There are three colleges within 150 miles of Bakersfield that have law schools. Read an overview of these schools' programs, requirements and admission info and find out which school is the right one for you.
Bakersfield- Area Law Schools
There are no law schools in the immediate Bakersfield, California, area. Students in Bakersfield who wish to attend law school must travel more than 100 miles from the city. This article looks at three law schools that are within two and a half hours of downtown Bakersfield and the degree programs they offer. There is also a table of information that prospective students should consider when choosing a school, such as enrollment, tuition and the campus setting. This table is formatted in a way that makes it simple to compare these schools.
University of California - Los Angeles
UCLA is a four-year public institution that is widely considered to be a top-tier university. UCLA School of Law, founded in 1949, offers students the chance to experience live-client clinics and courses specifically designed to bridge the gap between learning the law and practicing law. The School of Law offers students access to 22 programs and centers, including the Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment and Lowell Milken Institute for Business Law and Policy.
Juris Doctor (J.D.)
The 87-semester unit J.D. degree program is designed to take three years to complete. Students must maintain a minimum course load each semester and complete a substantial analytic writing project. The program is only offered on a full-time basis, with no weekend or evening options available.
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
The Master of Laws degree program can be completed in nine months and offers specializations in international and comparative law, bankruptcy, tax or public interest law, among others. The 22-credit program includes a short summer course in American law in a global context. Applicants are required to have earned a law degree and need to submit a resume, personal statement, transcripts and two letters of recommendation.
Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.)
Students who plan on a law-based academic or teaching career may be interested in the S.J.D. The program requires that applicants possess both a J.D. and an LL.M. degree. Applicants to this highly selective program need to submit a statement of purpose for their research, along with having a faculty member vouch for their proposed studies. Additionally, interested students must complete a residency that consists of two semesters of study and defend a research proposal before being fully admitted.
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is a private four-year university affiliated with Churches of Christ and located in Malibu. Pepperdine's law school was founded in 1964 as Orange University College of Law and became a part of Pepperdine University in 1969. The median LSAT score of a first-year Pepperdine School of Law student is over 160, and the median GPA is more than 3.6.
Juris Doctor
Pepperdine's three-year J.D. degree program covers criminal law and evidence. First-year students take classes focusing on fundamental areas of law, including torts, legal research and civil procedure. Upper-level students have between 18 and 21 required units to complete, and they can choose from an array of electives, attend clinics and complete externships. Students also have the opportunity to earn one of four certificates in a particular area of specialization, such as international and comparative law.
Master of Laws in Dispute Resolution
Pepperdine's LL.M. in Dispute Resolution program is designed for students who have already earned a J.D. The program requires students to complete 28 units of coursework, as well as a thesis or externship. Some of the required courses for this degree focus on areas like arbitration, mediation theory and conflict psychology.
Master of Dispute Resolution (M.D.R.)
Bachelor's holders can complete the Master of Dispute Resolution, which requires 32 units of coursework in addition to a thesis project or an externship. Some of the courses that M.D.R. students complete include legal processes introduction, mediation clinic and communication.
Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law
The Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law are private four-year law schools accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California. Each of the schools two campuses offers its own law library. Collectively, the two schools enroll less than 250 students. The colleges offer only two degrees, the Juris Doctor and the Master of Legal Studies.
Juris Doctor
Students who wish to apply for regular admission to the J.D. program at the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law should hold either a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree from a California postsecondary institution or 60 semester academic units. Students should have a GPA above 2.0. The school's 84-credit J.D. program is designed to be completed in about four years. Certificates can be earned in four areas, including family, business, estate planning, and criminal law.
Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.)
Students interested in applying for the M.L.S. program at the Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law should hold a bachelor's degree and have a GPA of 2.3 or better. The two-year program is designed for working adults and available entirely online. The core curriculum includes courses in the American legal system, legal fundamentals, legal research and administrative process. Students can complete elective courses in a specialized area, and a capstone course is required.
