Mission & Vision
Our Mission
The mission of The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law is to prepare leaders, for law and law-related professions, through graduate-level legal education that emphasizes academic excellence and accessibility. The Colleges seek to develop well-prepared graduates capable of integrating knowledge of legal theory, practical skills, and professional values.
Our Vision
The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law will be an accredited, professionally recognized institution of legal education with student-centered outcomes that emphasize the pursuit of excellence in legal fundamentals and preparation for professional practice.
Our Unique Advantage
Quality
Our faculty members are among the most accomplished judges and attorneys in the tri-counties area of Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. As skilled advocates who are also inspired teachers, they breathe life into the theory and practice of law. Our students benefit from the breadth of our faculty's professional experiences, as major players on the bench, in the courtroom, or around the deal-makers' table.
Convenience
Our California State Bar-accredited J.D. program is offered in Santa Barbara and Ventura. Students generally attend classes three nights a week and can complete the J.D. program can be completed in 3-1/2 to 4 years. M.L.S. students complete all coursework online, completing the 12-course program within 2 years, taking one course about every 7-8 weeks.
Affordability
Our J.D. program is less than half the cost of programs offered at traditional private law schools.
Practice-Ready Preparation
Our curriculum blends traditional legal instruction with hands-on training in research, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy. Each student completes a 65-hour pro bono internship under the supervision of a judge or attorney. Graduates of our J.D. program are academically eligible to sit for the California State Bar and prepared to contribute immediately—in law offices, businesses, nonprofit agencies, or government entities.
Within YOUR Reach
In addition to graduates of four-year and two-year colleges, exceptionally well-qualified individuals without college credentials may be accepted, as "special students."
The Colleges of Law offer students like you the opportunity to acquire a high-quality legal education. We are a small school, established to meet the needs of residents in the tri-counties. Yet, in the 42 years we have been educating future lawyers, our reputation for excellence has spread throughout California as our graduates have established successful legal and judicial careers.