Monterey College of Law - an accredited non-ABA Option
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 1:32 pm
LAW SCHOOL IN PARADISE?
SEASIDE, CA. -- Sitting in his modest office with a glimpse of the world-famous Monterey Bay shining brightly out the window, Mitchel Winick, Dean of Monterey College of Law ponders aloud why anyone would want to attend law school anywhere else. He readily acknowledges that being located in the midst of an area recognized throughout the world for the storybook cottages of Carmel-By-The-Sea, the famous Pebble Beach golf links, the picturesque 17-Mile Drive, the redwood forests of Big Sur, the spectacular coastal drive along Highway 1, and famous area residents such as Clint Eastwood and John Steinbeck . . . makes it easy for a small California accredited law school to get overlooked.
“Monterey College of Law was founded more than 40 years ago to provide the opportunity for local residents to obtain a quality legal education without having to move out of the area,” said Winick. “That continues to be the primary mission for the law school, but we are also being discovered by students from outside of the area who recognize that there are other benefits to attending law school in an area considered by many to be a cultural, environmental, and recreational paradise.”
On a beautiful, cloudless, sunny day in February it is easy to see his point. “My wife and I hike almost every weekend. Two weeks ago we hiked up to almost 1,600 feet to a spectacular overlook of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1. We recently hiked into Los Padres National Forest through redwood forests that go for thousands of acres.”
Most people who have visited the area would agree that there are very few places where you can combine a legal education with so many choices for an active lifestyle. Whether it is beach, ocean, forests, or mountains . . . within an hour of the law school you have literally dozens, perhaps hundreds of options. “We moved here in 2005 after more than 25 years in Texas. Don’t get me wrong, there are many great places in Texas, but nothing really compares to the natural beauty and diversity of the Monterey area,” Winick commented.
Although the tourist attractions in the region may be world-famous, Monterey College of Law is almost unknown outside of the area. “California accredited law schools are really hidden gems,” Winick believes. Almost everyone has heard of the traditional, three-year ABA approved law schools in California. The state is home to some of the highest-ranked law schools in the U.S., including Stanford, Boalt Hall at Berkeley, and UCLA. However, many people do not realize that there are also 17 California Accredited Law Schools (CALS) that provide full- and part-time J.D. programs and qualify graduates to sit for the same California Bar exam.
“If you begin with the assumption that you plan to take the California Bar exam and practice law in California, you can obtain a first-class legal education, with small classes, and excellent faculty for one-third to one-half of the cost of a traditional three-year ABA law school,” according to Wendy LaRiviere, Assistant Dean for Admissions at MCL. “We think that the affordability of our program is one of the main reasons that we are getting more applicants from outside of the region.”
LaRiviere, who has been in charge of admissions at MCL for the past fourteen years, points out that “with law school costs continuing to escalate at many of the ABA law schools, an increasing number of students are now considering the value of attending state accredited law schools.” The cost of a law degree now exceeds $150,000 at many ABA law schools. In comparison, total tuition for the part-time, evening program at Monterey College of Law is less than $70,000. “At a time when law students from other schools are graduating with as much as $150,000 of student loan debt, the majority of our graduates ‘pay as they go’ and finish their degree without any debt at all,” said LaRiviere.
“The rising cost of legal education is a barrier to many segments of the population . . . and that should be a significant concern for all of us,” commented Winick. “Furthermore, by burdening recent law graduates with immense debt, we are effectively eliminating the opportunity for them to fill the need for public service and small-firm lawyers in our communities. We blame new lawyers for only being in it (law) for the money . . . and yet we conveniently overlook that they need to repay thousands of dollars in student loans,” said Winick. “I am proud that the affordability of our program is one of the factors that provide our graduates the opportunity to use their law degree in a wide variety of practices without the pressure of crushing debt sitting on their shoulders.”
There is always a concern that graduating from a state-accredited law school will limit future job opportunities. “There is no question that academic elitism exists in many law firms,” explains Winick. “However, the fact of the matter is that we have successful MCL alumni in many of the most prestigious law firms in the region . . . in the District Attorney’s office and the Public Defender’s office . . . and six of our graduates serve as California Superior Court Judges.” Russell Scott, a 1978 MCL graduate, father of 1L writing professor Christian Scott (also an MCL graduate), and the first alumnus to serve as a Superior Court Judge, agrees. “I have the unique perspective of watching lawyers perform in court every week, and it appears to me that MCL’s top graduates are recognized by their peers as some of the most respected and capable lawyers in the county.”
Monterey College of Law provides an evening J.D. program that has historically catered to working professionals. “One of the real benefits of our program is the breadth of experience and real-life perspective that our students bring into the classroom,” said Winick. Sally Green, a banker and former president of the MCL Board of Trustees, confirms the point. “Our program has attracted health professionals, police officers, realtors, bankers, legal administrators, fire and safety professionals, health care managers, high-tech professionals, agricultural business owners, and representatives from virtually every industry in the region,” said Green.
