California Southern Law School

Not to be confused with University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA), Southern California Institute of Law (Santa Barbara, CA), the distance learning school California Southern University (Irvine, CA), nor the unaccredited institution called "Cal Southern University", located in Houston, TX, and registered in the South Pacific Island of Niue..

California Southern Law School
Motto	A Great Value in Legal Education
Established	1971; Closed May, 2020
School type	Private Law school
Dean	Judge Elwood M. Rich (1920–2015; Dean, 1971–2014)
Location	Riverside, California, US 33°57′33″N 117°23′29″W
USNWR ranking	No USNWR Ranking
Website	Official website
ABA profile	Non-ABA School

California Southern Law School (CSLS) was a private part-time evening law school in Riverside, California. It admitted its last entering class in Fall 2016 and closed after the Spring 2020 semester.^[1][2] 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.^[3]

History

California Southern Law School was founded in 1971 as Citrus Belt Law School^{[nb 2]} by California Superior Court Judge Elwood M. Rich^[4] to serve students in the Inland Empire of Southern California.^{[5][nb 3]} 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.^[6]

California State Bar CBE registration

California Southern Law School is registered with the Committee of Bar Examiners^[7] of The State Bar of California (CBE), which authorizes CSLS to operate and to grant the Juris Doctor (J.D.) law degree. CSLS is not approved by the American Bar Association^[8] 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.^[9] Upon successful passing of the "Baby Bar" those students may continue with their law studies to obtain their J.D. degree.^[10]

Facilities

California Southern Law School maintained its facilities in stand-alone buildings in the Magnolia Center Neighborhood^[11] of Riverside, California. Facilities include offices, classrooms and a trial practice courtroom. Legal research and Writing classes are held at the Victor Miceli Riverside County Law Library^[12] in Downtown^[13] Riverside.

Academics

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 Test (LSAT).^[14] The CBE requires prospective law students to complete a minimum of two years of approved college work or its equivalent before entering law school.^[15] 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.^{[16][nb 4]}

Law study

As required by the Committee of Bar Examiners,^[17] 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.^[18][19] All classes are held on weekday evenings which allows students to pursue a legal education and maintain full-time employment.^[20]

Judicial Instructors

Judges and commissioners who have taught at CSLS include:

• Angel M. Bermudez (J.D., University of San Diego School of Law) – Instructor, Trial Practice (2011–2014) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County^[21]
• Jim Bishop, Interim Dean (2014–present) (J.D., McGeorge School of Law (University of the Pacific) '75) – Instructor, Contracts (1976–2017) – Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Business Law, California Baptist University, Riverside; Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1990–2008)^[22]
• Thomas S. Hudspeth (J.D., CSLS '81) – Instructor, Torts (1985–2015) – Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1999–2012)^[23]

Noted people

Successful California Southern Law School graduates are found in many areas of the Southern California legal community.^[24] They include judges and other distinguished alumni.

Alumni judges

• Barbara J. Beck ('74) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), Santa Barbara County^[25]
• John G. Evans ('79) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County^[26][27]
• Douglas N. Gericke ('76) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino County^[28]
• Arthur A. Harrison ('86) – Superior Court Judge, San Bernardino County^[29]
• Christopher J. Warner ('77 honors) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino County^[30]
• Dale R. Wells ('93) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County^[31][32][33]
• Christopher W. Yeager ('77) – Presiding Judge, Superior Court, Imperial County^[34]

Other distinguished alumni

• Virginia M. Blumenthal ('75) – Member, Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees;^[35] recipient of the Athena Award^[36] from Athena International;^[37] Los Angeles Daily Journal, "Top Women Litigators of 2007"^[38] and "Top Women Litigators 2008"^[39]
• Edwin Butler (1949–2010) ('94) – Journalist and Law Librarian, San Bernardino County Law Libraries^[40]
• Terry E. Caldwell ('75) – Mayor and City Council Member (1972–2010), Victorville, California^[41][42]
• Mary Ellen Daniels ('84) – President (2003–2004), Riverside County Bar Association^[43][44]
• L. Alexandra Fong ('00) – Riverside County Counsel's Office^[45]
• Katie Greene ('79) – Honored by blackvoicenews.com as a Community Builder for her 14 years service with the Public Service Law Corporation (PSLC)^[46] (2010 Hardy L. Brown Gala)^[47][48]
• Michael A. Ramos ('88) – District attorney, County of San Bernardino (2002–2019) and Member, California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board^[49][50][51]
• Joe S. Rank ('83) – Riverside County Counsel (2005–2009)(Ret.)^[52][53][54]
• Michael A. Scafiddi ('95) – President (2008–2009), San Bernardino County Bar Association^[55]

See also

• List of colleges and universities in California

Notes

1. CSLS provides tuition financing. Veterans are eligible for G.I. Bill education Veterans' Benefits. Until TERI suspended lending, students were eligible for loans from The Education Resources Institute, Inc. (TERI)REA's Authoritative Guide to Law Schools. Piscataway, New Jersey: Research & Education Association. 1997. p. 417. ISBN 0-87891-478-1.
2. California Southern Law School is the DBA for Citrus Belt Law School, a corporation registered with the California Secretary of State Archived April 2, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, number C0629839, filed July 23, 1971. It has filed a FBN with the County of Riverside, County Clerk, file number R-201104190, exp. 4/12/2016^{[permanent dead link‍]}. 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.
3. 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."Riverside University May Have To Close". The Press-Courier. Oxnard, California. June 10, 1971. p. 4. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
4. 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

