelton is a proven leader as a higher education executive and diversity officer. Currently with Gonzaga University, serving the president’s office to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, Dr. Shelton’s previous posts include president and chief diversity office at the University of the Rockies and as executive director of the Dallas Nursing Institute. She is an international lecturer on organizational diversity and equity and women in leadership roles and an accomplished research scholar who led research efforts to determine how best to retain Black and Latinx students and designed diversity initiatives for the world’s largest private educational institution for working adults. Her many recognitions include the Innovations in Diversity Award and Diversity Leader Award from Profile in Diversity Journal and the Champion of Diversity Award from Diversity Business.

Prior to relocating to Santa Barbara, Casey Summar founded the Tennessee Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in 2005, which grew to become the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville. In that role, she advised the boards and staff of more than 400 nonprofits at all stages of organizational life cycle from formation to operations to transition. Summar was recognized as the 2016 Nonprofit CEO of the Year for Middle Tennessee, was named one of Nashville’s Top 40 under 40 in 2015, and a finalist for the Nashville Emerging Leader Awards in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. She also serves as chair of the board of the Carpinteria Arts Center and secretary of the board of the Lois & Walter Capps Project. Having recently concluded a term on the Americans for the Arts Private Sector Council, she served as chair of the Nashville Arts Coalition, chair of the American Bar Association Entertainment & Sports Industries Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Division, and chair of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Entertainment & Sports Law Section. Currently, she enjoys being a partner with The Law Firm for Non-Profits, and is an adjunct professor of law at Vanderbilt University.  Summar received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and her BFA from Belmont University. She is licensed to practice law in both California and Tennessee.

“What was already a strong board has become even stronger, connected, and more distinguished,” said COL Board Chair Jana Johnston (J.D. ’03). “Art’s higher education experience will help us advance our mission of access and opportunity in Ventura, and Casey’s nonprofit expertise and passion for legal education doing the same in Santa Barbara. And then we have Charlita, whose work in diversity and higher education leadership will be invaluable. I am honored to serve with them.”

The newest additions join a diverse board of professionals representing numerous disciplines and experiences. Chair Johnston is a partner with Mullen & Henzell. Other trustee attorneys include Farfalla Borah (J.D. ’93), Judge Michele Castillo, Betty Jeppesen (J.D. ’80), and Catherine Swysen (J.D. ‘94). Trustees from higher education include Dr. Michael Horowitz, president of TCS Education System; Dr. Bernie Luskin, president and CEO of Luskin International and past chancellor of the Ventura County Community College District; Stacey Lydon, director of advancement for Student Affairs, UCSB; Dr. Matthew Nehmer, COL president; and Dr. Richard Winn, past president of the WSCUC Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

About The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law
Established in 1969, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) was founded to expand opportunities and broaden access to legal education. COL is dedicated to a student-centered approach that affords students of diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue careers in law or legal-related fields. The Colleges’ faculty advances a real-world perspective and practicality on the application of law and includes practicing attorneys, judges, public servants, and leaders in business and nonprofit organizations. An accredited nonprofit institution, COL offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Arts in Law (M.A. in Law) program. Starting in fall 2018, COL became the first accredited law school in California to offer a hybrid J.D. degree. COL is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Juris Doctor program is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) of the State Bar of California. For more information, visit admin.collegesoflaw.edu.

The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law is an affiliate of TCS Education System, a nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact.

For more information, contact COL Public Affairs Coordinator Kryztofr Kaine at 805-765-9729; [email protected].

Learn more about The Colleges of Law

Fill out the form below to request more information about our J.D., Hybrid J.D., and online Master of Arts in Law Studies programs.

What is legal tech?

“Legal tech,” also known as legal technology, is a term that describes the tools and technologies used by lawyers and professionals within the legal field to do their jobs. Just about every industry is touched by our increasingly digital landscape, and law is no different.

In 2016, Legal Tech News noted that “less than one-quarter of lawyers and only 2% of law firm partners were millennials.” Now projections are suggesting the balance will flip in millennials’ favor with 75% of the workplace being occupied by them. With this changing demographic also comes the tools and tactics of the new, incoming class.

Millennials aren’t just more populous in the workplace. They’re changing the look and feel of industries too. This includes finding ways to streamline mainstay processes, save data, and conduct research. With legal tech, this is more or less the case as well.