However, LaRiviere adds, “the Internet and social media is clearly changing the characteristics of our applicants. There is no question that we are seeing a growing number of applications from students who learn about us on-line. Unlike our traditional local applicants who have jobs and family that tie them to the area, younger students have the flexibility to move to a new area if they discover a school that meets their needs. We like that they bring new perspectives from outside of the region, and even from outside of the state.”
Another important benefit of the school’s evening law school program is that the faculty members are all practicing lawyers and judges. “We have the great fortune of having current judges from Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties serving on our faculty, along with former presidents of the county bar association, the recipient of one of the top state-wide ACLU awards, and top lawyers from the District Attorney and Public Defenders offices . . . just to point out a few,” said Michelle Welsh, former president of the MCL faculty senate. “Our faculty members represent virtually all aspects of the political, social, business, and legal spectrum in our tri-county area.” Ron Granberg, a former president of the Monterey County Bar Association and Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Programs, adds, “In addition to bringing their expertise into the classroom, as practicing lawyers and judges, the faculty provides students with a network (and jobs) within the legal community.”
The law school is located less than a mile off Highway 1 as part of the higher education enclave being developed on the former Fort Ord army base. MCL moved into its new 12,000 sq. ft. classroom, office, and library building during the summer of 2005. The 3.5 acre campus is adjacent to California State University Monterey Bay and is easily accessible from Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz. “We really enjoy having CSUMB as an educational neighbor,” said Winick. “It is rare for a small private law school to have access to the resources of a CSU campus, including graduate student housing, bookstore, and athletic facilities.” In 2010, the law school opened its 6,000 sq.ft. Platinum LEED Community Justice Center featuring a working courtroom and mediation center. The school also opened a first-year program in Santa Cruz in 2011.
Winick, who has previous teaching and administrative experience at ABA law schools in Texas and New Mexico, believes that he may have the best law school dean job in America. “I live in one of the world’s most beautiful areas . . . have the privilege to serve a well-respected state-accredited law school that enjoys broad community support . . . and get to work with a distinguished group of trustees, faculty, and alumni as colleagues.”
There is no question in Winick’s mind that it will not be long before Monterey College of Law grows beyond its well-deserved local reputation as a ‘hidden gem’ and is discovered by future law students who realize that it really is possible to attend law school in paradise.
For direct information, please feel free to contact:
Mitchel L. Winick
President and Dean
Monterey College of Law
mwinick@montereylaw.edu
831-582-4000 ext. 1015
or visit the law school's web page at: http://www.montereylaw.edu
SEASIDE, CA. -- Sitting in his modest office with a glimpse of the world-famous Monterey Bay shining brightly out the window, Mitchel Winick, Dean of Monterey College of Law ponders aloud why anyone would want to attend law school anywhere else. He readily acknowledges that being located in the midst of an area recognized throughout the world for the storybook cottages of Carmel-By-The-Sea, the famous Pebble Beach golf links, the picturesque 17-Mile Drive, the redwood forests of Big Sur, the spectacular coastal drive along Highway 1, and famous area residents such as Clint Eastwood and John Steinbeck . . . makes it easy for a small California accredited law school to get overlooked.
“Monterey College of Law was founded more than 40 years ago to provide the opportunity for local residents to obtain a quality legal education without having to move out of the area,” said Winick. “That continues to be the primary mission for the law school, but we are also being discovered by students from outside of the area who recognize that there are other benefits to attending law school in an area considered by many to be a cultural, environmental, and recreational paradise.”
On a beautiful, cloudless, sunny day in February it is easy to see his point. “My wife and I hike almost every weekend. Two weeks ago we hiked up to almost 1,600 feet to a spectacular overlook of the Pacific Ocean along Highway 1. We recently hiked into Los Padres National Forest through redwood forests that go for thousands of acres.”
Most people who have visited the area would agree that there are very few places where you can combine a legal education with so many choices for an active lifestyle. Whether it is beach, ocean, forests, or mountains . . . within an hour of the law school you have literally dozens, perhaps hundreds of options. “We moved here in 2005 after more than 25 years in Texas. Don’t get me wrong, there are many great places in Texas, but nothing really compares to the natural beauty and diversity of the Monterey area,” Winick commented.
Although the tourist attractions in the region may be world-famous, Monterey College of Law is almost unknown outside of the area. “California accredited law schools are really hidden gems,” Winick believes. Almost everyone has heard of the traditional, three-year ABA approved law schools in California. The state is home to some of the highest-ranked law schools in the U.S., including Stanford, Boalt Hall at Berkeley, and UCLA. However, many people do not realize that there are also 17 California Accredited Law Schools (CALS) that provide full- and part-time J.D. programs and qualify graduates to sit for the same California Bar exam.
“If you begin with the assumption that you plan to take the California Bar exam and practice law in California, you can obtain a first-class legal education, with small classes, and excellent faculty for one-third to one-half of the cost of a traditional three-year ABA law school,” according to Wendy LaRiviere, Assistant Dean for Admissions at MCL. “We think that the affordability of our program is one of the main reasons that we are getting more applicants from outside of the region.”
