Thank you for your interest in the Pathway to Law School program.

Thank you for your interest in the Pathway to Law School at Saddleback College.

Please check back to this page for the date, time, and location of the next informational meeting.


Saddleback College is one of 27 select Community Colleges in California to be included in a new initiative that will create a pathway to ten of California’s most prestigious undergraduate institutions and their affiliated law schools.

  • University of Southern California and USC Gould School of Law
  • University of San Francisco and USF School of Law
  • University of California, Davis and UCD School of Law
  • University of California, Irvine and UCI School of Law
  • Santa Clara University and SCU School of Law
  • Loyola Marymount University and LMU Law School
  • University of California, Los Angeles and UCLA School of Law
  • University of California, Berkeley and UCB School of Law
  • Pepperdine University and Pepperdine Caruso School of Law
  • Chapman University and Dale E. Fowler School of Law


The Community College Pathway to Law School Initiative is an unprecedented opportunity to offer advancement in the legal profession for our students, including diverse populations, particularly those who have been traditionally underrepresented in the legal profession.

The project, sponsored by the State Bar's Council on Access and Fairness (COAF) established agreements with twenty-eight community colleges and eight law schools and their respective undergraduate institutions.

COAF Requirements - Scholar Requirements

COAF Program Requirements and Reasons for Termination from the Program as stated in the Memorandum of Understanding dated 4/30/14:

  1. Good Standing. Student must at all times be in good academic standing as defined by each educational institution that the Student attends; must never be on academic probation or suspension or in violation of student conduct codes; and must at no time fall below the standards of ethics or behavior that would bar admission to the State Bar of California. Student should contact the State Bar of California, and/or the equivalent licensing organizations in the jurisdiction(s) in which the Student intends to practice, to determine the applicable character, fitness, and other qualifications necessary for licensure.

    In addition to the above, Student may at any point be removed from consideration under this Initiative by any or all of the participating law schools for any of the following behaviors as determined by those participating law schools;
     
    1. Academic misconduct
    2. Unlawful misconduct
    3. Employment misconduct
    4. Financial misconduct
    5. Any other reasons determined by a law school that would indicate that Student does not
      appear capable of satisfactorily completing its educational program and being admitted to the bar.
       
  2. Application and Matriculation at Law School. Student must complete the course work at the community college level during this Agreement Period and enroll in participating law school no later than Fall 2024. Student is required to complete the law school application. Student must register with the Law School Admission Council and submit official transcripts through the Candidate Assembly Service (CAS).
     
  3. No Obligation. Any Student who does not meet the requirements for consideration as a "COAF Scholar" under this MOU or who is removed from the Initiative is not otherwise barred from seeking directly admission to any law school, including all participating law schools. Likewise, Student who meets all the requirements under this MOU is not obligated to attend any of the participating law schools and may seek admission to other law schools or may decide not to pursue a legal career.

Required curriculum - Core classes