Now accepting applications for 2020!

Kern County College of Law is a respected evening law school program accredited by the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners.  We offer four locations for starting your law school program: our main campus in Seaside, California; our first-year program in Santa Cruz, California; our branch campus in San Luis Obispo, California; and our newest branch campus in Bakersfield, California. In addition to the traditional J.D. Degree program, we offer a concurrent J.D./M.L.S. degree program, a two-year Master of Legal Studies degree, and an advanced graduate law LL.M degree.

Guaranteed Tuition Rate through Degree Completion

Kern County College of Law also believes that it was the first law school in California to initiate a policy of protecting students from tuition increases during their course of study. As long as you remain continuously enrolled in good academic standing at Kern County College of Law, your tuition rate will not increase.

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Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.)
Kern County College of Law is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California to offer the Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) degree. The J.D is a three-to-four year (90 unit) traditional U.S. graduate law degree program designed for individuals who wish to be licensed as a California attorney.

Click here to learn more about our J.D. Program | Ready to apply for your J.D.? Click Here Now!

JD/MLS – Concurrent Degree Program
Kern County College of Law provides applicants the option of concurrently enrolling in the J.D. and Master of Legal Studies degree programs. Upon successful completion of the program, the student is granted both the J.D. and M.L.S. degrees. Completion of the M.L.S. degree requires a major writing project. All other credit courses are completed concurrently with the J.D. program.

Click here to learn about our J.D./M.L.S. program | Ready to Apply for Your J.D./M.L.S.? Click Here Now!

LL.M.
The LL.M. graduate law degree program is a 24-unit program that is designed to promote advanced legal educational for practicing attorneys and law schools graduates from the U.S and foreign countries. Applicants are required to have successfully completed a first degree in law from a U.S. law school or foreign legal studies program. The LL.M. degree curriculum is designed individually for each student to meet his or her specific goals.

Click here to learn more about our LL.M. Program | Ready to apply for your LL.M.? Click Here Now!

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Admission Deadlines - Spring, Fall, and Summer Semesters

Kern County  College of Law enrolls first year students for Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.

Fall Semester admission deadline is July 20.

Spring Semester admission deadline is January 30. 

Summer Semester admission deadline is April 20.

For more information, please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu.

Application Qualifications

Kern County College of Law seeks applicants with a solid academic record and a strong desire to study law. We encourage applicants from a broad range of ages and experience. Our goal is to have KCCL represent the broad diversity of our community.

KCCL seeks to identify candidates who display the character and skills necessary to succeed as law students… and ultimately as law graduates. Kern County College of Law admits students without regard to race, age, sex, creed, color, physical handicap, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, national or ethnic origin.

If you have questions about your qualifications or the process for applying to law school, contact Dean of Admissions Wendy LaRiviere at 831-582-4000 ext. 1012 or wlariviere@montereylaw.edu.

Application Process

  1. Recommended: Contact KCCL admissions department prior to submitting application to inquire about KCCL programs, application requirements, and application process and timing.
  2. Complete and submit appropriate degree program application with $75.00 application fee.
  3. Prepare and submit personal statement.
  4. Arrange for official transcripts from all colleges attended to be sent directly to MCL admissions department at 100 Col. Durham Street, Seaside, CA 93955.
  5. If required, register and take LSAT prior to admissions deadline.
  6. Request letters of recommendation (optional) to be sent to KCCL admissions department.
  7. You will be notified by e-mail and letter of admission decision within two-weeks after all required documentation is received.

Admission Deadlines - Spring and Fall Semesters

Kern County College of Law enrolls first year students for both Spring and Fall semesters.

Spring Semester admission deadline is January 30. (Seaside campus only)

Fall Semester admission deadline is July 31.

For more information, please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu.

Rolling Admissions

The admissions department reviews applications using a “rolling admissions” process throughout the year. Your file will achieve optimal consideration if your application is received early, rather than waiting until the deadlines for Spring and Fall semesters.

Applications received after the application deadline may be considered on a space-available basis, but will be assessed a late fee ($250).

Admissions Interviews

Personal interviews are not required. However, a meeting (in person or by telephone) with the Dean of Admissions prior to submitting your application is highly encouraged. This meeting will answer any outstanding questions you may have about the admissions process. Please use the contact box in the column to the left to indicate which session you would like to attend. Please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu or 831-582-4000 ext. 1012 for an appointment.

Law School Admission Test ( LSAT )

Applicants have the option of taking the LSAT, substituting the diagnostic assessment or requesting a waiver of the LSAT requirement. For more information, please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@kerncountylaw.org.

Law School Admission Test for the Master of Legal Studios And LL.M. Degrees

The LSAT is not required for the M.L.S. or LL.M. degree programs.

Transcripts

Applicants are required to submit official transcripts of all academic studies completed prior to application to law school. Official transcripts must be received in envelopes sealed by the issuing school. Once submitted, transcripts become the property of Kern County College of Law and will not be returned.

Personal Statement

Your opportunity to provide the Admissions Committee with information that distinguishes you from other applicants comes from your personal statement. This narrative enables the Committee members to perceive your uniqueness, as well as your writing ability. You should include life experiences, challenges and how they were met, why Kern County College of Law should admit you as a student, why you are interested in the law and attending law school, and the skills and abilities you bring to the study of law. LL.M. and M.L.S applicants should discuss how the LL.M. or M.L.S degrees are anticipated to advance their professional or academic objectives.

