University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law
Encyclopedia
The University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patiño School of Law (UNC) is a private
law school
located in Sacramento, California
. UNC offers a part-time, four-year law program as well as a paralegal
program.
in association with attorneys Heman Smith and Douglas Nareau as well as law student Danny Brace, Jr., and Judge Lorenzo Patiño.
The school held its first classes in the spring of 1983. The first instructors were Douglas Nareau, John Ewing, Betty Rocker, Heman Smith and Linda Dankman. Nareau and Ewing were featured in the Sacramento Bee as Valedictorians of their respective law schools. Betty Rocker had gained a great deal of notoriety as one of Sacramento's premier criminal defense attorneys and Smith had gained praise for successful litigation that challenged redlining as a loan practice. Lorenzo Patino was one of the early latino judges in the state and was an early supporter of MADD.
The initial class started with an enrollment of 187 students due in large part to a week long new feature done by local news personalities Bob Nathan and Mary Jane Popp. Included in the first class were generals, school deans and many business leaders in the Sacramento community.
(J.D.) law degree
and a paralegal certificate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
and it is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
as an unaccredited law school. As such, students must take and pass the First-year Law Students' Examination, also known as the "Baby Bar", at the end of their first year to receive credit for their law study and eventually qualify to sit for the California Bar Examination. The school is not approved by the American Bar Association.
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...
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...
located in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
. UNC offers a part-time, four-year law program as well as a paralegal
Paralegal
Paralegal is used in most jurisdictions to describe a paraprofessional who assists qualified lawyers in their legal work. This is true in the United States and many other countries. However, in Ontario, Canada, paralegals are licensed by the Law Society of Upper Canada, giving paralegals an...
program.
History
The school was founded in 1983 by Leonard PadillaLeonard Padilla
Leonard Padilla is a bounty hunter located in Sacramento, California, and in business since 1975. He has appeared on television on National Geographic channel, as well as an expert appearing on CNN to discuss the Caylee Anthony case. From 1957 to 1963, Padilla served in the U.S. Air Force and...
in association with attorneys Heman Smith and Douglas Nareau as well as law student Danny Brace, Jr., and Judge Lorenzo Patiño.
The school held its first classes in the spring of 1983. The first instructors were Douglas Nareau, John Ewing, Betty Rocker, Heman Smith and Linda Dankman. Nareau and Ewing were featured in the Sacramento Bee as Valedictorians of their respective law schools. Betty Rocker had gained a great deal of notoriety as one of Sacramento's premier criminal defense attorneys and Smith had gained praise for successful litigation that challenged redlining as a loan practice. Lorenzo Patino was one of the early latino judges in the state and was an early supporter of MADD.
The initial class started with an enrollment of 187 students due in large part to a week long new feature done by local news personalities Bob Nathan and Mary Jane Popp. Included in the first class were generals, school deans and many business leaders in the Sacramento community.
State Bar registration
UNC is authorized 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...
and a paralegal certificate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education
The California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education is a unit of the California Department of Consumer Affairs charged with regulation of private postsecondary educational institutions operating in the state of California...
and it is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
as an unaccredited law school. As such, students must take and pass the First-year Law Students' Examination, also known as the "Baby Bar", at the end of their first year to receive credit for their law study and eventually qualify to sit for the California Bar Examination. The school is not approved by the American Bar Association.