Vision
The College of Law and Public Service is an incubator for innovation in legal education, thought, and advocacy for individuals passionate about serving their communities and promoting access and justice.
Mission
The mission of the College of Law and Public Service is to guide our students in the discovery of law and self as they prepare for the practice of law or other professional careers. Our faculty of scholars and teachers is committed to creating an innovative, collaborative learning environment designed to develop the knowledge and skills relevant to achieving individual and professional success.
Our mission encompasses educating, as well as enhancing the professional lives of, the members of the local, regional, national, and international communities we encounter – students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, members of the bench and bar, and others who pursue social justice.
Our mission is grounded in the core values of the University of La Verne – life-long learning, ethical reasoning and decision-making, diversity & inclusivity, and community & civic engagement.
Difference-making is our legacy.
Core Values
- University Values: As a College within the University of La Verne we adopt and endorse the University core values of Life-long Learning, Diversity and Inclusivity, Community Engagement, and Ethical Reasoning.
- College of Law and Public Service Core Principles and Values: As an institution dedicated to teaching and training the next generation of lawyers and leaders, we operate institutionally and individually on the principles of professionalism, innovation, ethics, student centeredness and community enhancement. In our actions and interactions, we are and seek to be affirming, respectful, humble, accountable, committed, inclusive, empathetic, responsive, passionate, and positive.
La Verne Model of Legal Education
Basic Skills for Success
It all starts with the belief that the success of its students and graduates – in the classroom, on the bar exam, and in the practice of law – is the focus of the College of Law and Public Service. The basic skills revolve around the ability to Read, Analyze and Present (RAP). Those essential concepts are introduced during orientation, maintained and expanded upon throughout the curriculum, and finely honed during postgraduate bar exam preparation.
High Bar Performance
Because nearly all students begin law school with the goal of becoming a licensed attorney, preparing students for success on the bar exam is both an essential expectation by the students and the responsibility of the College of Law and Public Service. The Student Success Center introduces students to bar success concepts and, through each class and every stage of their law school career, emphasizes what it will take for them to be successful. The capstone experience is the Bar Exam Strategic Training (BEST) program offered to every graduate in preparation for their first bar exam.
Ready to Practice Curriculum
The goal is to equip students with the skills and experiences that lawyers, judges, clients and the community expect from a law school graduate, preparing them to enter the legal profession. The the College of Law and Public Service Model of Legal Education incorporates legal writing into two first-year courses as well as doctrine, values and skills into two other first-year courses. It continues with doctrine and skills being taught during two semester-long simulation tracks in the second year (one taken each semester). And in the third year, students must meet the requirement of an experiential learning experience through a clinic, externship or practicum course. Exposure to the interconnection of knowledge, skills and experience makes the College of Law and Public Service students highly attractive to potential employers.
Being a Beacon of Hope and Inspiration
Along with its educational mission, the College of Law and Public Service is a resource. It serves as an institution involved in advancing and understanding the law and as a resource to the community. It sponsors discussions, symposia, scholarships and other opportunities with the law and the legal community, and promotes interaction with the local and regional communities. By hosting academic events, meetings, and even cultural outreach in its new art gallery, and through close interaction with area Bar Associations, city and county governments and San Bernardino and Riverside county judiciary, it establishes itself as an interested and engaged community partner.
Commitment to Access and Affordability
Law school is a significant investment of time and financial resources for students and their families. The University of La Verne is committed to providing an affordable program of legal education. The College of Law and Public Service offers one of the most affordable JD programs in the state.