Comparison of Schools
Law students need to compare many factors when selecting a school. This table showcases facts that can help them arrive at an informed decision about their education.
| University of California - Los Angeles | Pepperdine University | Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | Four-year; public | Four-year; private not-for-profit | Four-year; private not-for-profit |
| Total Enrollment (2011) | 39,271**** | 7,539**** | Santa Barbara campus: 103 Ventura Campus: 120 **** |
| Campus Setting | Large city | Fringe rural | Santa Barbara: small city Ventura: fringe rural |
| Tuition (2012-2013) | Varies based on program*** | $44,920 (flat rate)** | $530 per semester unit* |
| % of Students Receiving Grants or Scholarships (2012) | 74%***** | 70.5%***** | N/A |
| Acceptance Rate (2012) | About 20%***** | Around 34%***** | N/A |
Source: *Santa Barbara and Ventura Colleges of Law, **Pepperdine University, ***University of California, Los Angeles, ****National center for Education Statistics, *****Law School Admission Council, Inc.
Law Schools in Austin, TX with Degree Program Summaries
The Austin, TX, area has only one university that offers a law school. Learn about the degree programs, admission info and program requirements for this school, less than five miles from the city center, and make an informed education decision.
Austin, TX, Law School
Austin has just one university with a law school: The University of Texas at Austin, which is about two miles from downtown. The university's School of Law offers a number of degrees for aspiring law students. Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.), Master of Laws (LL.M.), Dual J.D./Master of Arts and Dual J.D./Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs are available. This article looks at the university and its law school's degree programs. Prospective students can get an overview of the school through a table of pertinent information, such as university enrollment and law school tuition.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883, and the campus is known for its distinctive 27-floor tower that can be seen from nearly anywhere in Austin. UT Austin's School of Law opened when the university did in 1883, and it enrolls more than 1,200 students each year. The School of Law offers a number of degrees for law students, including several dual degree options. Students who wish to apply to the law school should possess a bachelor's degree, a GPA above 2.2, and a reportable LSAT score.
Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
The J.D. program can be completed in three years and requires 86 credit hours. The first-year curriculum contains the same courses for all students, introducing the foundations of several legal disciplines, such as constitutional, civil and criminal law. Second- and third-year students have greater flexibility to focus studies, research and projects in a specialized area, including litigation, international law or torts. Students can participate in internships in such areas as nonprofit, government and health law. The school also has 17 clinics, in which students can get real-world experience. Clinic options include the Actual Innocence Clinic and the Juvenile Justice Clinic.
Master of Laws (LL.M.)
The LL.M. program is a 1-year program that allows students who already possess law degrees to pursue a specialty in one of five areas. Specializations include global energy, environmental law, and international arbitration; U.S. law; Latin American and international law; business; or intellectual property. A commonly required course for LL.M. students with a foreign law degree focuses on the fundamentals of American law. In the Latin American and international law specialization, students must be fluent in either Spanish or Portuguese.
Dual Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Arts (M.A.)
The School of Law offers three J.D./Master of Arts programs for those interested in pursuing an interdisciplinary law education. Students earn the J.D. and the master's degree simultaneously. Admission must be granted by both the School of Law and the master's-granting college at the university. The eligible M.A. programs are Middle Eastern studies; Russian, East European and Eurasian studies; and Latin American studies.
Dual Doctor of Jurisprudence and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
For students whose career plans involve academic work in law, government or philosophy, UT Austin offers the J.D./Ph.D. dual-degree program. Students enrolled in the 7-year program can be awarded fellowships and tuition waivers as incentives; they can also find teaching opportunities for financial support and classroom experience. Interested students should apply independently to the School of Law and the Ph.D. program in the philosophy department.
School Information
Individuals who are deciding what law school to attend need to consider many factors. This table showcases several important statistics about UT Austin.
| University of Texas at Austin | |
|---|---|
| School Type | 4-year, public |
| Total Enrollment (2011) | 51,112* |
| Campus Setting | Large city |
| Tuition & Fees for First-Year Law School Students (2012-2013) | In-state, $33,162; out-of-state, $49,244** |
Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics, **University of Texas at Austin.
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