7+ Cheapest Law Schools in California (FAQs) | 2022

Cheapest Law Schools in California

The cheapest law schools in California are schools that possess exceptional academic prowess and provide knowledge to law students at a lower cost.

Students can afford to attend law school in California if they take advantage of the many scholarships, grants, and other financial aid available and make lifestyle choices that could lower their overall cost of living.

It’s possible that studying law in California will turn out to be the smartest choice from a financial standpoint.

It is feasible to enjoy law schools in California without the exorbitant price tag or the heavy load of student debt if you make choices based on your available information.

Thus, if you do your research ahead of time and find out which law schools in California offer the best value for your money, you can be directed in the correct direction.

Is law a good career path?

Yes, it is. Many recent law school grads have found success in various fields, while some have become respected international leaders.

The legal industry has grown incredibly in the past few years. A legal degree isn’t a guarantee of rapid success or great fortune, but it’s a step in the right direction.

You’ll have more job stability and earn more money than someone who doesn’t have this professional qualification.

In addition, a consistent rise in profits and sales has led to an increase in the number of employees and considerable wage increases in various legal positions.

The legal field is one of the best-paying ones in today’s economy. Double-digit growth has resulted in solid revenues and soaring wages in recent years.

In the nation’s leading law firms, associates start at $150,000 to $180,000, and partners are paid an average of $1.2 million.

Non-lawyers also make a lot of money in the legal industry. Legal services have historically been resilient to economic downturns. They should continue to do so in the future because many companies are expanding their geographic reach and offering a wider range of services.

On the other hand, a slowdown in the economy will benefit several professional areas, such as litigation, bankruptcy and reorganization, residential real estate foreclosures, and regulatory compliance.

Because of this, lawyers may expect to find work in any economic scenario.

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How Long Does It Take to Complete Law School in California?

The amount of time spent studying law varies greatly from country to country, but many countries adhere to a standard.

These time limits differ because some include the time spent on the diploma program, while others include both the time spent on the degree program and the time spent on law school.

In its most basic form, the study of law in California can take anywhere from three to six years, including the time spent in law school.

How much do lawyers make in California?

Lawyers have a high earning potential, as they are among the highest-paid professionals in the nation.

Lawyers have a great deal of prestige and influence, which ultimately leads to esteem and accomplishment.

In accordance with the legislation, they have the chance to assist others and advance equality in all aspects. Around $162,700 per year is the average income for a lawyer in California.

Do lawyers lie in California?

The Rules of Professional Conduct govern the ethical obligations of a lawyer in California. It is against the law for lawyers to commit acts of dishonesty.

Negotiations can be further complicated if the client gives directions to a lawyer.

A lawyer’s ethical obligation to maintain client confidentiality may forbid them from disclosing any material without their client’s permission.

Why Should I Enroll in a Law School in California?

The following are some of the reasons you should enroll in a law school after earning your bachelor’s degree in law:

  • Law school helps students become proficient in the “language of the law” and “legal” writing approaches.
  • It improves your ability to argue orally and your presentation skills.
  • It instills a healthy fear of taking risks and learning from one’s mistakes.
  • You get to learn legal ethics.

Cheapest Law Schools in California:

1. Standford University School of Law:

Stanford University is a private research university near Palo Alto, California.

The law school there is called Stanford Law School. Since it opened in 1893, it has been considered one of the best law schools in the world.

The university is structured around three traditional schools, including forty academic departments at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Although just 5 percent of applicants are accepted, the percentage of students who complete the program is an astonishing 95 percent.

Also, the university has four professional schools that focus on graduate programs in law, medicine, education, and business.

As one of the cheapest law schools in California, the annual tuition at the Stanford University School of Law comes in at $20,750. 

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2. Southwestern Law School:

Southwestern Law School is a private law school in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Mid-Wilshire. The American Bar Association recognizes it, and it has nearly 1,000 students.

This is one of the cheapest law schools in California, with the total amount due for tuition and fees at $27,856.

The enrolled students have, on average, earned a grade point average of 3.3, and their LSAT score has been 153 on average.

The admissions percentage at Southwestern University School of Law is 47.89%, with 910 students accepted out of a total of 1,900 applicants.

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3. University of La Verne College of Law:

The law school at the private University of La Verne in Ontario, California, is called the University of La Verne College of Law.

It has been around since 1970 and is recognized by the State Bar of California. However, the American Bar Association does not recognize it.

