Recruitment underway to welcome first cohort in fall 2022
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. and VENTURA, Calif., April 11, 2022—Responding to rapid changes in the legal services industry, The Colleges of Law has launched its new Master of Arts in Law program. Recruitment is underway to enroll an inaugural cohort in a pioneering online program that intersects cross-disciplinary studies with a legal curriculum.
The Colleges of Law dean and chief academic officer, Jackie Gardina, J.D., first proposed the program to the college’s Board of Trustees in 2019 to address emerging trends in the practice of law. “Our field is being disrupted,” says Gardina. “Technology is transforming how people access services and how lawyers perform their jobs. While there will always be a need for competent and ethical attorneys, those with knowledge of where the field is going next will be poised to help lead the change.”
The Master of Arts in Law program was designed for entry-level master’s students seeking knowledge of law applied to specific areas of expertise. The program is also applicable to professionals currently working in the legal industry—including those with a J.D. degree—in order to access new areas of expertise and apply them to their practice, effectively providing opportunities for upskilling to meet a changing job market.
Jeannette Eicks, a recognized expert in the legal field who joined The Colleges of Law in 2021 to lead the Master of Arts in Law initiative, developed the curriculum and ushered the program through WASC Senior College and University Commission review.
“As has been the case for many other sectors, technology is transforming the legal industry. This transformation brings new opportunities for legal professionals at all levels and will address the demand of underserved legal markets,” says Eicks. “To better prepare students and alumni for this transformation, the school’s curriculum has expanded to address the cross-disciplinary needs of this growing legal marketplace. We have dedicated ourselves to bringing the knowledge driving the legal industry’s transformation to students at all graduate levels.”
The Master of Arts in Law program is the latest venture of a college that has staked its future in modernizing legal education.
“The bar is high for this project,” says The Colleges of Law President Matthew Nehmer, Ph.D. “Nearly three years in the making, it is our follow-up to delivering the first accredited Hybrid J.D. program in California. From the beginning, it was conceived to be something new and different. We wanted to go beyond just offering a new master’s degree. We wanted to create a learning experience with multiple applications with high value to learners and the legal services industry at large.”
The Master of Arts in Law program launches this fall, delivering 30 units of academic content across 21 months of study. Students can specialize in one of four concentrations—Business Operations, Entrepreneurship, Emerging Law, and Technology—and will complete a capstone project. Courses will also be available as electives for The Colleges of Law’s J.D. population, opening up the college’s J.D. curriculum to new career pathways.
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About The Colleges of Law
Established in 1969, The 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. COL’s 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. Additionally, in the fall of 2018, COL became the first accredited law school in California to offer a Hybrid J.D. degree. COL is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). The Juris Doctor program is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE) of the State Bar of California. COL is a part of TCS Education System, a national nonprofit system that works collaboratively to advance institutional sustainability, student success, and community impact.
To learn more about innovative course offerings at The Colleges of Law, fill out the form below.
Three recent law school graduates describe the wide range of opportunities available to J.D.s who do not take the bar exam
Last updated: September 20, 2023
Unlocking New Opportunities for J.D. Graduates Who Haven’t Passed the Bar Exam
In a well-attended talk at The Colleges of Law titled “Alternate Paths for the J.D.,” three recent J.D. graduates described how they found rewarding and fulfilling law degree jobs without passing the bar exam.
In her introduction to the event, Jackie Gardina, J.D., dean of The Colleges of Law, pointed to a report commissioned by the state Bar of California that concluded, “The business of law is growing, but the practice of law is shrinking.” With this new reality in mind, the panel of law school administrators, law professors, and recent graduates discussed the broad range of opportunities for job seekers who have received their J.D. degree but have not—or not yet—passed the bar exam.
Panelist Irene Mo was interested in data security during her time in law school. When she received her degree, she was thorough and strategic in her job search. She credits one piece of advice that helped her sort it all out. “I was told ‘It’s not about taking the best next step; it’s about taking the next best step”.
Mo ultimately realized that passing the bar and practicing law in a courtroom were reflections of ego and didn’t really pertain to her career objectives in the growing field of “legal tech” in which many jobs are designated as “J.D. preferred” but don’t require applicants to have passed the bar exam.
“If you don’t want to practice, I don’t think you need to put yourself through that pain,” she says. For example, she points that the pandemic triggered a sea change in the treatment of legal paperwork. “A lot of people are still printing out a ton of documents, and COVID forced people to move into this virtual world. Before, most people were still practicing law like they were 300 years ago.”
Exploring Opportunities for J.D. Graduates Awaiting the Bar Exam
Another panelist, Brian Dunn, found himself in a position that is common to many law school graduates. Having to wait for nearly a year to prepare for and take the bar exam when it was offered, Dunn looked for law degree jobs without passing the bar and found a position reviewing contracts for a financial services firm. There, he found the flexibility to reimagine their contracting process and appreciates the central role he plays on a larger team. Like Mo, his training in legal technologies in law school helped prepare him for his role, which involves the relatively new field of eDiscovery.
