Dean's Message

Welcome to the University of La Verne College of Law, Inland Southern California’s only American Bar Association-approved law school. If you are reading this, you are no doubt at least thinking about going to law school. Law is a wonderful career choice. There are so many different ways that lawyers serve, not only their individual clients but their communities and society at large. With the proper training and mentoring in and after law school, you can find tremendous satisfaction in the work you do as a member of the legal profession. There are many choices you will make along the path toward achievement of your career goals. Choosing the right law school will be one of your most important decisions. Law school is a huge investment of time and money, so it’s important that you invest in a school that’s right for you.

Finding the school that is right for you is not a simple task. There are many factors to weigh in your decision, including cost, reputation, job placement rates, bar pass rates, size, and the curriculum or program of study offered by the school. Perhaps most important, however, is fit. By fit, I don’t mean whether the school offers areas of specialization that are of interest to you. Law schools trying to find market niches often tout their specialized offerings in any number of areas of practice that seem “hot” at the moment. But from a student perspective, specialization in law school is not particularly helpful. As the ABA advises in the ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools (2009 Edition, p.18), “you shouldn’t overemphasize your search for specialties; most law students are not specialists when they graduate, nor do they need to be.”

So, what do I mean by finding a law school that is the right “fit”? I mean finding a law school that will help you to achieve success.

At La Verne College of Law, we are absolutely committed to your success. We offer several programs of legal education to fit your personal needs, including a full-time day program and a part-time evening program. We are also one of the few California law schools offering a spring enrollment option, particularly well-suited for those who have already finished college, are in careers, and don’t want to put their dreams on hold by waiting for the traditional fall entry point into law school.

Located in the heart of a rich and diverse Southern California community, our intimate learning environment helps student maximize their potential. Our curriculum is rigorous, but our small student body size and class sizes enable our faculty to provide students with the instruction and individual attention they need to understand difficult legal concepts. In addition, our extensive law library offers supplemental resources both in print and online so students can further research their personal areas of interest.

Our diverse faculty has expertise in a variety of legal disciplines. Most of our professors have practiced extensively in their subject areas prior to joining our faculty. Many have active research agendas and publish frequently in their teaching areas. All have highly successful track records and are committed to helping students prepare for entry into the legal profession.

Outside the classroom, our students receive support from both faculty and staff. We offer academic support through a Peer Assistance and Support System, a Graduate Mentor Program, and a variety of academic support workshops designed to help students successfully navigate their courses. In addition, our faculty is available to meet with students who are experiencing trouble adjusting to the study of law or who just want some advice.

Our support, however, doesn’t stop when you graduate. We believe in keeping our alumni connected with the College of Law and each other through updates, e-mails, events, and continuing legal education opportunities. We have been educating future attorneys since 1970, and our alumni are found in private practice, the public sector, businesses, and on the bench. We continually offer networking opportunities, so important to professional success.

I invite you to learn more about our program by browsing our Web site. You will see that this is a very exciting time for us as we prepare to apply for full ABA approval. We have recently started two new live-client clinics: the Disability Rights Legal Center and the Justice and Immigration Clinic, which, along with our active externship program, enhance the experiential learning of our students. Our law review is expanding into a two-journal format starting with the 2008-09 academic year and will provide even more opportunities for students to participate on law review.

At the University of La Verne College of Law, we offer everything you need to successfully prepare for a rewarding legal career. If a sound legal education with a personalized touch interests you, we invite you to take a closer look. Stop by our campus or give us a call. Your success is our success. That’s why we’re here.

Sincerely,

Allen K. Easley
Dean and Professor of Law
University of La Verne
College of Law
320 East D Street
Ontario, CA 91764
(909) 460-2021

E-mail: aeasley@laverne.edu