The Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program at the Southern California Institute of Law requires students to successfully complete 85 units (3,825 hours) in no less than 4 academic years. The curriculum is designed to provide 84 scheduled units over the course of four years, with the remaining 1 unit to be earned during the student’s 3rd or 4th year of law study.

The academic year consists of 48 to 52 consecutive weeks, divided into two terms of 24 to 26 consecutive weeks each. Students must attend a minimum of 80% of the classes in each course and complete all required study and preparation hours, which are tracked using the Tracking Academic Hours Form and Log.

First-year law students take courses such as Torts, Criminal Law, Contracts, and Legal Analysis & Writing. Upon successful completion of their first year, students must pass the First-Year Law Students’ Examination (FYLSX) within the first three consecutive administrations to continue their studies.

In the second year, students take courses like Civil Procedure, Community Property, Business Organizations, and various legal skills courses or electives.

Third-year courses include Constitutional Law, Evidence, Advanced Legal Writing, and additional legal skills courses or electives.

In the fourth and final year, students study Real Property, Criminal Procedure, Remedies, Professional Responsibility, and Administrative Law, along with MBE preparation courses and Law Office Management.

Throughout the program, students must earn a minimum of 6 units in Legal Skills and may request to earn credit in Clinical Work, not exceeding 10% of the total units required to graduate.

The curriculum at the Southern California Institute of Law provides a comprehensive legal education, preparing students for the California Bar Examination and their future legal careers.

First Year Law Courses:

• Contracts (6 units): Covers basic contract law including formation, performance, breach, remedies, Statute of Frauds, Parol Evidence Rule, mistake, misrepresentation, assignments, and defenses.
• Criminal Law (4 units): Focuses on substantive criminal law, punishment, offenses against person, property, habitation, inchoate crimes, defenses.
• Torts (6 units): Analyzes bases of liability for intentional interference with person/property, negligence, strict liability, defamation, nuisance, misrepresentation, product liability.
• Legal Analysis & Writing (2 units): Introduces basic legal writing skills and elements in contracts, torts, criminal law.
• MBE-1L (2 units): Reviews 1L multistate bar exam questions and subjects.
• Legal Skills Training: Critical Thinking Skills (1 unit): Covers analyzing court opinions, precedents, briefing cases, outlining courses, exam skills.

Upper Division Law Courses:

• Legal Research (2 units): Covers research methods for CA and federal law.
• Advanced Legal Writing (1 unit): Focuses on writing techniques for CA bar exam essays.
• MBE Upper Division (1 unit): Reviews subjects in 2nd/3rd year courses for MBE.
• Business Organizations (4 units): Covers agency, partnerships, corporations, duties, shareholder rights, mergers.
• Civil Procedure (6 units): Studies civil litigation process in state/federal courts, jurisdiction, venue, pleadings, discovery, pretrial motions, trial, appeals.
• Community Property (3 units): Overview of CA community property law, management of marital property, dissolution issues.
• Constitutional Law (6 units): Surveys judicial role, federal power, state power, due process, equal protection, free speech, religion clauses.
• Criminal Procedure (4 units): Covers search/seizure, interrogations, identification, entrapment, pretrial motions, plea bargains, double jeopardy.
• Evidence (6 units): Studies rules of evidence, relevancy, hearsay, privileges, expert testimony, scientific evidence, impeachment.
• Professional Responsibility (2 units): Examines attorney regulation, ethics rules, unauthorized practice, attorney-client relationship, conflicts, advertising.
• Real Property (6 units): Covers estates in land, conveyancing, landlord-tenant, covenants, easements, zoning, eminent domain.
• Remedies (4 units): Studies damages, restitution, equitable remedies.
• Wills & Trusts (3 units): Covers testamentary transfers, intestate succession, wills, trusts, probate.

The school also offers over 50 elective courses on specialized topics, as well as skills training courses in areas like alternative dispute resolution, trial techniques, contract drafting, and law office management.