The third panelist, Brittney Martinez, also encountered scheduling issues with the bar exam, largely due to COVID-related cancellations. She found a fulfilling role with no bar exam requirement which involved decoding federal, state, and local regulations for an international company. The position has given her the opportunity to travel abroad but also allows her to remain in Texas rather than move to the company’s U.S. headquarters in New York.
“I recently have been given the opportunity to take on the Latin American sector of the company, which is a huge project with 11 countries,” she says, “because I’ve been able to invest in the company and understand how the processes work.”
The panelists stressed the traditional view of the lawyer who strives to graduate at the top of their class, passes the bar on their first try, and spends their career litigating cases in a courtroom is changing. Now, there are plenty of jobs for J.D.s not practicing law. “I was a very mediocre law student,” Mo says. “And personally, I think I’m doing great now, and living the life I want to live, doing the kind of work I want to do.”
Dunn urges prospective J.D.s to “never forget you have a law degree and you’ve spent a great deal of your time and effort getting to where you are.”
Key Advice for New J.D.s Exploring Non-Bar-Exam Paths
Other key pieces of advice the panel imparted to the students included:
Be flexible
Less than ideal positions taken fresh out of law school may lead to bigger, better opportunities later on.
Mo says, “When I was about to graduate and I was looking for a job, I was like, ‘If it has the word legal in it and you’re going to give me a good job reference, I’ll take it.’ Legal Shoe Shiner, I’m your girl. I just want a job after I graduate.”
Expand your horizons
If you are taking a nontraditional career path after receiving your J.D., then many opportunities may not be in your original search parameters for J.D.-advantage jobs.
Martinez suggests looking at international opportunities. “Foreign companies looking to expand in the U.S. view the J.D. degree differently,” she says, “and they need people with a law background to help them understand the legal environment.”
Use your networks.
When you’re dealing with a specialized skill set, professional networks can be even more important than the job-seeking public at large.
Dunn stresses the importance of both his undergraduate and law school networks. Martinez has received offers for in-house positions through work she has done as an independent consultant, and Mo says she is “three for three on getting jobs through my Twitter connections.”
High-Paying Jobs for J.D.s Not Practicing Law
There are a number of in-demand Juris Doctorate jobs that offer substantial salaries for those with a law degree without passing the bar.
Compliance Officer
Compliance officers ensure that their organizations follow regulations and laws. They work to prevent legal issues by developing and implementing compliance programs.
How much do Compliance Officers make?
The average salary for a compliance officer falls between $75,600 and $114,000 according to Salary.com.*
*Data collected in 2023.
Corporate Counsel
Many large corporations employ in-house legal counsel to handle a variety of legal matters related to their business operations. Corporate counsel often work on contracts, negotiations, and legal strategy.
How much does corporate counsel make?
ZiprRecruiter reports that the majority of corporate counsel salaries currently range between $118,000 to $168,000.*
*Data collected in 2023.
Intellectual Property (IP) Manager
IP managers oversee a company’s intellectual property portfolio, which includes patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. They help protect the company’s IP assets and ensure compliance with relevant laws. Salaries can be substantial, particularly in industries that heavily rely on IP, such as technology and pharmaceuticals.
How much do intellectual property (IP) managers make?
According to the Economic Research institute, the average pay for an intellectual property manager is $84,316 a year.*
*Data collected in 2023.
Risk Manager
Risk managers assess and mitigate potential risks that could impact an organization’s operations, reputation, or financial stability. They work to prevent legal issues by identifying and managing potential threats.
How much do risk managers make?
Risk managers can make $100,231 a year on average according to Indeed.*
*Data collected in 2023.
Legal Consultant
Some JD holders work as legal consultants, providing expertise to businesses, individuals, or government agencies on legal matters. They may offer guidance on complex legal issues, regulatory compliance, or strategic decision-making.
How much do legal consultants make?
Zippia reports that the average legal consultant salary in the United States is $75,024.*
*Data collected in 2023.
Mediator/Arbitrator
Mediators and arbitrators help parties resolve disputes outside of court. They facilitate negotiations and help parties reach agreements. While salaries can vary, those with expertise in specific industries or complex disputes can command higher fees.
Legal analyst in finance/investment banking: Some JD holders work in financial institutions or investment banks, analyzing legal documents related to mergers, acquisitions, contracts, and other financial transactions.
Events such as the Alternative to the J.D. underscore the importance that law schools keep up with the times. Technological innovation, changing demographic, and a changing economy are asserting pressure against a profession that has long rested on tradition. The lessons behind the ongoing efforts at The Colleges of Law to modernize the curriculum and expose graduates to a broader range of career options reflect the belief that legal professionals cannot merely let changes in the field happen to them. They must constantly think, plan, and innovate to keep up with and, ideally, get ahead of the disruptions to the profession that continue to come.
To learn more about The Colleges of Laws innovative course offerings such as Constitutional Law, Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, and Property Law, fill out the form below. You can also watch our informative session hosted by our enrollment counselor, Shannon Stark, to learn more about our in person J.D. programs.
The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law has changed its name to The Colleges of Law and unveils a new logo.
For more than 50 years, The Colleges of Law has been an innovator in the legal education space. Many significant milestones have been reached in that time, including the first commencement in 1973, the Ventura and Santa Barbara campuses coming together in the late ‘70s, State Bar accreditation, TCS Education System affiliation, WSCUC accreditation, and the development of new programs like the Hybrid J.D.