Legal technology serves to expedite and combine like processes and find ways to save time, effort, and energy. While millennials could be the cause of this shift in workflow, more industries and employees of all backgrounds are using these tools to make their work lives a little easier.

In their daily legal practice, lawyers will use different types of technology depending on the goal they have in mind or task they’re trying to perform. Their technology might become more niche depending on their field too.

Generally, lawyers might use technology for research, to improve their business tracking, or more recently, artificial intelligence to deepen the scope of their research more quickly.

Some common legal tech tools include:

Document management ­— Legal document management software (DMS) allows lawyers and professionals to manage and organize their documents. Included in this work are tools that help keep track of versions of documents, prevent others from making changes, and make documents searchable within a firm. Some DMS allow you to connect your fax and scanning machines so your documents are immediately indexed within your system.

Time and billing — Legal time and billing software aim to lighten law professionals’ administrative work. This software designed for time and billing keeps track of timesheets and invoices. Generally, it gives you a comprehensive view of how you’ve spent your time.

Case management — Case management tools organize and synchronize everything concerning a legal case. This includes documents, scheduling and conflicts, contracts, and reporting.

E-discovery — E-Discovery or eDiscovery software helps lawyers and legal professionals to learn, review, and process electronic documents (e-mails, computer files, databases, etc.) as a part of their investigation or work in lawsuits.

As mentioned previously, legal technology may change in relevance depending on which field you’re in or aspire to be in. Generally, the trend toward technological advancement has helped make the hard work of lawyers more organized and accessible. As these changes proceed, so too will the legal field to keep up with advancements.

The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law are proud to offer a first-class, accessible education to a diverse range of students. Learn more about how you can start your educational journey by requesting info today.

Learn more about The Colleges of Law

Fill out the form below to request more information about our J.D., Hybrid J.D., and online Master of Arts in Law programs.

The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law Celebrates Half Century of Legal Education with Gala on Sept. 21

The 50th Anniversary Gala is set for Sept. 21 at Museum of Ventura County. The Hon. Colleen Toy White to be honored with the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award.

WHAT: The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) 50th Anniversary Gala

WHEN: Saturday, September 21, 2019, 6–10 p.m.

WHERE: Museum of Ventura County, 100 East Main Street, Ventura, California 93001

WHO:   Alumni, trustees, students, faculty, and the legal communities of Santa Barbara and Ventura;
The Hon. Colleen Toy White, recipient of the Colleges of Law’s Inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award

SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA, Calif.: The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL), the region’s oldest and largest independent law school, celebrates a half century of service to the local legal and business communities with their 50th Anniversary Gala. Distinguished alumni, local attorneys, and business leaders will gather on Sept. 21 to recognize the law school’s historic achievements during an evening of fine dining and entertainment at the Museum of Ventura County.

COL was established as the Ventura College of Law in 1969. The Santa Barbara College of Law followed in 1974 with the schools merging in 1978. Since its inception, COL prided itself on having a faculty comprised of judges and practicing attorneys who brought real-world experience into a practical learning environment. Over five decades and more than 2,000 graduates later, COL alumni include numerous distinguished members of the local legal community. In Santa Barbara, recognized alumni include Judges Edward Bullard, Colleen K. Sterne, Von Nguyen Deroian and District Attorneys Joyce Dudley and Christie Stanley, among others. In Ventura, alumni include Judges Rebecca Riley, Edward F. Brodie, Ellen Gay Conroy, David W. Long, JoAnn Johnson, and William Redmond, among others.

In recognition of the caliber of service and outstanding contribution to the local legal community, one such illustrious COL alumnae, the Hon. Colleen Toy White, will be presented with school’s inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award at the 50th Anniversary Gala.  A 1977 graduate of COL, Judge Toy White served 23 years on the Ventura County Superior Court following 18 years in the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, 10 of those as Assistant Chief District Attorney. During her tenure at court, Judge Toy White served as Presiding Judge in 2007 and 2008, and as Supervising Family Law Judge. She initiated actions to develop the Community Intervention Court, Dependency Drug Court, Elder Law Court and Mental Health Court. Of special note is Hon. Toy White’s ground-breaking contribution to develop tailored, holistic solutions for veterans facing criminal charges under the auspices of the Veterans Court Treatment Program named in her honor in 2018.