The Southern California Institute of Law, a small but prestigious law school, has consistently attracted an impressive array of commencement speakers over the years. Our distinguished speakers have included esteemed members of the judiciary, prominent political figures, and influential leaders in the legal profession.

Some notable speakers include California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye (2011), who has served as the 28th Chief Justice of California since 2011; Justice Carol Corrigan (2012) of the California Supreme Court; and Justice Janice Rogers-Brown (2013), a former California Supreme Court Justice and Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The law school has also hosted Chief Judge Alex Kozinski (2013) of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; Judge Kenneth W. Starr (2007), former U.S. Solicitor General and Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; and Justice Ming W. Chin (2006) of the California Supreme Court.

Other distinguished speakers have included Prince Zaid Ra’ad Al-Hussein (2008), President of the International Criminal Court and President of the UN Security Council; Anthony Capozzi (2004), the 79th President of The State Bar of California; and Bill Lockyer (2003), former California Attorney General.

In recent years, the Southern California Institute of Law has welcomed Presiding Judge Brian Hill (2020) of the Superior Court of Santa Barbara County; Magistrate Judge Louise Lamothe (2019) of the United States District Court for the Central District of California; and California Assembly Member Mark Stone (2018), Chair of the CA Assembly Judiciary Committee.

The caliber of these commencement speakers is a testament to the reputation and influence of the Southern California Institute of Law within the legal community. Despite its small size, the law school consistently attracts the best and brightest minds in the field to impart their wisdom and inspire the next generation of legal professionals.

Introduction

Founded in 1986 by a group of distinguished legal scholars and educators, the Southern California Institute of Law (SCIL) has been at the forefront of providing accessible, high-quality legal education for over three decades. With its first classes commencing in 1987, SCIL has consistently demonstrated its commitment to academic excellence and innovation in the field of law.

For 25 years, until June 1, 2020, SCIL proudly held the status of an accredited law school. On its Silver Jubilee anniversary, the law school was honored to have the Chief Justice of California as its Commencement Speaker, a testament to the institution’s standing in the legal community. Over the years, SCIL has attracted an impressive array of keynote speakers, including three Justices of the California Supreme Court, several Presiding Justices of state appellate courts, the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and a former U.S. Solicitor General.

SCIL’s dedication to providing a comprehensive legal education has been recognized by the legal community. In an October 31, 2017 report, a State Bar Accreditation Inspection Team, which included a Chair of the Committee of Bar Examiners, found that “overall, SCIL’s curriculum, admissions, scholastic standards, faculty, library, facilities, Dean and administrators [are] all compliant in offering students a sound program of legal education.”

Prior to SCIL’s establishment, there was only one other law school serving the entire tri-county area of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. With a mission to offer the most affordable accredited legal education in California, SCIL has consistently worked to expand access to legal education, particularly for individuals from low to moderate socio-economic backgrounds.

Location and Facilities

SCIL’s campus is strategically located in the prestigious professional office district of Ventura, directly across from the Ventura County Courthouse and Law Library. The law school operates in a building formerly occupied by the state Court of Appeal, Division Six, providing students with a professional and inspiring learning environment.

Distance Learning

To accommodate the diverse needs of its students, SCIL provides law school instruction through distance learning. Classes are limited to 49 students, ensuring personalized attention and fostering a close-knit learning community.

Accreditation

The Southern California Institute of Law is a California Registered/Unaccredited Distance Learning Law School, as recognized by the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California.

Commitment to Diversity and Non-Discrimination

SCIL is committed to promoting diversity and equal opportunity in legal education. The law school welcomes students of all genders, races, ages, colors, and national or ethnic origins, granting them equal access to the rights, privileges, programs, and activities available to all students. SCIL’s admissions policy is designed to foster a diverse student body, enriching the educational experience for all.

Contact Information

For more information about the Southern California Institute of Law, please contact:

Registrar Southern California Institute of Law 1280 S. Victoria Ave. Ventura, CA 93003 Tel: 805.644.2327