This year a new, exciting milestone was reached—the launch of a new brand identity and logo. The Colleges of Law is streamlining its many naming conventions (Ventura College of Law, Santa Barbara College of Law, The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law) into one: The Colleges of Law. This name change will foster continued innovation and allow for broader community reach and impact.
In support of this new brand identity, a new logo has been developed. The logo design showcases a foundation in law using classic pillars, signifying traditional legal education with forward momentum. It communicates a school committed to innovation and building something new.
This rebranding serves as a start of a new era for The Colleges of Law. More information can be found in the FAQs below.
COL Rebrand FAQ
What is happening with the COL name?
We are retiring “The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law” naming convention and brand; instead leading with “The Colleges of Law.” It will be our first major rebranding effort since 2010 when the stacked logo and palm tree (yes, that’s a palm tree) iconography was introduced.
Why the change?
We’ve come a long way as a school since our last brand update in 2010. For one we are no longer exclusive the Santa Barbara and Ventura communities, as was the case during our first decades. We now draw students throughout California and beyond thanks to our hybrid J.D. and master’s programs.
And second, we’ve been using The Colleges of Law and “COL” as an identifier for many years. For instance, we introduced “The Colleges of Law” formally in our institutional seal when it debuted in 2019. The new identity is simply a better reflection of who we are today while providing flexibly for tomorrow.
How did you engage with the community in the process and decision?
We’ve involved our key stakeholders throughout this project, staring with holding focus groups on mission and vision as part of our strategic planning process in 2017. Out of that came a renewed emphasis on “access,” “opportunity,” and “academic excellence” in our mission statement and a new vision statement “to be a pioneer in modernizing legal education.”
From there we presented a proposal to the COL Board of Trustees to review our name and identity and make recommendations for next steps. More focus groups with community members, including alumni, were held in 2021 on our name. We learned from them that our geographic identifiers, Santa Barbara and Ventura, still have relevance and should have a place in our identity. Our brand and creative teams incorporated this feedback into their work.
What about the names Ventura College of Law and Santa Barbara College of Law?
Both names are integral to our history. COL was founded as the Ventura College of Law in 1969; whereas, Santa Barbara was founded in 1974 as the California Law Institute and later changed its name. The first use of “Colleges of Law” dates to 1978, the first year a joint academic bulletin was published.
We acknowledge that hundreds of graduates identify with those names, including having them on their diplomas. Nothing is going to change with that history. Just as UCSB was once known as the Santa Barbara State Normal School, we continue to evolve too.
Our new identity will formalize what we’ve already been doing in practice, i.e., recognize Ventura and Santa Barbara as campuses versus separately named colleges:
The Colleges of Law—Ventura
The Colleges of Law—Santa Barbara
Will signage change on the campuses?
Yes. We have a plan to update all exterior and interior campus signage this year.
What name will be on future graduate diplomas?
“The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law” has been on our diplomas since COL has been accredited by WSCUC. Starting in 2023, diplomas will read “The Colleges of Law” and will feature the seal that says the same.
What is the difference between the COL logo and seal?
One way of framing the distinction between seals and logos is that “one looks backward while one looks forward.” Our seal indeed does look back, reflecting our founding, while emphasizing iconography from our founding (scales of justice) and palm leaves to reflect our heritage as being in California coastal communities. It also leads with the words “access,” “opportunity,” and “excellence” from our mission.
Our new logo in turn is more forward thinking. The column iconography represents something being built and still taking shape. It’s a modern take on a classic design feature.
Our logo will be more public facing, whereas, our seal will be more internal looking—including on diplomas and other formal documents.
Will you publish guidelines for the new logo?
Yes, we’re updating our brand book, which will feature guidelines for the logo and seal.
To learn more about the Master of Arts in Law program at The Colleges of Law, fill out the form below.
A professor at The Colleges of Law has created a comprehensive course in lawyer wellness that she hopes to be at the forefront of a movement.
Robin Oaks, professor at The Colleges of Law, recently taught a new course aimed at changing the way attorneys approach the profession, as well as their daily lives.
“Wellness and Lawyering Competence” may be a relatively new idea in the legal profession but is one that is gaining acceptance.
In a field that requires a confident public posture and an air of certainty, some attorneys may be reluctant to admit that they need emotional support or self-care. This commitment to self-reliance often begins in law school, where cultural norms at many institutions favor competition over collaboration, a mindset that can continue into practice. Further complicating this reality is the stigma among attorneys, as is the case in many professions, about seeking emotional, physical, or cognitive support. The Colleges of Law, on the other hand, promotes collaboration over competition, and hopes to change the narrative surrounding mental health and wellness in the field.
The American Bar Association weighs in
Recognizing the challenges facing the profession, the American Bar Association (ABA) assigned a task force to address “Lawyer Well-Being.” Their report, issued in 2017, identified five areas of focus:
Understanding the role each of attorney can play in reducing the level of toxicity in the profession
Eliminating the stigma associated with seeking help
Emphasizing that well-being is an indispensable part of a lawyer’s duty of competence
Educating lawyers, judges, and law students on lawyer well-being issues
Taking positive steps to change how law is practiced and to instill greater well-being in the profession
While the ABA report focuses largely on mitigating the negative factors affecting lawyer well-being, Oaks sees her class as being about more than simply reducing stress. She believes the concept of well-being is a continuous process, one in which lawyers strive for thriving in all dimensions of their lives: occupational, intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional.
