Law Program JD

At SJCL, the study of law is an intense endeavor, but the skills and doctrines learned will benefit you professionally on a daily basis. Our small class sizes allow students to receive individual attention from faculty. At SJCL, the competition is against one’s self and high professional standards – not other students.

The staff at SJCL understands that many students have responsibilities that extend beyond law school. Every effort is made to facilitate each student’s personal academic success through our Academic Support Program. Dedicated faculty members regularly hold study and review sessions. Students are encouraged to organize study groups – building camaraderie that translates into professional contacts after graduation.

San Joaquin College of Law is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, as well as by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.

At San Joaquin College of Law, your personal growth as an attorney is our foremost objective. From our pre-enrollment study skills course to the myriad practice courses embodied in the curriculum, you will see your potential blossom. Class sizes are small, averaging 25 students per section, providing you an unparalleled opportunity to interact with your professors and classmates.

SJCL offers a solid legal education – one that does not limit career or life choices because of staggering debt. Over its 40 year history, more than 84% of SJCL graduates have passed the California Bar Exam. But SJCL seeks to educate students to be able to practice law and be outstanding lawyers – intellectually, ethically, and personally – not just pass the bar.

Opportunities for hands-on experience abound. Students in the New American Legal Clinic assist hundreds of legal immigrants a year, handling cases under professor supervision from intake to resolution. Externships in federal and state courts, district attorneys’ offices, administrative agencies, legal aid, and private firms are readily available, as are employment opportunities in clerkships.

Law school is an experience and a process. Through it, you discover that you are capable of more than you ever dreamt possible. There is a place, and a need, for those abilities in the San Joaquin Valley. Employment opportunities have always been available in the region even when scarce in other areas. Your real-life experience in clinics, externships, and clerkships during law school naturally develop into attorney positions upon joining the Bar.