LAW SCHOOL PROFILE
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Cal Northern School of Law, Chico, CA [By Devon Pryor] Cal Northern School of Law offers students with careers and families the opportunity to earn a J.D. by taking night classes. According to the school’s website, Cal Northern is the only law school between Sacramento, CA, and the Oregon border. Students at Cal Northern can earn their J.D. degrees in four years of night study, while staying local and maintaining their full-time jobs.
Cal Northern, officially founded in 1983, was
Northern recognize that the substantive rules
Northern students are eligible for about
started by a group of practicing lawyers in
of law are as important as the application
seven different scholarship awards, including
Northern California who saw a need for a night
of those laws in the contexts of litigation,
the Dean’s Scholarships, which are offered
law school in their area. The faculty at Cal
arbitration, mediation, and counseling.
to two students each year, the Alumni Association Scholarship, the Cal Northern
Northern includes a number of trial lawyers and judges from many surrounding counties
Some Cal Northern School of Law students
Foundation Scholarships, which are granted
who bring practical knowledge and experience
live at a distance from the campus. However,
to six students, the Student Bar Association
in the field to their instruction. There is an
many facilities in the area surrounding the
Recognition Awards for attendance,
all-around emphasis at Cal Northern on
Cal Northern campus are available to aid
dedication, and improvement, and the Witkin
practicality, as well as a “no frills” approach
students in their studies. Cal Northern has
Award for academic excellence.
to teaching law. This is easy to understand,
its own law library on campus, complete
considering that the majority of students at
with state-of-the-art computer research
Student services at Cal Northern include a
Cal Northern have little time to spare in their
technology. If driving to campus is not
placement assistance program and special
demanding work, home, and school schedules.
convenient for students, they can visit the
accommodations for students with disabilities
law library at California State University, Cal Northern School of Law has been
or special needs. The Alumni Association and
Chico, in downtown Chico, which is only six
accredited since 1992 by the Committee of
Student Bar Association support students while
miles from campus. Students can also visit
Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California.
they are studying at Cal Northern and after
the Butte County Law Library in the city of
Cal Northern’s website assures prospective
they graduate. The school also encourages
Oroville, roughly 20 miles to the south.
participation in mock trial competitions.
operate as a private postsecondary educational
Although classes at Cal Northern are
institution by the State Bar of California
typically offered between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30
Local attractions in the area surrounding
Department of Education.” The school is not
p.m., the administration office and other
yet approved by the American Bar Association,
school facilities, including the student-
and students may not be eligible to take the bar
run law library, are open during the day,
exam in states other than California; however,
beginning at 9:00 a.m. Cal Northern is
graduation from the school does qualify
attended by a very small number of students-
students to take the California bar exam.
approximately 70-and these students all
law students that the school is “authorized to
During the first two years of study at Cal Northern, students take foundational courses to ensure a strong base for legal skills and knowledge. The third and fourth years of study allow students to branch out and enroll in a variety of elective courses in order to find their niches among the many practice areas of the legal profession. Instructors at the
take the same core courses. During the fall and spring semesters, students take three courses, each of which is offered one night per week; this means students are only required to attend school three nights per
Cal Northern School of Law include four museums, one of which is the National Yo-Yo Museum. In their spare time, if they have any, students can relax in the three recreation and nature parks within 20 miles of campus. These parks collectively boast more than 3,750 serene acres of creeks, rivers, hiking trails, golf courses, and pools, as well as a fishery and a large nature preserve. ON THE NET
week. During the summer semester, two
Cal Northern School of Law
classes are offered, and students attend
www.calnorthern.edu
school only two nights per week. City of Chico, CA
school employ both casebook and Socratic
Financial assistance is available for
methods of law instruction, aiming to uphold
qualifying students through The Education
a balance between conventional legal theory
Resources Institute (TERI). Scholarships
The Education Resources Institute (TERI)
and practical application. Instructors at Cal
are also available to help pay for tuition. Cal
www.teri.org
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www.chico.ca.us