Changing the conversation
The ABA report findings and recommendations put the impetus on members of the legal profession to commit to the promotion of wellness, and forward-looking law schools, such as The Colleges of Law, are leading the way.
“I see it as part of creating a whole-lawyer paradigm,” Oaks says. “I designed this course to help law students function at their best with energy and peak performance as well as to promote wellness and foster well-being. It’s about re-envisioning what it means to be a competent legal professional.”
The insight Oaks has gained into wellness evolved out of her own health challenges. Fifteen years into her career as a litigator, she suffered from exposure to environmental toxins. Because her condition did not respond to conventional medicine, Oaks explored the latest research in neuroscience, medicine, and practices for promoting healing, wellness, and well-being. She also shifted her legal practice to focus on workplace mediations, conflict resolution, and workplace investigations, all while developing a parallel career path as a well-being coach for professionals.
The Colleges of Law embraces a comprehensive approach
When Oaks approached Jackie Gardina, dean of The Colleges of Law, about the course, she found an enthusiastic ally in the cause of lawyer well-being. Gardina agreed the time was right to add this elective course to the curriculum. “The Colleges of Law has been a leader,” Oaks says.
The course, consisting of 10, three-hour sessions, involved class discussion, weekly assignments focusing on evidence-based practices, landmark research on lawyer well-being, positive psychology, mindfulness practices, and financial well-being and competency. Several prominent lawyers spoke of the importance of wellness and fostering well-being for a successful, rewarding, and happy career.
Lawyer wellness is “imperative for the future of the profession”
The response from students was overwhelmingly positive. Several said the course changed their lives. “I only wish I had this my first year of law school. What a difference it would have a made,” one student says.
Many said they had their eyes opened to the prospects of this new paradigm. They explain that the course changed how they looked at stress and their responsibility to take charge of their mind, body, and cognitive wellness.
Another student points out that “there’s a stigma in the legal profession around self-help, but asking for help is essential to human growth. Law students are taught the tools of argument and persuasion, but they aren’t taught how to deal with their stress.”
The cohort agreed that courses devoted to attorney health should be a permanent in fixture in every law school. Another student says, “The fact that the legal profession is substantially suffering from a lack of wellness and competence makes requiring the class imperative for the future of the profession itself.”
Just how many schools do open their curricula to incorporate this subject matter remains to be seen, but the groundwork has been laid at The Colleges of Law for others to follow.
A path forward
“I designed and launched this course with the hope that it would not be about remembering information but about transformation,” Oaks says. “If it empowered, inspired, and opened minds to new possibilities that contribute to wellness and well-being for those on the journey of lawyering, I’m happy.”
To learn more about innovative course offerings at The Colleges of Law, fill out the form below.
A new course at The Colleges of Law called eLawyering introduces students to the growing uses of technology in the practice of law to benefit both attorneys and clients.
eLawyering: A New Course for the Future of Law
According to The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law Professor Jeannette Eicks, J.D., in roughly 70% of civil cases in the United States at least one party proceeds pro se, meaning they represent themselves in legal proceedings. This startling reality helped to inspire Professor Eicks to create a new elective course that offers law students insights into ways to improve the delivery of, and access to, legal services for a broader segment of the population through the use of technology. Called eLawyering, the course focuses on the intersection of the legal profession and technology in three areas: innovation, automation (including AI), and data.
For Professor Eicks, who is The Colleges of Law’s subject matter expert on technology and the law, the digital realm is an essential part of her background. “I started programming with my mother when I was 10,” she says, adding that she became a computer science professor after she graduated law school before moving back into the law field. Since then, she has blended the two disciplines. Eicks’ goal is not to introduce technology for its own sake. “My interest is in creating legal efficiency, enhancing legal services, and expanding access to justice,” she says.
Making the Case to the Change-averse
In a profession grounded in centuries of tradition and practice, pushback against innovation was inevitable. “There can be a lot of market pressure against lawyer efficiency because that means fewer billable hours,” Eicks explains. Also, the unauthorized practice of law is a challenge. For example, if an attorney only barred to practice in California creates an app, then only residents of California are authorized to use it.
“On the flip side,” Eicks says, “pressures from customers are driving lawyers toward efficiency.” And while some e-lawyering products, such as LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer, are quite popular, there is a consensus that the profession is behind the curve. A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that 23% of tasks currently performed by lawyers can be automated with current technology.
In order to illustrate the broader principles covered in the course, Eicks asked each student to create an app that accomplished a task they would perform as lawyers. “An important part of what we’re doing is learning to provide access to legal services and to drive down the cost of legal services,” Eicks says. Among the 38 students in the class, there was a range of proficiency in the development of their projects, though some were quite successful.
