Juris Doctor degree – The degree of Juris Doctor is conferred upon students who have satisfactorily completed at least 84 semester units of law study program that qualifies them to take the California Bar Examination, and have received an overall average grade of 70 or higher.
Honors – Students of the graduating class whose total cumulative average is 80 - 84 will graduate cum laude. Those whose average is 85 or higher will graduate magna cum laude; of this group the person with the highest cumulative average will receive a degree inscribed summa cum laude.
Examinations – Written examinations are held in each course at the end of each semester. Students wishing to use a laptop computer must download and register Examsoft's program prior to exams.
Students receive numerical grades upon completion of each semester and summer session course, based principally upon final examination. Scholastic standing will be computed upon the average of numerical grades.
California Southern Law School is charged by The State Bar of California with the responsibility for not only providing a quality education but making a just determination regarding students' eligibility to continue. "A law school must admit and continue only those applicants who reasonably appear to be qualified to study law and reasonably appear to be likely to succeed in that study."
Legal Writing Course - First Year Students
Completion of the Legal Writing course which students take in the last five weeks of the semester is essential for law school success. Therefore, CSLS demands that all students complete all assignments for this class in order to receive course credit. Students who are absent are responsible for obtaining and completing all assignments.
Students who do not complete all assignments will receive a failing grade in Legal Writing. Students who receive a failing grade in Legal Writing will be dismissed.
First Year Students
After their first semester students take an examination which consists of essay questions for all 3 first year subjects, and they earn a subject average for each course.
A student who earns two subject averages less than 60 will be dismissed pending administrative review.
A student who earns an overall average of less than 60 will be dismissed pending administrative review.
Spring Examination Scores - First Year Students
Spring examination scores are considered with Fall examination scores to determine a First Year Grade in each course. If a student earns a higher grade in the Spring, that grades is given as the first year grade.
If a student earns a lower grade in the Spring, that grade is averaged with the Fall grade to determine the first year grade. Students must earn a First Year grade of at least 60 in each subject to be eligible to take the Baby Bar. Students must pass the Baby Bar to proceed into advanced classes. Students who do not earn a grade of 60 in at least one of their classes will not be certified to take the Baby Bar. It is not the policy of CSLS to permit those students to repeat first year courses.
Second Year
After completing first year and passing the Baby Bar the first year grade average is not considered in determining the academic standing beginning with second year. Each student gets a fresh start.
Advanced students earn grades each semester in each course they are enrolled in. Those grades are averaged to determine the students’ grade average.
A student with a grade average of at least 70 at the end of the spring semester of second year is deemed to be in Good Standing and is eligible to advance to third year.
A student with a grade average of 69 at the end of the spring semester of second year is eligible to enter the third year on probation and will remain on Probation for the year.
A student with a grade average of less than 69 at the end of spring semester of second year will be dismissed.
Third Year
A student with a grade average of at least 70 at the end of the spring semester of third year is deemed to be in Good Standing and is eligible to advance to fourth year.
A student with a grade average of less than 70 at the end of the spring semester of third year will be dismissed.
A cumulative grade average of not less than 70 is required for graduation.
An advanced student who earns a failing grade in any semester will be dismissed.
Applicants disqualified for academic reasons may be granted readmission when there is an affirmative showing by the applicant that he or she possesses the requisite ability for the study of law. Such a showing may be made:
