San Francisco Law School

San Francisco Law School is dedicated to the providing the opportunity for a quality legal education to a diverse student population, many of whom are working full time jobs and have family responsibilities while attending law school.

For over 100 years, San Francisco Law School has been devoted to educating attorneys who embody the highest skills of the legal profession and are committed to the ethical practice of the profession.

Since its earliest days, San Francisco Law School has been a model of non-discrimination, diversity and opportunity. Students at San Francisco Law School seek to better their own lives and that of their families. Historically, students are the first in their families to be in a doctoral program and, for some, the first to have graduated from college.

San Francisco Law School is a school of Alliant International University, an institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is approved by the U.S. Department of Education for financial assistance.

Additionally, San Francisco Law School is accredited by the State Bar of California, Committee of Bar Examiners. San Francisco Law School has been continuously accredited since California accreditation began in 1937.

Students who graduate from San Francisco Law School are eligible to practice law in the State of California upon passage of the California Bar Examination.

Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be admitted to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek admission to practice law outside of California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admission requirements.

In October 2011, the State Bar of California, Committee of Bar Examiners approved the expansion of San Francisco Law School programs to include a full time program. The full time program is a natural complement to our traditional evening program and provides students with greater options and flexibility.

In March 2014, the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California granted approval to open a branch campus of San Francisco Law School in San Diego. The branch campus is a provisionally accredited campus of California Accredited San Francisco Law School. San Diego Law School is name of the new branch campus residing on the San Diego campus of Alliant International University. The legal program for the first cohort on the new campus will be a part-time evening program starting in August, 2014.

Law School Policies

Transfer Credit

Students are required to successfully complete 87 semester units of credit (1,305 hours) for award of the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence. At least 44 of the 87 units must be completed in residence at the Law School. Credit may be transferred from other law schools at the discretion and with the permission of the Dean. A grade of at least 70% or a C from schools using letter grades will be required. Grades are not transferable and will not be included in the grade point average computed by the university. Transfer students’ grades cannot be used to compete for Valedictorian or other similar awards or standing.

Grading System

The Law School uses the following numerical system of grading:

100 - 90% Excellent
85 - 89 % Superior
75 - 79% Good
70 - 74% Passing, but of concern
55 - 69% Unsatisfactory
54% Failure - no credit

It is the policy of the Law School that all students are required to maintain academic good standing during the course of their law study. Students failing to meet these requirements will be subject to academic probation or disqualification. The student’s grade point average is used to determine whether a student is in good academic standing, academically disqualified, or will be placed on academic probation. Academic standing is determined by grades at the conclusion of the Spring Semester of each year.

A student is in academic good standing when:

A student in the Second, Third, or Fourth year, has a minimum GPA for the academic year of 70% or greater, and a CGPA of 70% or greater, and has no additional CGPA requirements; or
A student is in the Second, Third, or Fourth year, has a requirement for a minimum GPA for the academic semester or year or a CGPA greater than 70% and has met that requirement; or,
A student was admitted without a requirement that a GPA of greater than 70% be achieved at the end of the First year, and has attained a GPA of 70% at the end of the First Year, or
A student was admitted with a requirement that a GPA of greater than 70% be attained at the end of the First Year, and has met the required GPA.

The Law School reserves the right to place a student receiving a mid-term or final grade of less than 70% in a course in Academic Improvement status. When in Academic Improvement status, the Law School may require the student to take additional actions to increase the student’s subject matter knowledge, which action may include, but is not limited to, participating in the Academic Support Program, additional testing, additional course work, or private tutoring, or if the student is otherwise in good standing, repeat the course in which the student received less than a GPA of 70%.

Academic Disqualification

A student will be subject to Academic Disqualification when any of the following apply:

A student’s GPA is less than 70% at the end of the First Year;
A student’s GPA for the Second, Third, or Fourth year is less than 70%;
A student’s CGPA is less than 70%; or
A student was accepted with, readmitted with, or has a probationary requirement for a GPA 70% or higher and has failed to attain the required GPA either cumulatively or in any course.

Academic Probation

A student, who is readmitted to the Law School with restrictions or conditions on their academic performance, will be considered a student on academic probation and not a student in good standing.

The Academic Standards Committee (ASC) sets the conditions of probation. The ASC has the authority to fashion a decision that is fair under the circumstances. The factors taken into consideration for determining whether academic probation is appropriate can include the following: grades, CGPA, special circumstances, attendance records, admissions records (including LSAT scores, undergraduate grade point average), prior probation, withdrawals, leaves of absence, and the student’s proposed remedial plan.

The range of conditions of academic probation can include the following or a combination of the following: a set GPA, a set grade-per-class, a remedial plan or course or class(es); examinations, a tutor, tutorials, academic support attendance, a writing class(es), attendance requirements, study programs, and compliance with a remedial plan. The meeting of the ASC will be held in accordance with Section 1.5.

Petition for Relief from Disqualification

A student, who has received a Notice of Academic Disqualification and has a GPA of 68% or higher, may petition to the Academic Standards Committee for relief. The petition must be submitted to the Dean or Registrar. The petition must be in writing and must demonstrate good cause for relief from Academic Disqualification, including a showing of changed circumstances and a plan for remediation. All decisions of the ASC are final/ not appealable.

The ASC has the authority to fashion a decision that is fair under the circumstances. Options include but are not limited to: academic probation, GPA and CGPA requirements for the following semester or academic year; attendance requirements, tutoring requirements, study skills requirements, writing requirements, remedial plan or courses or classes, the taking of the First Year Law Students Examination (“FYLSE”), sitting out for one year, or similar requirements. The Academic Standards Committee may take into consideration the attendance record of the student, as well as any explanations offered for poor attendance.

A student who has received a Notice of Academic Disqualification is not in good standing for the purposes of a receiving a letter of good standing.

Students seeking readmission to the Law School must submit a written petition to the Registrar or Dean, no later than 14 days after notice of disqualification is mailed. Verbal petitions will not be considered by the ASC. The 14 day requirement does not apply to a student petitioning after receiving notice of passing the FYLSE.

Student Code of Conduct

Students who enter the Law School do so to acquire a comprehensive legal education and to prepare for a legal career in the legal profession or related fields. Student conduct which obstructs or interferes with the administrative or academic process, or which interferes with the rights of other students endeavoring to pursue their legal education, will be sufficient cause for removal from the Law School.

Clinical Fieldwork Program

Students are allowed to obtain academic credit work as an intern in an actual, functioning legal environment with practicing attorneys or judges. Students may receive one hour of credit for each 75 hours of participation. A student may receive up to four units of credit per academic year for clinical fieldwork, with a maximum of two units per semester. Single units may be taken in any one semester. Academic credit is not given for remunerated work. Approved clinical program units are charged the same tuition rate as all other academic units.