Teaching Legal Tech Through Apps
The students used a program called Afterpattern to develop their apps. Many students chose to design apps that perform what is commonly called “pre-law,” meaning that they help clients in advance of a filing or a court appearance to ensure they have all the necessary documentation. “Usually, there’s a lot of back and forth over missing documents,” Eicks says. “Whereas, if a client completes a form ahead of time with the assistance of an app and attach all the necessary documents, they’re ready to go when they walk into a law office.”
Student Brooke Darnall developed an app that walks users through advanced directives and durable health care power of attorney procedures. Darnall, a 3L, says, “I’ve never pictured myself in a traditional attorney role, but I entered law school knowing that I wanted to learn complex laws and policies in order to help translate them to the average person.” Having heard about the role of “legal knowledge engineer” for the first time in class, she now says, “Perhaps I can help to build AI systems that fulfill my goal of translating complex laws to average people and increase access to justice.”
Preparing Students to Practice
While Eicks understands that some lawyers have concerns about the effect of the broader adoption of technology, she hopes that the key takeaway from the eLawyering course is that law students understand that technology can be used to expand their legal practices, not reduce them. “I focus on preparing students for the practice of law in the future,” she says.
Eicks adds that Dean Jackie Gardena has been forward thinking when it comes to the promise of technology for the legal profession. Eicks credits The Colleges of Law for leading the way by bringing technology into the J.D. program.
To learn more about the programs The Colleges of Law offers, fill out the form below.
MCLE is required for most actively practicing attorneys in California. Learn more about MCLE requirements, competencies, providers, and more.
If you’re an actively practicing attorney in the state of California or plan to become one soon, chances are you will be required to complete California’s Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirement. Navigating through the mandatory standards and specific details of this requirement may seem daunting at first, but we’ve broken down some of the most important aspects of the California MCLE requirement below, including number of credits required, important deadlines, and educational providers.
MCLE requirements
With a handful of exemptions, most lawyers who are actively practicing law in the state of California are required to complete 25 hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) every three years. MCLE must be reported and filed with the State Bar of California.
Below is a summary of the types of credit hours that are required.
Participatory credit
At least 12.5 hours must fall under “participatory credit.”
Participatory credit hours can be verified if:
You are required to sign in at the time of activity (in-person or electronic)
The provider keeps a record of the participants who signed in
The provider gives a certificate of completion to acknowledge the participant’s attendance
Courses taken on the internet or with the assistance of media like CDs and tapes may also be eligible as participatory credit if the provider has gained approval for this style of education. Regardless, it’s important to always double check with the provider if the credit has been verified.
Self-study credit
Credit hours listed as “self-study” cannot exceed a total of 12.5 hours. Some activities that qualify as self-study include:
Utilizing study materials online and showing that one has fully understood the material by taking an assessment exam
Composing written materials for a law book or future legal education
Additional requirements:
4 or more hours in legal ethics
1 hour or more in competence issues
1 hour or more in “Recognition and Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession and Society”
All lawyers in the State of California (except for those on voluntary inactive status) must report their compliance with the MCLE requirements by providing a statement of compliance to the State Bar of California. Compliance can be reported online via the My State Bar Profile. Deadlines will vary based on the lawyer’s compliance group.
Lawyers will be held accountable for the MCLE requirement based on the statuses listed below and will be responsible for reporting their compliance to the State Bar of California:
Active attorneys
Not eligible attorneys, who are suspended for disciplinary reasons
Exempt attorneys
If you’re exempt for the whole compliance period, you are required to report your exemption; however, you are not required to complete any education.
If you’re exempt for only part of the compliance period, you are required to complete a prorated amount of education and report that information as your compliance.
Retired attorneys
Lawyers who are retired but still maintain an “active” status are responsible for meeting the MCLE requirements, regardless of whether they are actively practicing or not.
Those on “inactive status” are not subject to accumulating MCLE credit hours during the time they are on “inactive status” only. Furthermore, they would not be required to report their compliance to the State Bar of California.
Duyen “Lulu” Tran, The Colleges of Law alumna, forged her own path to find her passion for law.
Duyen “Lulu” Tran will be the first to admit that her journey to becoming an attorney was far from straightforward. From immigrating to the United States from Vietnam as a child, to discovering her life’s passion as an undergrad, all the way to her recent graduation from The Colleges of Law and being sworn in as an attorney, Tran has become an independent and successful attorney who forged her own path to arrive where she is today.
Roots in perseverance
Tran and her family moved to the U.S. from Vietnam in 1999. The family settled in Sacramento, California, with few resources. “My parents didn’t speak English at all when we first moved, so I think it was really hard on them knowing they had to care and provide for my siblings and me in such a new environment,” she says.
The family bounced from place to place around Sacramento and Northern California as Tran’s parents made a living from whatever odd jobs they could find. “We were definitely very low income, but my parents worked hard for us,” she says.
From that time on, Tran became very independent, learning to take care of herself as her parents worked late hours to support the family.
Discovering the path
When Tran finished high school and was admitted to the University of California, Berkeley, she was not sure what she wanted to study. “I often think about how ridiculous it is to expect 18-year-olds to know what they want to major in and ultimately do,” she says.
