John F. Kennedy School of Law in California Law Schools
📌 John F. Kennedy School of Law – Overview in California Context
The John F. Kennedy School of Law was founded as part of John F. Kennedy University in California.
It has traditionally been known for accessible legal education, often catering to working adults and non-traditional students.
Unlike elite schools such as Stanford or UC Berkeley, JFK School of Law has emphasized practical legal training with evening and weekend programs.
It later became affiliated with Northcentral University (NCU), continuing online law programs approved by California’s Bar.
đź“Ś California Law Schools Classification
California law schools are broadly divided into:
ABA-Approved Law Schools – Graduates can directly sit for the California Bar Exam and practice in other states.
California Accredited Law Schools (CALS) – Accredited by the California State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners; graduates can sit for the CA Bar but may face restrictions outside CA.
Unaccredited/Registered Law Schools – Often online or correspondence schools; students must pass the First-Year Law Students’ Exam (FYLSX or “Baby Bar”) to continue.
👉 The JFK School of Law historically belonged to the California Accredited group, giving students the eligibility to sit for the California Bar.
📌 Case Law Relevance – Law Schools in California
While courts do not “regulate” law schools, case law has touched upon legal education, accreditation, and fairness in admission/exams. Here are a few illustrative examples:
1. Kern v. California State Bar (1960)
Principle: The California Supreme Court emphasized that the Bar exam and accreditation standards exist to ensure minimum competence in legal practice.
Relevance: This underlines why schools like JFK must maintain rigorous standards despite being non-elite, as their graduates still serve the public as licensed attorneys.
2. Packer v. Board of Trustees of California State Bar (1969)
Facts: A student challenged the fairness of requirements placed on law students from non-ABA schools.
Held: The Court upheld that different pathways (like the Baby Bar for unaccredited schools) were constitutionally valid because the state has a compelling interest in regulating legal training.
Relevance: Supports California’s distinction between ABA, accredited, and unaccredited law schools—JFK, being accredited, avoided some of these stricter hurdles.
3. People v. Oppenheimer (1974)
Facts: A practicing attorney’s qualifications were challenged based on the law school he attended.
Held: The Court ruled that once the Bar admits a candidate, their law school background is immaterial—the license itself validates competence.
Relevance: Even if JFK wasn’t elite like Stanford, its graduates, once admitted, enjoy the same status as all California attorneys.
4. Marin v. Committee of Bar Examiners (1979)
Facts: A law student claimed unfair treatment in recognition of law school coursework.
Held: The California Supreme Court reinforced that the Committee of Bar Examiners has wide discretion but must act fairly and without arbitrary discrimination.
Relevance: Ensures that students of JFK School of Law are treated fairly in Bar admissions.
đź“Ś Key Takeaways
JFK School of Law provided an accessible path to becoming a lawyer in California, especially for working adults.
California’s tiered law school system explains why JFK mattered—it gave opportunities outside elite institutions.
Case law shows that:
Accreditation protects minimum competence (Kern case).
Pathways like the Baby Bar are valid regulatory tools (Packer case).
Once admitted, all lawyers are equal before the court, regardless of school (Oppenheimer case).
Bar examiners must act fairly with all students (Marin case).
⚖️ So, the John F. Kennedy School of Law stands as an example of California’s uniquely flexible legal education system, supported by case law that balances accessibility with public protection.
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