The Juris Doctor (JD) is the highest level of legal education that may be attained from the University of La Verne College of Law.

The degree needs 88 credits, which can be earned through full-time study over three years or part-time study over four years.

In conjunction with the University of La Verne College of Business and Public Management, this institution also provides two dual degree programs: the Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (JD/MBA) and the Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA).

As one of the cheapest law schools in California, students at the University of La Verne College of Law must pay an annual tuition fee of $30,280.

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4. Western States University School of Law:

Western State University is a public college that has been around since 1901. It offers various degree programs in all technical fields, such as engineering and computer science.

They offer about 100 majors for undergraduates and seven for graduate students, including law and engineering.

Its School of law is one of the least expensive law schools in California, with an entrance rate of 92% and a graduation rate of 36%, making it one of the schools where you can easily get accepted to study law.

As one of California’s cheapest law schools, the annual tuition cost at Western State University School of Law amounts to $42,860.

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5. University of San Francisco School of Law:

The University of San Francisco School of Law is the law school for the private University of San Francisco.

It was founded in 1912, approved by the American Bar Association in 1935, and joined the Association of American Law Schools in 1937.

The University of San Francisco is next on the list of law schools in California that provide the lowest tuition rates.

The University of San Francisco can be found where the Golden Gate Bridge and Golden Gate Park are.

It received a ranking of 97th overall from US News & World Report. In addition, the “Best Value” category ranked it 67th nationally in 2020.

To attend the University of San Francisco School of Law, you must pay a $50,770 tuition fee yearly.

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6. Thomas Jefferson School of Law: 

The Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California, is a private law school.

It has a Juris Doctor program and three Master of Laws programs, one of which is only available online. It also has a combined J.D./M.B.A. program with San Diego State University.

Accreditation has been bestowed upon it by the American Bar Association. Master’s degrees are also available. The year 1969 marked the beginning of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law.

As one of the cheapest law schools in California, Thomas Jefferson School of Law students have to pay $51,000 in tuition yearly to go there.

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7. Golden State University School of Law:

The Golden Gate University School of Law is one of the university’s professional graduate schools.

GGU is a California non-profit corporation with its main office in downtown San Francisco. The American Bar Association has given it its full seal of approval.

Programs leading to the first degree in law (J.D.), a first graduate degree in law (L.L.M.), and a doctoral law degree (S.J.D.) are all available to law students at Golden State University.

These programs include intellectual property law, environmental law, tax law, U.S. legal studies, and international law.

In addition, students can get combination degrees, such as a Juris Doctor and a Master of Business Administration through the Ageno School of Business at Golden Gate University or a Juris Doctor and a Doctor of Philosophy through Palo Alto University.

The Golden State University School of Law has an annual tuition rate of $51,700.

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8. Santa Clara University School of Law:

The law school at Santa Clara University is called the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Santa Clara University is a Jesuit university in Santa Clara, California, in the Silicon Valley area of the United States. In 1911, the School of Law was started.

This fully accredited law school grants the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.

In addition, it provides several double degree programs, such as a Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (J.D./M.B.A.) and a Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS).

The law school has a graduation rate of 85% and an acceptance rate of 48%, so it is not difficult to be accepted into the program.

As one of the cheapest law schools in California, the tuition cost that is required to be paid by each law student is $52,528. 

Frequently Asked Questions on the Cheapest Law Schools in California:

Does law school take 2 or 3 years?

In the United States, law schools are part of either public or private universities and give out Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees. The J.D. program usually takes full-time students three years and part-time students four years.

Is law school difficult?

Overall, law school is difficult. Stressful, time-consuming, and requires a greater dedication than traditional postsecondary education. However, nearly 40,000 students graduate from law schools each year, thus, it is certainly doable.

Is it worth going to law school?

As of 2019, lawyers in the top 10 percentile had a median yearly salary of more than $208,000. Some law school grads choose not to practice law to better balance their career and personal lives. If you want to work in the legal field, a J.D. is a valuable credential.

Is law school harder than med school?

Medical school is a mix of classroom and lab work, with a heavy emphasis on memory. Analytical and critical thinking are essential in law school. To be successful in law school, students must study and write a lot, while in medical school, they must learn by doing.

Conclusion:

These law schools in California hold potential in terms of transforming less-than-competent students into successful attorneys.

They are reputable, well-known, and widely recognized organizations, although they can be relatively inexpensive.

You, as an individual, are responsible for most of the work, and you must work hard every day to succeed.

Awesome one; I hope this article answered your question.

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