It wasn’t until Tran’s final year at UC Berkeley that she discovered her path. She took a class called Twentieth Century American Legal History, hoping it would be an easy A, but it turned out to be so much more. The course covered the legal history of the United States and the U.S. Constitution, including its clauses and how those laws have now come into effect.
Tran was fascinated by the subject and found a mentor in the professor, who had been a practicing attorney for 30 years before he started teaching. “I’d go to his office hours and in addition to talking about class materials, he’d talk about his experiences as an attorney,” she says. “He could see how invested I was in his class, and he began encouraging me to become an attorney as well.”
After Tran completed her undergraduate degree with majors in political science and legal studies and a minor in molecular cell biology, she wasn’t immediately sure if she would be able to make this newfound dream a reality. But then she found The Colleges of Law.
As Tran was applying to the Master of Arts in Law program, she discovered the Juris Doctor program. “Everything I read about The Colleges of Law and the J.D. program matched the criteria I was looking for,” she says. “It was in the right location, it was perfect for my interest areas, it had small class sizes, and it was affordable.”
The Colleges of Law and beyond
In 2017, Tran began her first year at The Colleges of Law. Despite her UC Berkeley legal studies background, law school was challenging in new ways. It took some time to perfect her study methods and better prepare for tests. But she didn’t give up, and in time, things started to click. “I’d go back through old exams, figure out what I needed to improve on, and decided what and how I needed to study before each exam,” she says. The effort produced visible results. Tran made the Dean’s Honor List both her second and third years.
Tran speaks very highly of her law school experience. “I really appreciated having smaller class sizes and being able to have more personalized learning experiences with my professors,” she says. “They knew the material so well and were always happy to answer my many questions, because they knew how important it was that I understand the concepts for the bar exam. They made a huge difference in my education, my career, and ultimately my whole life.”
Tran graduated in December 2020, number four in her class. On June 4, 2021, she was officially sworn in as an attorney by Judge Von Nguyen Deroian, a fellow graduate from The Colleges of Law who also moved to California from Vietnam as a child.
Tran is looking forward to exploring new opportunities as she begins her career. “Currently, I’m working as an attorney for a law firm in Los Angeles, but in the long term, I’d really like to help victims of sexual assault, sexual abuse, and domestic violence. I’d like to become an attorney for an organization specializing in women’s empowerment or human rights. I’m already planning on doing some volunteer work with an organization like this in Los Angeles, but I’d like to be able to make it my main focus someday.”
Tran also hopes to set an example for others like her. “I’m really proud to be an Asian woman and an attorney, because we are very underrepresented in the field,” Tran says. “As the first person in my family to graduate from college and go to grad school, I’m really proud to be able to set an example for my younger siblings and cousins. I hope they know they can accomplish anything they set their minds to and work hard for as well.”
“If there’s any advice I could give others hoping to pursue law school or other goals, it would be to always remain motivated and have goals set for yourself,” Tran says. “It’s not as important for other people to tell you what to do, as long as you have goals set for yourself, and that you work toward and are dedicated to achieving those goals.”
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The field of law includes many kinds of lawyers, each specialized in their own area. Discover five types of lawyers and their job descriptions here.
When you enter the legal field, you have the option to choose a specialization from a variety of practice types. Of the many different fields of law, each targets a unique demographic or legal matter.
If you’re interested in pursuing law, you may want to familiarize yourself with the different types of lawyers to determine which path is right for you.
What are the different types of lawyers?
Below are just a few of the types of lawyers currently practicing in the field.
1. Bankruptcy lawyer
A bankruptcy lawyer or attorney is utilized by clients facing a financial crisis and who are considering or in the process of filing for bankruptcy. This type of lawyer is responsible for providing counsel to clients on whether or not filing for bankruptcy will be beneficial to them in the long run.
These lawyers are also responsible for helping clients who are in debt to negotiate with their creditors on how the debts can best be paid without incurring more charges for their clients.
A bankruptcy lawyer typically handles bankruptcy and debt relief cases for clients. Their clients could be individuals or companies.
2. DUI-DWI lawyer
A DUI (Driving Under the Influence) and DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) lawyer represents clients who have been charged with DUI or DWI and work to reduce their sentences or expunge them.
A DUI defense lawyer may defend a diverse range of clients facing different charges of driving under the influence, including drunk biking, felony DUI, aggravated DUI, and more. This type of lawyer must be an expert in the sometimes complicated driving and biking laws of their clients’ states in order to properly defend them and get the best outcomes from court cases.
3. Real estate lawyer
Real estate lawyers specialize in handling mortgages, purchase agreements, and transfer of documents between buyers and sellers of a given property. These lawyers can also represent land and estate developers, landlords, and tenants to ensure that payments, documents, and mortgages are properly laid out in the best interest of their clients.
These types of lawyers can be hired by land or property sellers who want to ensure their processes are legally sound. Real estate lawyers also represent buyers to ensure they are not getting ripped off or short changed throughout the transaction.
4. Family lawyer
Family lawyers specialize in domestic legal proceedings and cases such as divorce, adoption, paternity, alimony, child custody, and any other legal issues pertaining to families. These types of lawyers use their expertise to help individuals and family units through often delicate and emotional situations in their lives. Family lawyers should be prepared to utilize and express empathy and help their clients get the best legal outcome.
