San Joaquin College of Law

Infobox_University
name =San Joaquin College of Law
native_name =
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motto ="Lex Justitia"
(Law Justice)
established =1969
type =Private
endowment =
staff =24
faculty =7 full-time; 35 adjunct
president =
provost =
principal =
rector =
chancellor =
vice_chancellor =
dean =Janice L. Pearson
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head =
students =204 students
undergrad =
postgrad =
doctoral =
profess =
city =flagicon|USA Clovis
state =CA
country =USA
campus =Suburban
free_label =
free =
colors =Black & Silver
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mascot =
nickname =
affiliations =
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website = [http://www.sjcl.edu/ www.sjcl.edu]
address =901 5th Street
Clovis, CA 93612
telephone =559-323-2100
coor =
logo =

San Joaquin College of Law (SJCL) is a private, non-profit law school in Clovis, California. It was founded in Fresno in 1969 by a group of San Joaquin Valley judges and attorneys because no accredited law school existed in the area. The school began instruction in 1970.

In December 1996, SJCL relocated to a new facility, the original Clovis High School building, which was built in 1920. Melding the old and the new, the renovated historic building allows the school to expand. The new facility includes a new courtroom and lecture hall, greatly enlarged library and computer facility, and modern classrooms, while retaining the campus feel of the school campus. There remains no comparable institution for 120 miles in any direction.

SJCL claims more than 28% of the total practicing lawyers in the Fresno area are SJCL graduates, including 46% of women and 35% of minority lawyers.

Accreditation

The San Joaquin College of Law is now concentrating its efforts on obtaining American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation. SJCL is currently approved by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California, and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), The school expects to seek ABA accreditation in the near future. During 2003-2006, its first time bar passage rate ranged from 28 to 49 percent. Thus far, 88% of its graduates have eventually passed the California Bar examination. Fact|date=July 2007

an Joaquin Agricultural Law Review

The "San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review" (SJALR), published by SJCL students, circulates nationwide. Recently, the California Supreme Court cited a "SJALR" comment written by Deborah Boyett, 2000-01 Editor-in-Chief, in its opinion dealing with generic commodity advertising. (See Gerawan Farming, Inc. v. Lyons (Nov. 27, 2000, S080610) 2000 Cal. Lexis 8927. Moreover, "SJALR" has received critical attention on numerous occasions from the "National Law Journal".

mall Claims Court

Every county in California is required by law to provide free legal assistance to members of the public who want to go to Small Claims Court. Since 1985, San Joaquin College of Law has provided this service under contract with Fresno County. In 16 years of operation, trained law students, supervised by an SJCL Professor, have served roughly 80,500 clients, both in person and by phone. The Small Claims Clinic is located in the Fresno County Plaza building in downtown Fresno.

Students counsel people on Small Claims Court procedure, landlord/tenant law, bad checks, consumer protection law, and any other matter that might be brought in Small Claims Court.

Family Law Mediation Clinic

Students and faculty of San Joaquin College of law provide free alternative dispute resolution services in family law property disputes. They meet with husband and wife in the mediation setting to help them negotiate a legal agreement while avoiding the time and expense of going to court. In their role as mediators, they do not represent either party, nor do they represent the parties jointly. Their task is to help guide people to a mediated settlement of their family law property dispute. Once an agreement is negotiated, they will prepare a copy for each participant to review with an attorney of choice and for filing with the court when signed.

Alumni

[http://www.da-tulareco.org/phil_cline.htm Phil J. Cline] , District Attorney of Tulare County, CA.

[http://www.co.fresno.ca.us/DepartmentPage.aspx?id=568 Elizabeth Egan] , District Attorney of Fresno County, CA.

[http://www.caed.uscourts.gov/caed/staticOther/page_1634.htm Gary S. Austin] , Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California

[http://www.glenncourt.ca.gov/general_info/whoswho/judge.html Angus I. Saint-Evens] , Superior Court Judge, Glenn County, CA

[http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/5885/ Kimberly Nystrom-Geist] , Superior Court Judge, Fresno County, CA

[http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/4170/ Don Penner] , Superior Court Judge, Fresno County, CA

[http://www.sjcl.edu/Alumni/AlumniProfiles/tabid/472/Default.aspx Victor Salazar] , County Clerk/Registrar of Voters, Fresno County, CA

External links

* [http://www.sjcl.edu/ SJCL] official site