Newsletter

 

    Message from the Dean

As we prepare for and move into whatever the next phase of our pandemic lives will be, I hope that you, your family, and friends continue to stay healthy and safe. Our law school continues to address many of the same challenges tackled throughout the community, cautiously reopening onsite classes while striving to maintain a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. For the Fall semester, we provided a limited number of onsite classes at all locations for students and faculty who elected to return to campus. We enhanced our HVAC air-filtration systems in all buildings, added in-room air filters, and contracted with professional cleaning services to sanitize classrooms and common areas daily. At the current time, we also continue to require masks to enter any of our facilities. Most of all, we appreciate the support and cooperation of our entire law school community as we work together to provide the same high-quality legal education everyone expects from our law school programs without interruption.

Despite these challenges, there is also good news to share. Congratulations to all the faculty, students, and judges who provided an excellent 2021 Moot Court program. The all-school finalists Laura Batcha, Gabriela Bonato, Kayleen Clements, and Nicole Mullikin who appeared before the Honorable Justices Syda Cogliati and Matthew Guerrero were great representatives of the entire 2021 moot court class.

I am also pleased to report that the law school has formally taken the first step in seeking accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This has been a multi-year initiative that will continue to require our attention for the next 12 to 24 months. Although the law school has been accredited through the State Bar of California since 1981, successful WASC accreditation will open additional opportunities for federal student loan support in the years to come. We will keep you posted on our progress as we navigate the lengthy process.

The law school is proud to share the great news that our Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management is one of programs selected to participate in the 2021 "Monterey County Gives!" campaign in which contributions to our community mediation programs receive matching grants from the Community Foundation of Monterey County. The campaign is underway now, and we encourage you to support the program from now through December 31, 2021.

In State Bar news, The State Bar of California’s Board of Trustees recently opened formal public comment on a proposed program that would allow JD graduates who have not passed the bar exam to be eligible for licensing as a "Limited License Legal Practitioner" in the fields of consumer debt, employment and income maintenance, family children and custody and housing. There are still several steps to go before this new professional program is adopted, but if approved by the Bar, the Supreme Court, and the state legislature, it might open an alternative licensing path for law graduates who have difficulty passing the general bar exam. For more information on the proposal, click here.

As a closing note for my last message of the year, I am pleased to report that the law school has re-started the activities for our 50th Anniversary Celebration after having to put plans on hold in 2020 during the pandemic. An outdoor, COVID-safe, alumni picnic was held at the Carmel Ranch property of MCL alumna Teri Scarlett. It was great to meet and chat with alumni from a broad range of our almost 50-year history. Everyone agreed that we need to schedule another one in the not-so distant future as, hopefully, group social events become the norm again. A huge thanks to Dean Emerita Karen Kadushin, our Director of Development Debbie Howitt, Staff Member Extraordinaire Lisa Williams, and all the others who helped make the event possible. Look for more to come in 2022, including a luncheon honoring MCL’s Founders, scheduled for March 31.

All the best for the holiday season and the coming New Year!

Sincerely,

Mitch Winick
President and Dean