A family lawyer’s job can also extend to cover different aspects of legal proceedings that can affect a family. This includes tax laws, real estate, criminal laws, and more. Family lawyers will likely cover a broad field of practice.
5. Civil rights lawyer
Civil rights lawyers protect clients from discrimination. Violation of civil liberties and rights including harassment, discrimination, human rights abuse, and denial of voting rights are some of the cases that these lawyers handle on behalf of their clients.
Civil rights lawyers will need to be fluent in local and federal laws surrounding civil rights and discrimination, utilize research, and represent clients in court when necessary. These lawyers ensure that their client is not discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender, and more.
The law field is vast and offers plenty of opportunities to specialize in an area that’s interesting to you. Begin your journey in law at The Colleges of Law. Our degree programs include J.D., M.A. in Law, and dual degree options. Learn more here or fill out the form below to request more information.
Looking to kick-start your career in law on the West Coast? Learn how to become a lawyer in California with this step-by-step guide.
Last updated: May 30, 2023
Offering a wide range of job opportunities and career paths, the Golden State is a great place to pursue a career in law. In this guide, we’ll review the main requirements to become a lawyer in California and answer the following related questions:
Do you need an undergraduate degree to become a lawyer in California?
What are the LSAT requirements to attend law school?
Do you need to take the bar exam to become an attorney in California?
How do you maintain your license after becoming a lawyer in California?
And more!
How to become a lawyer in California
There are multiple paths you can follow to pursue the field of law in California—and we’ll cover more than one in this guide—but the following steps will help you fulfill the main requirements in a timely and thorough fashion.
1. Obtain an undergraduate degree
We recommend that most aspiring lawyers obtain an undergraduate degree before applying to law school. Undergraduate degrees equip students with a foundation of knowledge and general skills that can help them succeed in applying to and completing a legal studies program. Law schools do not typically require students to earn a specific undergraduate degree; however, certain areas of study blend more naturally with the legal field and will help you build skills to increase your application’s competitiveness. These skills include problem-solving, writing, editing, critical reading, oral communication, research, and more. Consider the following majors to boost your law school application:
Psychology
History
Criminal justice
English
Political science
Ultimately, the best undergraduate major to pursue before applying to law school is one that lines up with your personal and career interests.
2. Determine LSAT requirements
The Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is an entrance exam designed to assess an applicant’s reading comprehension and logical and verbal reasoning skills. The LSAT is administered periodically throughout the year at specific testing centers as well as online. Scores are valid for five years, which means you can use your 2023 test results to apply to law school until 2028. Some law schools, though, only accept scores within a narrower timeframe, so be sure to review each school’s requirements carefully.
Increasingly, schools, including The Colleges of Law, no longer require LSAT scores as part of their application process.
3. Enroll in law school
Once you have researched, applied to, and have been accepted into a program, the next step to becoming a lawyer in California is enrolling in law school to earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, sometimes called a Doctor of Jurisprudence.
Obtaining your J.D. from a regionally accredited program or a program accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) is the best way to learn the information you’ll need to successfully complete the bar exam. Graduating from an accredited law school is not required to become a lawyer, but accredited programs provide a thorough and rigorous legal education that benefits those who choose to practice law outside the state.
Finally, consider attending law school in California. While not a strict requirement, earning a J.D. at a California institution can provide valuable networking opportunities and prepare you for the state-specific portions of the bar exam. The Colleges of Law has two campuses in California, one located in Ventura and one in Santa Barbara. For more flexibility, The Colleges of Law offers a Hybrid J.D. program where online coursework is bolstered by monthly on-campus residencies.
4. Pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam
Before you can sit for the California Bar Exam, you’ll need to pass the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE). While the bar exam assesses the legal knowledge you’ll need to practice law, the MPRE focuses on the ethics and professional conduct of lawyers.
The MPRE is only administered on specific dates throughout the year. Be sure to review exam dates carefully, and plan well enough in advance to claim the date that works best for you.
5. Pass the California Bar Exam
The most demanding and time consuming step to become a lawyer in California is passing the state’s bar exam. The California Bar Exam is a two-day test consisting of five essay questions, one 90-minute performance test, and 200 multiple-choice questions. You should be ready to answer questions related to the following subjects:
Business associations
Civil procedure
Community property
Constitutional law
Contracts
Criminal law and procedure
Evidence
Professional responsibility
Real property
Remedies
Torts
Trusts
Wills and succession
Preparing for this exam is a marathon, not a sprint. Much like training for a marathon, you should condition yourself over time to handle the strains of the experience. Set a study schedule well in advance of your exam date, determine your test-taking strengths and weaknesses, work on improving areas where you struggle, and take advantage of as many practice exams as possible.
The State Bar of California does not teach any of their own exam prep classes or endorse any commercial services; however, their website offers essay questions, performance tests, and multiple-choice questions from past exams to help you prepare for your exam.
Once you’ve passed the bar, you will be qualified to obtain a license to practice law in California.
6. Maintain licensure
Congratulations on passing the bar exam! Now it’s time to maintain your licensure. California lawyers are required to complete at least 25 hours of Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) training every three years. These hours must include training in legal ethics, competence issues, and elimination of bias.
