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Thank you for exploring The Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law. You’ve come to the right place if you’re looking for the opportunity to launch a high-impact professional career through a convenient program combining outstanding instruction with affordable tuition.
We’re proud to provide a top-notch legal education in a regional setting. Our faculty members are highly respected lawyers and judges who bring real-world experience into the curriculum. They create a collegial learning environment that fosters confident, career-ready graduates, prepared to address law-related issues with the highest degree of integrity.
Our Juris Doctor program graduates earn the Juris Doctor degree and are academically eligible to sit for the California Bar Examination. They’re well prepared to succeed no matter how they choose to use their legal education - in private practice, government service or business. The vibrancy of our program is reflected in our 1,800+ alumni, including judges, judicial officers and lawyers who practice throughout the state.
Graduates of our online Master of Legal Studies program are well-versed in how law impacts workplace decision-making, and are prepared to work with legal counsel to protect and advance the legal interests of institutions and individuals.
If our themes - quality, integrity and affordability - resonate with you, I hope you’ll give The Colleges of Law a closer look as you plan a future in law or a law-related field.
Heather Georgakis, Dean
A. All students are held responsible to know the contents of the General Catalog and for reviewing e-mail from The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law (the School) to be informed of amendments.
B. The School will communicate to students about matters covered in this Catalog and otherwise, generally only through the student’s “JURIS” e-mail account, as issued upon enrollment with the domain address “@juris.collegesoflaw.edu”. Each student is responsible for checking that “JURIS” e-mail account regularly to be aware of such communications. See Section 5.1.B.
C. Upon initial registration for the academic year, students will be notified by e-mail of the availability of an electronic copy of this Catalog on the Gateway (“Gateway”) (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/) or other location. A copy may also be obtained at the Administration Office. Each student is entitled to receive a copy, upon request, of any posted amendment not already included in an updated version of this Catalog.
A. The General Catalog is not a contract and can be changed at any time. It describes the School’s course offerings and states the basic policies, procedures and standards by which the School operates in the ordinary course of activities. The Catalog is current as of its effective date; an updated version will be published annually. The School may also publish policies separate from the Catalog; it retains the right to, at any time, make modifications to its course offerings, policies, procedures and standards. Such changes will be applicable to all students.
B. Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, this Catalog, this document, the General Catalog, and similar references refer to this General Catalog and its amendments. In the event of conflict between provisions of this Catalog and any other policy information issued by the School (including, but not limited to, its official website), the provisions of this document, as amended from time to time, control. Final authority to interpret all policies and documents is vested in the President, whose interpretations are binding on all persons.
A. The School reserves the right to amend this Catalog at any time without publishing a new Catalog. Through such amendment, the School has the unconditional right to change, extend, or revoke any policy, program, or service. Authority to amend this Catalog is vested in the President, subject to the ultimate direction and control of the Board of Trustees. To be effective, all such amendments must be in writing and approved by the President. Amendments will be made by inclusion in a completely updated and republished version of this Catalog or by separate posting for a period of at least 2 weeks on the Gateway (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/.) All such amendments are deemed incorporated into this Catalog and will be effective as of the date stated in the amendment. If no effective date is stated, the amendment will be effective as of the earlier of the first day it is posted on the Gateway, or the date of the first updated version of this Catalog in which such amendments are included. No amendment concerning the cost of tuition or fees described in sections entitled Financial Information, will be effective earlier than the semester/session following the semester/session in which a notification of the proposed change is posted. Except as required to comply with the rules and guidelines of the Committee of Bar Examiners, no amendment concerning academic standing, disqualification, advancement, retention, probation or graduation will be effective earlier than the semester/session following the semester/session in which a notification of the change is posted. See Sections entitled Academic Program.
B. Forms used at the School are subject to amendment without notice and at any time. Students are responsible for using updated forms as available on the Gateway (https://My.CollegesofLaw.edu/.)
A. In emergency or extraordinary situations, as defined by the President or the Board of Trustees, and in situations that, in the Administration’s opinion, are not clearly covered by this Catalog or other separately published policies, the School will respond to and resolve the situation in a fair and reasonable manner after considering the circumstances. Such resolution may conflict with provisions of this Catalog or with other separately published policies.
B. Examples of such emergencies or other situations include, but are not limited to, damage to or inaccessibility of the School’s facilities; unavailability of personnel; failure of any employee or agent of the School to follow policy; and disruptions that hinder the ability of the School to carry on customary functions or to provide customary services as scheduled.
In rare instances the President may waive or grant exceptions to the provisions of this Catalog, when the President judges it to be in the best interests of the School and its students. Any such waiver or exception applies only to the specific person and instance involved and is not to be deemed or construed as a waiver or exception for any other person or instance. No waiver or exception shall be effective for any purpose as against the School unless evidenced in writing and signed by the President. The President has no authority, however, to waive rules regarding advancement on probation or readmission after academic disqualification. Except as stated in this Catalog, other members of the staff and faculty have no authority to amend or waive any of the provisions of this Catalog, and students and other persons may not rely on any such purported waiver or amendment.
When used in this document:
“Board” refers to the School’s Board of Trustees.
“Catalog” and “this document” all refer to the General Catalog, including its amendments.
“Colleges of Law”, “Colleges”, “institution”, or “School” all refer to The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, including all campuses, educational sites, and delivery methods.
“Dean” refers to the Dean, who is the Chief Academic Officer of the School.
“Exam number” refers to a unique number issued by the School to each enrolled student each academic year, for use on examination and other course papers. This does not refer to the LSAC number each student must use in corresponding with the State Bar of California and its Committee of Bar Examiners.
“Policies” are defined as the written regulations of the School, as found in, but not limited to, the General Catalog.
“President” refers to the President, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the School.
“Program” refers to a course of instruction leading to a specific educational degree, including either the J.D. or M.L.S.
“School official” is any administrator, faculty member, staff member, or other authorized individual of the School.
“Student” includes any person taking a course or courses from the School. Persons who are not officially enrolled for a particular semester or session, (e.g., J.D. Summer session, or M.L.S. Summer 1) but who have a continuing relationship with the School, are considered “students” under this definition.
“Regularly-enrolled student” includes any person enrolled in pursuit of an educational degree to be awarded by the School. It does not include persons enrolled in courses for any other reason, such as graduates of other law schools seeking to qualify for the California Bar Exam or attorneys seeking continuing legal education or credit.
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