General Information

Monterey College of Law’s mission is to provide a quality legal education in a community law school setting with graduates who are dedicated to professional excellence, integrity, and community service.

Monterey College of Law is accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California to offer three law degree programs.

Monterey College of Law offers serious, highly motivated students the opportunity to seek a career change, re-enter the workforce, or advance their current professional career by obtaining a legal education. Most of the students at Monterey College of Law work while attending law school in the evenings.   Courses are taught by practicing lawyers and judges who emphasize training in legal skills and professional responsibility.  Professors are knowledgeable in legal theory and practice.  Small classes allow students the opportunity to get to know our faculty and to build long-lasting professional networks with their fellow students.

Monterey College of Law – Photo by Nicole Barkis

Through our Mandell Gisnet Center for Conflict Management, the law school provides clinical programs that provide practical training for our students and help meet the needs of the under-served members of our community.  We have partnered with the Monterey and Santa Cruz Superior Courts to develop grant-funded mediation programs that are the first of their type in Northern California, including mediation programs for small claims, landlord-tenant, collections, and neighbor disputes.

Monterey College of Law was founded more than forty years ago to serve the communities of the California central coast.  We continue to succeed in that mission.  Our alumni are community leaders, judges, lawyers and business professionals representing the broad spectrum of individuals, organizations and industries that define the region.