California Southern Law School

FAQs

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Can I take more or less than 9 units each semester (in the Fall-Spring Academic year)?

No. The State Bar has requirements that must be met for a year of law study at a part-time school. A person cannot attend part-time at a part-time school by taking less than 9 units in each fall-spring academic term.

A person also cannot take a full-time load (12 units or more) at a part-time school. They must go to a full-time school's 3-3 1/2 year program. It is impossible for a person who works full-time to attend law school full-time. There are not enough hours to devote to full-time study.

How many hours do I need to devote to law study?

You need to devote at least 2 hours of study outside of class for every hour in class per week; example -- 9 hours of class per week = 18 hours outside study per week.

What types of books do I use in law school?

In most of your subjects you use a casebook.  A casebook contains excerpts from actual cases.  Each case contains the facts, the issue, and the rule of law that the court uses to decide the case.  You "brief" (summarize) each case -- facts, issue, rule.  That is how you develop analytical ability and gain a greater understanding of legal principles.

You also use a good commercial law summary.  These summaries contain the rules of law, and no cases.  You read these summaries each week and review from them for examinations.

Do I need to use a law library to study for my classes?

No. You can study for all your classes at home using your casebooks (see previous question). You use a library when you take the summer Legal Research course on how to use a law library.

What are you class sizes like?

Class sizes vary from year-to-year. 1st year classes normally have 50-75 students.  Advanced classes normally have 20-25 students.

What percentage of your students are women?

Approximate 40-45%.

How many subjects is a person responsible for on the California General Bar Examination?

A person is responsible for 13 subjects on the Bar Examination.  The subjects are:

*Effective with the administration of the July 2007 California Bar Examination the scope of the California Bar Examination includes the following:

The subject of "Business Associations" includes those topics tested in Corporations, Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships (General Partnerships, Limited Liability Partnerships), Joint Ventures, Limited Liability Companies, and the principles of Agency inherent in business relationships.  The law covers this area in the subjects of Corporations and Agency.

The scope of the subject titled "Civil Procedure" includes the California Code of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure; and,

The scope of the subject titled "Evidence" includes the California Evidence Code and the Federal Rules of Evidence.

What books do I use in law school?

There are 2 major publishers of law books in the country -- Thomson (West Group, Foundation Press and Bar/Bri Group), and Aspen. California Southern Law School students use the same casebooks (West & Foundation) as do students at major law schools. In addition, students use a good commercial outline in each subject. CSLS carries Gilberts, also by Thomson.

Can I work in a law office while attending law school?

Yes, it is possible, but not a necessity for success in law after passing the bar. Most law students cannot afford to quit their existing full-time job to work in a law office. Further, working in a law office does not guarantee success on the bar. A student must do all the necessary class preparation and review to increase their chances for success on the bar exam. The experience of working in a law office can compliment classroom studies and vice versa. If a person can afford to work in a law office and it would not impede making a transition back if necessary, than it is worth considering.  A person should be enrolled as an advanced student before working in a law office.

In what areas of law may I practice?

With the subjects available at California Southern Law School, a person can practice in the following areas of law:

Criminal prosecution                      Criminal defense

Plaintiff personal injury                          Family Law

Real Property                      Personal injury defense

Estate planning                                    Business law

Many CSLS grads practice law in these areas.

Isn't your law school tuition high?

If you study various law school catalogs, their unit graduation requirements and tuition, the overall cost of law study at California Southern Law School is reasonable. Many law schools have tuition that is $600 per semester unit, or more. In addition some law schools require more than 84 units for graduation.

Is law school grading similar to undergraduate school grading?

Law school grading is different than undergraduate school grading. It is rare that an evening student averages 80 or more throughout law school. This is due to the nature of answering law school examinations. At California Southern Law School an 80 average is equal to being an A-average student, a 75 average equal to being a B-average student, and a 70 average equal to being a C-average student.

Tell me more about the First Year Law Students' Examination ("Baby Bar")?

All of our students are required to take the "Baby Bar" after completing their 1st year subjects of Contracts, Torts, and Criminal Law. There are advantages in this:

The "Baby Bar" is administered by the State Bar which administers the General Bar Exam after completion of law study. A person who passes the "Baby Bar" has demonstrated to the State Bar after their 1st year that they have an adequate foundation in 1st year subjects.  The "Baby Bar" is a full-day exam with 4 essays and 100 multiple-choice questions.

The experience of taking a one-day exam administered by the State Bar is valuable since the California Bar Exam is a 3 full-day exam; examinees may be required to answer questions involving issues from any of the 13 subjects listed above; with the equivalent of 10 essays and 200 multiple-choice questions.

Why doesn't California Southern Law School teach specialized courses?

California Southern Law School places greater emphasis on students being prepared for the bar exam subjects. For working students, the more specialized subjects that are taken, the less time that is available inside and outside of class to devote to bar subjects. You cannot specialize if you haven't passed the bar exam. We want students to spend as much time as possible preparing for bar subjects.

How do I specialize after law school?

There are excellent books available in specialized areas of law. Rutter Group and CEB (Continuing Education of the Bar) are the most well known. In addition, Gilbert Law Summaries may also be available.

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