University of California: law school.
AB 951 aims to address a significant gap in legal education within the Inland Empire, a region home to over 4.2 million residents, by facilitating access to legal education for prospective law students. Currently, there are no University of California-operated law schools in this populous area, making it challenging for local students to attend existing schools in distant locations. By establishing a local law school, the bill seeks to support the development of a robust legal community and economy in the region while ensuring that residents have better access to legal education and professional opportunities.
Assembly Bill No. 951, introduced by Assembly Member Cervantes, proposes the establishment of a public law school administered by the University of California in the County of Riverside. The bill highlights the importance of a functional legal system in maintaining a free and democratic society and acknowledges law schools as vital institutions for legal education and community legal systems. It notes that the last law school established within the University of California system was in 2008 at the University of California, Irvine, which emphasizes the need for additional legal education resources in southern California, especially in underserved regions like the Inland Empire.
The proposed bill recognizes that the lack of a public law school in the Inland Empire is detrimental not only to aspiring law students but also to the overall health of the local legal community. Some points of contention may arise around funding commitments, as the bill calls for an unspecified appropriation from the General Fund to support the school's establishment. Discussions in legislative sessions might bring up questions about the sustainability of state funding for this initiative, its long-term impact on California's educational landscape, and ensuring that the new law school meets the needs of the community and graduates qualified legal professionals.