TICKETS: Gala tickets may be purchased here or at the Colleges of Law campuses (located at 4475 Market Street, Ventura and 20 E. Victoria Street, Santa Barbara). Tickets are $125 per guest, or Table Sponsors $1,000 for table of 10; $900 for table of eight.

About The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law:
Established in 1969, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) was founded as a nonprofit to expand opportunities and broaden access to legal education. COL is dedicated to a student-centered approach that affords students of diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue careers in law or legal-related fields. The Colleges’ faculty advances a real-world perspective and practicality on the application of law and includes practicing attorneys, judges, public servants, and leaders in business and non-profit organizations.  An accredited nonprofit institution, COL offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Arts in Law (M.A. in Law) program.  Starting in Fall 2018, COL became the first accredited law school in California to offer a hybrid J.D. degree. COL is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Juris Doctor program is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) of the State Bar of California.  For more information, visit admin.collegesoflaw.edu.

The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law is an affiliate of TCS Education System, a nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact.

For more information, contact the COL Public Affairs Coordinator Kryztofr Kaine at (805) 765-9729; [email protected].

Update: Joyce Dudley resigned as Santa Barbara County district attorney effective January 2023.

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The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law to Host Environmental Public Forum, May 7

Federal v. State: How has the Trump Administration affected California’s Environment?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kryztofr Kaine Public Affairs Coordinator [email protected] (805) 765-9729

SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA, Calif. – On May 7, 2019, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law will host a public forum that examines the effects of Trump Administration environmental policy on the state of California.

WHAT: Federal v. State: How has the Trump Administration Affected California’s Environment?

WHEN: Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 6–7:15 p.m.

WHERE: The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law, Santa Barbara Campus, 20 E. Victoria Street.

WHO: Linda Krop, Chief Counsel of the Environmental Defense Center, and Aeron Arlin Genet, the Director and Air Control Officer for Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District

BACKGROUND:On June 1, 2018, President Trump announced to the world that the United States would withdraw from the Paris climate agreement (UNFCCC). Last November, Trump would become only global leader at the G20 summit to refuse to sign a communiqué confirming that climate change is irreversible and commitment to address the causes of global warming. Additionally, according to a list compiled by National Geographic, the Trump Administration has reshaped the environmental landscape by:

  • Cutting funding to the Climate Adaptation Program, an international effort to monitor and mitigation the effects of climate change;
  • Lifting restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions for coal plants;
  • Approving off-shore oil and gas drilling in the Arctic;
  • Allowing oil and gas companies to use seismic air gun blasts to search for oil deposits on the ocean floor;
  • Repealing rules requiring oil and gas companies to monitor methane gas releases;
  • Nullifying rules restricting coal power plants;
  • Revoking water rules accounting for sea level rise;
  • Reducing the number of waterways protected by the Clean Water Act; and
  • Changing the US approach to the Endangered Species Act.

Krop and Genet will explore current administration environmental policy with an eye to its impact on California’s climate change agenda.

COST: The forum is free and open to the public. Participants are advised to arrive before the 6p start as seating is available first-come-first-serve. MCLE credits are available. About The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law:

Established in 1969, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) was founded to expand opportunities and broaden access to legal education. COL is dedicated to a student-centered approach that affords students of diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue careers in law or legal-related fields. The Colleges’ faculty advances a real-world perspective and practicality on the application of law and includes practicing attorneys, judges, public servants, and leaders in business and non-profit organizations. An accredited nonprofit institution, COL offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Arts in Law (M.A. in Law) program. Starting in Fall 2018, COL became the first accredited law school in California to offer a hybrid J.D. degree. COL is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Juris Doctor program is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) of the State Bar of California. For more information, visit www.collegesoflaw.edu. The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law is an affiliate of TCS Education System, a nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact.

For more information, contact the COL Public Affairs Coordinator Kryztofr Kaine at (805) 765-9729; [email protected].

You can learn more about the Trump Administration’s actions by watching the event on our Facebook page.

U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley to Keynote The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law’s 2019 Commencement Ceremony, March 30

SANTA BARBARA & VENTURA, Calif. – The Honorable Julia Brownley, member of the United States House of Representatives, will receive an honorary Doctor of Law degree and address The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law’s (COL) graduating Class of 2019.  The Commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort. Rep. Brownley will be honored for her more than 25 years of public service and leadership in the local community.