LaRiviere, who has been in charge of admissions at MCL for the past fourteen years, points out that “with law school costs continuing to escalate at many of the ABA law schools, an increasing number of students are now considering the value of attending state accredited law schools.” The cost of a law degree now exceeds $150,000 at many ABA law schools. In comparison, total tuition for the part-time, evening program at Monterey College of Law is less than $70,000. “At a time when law students from other schools are graduating with as much as $150,000 of student loan debt, the majority of our graduates ‘pay as they go’ and finish their degree without any debt at all,” said LaRiviere.
“The rising cost of legal education is a barrier to many segments of the population . . . and that should be a significant concern for all of us,” commented Winick. “Furthermore, by burdening recent law graduates with immense debt, we are effectively eliminating the opportunity for them to fill the need for public service and small-firm lawyers in our communities. We blame new lawyers for only being in it (law) for the money . . . and yet we conveniently overlook that they need to repay thousands of dollars in student loans,” said Winick. “I am proud that the affordability of our program is one of the factors that provide our graduates the opportunity to use their law degree in a wide variety of practices without the pressure of crushing debt sitting on their shoulders.”
There is always a concern that graduating from a state-accredited law school will limit future job opportunities. “There is no question that academic elitism exists in many law firms,” explains Winick. “However, the fact of the matter is that we have successful MCL alumni in many of the most prestigious law firms in the region . . . in the District Attorney’s office and the Public Defender’s office . . . and six of our graduates serve as California Superior Court Judges.” Russell Scott, a 1978 MCL graduate, father of 1L writing professor Christian Scott (also an MCL graduate), and the first alumnus to serve as a Superior Court Judge, agrees. “I have the unique perspective of watching lawyers perform in court every week, and it appears to me that MCL’s top graduates are recognized by their peers as some of the most respected and capable lawyers in the county.”
Monterey College of Law provides an evening J.D. program that has historically catered to working professionals. “One of the real benefits of our program is the breadth of experience and real-life perspective that our students bring into the classroom,” said Winick. Sally Green, a banker and former president of the MCL Board of Trustees, confirms the point. “Our program has attracted health professionals, police officers, realtors, bankers, legal administrators, fire and safety professionals, health care managers, high-tech professionals, agricultural business owners, and representatives from virtually every industry in the region,” said Green.
However, LaRiviere adds, “the Internet and social media is clearly changing the characteristics of our applicants. There is no question that we are seeing a growing number of applications from students who learn about us on-line. Unlike our traditional local applicants who have jobs and family that tie them to the area, younger students have the flexibility to move to a new area if they discover a school that meets their needs. We like that they bring new perspectives from outside of the region, and even from outside of the state.”
Another important benefit of the school’s evening law school program is that the faculty members are all practicing lawyers and judges. “We have the great fortune of having current judges from Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties serving on our faculty, along with former presidents of the county bar association, the recipient of one of the top state-wide ACLU awards, and top lawyers from the District Attorney and Public Defenders offices . . . just to point out a few,” said Michelle Welsh, former president of the MCL faculty senate. “Our faculty members represent virtually all aspects of the political, social, business, and legal spectrum in our tri-county area.” Ron Granberg, a former president of the Monterey County Bar Association and Associate Dean for Clinical and Community Programs, adds, “In addition to bringing their expertise into the classroom, as practicing lawyers and judges, the faculty provides students with a network (and jobs) within the legal community.”
The law school is located less than a mile off Highway 1 as part of the higher education enclave being developed on the former Fort Ord army base. MCL moved into its new 12,000 sq. ft. classroom, office, and library building during the summer of 2005. The 3.5 acre campus is adjacent to California State University Monterey Bay and is easily accessible from Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz. “We really enjoy having CSUMB as an educational neighbor,” said Winick. “It is rare for a small private law school to have access to the resources of a CSU campus, including graduate student housing, bookstore, and athletic facilities.” In 2010, the law school opened its 6,000 sq.ft. Platinum LEED Community Justice Center featuring a working courtroom and mediation center. The school also opened a first-year program in Santa Cruz in 2011.
Winick, who has previous teaching and administrative experience at ABA law schools in Texas and New Mexico, believes that he may have the best law school dean job in America. “I live in one of the world’s most beautiful areas . . . have the privilege to serve a well-respected state-accredited law school that enjoys broad community support . . . and get to work with a distinguished group of trustees, faculty, and alumni as colleagues.”
There is no question in Winick’s mind that it will not be long before Monterey College of Law grows beyond its well-deserved local reputation as a ‘hidden gem’ and is discovered by future law students who realize that it really is possible to attend law school in paradise.
For direct information, please feel free to contact:
Mitchel L. Winick
President and Dean
Monterey College of Law
mwinick@montereylaw.edu
831-582-4000 ext. 1015
or visit the law school's web page at: http://www.montereylaw.edu