California Southern Law School
Encyclopedia
California Southern Law School (CSLS) is a private
part-time evening law school
in Riverside, California
. It is registered with the California State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), but is not accredited by the CBE or approved by the American Bar Association. As a registered law school, CSLS graduates may take the California Bar Examination and upon passing the Bar, they are authorized to practice law
in California.
, County Clerk, file number R-201104190, exp. 4/12/2016. It is licensed by the City of Riverside Finance Department, Account No. BL00007353. The Better Business Bureau
(BBB) has given CSLS an A+ Reliability Rating as an Accredited Business since March 10, 1976. by California Superior Court Judge Elwood M. Rich to serve students in the Inland Empire
of Southern California
.Judge Rich opened Citrus Belt Law School shortly after the private vocational Riverside University, which had a law program, was closed by state and federal regulators. It took its original name from the Citrus Belt League
of the Inland Empire, but changed the name in 1990 to California Southern Law School.
(J.D.) law degree
. CSLS is not approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the CBE. As a registered "unaccredited" law school, CSLS students must take and pass the First-Year Law Students' Examination (commonly referred to as the "Baby Bar") administered by the CBE. Upon successful passing of the "Baby Bar" those students may continue with their law studies to obtain their J.D. degree.
courtroom. Legal Research
and Writing
classes are held at the Victor Miceli Riverside County Law Library
in Downtown Riverside.
(LSAT). The CBE requires prospective law students to complete a minimum of two years of approved college work or its equivalent before entering law school. This requirement is generally met by receiving an Associate
of Arts (AA) degree, Associate of Science (AS) degree or by having completed at least 60 semester (90 quarter
) units of college work applicable to a Bachelor's degree
at a regionally accredited or approved school recognized by the CBE, with an average grade at least equal to that required for graduation. As allowed by the CBE, prospective CSLS students can satisfy this requirement by taking certain College Level Examination Program
(CLEP) tests.Students meet can CBE Pre-Legal Education requirements by obtaining a score of 50 in the following CLEP tests, offered by the College Board:
which allows students to pursue a legal education
and maintain full-time employment.
legal community. They include judges and other distinguished alumni.
Private university
Private universities are universities not operated by governments, although many receive public subsidies, especially in the form of tax breaks and public student loans and grants. Depending on their location, private universities may be subject to government regulation. Private universities are...
part-time evening law school
Law school in the United States
In the United States, a law school is an institution where students obtain a professional education in law after first obtaining an undergraduate degree.Law schools in the U.S...
in Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. It is registered with the California State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), but is not accredited by the CBE or approved by the American Bar Association. As a registered law school, CSLS graduates may take the California Bar Examination and upon passing the Bar, they are authorized to practice law
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
in California.
History
California Southern Law School was founded in 1971 as Citrus Belt Law SchoolCalifornia Southern Law School is the DBA for Citrus Belt Law School, a corporation registered with the California Secretary of State, number C0629839, filed 07/23/1971. It has filed a FBN with the County of RiversideRiverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
, County Clerk, file number R-201104190, exp. 4/12/2016. It is licensed by the City of Riverside Finance Department, Account No. BL00007353. The Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
(BBB) has given CSLS an A+ Reliability Rating as an Accredited Business since March 10, 1976. by California Superior Court Judge Elwood M. Rich to serve students in the Inland Empire
Inland Empire (California)
The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California. The region sits directly east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Inland Empire most commonly is used in reference to the U.S. Census Bureau's federally-defined Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area, which covers more than...
of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.Judge Rich opened Citrus Belt Law School shortly after the private vocational Riverside University, which had a law program, was closed by state and federal regulators. It took its original name from the Citrus Belt League
Citrus Belt League
Citrus Belt League is a high school sports league in the Inland Empire region within the Greater Los Angeles area of California's CIF Southern Section. It was the only Division I league in the San Bernardino-Riverside County area until 2006 when CIF Southern Section releagued it to Division II...
of the Inland Empire, but changed the name in 1990 to California Southern Law School.
California State Bar CBE registration
California Southern Law School is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California (CBE), which authorizes CSLS to operate and to grant the Juris DoctorJuris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
(J.D.) law degree
Law degree
A Law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers; but while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not themselves confer a license...