Rep. Brownley began her career in public service in 1994 after deciding to run for the local school board as a way to advocate for a better education for her daughter, who had dyslexia, and other special-needs students.  She won and was later elected to the California State Legislature in 2006.  Rep. Brownley was first elected to Congress in 2012 to serve the California’s 26th District, which includes the cities of Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Camarillo, Newbury Park, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and Westlake Village.

“From the school board to the California legislature and now at the highest levels of government in Washington, I and many other Ventura County residents can attest to Congresswoman Brownley’s exemplary and responsive service to her constituents, in the past or currently, be they students, veterans, seniors, farmers, or victims of the deadly fires that swept our counties,” said Trustee Carmen Ramirez who sponsored Rep. Brownley’s honorary degree resolution to the COL Board of Trustees. “She is well deserving of this honor as a maker of laws that benefit our community.”

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Brownley serves on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, including as Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health. Rep. Brownley also sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.

“I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Board Trustee Carmen Ramirez and the entire leadership of the Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law for this special honor,” said Rep. Brownley. “It is a privilege to have the opportunity to address the Class of 2019, as well as their friends and family, as they mark this momentous occasion. These graduates have worked extraordinarily hard to get to this special day, and I look forward to recognizing this tremendous achievement as they embark on their careers in the law.”

As commencement speaker, Rep. Brownley joins a distinguished list of local public servants invited to address a Colleges of Law graduating class.  Recent keynote speakers include Calif. State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson; the Honorable Lois Capps; Joyce Dudley, current District Attorney of Santa Barbara County; the Honorable Gregory Totten, current District Attorney of Ventura County; Judge Michele Castillo, Ventura County Superior Court and COL trustee; and Justice Steven Z. Perren of the California Court of Appeal.

Rep. Brownley will join trustees, faculty, staff, family, and guests gathering on March 30, 2019, to celebrate the 45 members of COL’s Class of 2019.  Representing the Santa Barbara Campus are graduates Joseph Beck, Martin Bender, Kiley Clevenger, Evelyn Cortes, Matthew Haas (Honors), Shannon Lofft, Devonnie Mann, Tyler Potter (Highest Honors), Nicolette Reeves, Keiran Schwoerke, Stephanie Sivers, Samuel Sosa, Stacy Tolkin Lowman, Joan Vignocchi, and John Weninger.

Representing the Ventura Campus are graduates Karina Almaguer, Ashley Brown, Megan Cooper (Honors), Emily Dixon, Larissa Garcia, Maritza Garcia-Lopez, Laura Garibay, Valarie Grossman (Honors), Amy Gunderson, Jonathan Gunderson (Highest Honors), Kryztofr Kaine, Alessandro Manno, Eddie Martinez, Daniel Moore (High Honors), Viktoria Morgan, Bryan Murotake, Sergio Prado, Esther Reynoso, Veronica Romero, Dianne Seaberg, Rogelio Tuazon, and Rodrigo Yanez.

Representing the Master of Arts in Law program are Francisco Aragon, Michael Barney, Ashley Barrios, Susan Foster, Daniel Hodorowski, Renee Paige, Tyler Thompson, and Jaclyn Zaragoza.

About The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law:
Established in 1969, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law (COL) was founded to expand opportunities and broaden access to legal education.  COL is dedicated to a student-centered approach that affords students of diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue careers in law or legal-related fields. The Colleges’ faculty advances a real-world perspective and practicality on the application of law and includes practicing attorneys, judges, public servants, and leaders in business and non-profit organizations.  An accredited nonprofit institution, COL offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) and a Master of Arts in Law (M.A. in Law) program.  Starting in Fall 2018, COL became the first accredited law school in California to offer a hybrid J.D. degree. COL is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and the Juris Doctor program is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) of the State Bar of California.  For more information, visit admin.collegesoflaw.edu.

The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law is an affiliate of TCS Education System, a nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact.

For more information, contact the COL Public Affairs Coordinator Kryztofr Kaine at (805) 765-9729; [email protected].

Joyce Dudley resigned as Santa Barbara County district attorney effective January 2023.