Proposed amendments to the Accredited Law School Rules and the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules
PLEASE NOTE: Publication for public comment is not, and shall not be construed as, a recommendation or approval by the Board of Trustees of the materials published.
SUBJECT:
Proposed amendments to the Accredited Law School Rules and the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules that define and make clear the operational differences between a branch and satellite campus of a California-accredited law school (CALS) and that also institutes an appropriate process by which approval of the establishment of either may be considered and conferred by the Committee of Bar Examiners (committee).
BACKGROUND:
The Accredited Law School Rules currently provide only the following in regard to establishing a campus at a location other than at a California-accredited law school’s (CALS) existing campus:
Rule 4.165 Major Changes
The following are major changes:
(B) changing the location of the school or the location of a branch, or opening a new branch;
Pursuant to this requirement, if a CALS seeks to offer some or all of its curriculum at a location other than its existing campus, it must first seek prior approval of the Committee as required by Rule 4.1264.
Currently, however, neither the Accredited Law School Rules nor the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules (Guidelines) appear to provide sufficient guidance as to what constitutes a “branch” campus, or what might constitute a campus that is intended to offer students less than a four-year curriculum leading to the award of a Juris Doctor degree, which is commonly referred to as a “satellite” campus.
The committee directed staff to draft additions to the Guidelines “… that make clear that if a California-accredited wants to establish a three or four-year branch campus, the new campus must meet the criteria for accreditation independently, although certain requirements may be shared, such as the dean and that a satellite branch campus may be established for a limited purpose, such as providing a portion of the education at another location.” Under this direction, additions to the Accredited Law School Rules and Guidelines were drafted and submitted to the committee’s Advisory Committee on California Accredited Law School Rules (RAC) for consideration. In response, RAC and the deans from several CALS suggested several revisions and modifications.
After review of the RAC’s and CALS’ input, proposed amendments to the Accredited Law School Rules and to the Guidelines were approved in principle by the committee, subject to a public comment period and approval by the Board of Trustees.
PROPOSAL:
The committee has approved in principle, subject to a public comment period and approval by the Board of Trustees, proposed amendments to the Accredited Law School Rules and the Guidelines for Accredited Law School Rules that define and make clear the operational differences between a branch and satellite campus of a CALS and that also institutes an appropriate process by which approval of the establishment of either may be considered and conferred by the committee. If a CALS wishes to establish a three or four-year branch campus, the new campus must meet the criteria for accreditation independently, although certain requirements may be shared, such as the dean, and that a satellite campus may be established for a limited purpose, such as providing a portion of the education at another location.
ANY KNOWN FISCAL/PERSONNEL IMPACT:
None
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Proposed amendments to Division 2. Accredited Law School Rules, Chapter 4. Responsibilities of Provisionally Accredited and Accredited Law Schools, Rule 4.60(H) and Rule 4.165 (B)
Attachment B: Proposed Amendments to Division 15. Opening and Operating a Branch or Satellite Campus, 15.1. 15.2, 15.3 and 15.4
SOURCE:
Committee of Bar Examiners
DEADLINE FOR COMMENTS:
Dec. 31, 2014
DIRECT COMMENTS TO:
Deanna Chinn
The State Bar of California
180 Howard St.
San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: 415-538-2548
Fax: 415-538-2304
Email: Deanna.Chinn@calbar.ca.gov