. CSLS is not approved by the American Bar Association or accredited by the CBE. As a registered "unaccredited" law school, CSLS students must take and pass the First-Year Law Students' Examination (commonly referred to as the "Baby Bar") administered by the CBE. Upon successful passing of the "Baby Bar" those students may continue with their law studies to obtain their J.D. degree.
Facilities
California Southern Law School maintains its facilities in stand-alone buildings in the Magnolia Center Neighborhood of Riverside, California. Facilities include offices, classrooms and a trial practiceTrial practice
Trial practice is an upper level course offered in most American law schools designed to teach future litigators the fine points of presenting a case to a judge and jury...
courtroom. Legal Research
Legal research
Legal research is "the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. In its broadest sense, legal research includes each step of a course of action that begins with an analysis of the facts of a problem and concludes with the application and...
and Writing
Legal writing
Legal writing is a type of technical writing used by lawyers, judges, legislators, and others in law to express legal analysis and legal rights and duties.- Authority :...
classes are held at the Victor Miceli Riverside County Law Library
Law library
A law library is a library designed to assist law students, attorneys, judges, and their law clerks and anyone else who finds it necessary to correctly determine the state of the law....
in Downtown Riverside.
Pre-Legal Education requirements
CSLS admits students meeting the Pre-Legal Education requirements set forth by the Committee of Bar Examiners and does not require the Law School Admission TestLaw School Admission Test
The Law School Admission Test is a half-day standardized test administered four times each year at designated testing centers throughout the world. Administered by the Law School Admission Council for prospective law school candidates, the LSAT is designed to assess Reading Comprehension,...
(LSAT). The CBE requires prospective law students to complete a minimum of two years of approved college work or its equivalent before entering law school. This requirement is generally met by receiving an Associate
Associate's degree
An associate degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by community colleges, junior colleges, technical colleges, and bachelor's degree-granting colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study usually lasting two years...
of Arts (AA) degree, Associate of Science (AS) degree or by having completed at least 60 semester (90 quarter
Academic quarter (year division)
An academic quarter refers to the division of an academic year into four parts, found in a minority of universities in the United States and in some European and Asian countries.-Background and trends:...
) units of college work applicable to a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
at a regionally accredited or approved school recognized by the CBE, with an average grade at least equal to that required for graduation. As allowed by the CBE, prospective CSLS students can satisfy this requirement by taking certain College Level Examination Program
College Level Examination Program
The College Level Examination Program is a group of standardized tests that assess college-level knowledge in several subject areas. Many colleges grant credit to students who meet their minimum qualifying score. Qualifying scores vary by school but are typically 50...
(CLEP) tests.Students meet can CBE Pre-Legal Education requirements by obtaining a score of 50 in the following CLEP tests, offered by the College Board:
- Either the College Composition or the College Composition Modular examination; plus,
- Two/four other examinations (12 credits total) in: Composition and Literature (Humanities examination only); Foreign Languages; History and Social Science; Science and Mathematics; Business
Law study
As required by the Committee of Bar Examiners, California Southern Law School offers a four year law curriculum. The CSLS program covers all bar examination subjects likely to be tested by the CBE. All classes are held on weekday eveningsNight School
Night School is a school that holds classes in the evening or at night, and is usually intended for continuing and adult learning and to accommodate people who work during the day.Night School may also refer to:...
which allows students to pursue a legal education
Legal education in the United States
Legal education in the United States generally refers to the education of lawyers before entry into practice. - The first law...
and maintain full-time employment.
Judicial Instructors
Judges and commissioners teaching at CSLS include:- Angel M. Bermudez (J.D., University of San Diego School of LawUniversity of San Diego School of LawThe University of San Diego School of Law, commonly referred to as USD Law, is a law school located on the campus of the University of San Diego in San Diego, California in the community of Linda Vista. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961...
) – Instructor, Trial Practice (2011–present) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside CountyRiverside County, CaliforniaRiverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,... - Jim Bishop (J.D., McGeorge School of LawMcGeorge School of LawUniversity of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law is a private, ABA approved law school in the Oak Park neighborhood of the city of Sacramento, California. It is part of the University of the Pacific....
