California Southern Law 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. It is registered with the California State Bar Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), but is not approved by the CBE or accredited 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. History California Southern Law School was founded in 1971 as Citrus Belt Law School by California Superior Court Judge Elwood M. Rich to serve students in the Inland Empire of Southern California. 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. 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 Doctor (J.D.) law degree. CSLS is not accredited by the American Bar Association or approved 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 maintained its facilities in stand-alone buildings in the Magnolia Center Neighborhood 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 in Downtown Riverside. Academics Pre-legal education requirements CSLS admitted 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). 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 could satisfy this requirement by taking certain College Level Examination Program (CLEP) tests. Law study As required by the Committee of Bar Examiners, California Southern Law School offered a four-year law curriculum. The CSLS program covered all bar examination subjects likely to be tested by the CBE. All classes were held on weekday evenings which allowed students to pursue a legal education and maintain full-time employment. Faculty Judges and commissioners who taught at CSLS included: Angel M. Bermudez (J.D., University of San Diego School of Law) – Instructor, Trial Practice (2011–2014) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County 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) Thomas S. Hudspeth (J.D., CSLS '81) – Instructor, Torts (1985–2015) – Commissioner, Riverside County Superior Court (1999–2012) Notable people Successful California Southern Law School graduates are found in many areas of the Southern California legal community. They include judges and other distinguished alumni. Alumni judges Barbara J. Beck ('74) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), Santa Barbara County John G. Evans ('79) – Superior Court Judge, Riverside County Douglas N. Gericke ('76) – Superior Court Judge (Ret.), San Bernardino County 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 County Other distinguished alumni Virginia M. Blumenthal ('75) – Member, Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees; recipient of the Athena Award from Athena International; Los Angeles Daily Journal, "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, California 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 attorney, County of San Bernardino (2002–2019) and Member, California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board Joe S. Rank ('83) – Riverside County Counsel (2005–2009)(Ret.) Michael A. Scafiddi ('95) – President (2008–2009), San Bernardino County Bar Association See also List of colleges and universities in California Notes References External links Official website