My expectations have been far surpassed at CDTA as John Patrick Dolan’s vision for a Coachella Valley law school becomes a reality. CDTA features an impressive array of knowledgeable and experienced faculty who have made educating trial lawyers their top priority.
In addition, CDTA’s Registrar/Director of Admissions, Irene Garcia Dolan, adds a personal touch to the educational process with her concern for each student and her efficiency in administration. I highly recommend CDTA for anyone interested in pursuing a legal education.
Douglas J. Roger
____________________________________________________________________
My experience attending CDTA has been unique, enjoyable and rewarding. While trying to make the decision on whether to apply to CDTA, there were several different factors that I had to consider: the cost, the convenience, and the quality of education I would receive. CDTA has exceeded my expectations in every aspect.CDTA is the best choice because it combines affordability, a strategic course facility and a practical learning opportunity.
At CDTA, student’s benefit from a diverse and experienced group of professors and the classes are of an exceptional quality of education. The professors are all very knowledgeable of their respective areas and are willing to assist you in any way possible. The fact they are all practicing attorneys is effective; they don't just teach from theory, they are able to bring their real life experiences to class and apply it to what they are teaching. Not only are the professors knowledgeable, they really care about the students and want to see each of us succeed. Furthermore, the faculty is supportive of each student’s future plans and committed to the achievement of our goals.
CDTA provides the students with the support we need to succeed. I am pleased and proud to be a part of CDTA College of Law.
Nicole L. Ebarb
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September 17, 2012
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by Karen Sloan
California Desert Trial Academy, COLLEGE OF LAW
Indio, CalifORNIA
Indio, CalifORNIA
Attorney John Patrick Dolan met plenty of skepticism when he unveiled his vision for a law school in California's Coachella Valley that would focus on preparing students for trial advocacy. Detractors argued that California doesn't need any more lawyers or law schools, but Dolan saw unmet demand in Indio, about 70 miles away from the next closest law school — the California Southern Law School in Riverside, Calif.
Dolan and local supporters pushed forward and in early September welcomed 16 students to the California Desert Trial Academy. In June, the State Bar of California recognized the project as a registered, unaccredited, fixed-facility law school that can confer J.D.s, but administrators ran into a snag when it came to financial aid for students. Without accreditation by the state bar, the American Bar Association or another regional accrediting body, students are not eligible for federal education loans. The 16 students who are enrolled are paying the $12,000 annual tuition out-of-pocket, Dolan said.
"The financial aid is an obstacle we need to overcome, and we're working on resolving that," he said. "We would have had a class of about 25 students this year, but some people said they couldn't do it without access to federal loans." Dolan plans to ask an accrediting agency to evaluate the curriculum and facilities this year. Pending accreditation, students will have to sit for California's First Year Law Students' Exam, also known as the "baby bar," following their first year.
This year's crop of students comprise almost entirely career changers, including a real estate agent, a doctor, a political aide and a court clerk. The average student is "well over 30" years old, Dolan said. The curriculum is designed to take four years to complete.
For now, classes are held in the local law library, but the school is in the final stages of purchasing a building and Dolan expects renovations to be completed in time for the next academic year. Keeping with the trial-advocacy theme, the renovated building will include several mock courtrooms.
Dolan hopes to enroll between 100 and 120 students within four years. The 10 faculty members are practicing attorneys. "We're interested in being an ABA-accredited law school, but that's probably a decade down the road," Dolan said.
CDTA
California Desert Trial Academy
College of Law
"Educating, Training and Developing Extraordinary Legal Advocates"
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A law school sprouts in California's desert
The California Desert Trial Academy College of Law will focus on preparing students for trial advocacy and fill a need for a local law school, said criminal defense attorney John Patrick Dolan, president and chief executive officer of the venture.
Karen Sloan
September 22, 2011
A group of attorneys in Indio, Calif. are moving forward with plans to open a new law school next September.
The California Desert Trial Academy College of Law will focus on preparing students for trial advocacy and fill a need for a local law school, said criminal defense attorney John Patrick Dolan, president and chief executive officer of the venture.
"I've been thinking about this for years," he said. "How come there's not a school where people can go if they want to become trial lawyers? This is a great opportunity."
Indio, a desert community of about 76,000 people, is located 125 miles east of Los Angeles and 26 miles east of Palm Springs. The closest law school is California Southern Law School in Riverside, Calif., 70 miles away.
Dolan said the school is intended primarily to serve local residents. The school hopes to enroll 25 to 40 students next year, and organizers were encouraged by an open house on Sept. 21 that drew about 50 prospective students.