(University of the Pacific) '75) – Instructor, Contracts (1976–present) – Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Business Law, California Baptist UniversityCalifornia Baptist UniversityCalifornia Baptist University is a private, Christian, liberal arts university located in Riverside, California, United States. Originally founded in 1950 as California Baptist College, it is controlled by the California Southern Baptist Convention, an organization affiliated with the Southern...
, Riverside; Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1990–2008) - Thomas S. Hudspeth (J.D., CSLS '81) – Instructor, Torts (1985–present) – Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court
- Stephen G. LarsonStephen G. LarsonStephen Gerard Larson is a former United States District Court judge.Larson was born in Fontana, California. He received a B.S. from Georgetown University in 1986. He received a J.D. from the University of Southern California Law School and was admitted to the California State Bar in 1989. He was...
(J.D., USC Gould School of Law '89) – Instructor, Constitutional Law (2001–2005) – former Federal District Court Judge for the U.S. Central District of California
Noted people
Successful California Southern Law School graduates are found in many areas of the Southern CaliforniaSouthern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
legal community. They include judges and other distinguished alumni.
Alumni judges
- Barbara J. Beck ('74) – Superior CourtSuperior Courts of CaliforniaThe Superior Courts of California are the superior courts in the U.S. state of California with general jurisdiction to hear and decide any civil or criminal action which is not specially designated to be heard in some other court or before a government agency...
Judge (Ret.), Santa Barbara CountySanta Barbara County, CaliforniaSanta Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:... - John G. Evans ('79) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside CountyRiverside County, CaliforniaRiverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
- Douglas N. Gericke ('76) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino CountySan Bernardino County, CaliforniaSan Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
- Arthur A. Harrison ('86) – Superior Court Judge, San Bernardino County
- Christopher J. Warner ('77 honors) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino County
- Dale R. Wells ('93) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County
- Christopher W. Yeager ('77) – Presiding Judge, Superior Court, Imperial CountyImperial County, CaliforniaImperial County is a county located in the Imperial Valley, in the far southeast of the U.S. state of California, bordering both Arizona and Mexico. It is part of the El Centro Metropolitan Area, which encompasses all of Imperial County. The population as of 2000 was 142,361. The county seat is the...
Other distinguished alumni
- Virginia M. Blumenthal ('75) – Member, Riverside Community College DistrictRiverside Community College DistrictThe Riverside Community College District, or RCCD, is the community college district serving Riverside, California, United States, and neighboring cities. It is part of the California Community Colleges System...
Board of Trustees; recipient of the Athena Award from Athena International; Los Angeles Daily JournalThe Daily Journal CorporationThe Daily Journal Corporation publishes legal and business newspapers, a monthly magazine and legal information.The Daily Journal Corporation's largest publications are the Los Angeles | San Francisco Daily Journal and California Lawyer. The Daily Journal provides news of interest to California...
, "Top Women Litigators of 2007" and "Top Women Litigators 2008" - Edwin Butler (1949–2010) ('94) – Journalist and Law Librarian, San Bernardino County Law Libraries
- Terry E. Caldwell ('75) – Mayor and City Council Member (1972–2010), Victorville, CaliforniaVictorville, CaliforniaVictorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
- Mary Ellen Daniels ('84) – President (2003–2004), Riverside County Bar Association
- L. Alexandra Fong ('00) – Riverside County Counsel's Office
- Katie Greene ('79) – Honored by blackvoicenews.com as a Community Builder for her 14 years service with the Public Service Law Corporation (PSLC) (2010 Hardy L. Brown Gala)
- Michael A. Ramos ('88) – District AttorneyDistrict attorneyIn many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
, County of San Bernardino (2002–present) and Member, California Victim Compensation and Government Claims BoardCalifornia Victim Compensation and Government Claims BoardThe three-member Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board is a state agency of the U.S. state of California that oversees the provision of compensation to victims of violent crime, the resolution of claims against state agencies, and the collection of restitution from criminal offenders.... - Joe S. Rank ('83) – Riverside County CounselCounty attorneyA county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
(2005–2009)(Ret.) - Michael A. Scafiddi ('95) – President (2008–2009), San Bernardino County Bar Association