The Colleges of Law offers MCLE courses through its Lifelong Learning program. Taught by working professionals, MCLE courses at The Colleges of Law examine emerging areas and topics of the legal industry. Visit the Lifelong Learning website to learn more.
Alternative routes to becoming a lawyer in California
Along with Washington, Vermont, and Virginia, California does not require a law degree to sit for the bar exam—but there are still educational requirements to meet.
Earning a J.D. from an accredited institution such as The Colleges of Law will automatically qualify you to take the exam; however, the State Bar of California’s Rule 4.29 allows you to meet eligibility requirements by working at a law office or in judge’s chambers. Those who choose this route must work in the law office or judge’s chambers for at least 18 hours each week for four total years.
This path to becoming a lawyer may be more affordable than law school, but it can be challenging to find a practicing lawyer or judge available to support this longer-term commitment.
FAQs About How to Become a Lawyer in California
Q: What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?
A: Short answer:All attorneys are lawyers but not all lawyers are attorneys. While most people use the words interchangeably, clear definitions differentiate the two. A lawyer is someone who has successfully completed a law school education. A lawyer needs only a J.D. to be considered a lawyer and can provide legal advice or find work as a law expert at organizations outside of a law office. Attorneys, on the other hand, must complete law school, pass the bar exam, and receive licensure to practice law in their state. In short, an attorney may represent someone in a court of law. A lawyer may provide legal advice but cannot represent someone in court.
Q: How long does it take to become a lawyer in California? A: For those who earn an undergraduate degree and then pursue a law degree, the entire process to become a lawyer in California can take up to eight years. Keep in mind there are alternative routes.
Q: How hard is the California Bar Exam?
A: The California Bar Exam is widely considered one of the most difficult in the U.S. given its low pass rate of 34%. A law degree from The Colleges of Law can greatly increase your level of preparedness for the bar exam.
Looking to become a licensed lawyer in California? The Colleges of Law offers a traditional J.D. program for in-person instruction and a groundbreaking Hybrid J.D. program that combines online learning with intensive residencies. Contact us today to learn more!
Law is one of the world’s oldest academic fields, offering diverse specializations and career opportunities. People pursue and study law for several reasons—to learn about the judicial system, defend people in court, make a difference in the world through the knowledge of the law, or just to have the qualification.
Whatever the reason, applying to law school is often the first step in your journey to a career in law. We know applying to law school can be a time-intensive and stressful process. To make it easier, we’ve outlined the key steps necessary to apply to law school.
How to apply to law school
Regardless of which law school you are applying to, all have at least a few core prerequisites and steps you must take during the application process.
Obtain an undergraduate degree
Before applying to law school, you must either be on track to or have already achieved an undergraduate education. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college is typically the minimum educational requirement expected of applicants. Some schools may accept an associate degree instead.
No specific undergraduate degree or discipline is required to apply. Whether you have a degree in political science, linguistics, music, or any other unrelated field of study—you are eligible to apply for law school. However, be sure to find out what the minimum undergraduate GPA requirement is for the law schools you want to apply to make sure you are eligible.
2. Take the required pre-entrance exam
Depending on your law school of choice, you’ll likely need to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) prior to applying. The LSAT assesses a candidate’s proficiency and knowledge in reading, comprehension, critical thinking, reasoning, and more. While this test is compulsory for applying to many law schools, some do not require it. For example, regular J.D. applicants to The Colleges of Law are not required to take the LSAT or any other standardized test. Special student applicants must, on the other hand, submit both LSAT and College Level Examination Program (CLEP) test scores.
3. Obtain letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation are often required when applying to law school. These recommendations from your professors, advisers, or supervisors will help the law school better understand your character and better determine your admission status.
Letters of recommendation are often compulsory application requirements at most law schools. Make sure you get these letters from people you are on good terms with and who will speak highly of you.
4. Write a personal statement
The personal statement is a crucial component of applying to law school. It is your opportunity to sell yourself to the law school and express the reasons why they should admit you.
A personal statement is also your chance to show off your writing skills, so ensure your statement is free of errors and well-written.
5. Register for Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
Some law schools require a report from the Credential Assembly Service, or CAS—a service responsible for assembling your transcript, letters of recommendation, and LSAT scores to send to law schools. The CAS will send your report to your school of choice upon request.
6. Search for and apply to law schools
After preparing all the necessary materials, you are ready to apply. You can begin to search for law schools with acceptance benchmarks that match your test scores, preferred location, or program area.
It’s also important to consider every school’s tuition costs to make sure you are applying to a school you can afford.
You may also want to choose a school that is accredited. While it is not required for aspiring lawyers in California to have received a degree from an American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited institution, ABA accreditation ensures that the school you’re applying to meets the outlined educational standards and enables you to sit for bar examinations in any state. ABA-accredited schools can be particularly useful to those who may consider moving or expanding their practice beyond the state to another state.
The Colleges of Law is accredited by the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE). The CBE may accredit law schools that haven’t received ABA accreditation. Graduates of California Accredited Law Schools (CALS) are eligible to sit for the bar exam in California and to become a licensed attorney in the state.
Read more about the differences between ABA and Cal Bar accreditation here.