British American University and West Coast School of Law? Dose anyone on here have anymore info about them or ever take any law courses from them? How well respected are the law degrees from them? Bo
Well actually, Ms. DeParis, you can take the California Bar if you graduate from an unaccredited non-resident California law school. Indeed some of them have very respectable pass rates on the Baby Bar (1st year exam required for people in unaccredited schools) and on the final Bar. Oak Brook, Taft, and Concord, especially. British American has had very few students take the bar, but a some have passed. There are more than a dozen other states where people with an unaccredited California law degree can apply to take the other state's Bar. Rules vary widely. Often several years of practice in California is required. The Law Schools chapter of Bears' Guides discusses all this stuff, as well as those eight states, including CA and NY, where people who have studied law by apprenticeship -- no law school at all -- can petition to take the Bar.
Hate to say this, Bo, but I know a few top school grads (NYU, Chicago, NU) that are presently either unemployed or doing something other than legal work. One was a partner in a couple of very large, very well respected firms. His last deal imploded and he has been unable to find any position comparable after circa 4 months. So, in the event you're looking for the big bucks certain firms pay associates right out of LS, my suggestion would to be forget DL; those firms hire top school grads and, occasionally, grads of certain lower-ranked (ABA approved) schools who were in the top 10% of their class.
Since your question was about "respect," I agree with alexadeparis. I have friends that graduated from top 15 tier 1 schools that had great jobs waiting for them upon graduation. I also have friends that are unemployed from tier 3 and 4 schools. Evidence that passing the Bar does not equate to employment. Those are all ABA, so that should suggest where a non-ABA school would put you in the job market. It depends on what you want to do, but if "respect" is what your after then steer away from non-ABA at a minimum.
since they are not ABA approved law schools, I suspect that their level of respect and value would be nil. You cannot take the bar if you go to one of these schools.
This is taken from the San Francisco Law School website (CA-approved, non-ABA, non-RA but no DL): Among the school's outstanding alumni are California State Governor, the late Edmund G. (Pat) Brown, former Lt. Governor Leo T. McCarthy, former Undersecretary of The United States Department of Energy, Joseph F. Salgado, past President of The State Bar of California, P. Terry Anderlini and past President of The National Bar Association, Thomas J. Broome. Also, State Senator Milton Marks, Superior and Municipal Court Judges Victor Campilango, Merle R. Eaton, Eugene W. Krum, Betty L. Lamoreaux, Philip J. Moscone, Lynn O'Malley Taylor, and Marilyn Pestarino Zecher to name a few, as well as countless other renowned and distinguished Bay Area and California attorneys. http://www.sfls.edu/home.htm
I recently graduated from BAU, and sat for the CA bar last July. The results will not be available until November 21. As I have said in previous posts, if you can attend an ABA approved law school, do so. DL law school is not the path to follow if you seek employment with a prestigious firm. One BAU grad who passed the bar found employment with a small firm. Yet many ABA school grads are unable to find jobs. The course requires a great deal of self-discipline. Few have the stamina to complete the program, as evidenced by the low pass rates on the Baby Bar (FYLSX). Dr. Bear's estimate that only 1% of those who begin DL law study actually become laywers is probably correct. BAU offers (or at leas did 3 years ago) a live review for the Baby Bar. There were probably thirty-something students in attendance. I personally know of only 4 who took the Bar Exam this July that were in that review class. However, DL law school may be a godsend for some. In my case, I had a stroke several years ago that left some resididual paralysis. Although I'm quite functional, I do not drive. That, and my present responsibilities made B & M law school an impossibility. Because of my unique background of 30 years as a chiropractor, educator, and active involvement in legislative matters, I have been offered a position as counsel for a chiropractic association (with an office in CA) upon bar admission. Unusual, yes. Yet there are other individuals with unique circumstances where DL law study may provide opportunities not otherwise available. Consider the matter carefully. It is a serious commitment, requiring a great deal of time and effort. Make sure a DL JD and CA bar admission will meet your needs. Christopher
Thanks for the feedback guys. BTW I just finished reading a interesting book titled, The Law School Bible. There is some interesting information in that book. I think I will go for my LLM at York University. They has one of the most respected law schools in Canada and it's very close to where I am living right now. Bo
Bo, If York University is an option for you, if you can fit residential studying into your life and you are not interested in becoming a lawyer in California why would you even consider a DL JD from a state accredited school? Unless you have a passion for learning American law York has an excellent reputation and would seem like a no brainer.