References

1. "The Future of California Southern Law School". California Southern Law School. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
2. "California Southern Law School :: Home". California Southern Law School. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021. California Southern Law School has ceased enrollment operations and has permanently closed; our last class graduated in May, 2020.
3. Admission Requirements California State Bar Archived September 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
4. Todd, Bruce (November 2009). "Elwood Rich: His 62 Years with the Court" (PDF). Riverside Lawyer Magazine. 58 (10). Riverside, California: Riverside County Bar Association: 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
5. De Atley, Richard K. (October 5, 2008). "Graduates of Riverside's 'great little law school' thrive". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
6. Kataoka, Mike (January 31, 2005). "No-frills law school has legacy of success [excerpt]". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California.
7. Committee of Bar Examiners Registered Unaccredited Fixed-facility Law Schools in California 11/15/2010
8. "ABAApproved Law Schools by Year". ABA website. Retrieved April 1, 2011.
9. FYLSE Requirements
10. Description & Grading of the California First-year Law Students' Examination
11. City of Riverside Neighborhoods, Magnolia Center
12. "Riverside County Law Library". Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
13. City of Riverside Neighborhoods, Downtown
14. CSLS Admission Requirements
15. State Bar Pre-Legal Education Admission Requirements Archived September 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
16. CBE College Equivalency Rule 4.25(B) Policy
17. CBE Requirements
18. CSLS Law Study Legal Requirements
19. State Bar CBE Scope of the California Bar Examination
20. CSLS Mission, Purpose and Objectives
21. "Schwarzenegger Names Eight New Judges to Superior Courts Statewide". Metropolitan News-Enterprise. Los Angeles, California: Metropolitan News Company. May 25, 2007. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
22. "California Baptist University, Faculty, Jim Bishop, J.D." Archived from the original on December 28, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
23. Martindale-Hubbell Profile
24. CSLS Practicing Grads
25. "Santa Barbara County Judicial Officers". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
26. Riverside County Board Supervisor John J. Benoit newsrelease, July 21, 2008
27. Thierbach, Donna (February 2010). "Judicial Profile: Hon. John G. Evans" (PDF). Riverside Lawyer Magazine. 60 (2). Riverside, California: Riverside County Bar Association: 20–21. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
28. Butler, Ed (January 2005). "BenchMarks: Douglas N. Gericke" (PDF). San Bernardino County Bar Association. San Bernardino, California: 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
29. Butler, Ed (March 2007). "BenchMarks: Art Harrison" (PDF). San Bernardino County Bar Association. San Bernardino, California: 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
30. Butler, Ed (October 2003). "BenchMarks: Christopher J. Warner" (PDF). San Bernardino County Bar Association. San Bernardino, California: 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
31. Hernandez, Barbara E. (November 11, 2003). "Ex-minister becomes court commissioner". The Press-Enterprise. Indio, California. Retrieved January 11, 2011.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
32. Armstrong, Jason M. (August 15, 2007). "Man of the Robe". Daily Journal. Los Angeles, California: Daily Journal Corporation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.(subscription required)
33. "Governor Appoints Several Riverside Residents to Government Positions". The Black Voice News. Riverside, California: Brown Publishing Company. August 22, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
34. "Superior Court of California, County of Imperial Judicial Officers". Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
35. "Riverside Community College District Board Members". Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
36. "Athena International, The Athena Award Program". Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
37. "RCC to unveil 'Wall of Honor' today". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California. March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
38. Armstrong, Jason W. (May 10, 2007). "Top Women Litigators of 2007". The Daily Journal. Los Angeles, California: The Daily Journal Corporation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.(subscription required)
39. "Top Women Litigators 2008". The Daily Journal. Los Angeles, California: The Daily Journal Corporation. May 14, 2008. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2011.(subscription required)
40. Pacheco, J'Amy (May 2010). "Edwin Butler Remembered as 'Wonderful and Remarkable'". Bar Bulletin. X (5). Rancho Cucamonga, California: Western San Bernardino County Bar Association: 1–2. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2011.
41. Holland, Don (December 24, 1999). "Retrospective: Caldwell stands firm despite High Desert's changing landscape". Daily Press. Victorville, California: Freedom Communications, Inc. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
42. California State Bar Members, Terry Edward Caldwell
43. Armstrong, Jason M. (October 24, 2003). "Survivor Would Do It All Again If Necessary". Daily Journal. Los Angeles, California: Daily Journal Corporation. Archived from the original on April 23, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.(subscription required)
44. Kataoka, Mike (October 21, 2003). "Amiable advocate leads county Bar". The Press-Enterprise. Riverside, California. Retrieved March 23, 2011.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
45. Boyd, Jeffrey A. (September 2010). "Opposing Counsel: L. Alexandra Fong: Not just a small town girl . . " (PDF). Riverside Lawyer Magazine. 60 (8). Riverside, California: Riverside County Bar Association: 22–23. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
46. "Public Service Law Corporation". Archived from the original on February 19, 2011. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
47. "Recognizing 38 Community Builders: Hardy Brown Birthday Celebration". The Black Voice News. Riverside, California: Brown Publishing Company. December 9, 2010. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
48. California State Bar Members, Katie Greene
49. "San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office". Archived from the original on December 23, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
50. "Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board". Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
51. California State Bar Members, Michael Ramos
52. "Riverside Office of the County Counsel, Office History". Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2011.
53. California State Bar Members, Jody S. Rank
54. Cruz, Mike (January 5, 2011). "Michael A. Ramos begins third term as San Bernardino County D.A." Redlands Daily Facts. Redlands, California: Los Angeles Newspaper Group. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2011.
55. Butler, Ed (March 2008). "SBCBA Profiles: Michael A. Scafiddi" (PDF). San Bernardino County Bar Association Bulletin. 36 (5). San Bernardino, California: San Bernardino County Bar Association: 4–5. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.

External links

• Official website
• State Bar of California, Future Lawyers