Transfer Law Students

KCCL welcomes transfer applicants from other law schools. KCCL may consider prior study at accredited and registered unaccredited law schools. However, each application is considered on an individual basis. Transfer applicants must submit the following:

  • Completed KCCL application and $75.00 application fee.
  • Personal statement that explains why the student is requesting a transfer to KCCL.
  • A letter of good standing from the student’s previous law school(s).
  • Official transcript from previous law school.
  • Other documentation depending on student’s specific circumstances (i.e. LSAT scores, FYLSX scores, TOEFL scores, etc.)

Pre-Law Study Outside the United States

If you completed your pre-legal education outside the United States, your transcript must be evaluated by an approved credential evaluations agency. The State Bar of California provides a list of approved agencies. Please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu or 831-582-4000 ext. 1012 for more information.

Campus Visits

We encourage you to visit Kern County College of Law. As a prospective student, you may arrange to meet informally with students, faculty, and staff. You are also encouraged to attend a class. Please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu or 831-582-4000 ext. 1012 for an appointment.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Kern County College of Law admits students without regard to race, age, sex, creed, color, physical handicap, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, national or ethnic origin.

Student Loans

As a state-accredited law school, Kern County College of Law is not a Federal Title IV educational institution. This means that KCCL

students do not qualify for federally insured educational loans. However, Sallie Mae private loans are available to students based on their personal credit or that of a co-signer. In some cases, the law school is able to provide individual short-term private loans to assist students.

When students obtain a loan from a third party, we must certify certain information on each loan application. Student applicants pay a non-refundable loan-processing fee to Kern County College of Law for this certification, even if the loan is not ultimately approved. When a loan check is received, KCCL will promptly notify the applicant and draw a check payable to the applicant. At that time all current tuition owed must be paid.

To learn more check out Sallie Mae!

Tuition and Fees

See the Schedule of Fees for current tuition and fees. Kern County College of Law has a policy of protecting students from tuition increases during their course of study. As long as a student remains continuously enrolled in good academic standing at Kern County College of Law, their tuition rate per semester will not increase. This unique policy by the KCL Board of Trustees allows KCL law students to estimate the entire cost of their law degree (excluding books and materials) at the time of their initial enrollment.

To learn more visit out Tuition and Financial Aid Page.

Tuition Policy

Kern County College of Law is an independent, non-profit educational institution that receives no support from taxes or other public funds. The primary source of revenue comes directly from student tuition.

Annual tuition and fees are due in full at the time of registration. For those students in need of additional flexibility in paying their tuition and fees, KCL provides a tuition installment program (“TIP”). Under the TIP program, students are allowed to pay the annual amount due in monthly installments. A TIP enrollment form will be available during registration.

Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters

Fall and Spring Semesters are each 16 weeks long. The Summer Semester is 11 weeks long. J.D. and J.D./M.L.S. concurrent students should plan to attend three Summer Semesters during their course of study. M.L.S. students generally attend one Summer Semester. LL.M. students may attend Summer Semester courses depending on their individual program of study.

Evening Class Schedule

Evening classes are held Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at both the Seaside and Santa Cruz locations.

Articulation Agreement

Kern County College of Law does not have any formal articulation agreements with other colleges or universities.

Business and Professions Code Section 6061.7 (4)

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Non-Refundable Fee

When you are accepted, you reserve your place in the first year class with a non-refundable reservation fee of $500.00. Upon enrollment, a portion of this fee is applied to your first semester tuition. Please contact Dean of Admissions, Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu for details related to reservation fees and tuition.

Tuition Refund Policy

The annual flat tuition rate is based on taking 12 or more units during the academic year that includes the Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters. Students who enroll on a flat tuition schedule for 12 units or more during an academic year (including combined Fall, Spring, and Summer Semesters) are only eligible for a prorated refund if they submit timely add/drop forms and are approved by the Academic Dean to drop to fewer than 12 enrolled units for the combined Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. For example, if you register for 9 units in Fall Semester, 9 in Spring Semester, and 4 units for the Summer Semester, but are approved to drop all Summer Semester courses, there is no prorated tuition refund because you will have already completed more than 12 semester units (in this example, 18 units during the Fall and Spring) during the academic year.

Students who submit timely add/drop forms and are approved to enroll in fewer than 12 units in an academic year can be eligible for a prorated refund of tuition charges. To be eligible for a tuition refund, a student must notify the Academic Dean and the Registrar by filing a timely add/drop form and submitting a written notice (by hard copy or email) of his/her intention to reduce the number of enrolled units and/or withdraw from the academic program. The amount of tuition refund is determined as of the date of receipt of written notice of withdrawal and is calculated as follows:

Withdrawal before the start of instruction: 100% Tuition Refund

Withdrawal during the first 60% of instruction: * Pro Rata Tuition Refund

Total hours of instruction offered (minus) Total hours elapsed   X   Total Tuition Cost
Total hours of instruction offered

Withdrawal after completion of 60%* of instruction: No refund

* 60% of instruction is completed in the 9th week of classes during the Fall and Spring Semesters and in the 6th week of classes during the Summer Semester.

Please note that fees are not refundable.

Students attending the College under the Veteran’s Administration Bill are governed by a special refund policy. For more information, contact Dean of Admissions Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere@montereylaw.edu or 831-582-4000 ext. 1012.

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