I knew more than a few people affiliated with the Monterey College of Law when I practiced up there a few years back, including some great attorneys, but when I saw this article in the morning news I gagged. They’re expanding!? I quickly noticed that not one word in the article mentioned any improvement in the quality of instruction or even the substance of their program at all. While “large classrooms, technological upgrades and bigger parking lots” are all important, in the end they have little to do with actually training competent lawyers.

Just to make certain I hadn’t missed the fact that their academic program’s shortcomings had already been corrected, I went to the bar’s website to look at the school’s pass rate. At the July 2004 test, 26 Monterey College of Law alumni endured the three days. Four passed: two first-timers and two who’d previously failed. For both first timers and repeaters, their pass rate was less than 20%.

I certainly understand that all JDs don’t plan to practice, and many don’t even intend to take a bar exam, but how can a law school produce graduates who a) want to pass the bar , but b) can’t (at least 80% can’t) and then c) invest in new buildings so they can expand their program from 100 to 300 students?

Comments are closed.