The school will cater primarily to students who work. It will offer night classes during the week and Saturday sessions focused on practical skills, such as negotiation, writing and presenting audio and visual materials to a jury.
Dolan plans to secure accreditation from the California State Bar — and possibly from the American Bar Association down the line. Because the school is not yet accredited, students will be required to sit for the California's First-Year Law Student Exam, also known as the Baby Bar.
Initially, all classes will be taught by Dolan; Sue Steding, a former Riverside County prosecutor; and Julie Bornstein, an attorney who has served in the California Assembly and held numerous positions in state government.
Annual tuition for the four-year program will be $12,000, including books for the first class, Dolan said.
"We're able to keep the tuition low because myself and the other faculty are getting paid little or nothing," Dolan said. "We don't have huge overhead expenses."
Initially, the school will operate out of a local courthouse, but administrators hope to expand into a downtown Indio building and construct a trial, appellate and federal courtroom where students can practice their advocacy skills. The school initially will operate as a for-profit venture in order to take advantage of certain state and federal incentives, but will probably switch to non-profit status in the future, Dolan said.
He doesn't expect the difficult job market for young attorneys to affect the new school's graduates.
"We don't anticipate that our graduates will be getting jobs at the big law firms," he said. "We see them becoming DAs, public defenders or starting their own practice. It's my understanding that the biggest problems in the marketplace right now is that the big firms aren't hiring as much and they're laying people off."
Starting a law school in this economic climate may still be an uphill climb. One new law school opened this fall — the Belmont University College of Law in Nashville — but two other law schools that were slated to have opened this year have been delayed. Critics have questioned the need for new law schools when job placement nationwide has lagged and applications to ABA-accredited law schools fell by 10% last year.
Karen Sloan can be contacted at ksloan@alm.com.
The California Desert Trial Academy College of Law will focus on preparing students for trial advocacy and fill a need for a local law school, said criminal defense attorney John Patrick Dolan, president and chief executive officer of the venture.
"I've been thinking about this for years," he said. "How come there's not a school where people can go if they want to become trial lawyers? This is a great opportunity."
Indio, a desert community of about 76,000 people, is located 125 miles east of Los Angeles and 26 miles east of Palm Springs. The closest law school is California Southern Law School in Riverside, Calif., 70 miles away.
Dolan said the school is intended primarily to serve local residents. The school hopes to enroll 25 to 40 students next year, and organizers were encouraged by an open house on Sept. 21 that drew about 50 prospective students.
The school will cater primarily to students who work. It will offer night classes during the week and Saturday sessions focused on practical skills, such as negotiation, writing and presenting audio and visual materials to a jury.
Dolan plans to secure accreditation from the California State Bar — and possibly from the American Bar Association down the line. Because the school is not yet accredited, students will be required to sit for the California's First-Year Law Student Exam, also known as the Baby Bar.
Initially, all classes will be taught by Dolan; Sue Steding, a former Riverside County prosecutor; and Julie Bornstein, an attorney who has served in the California Assembly and held numerous positions in state government.
Annual tuition for the four-year program will be $12,000, including books for the first class, Dolan said.
"We're able to keep the tuition low because myself and the other faculty are getting paid little or nothing," Dolan said. "We don't have huge overhead expenses."
Initially, the school will operate out of a local courthouse, but administrators hope to expand into a downtown Indio building and construct a trial, appellate and federal courtroom where students can practice their advocacy skills. The school initially will operate as a for-profit venture in order to take advantage of certain state and federal incentives, but will probably switch to non-profit status in the future, Dolan said.
He doesn't expect the difficult job market for young attorneys to affect the new school's graduates.
"We don't anticipate that our graduates will be getting jobs at the big law firms," he said. "We see them becoming DAs, public defenders or starting their own practice. It's my understanding that the biggest problems in the marketplace right now is that the big firms aren't hiring as much and they're laying people off."
Starting a law school in this economic climate may still be an uphill climb. One new law school opened this fall — the Belmont University College of Law in Nashville — but two other law schools that were slated to have opened this year have been delayed. Critics have questioned the need for new law schools when job placement nationwide has lagged and applications to ABA-accredited law schools fell by 10% last year.
Karen Sloan can be contacted at ksloan@alm.com.
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What a terrific turnout last night at our first Information Forum "So You think You Want To Be A Lawyer?" held at the Larson Justice Center Law Library. We had 52 prospective students in an audience of 75 people. We will be scheduling interviews shortly for those who expressed a desire to file an application and pursue an education at the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law.