Pacific Coast University School of Law

I am a 2L student at PCU. The professors care about you however are very demanding. I recently went to a seminar from a regionally recognized professional. Students from other schools had to pay for the training, a significant expense, however for me it was included as part as my tuition. There are online lectures. All of the tools are there if you want to pass the bar. The administration, including the dean, are personally involved with the students and encourage you to perform your best.
A predominate number of the reviews here are positive. For the negatives it is childish to not choose a school because they asked your name (you are not ready for law school) or if your self description contains an analysis that you are pretty then an experienced student who understands the demands of law school would discount those comments.
Law school is difficult. The amount of material you have to read, the information you have to memorize and the dedication it takes to be successful is significant. Some students choose this school because of the tuition rates which are very reasonable, some because the classes are at night and others due to location. I do not have any financial constraints paying for school and remain at PCU because of the way I am valued as a student and a person.
Once again if you are considering law school in the Orange county/​Los Angeles area you should consider PCU.

The Dean of the school is actually a Divorce Attorney!!!

I am currently a working Attorney. I practice three areas of law. I run Law office of Joshua Y. Lee & Associates. Can I be honest with you? I’m not the type to brag and I am not trying to brag now. All I am saying is I am exceedingly grateful. Life is hard and its tough to make a living in this highly competitive world, let alone profession. However, I am surprised at the level of success I am experiencing. Part of that success belongs to my law school, Pacific Coast University School of Law, PCU. I am very happy with my life, the impact I make on my clients’ lives, the smiles they receive on their faces, the money I recover for their wrongs, and deals i am able to successfully broker and create. I am thankful for these skills that law school has given to me. I am pleased to make a real difference and be able to make a living at it as well.
PCU is a great option for you but let me tell you it wasn’t easy. It wasn’t easy at all. It was incredibly difficult. However, being at this end of it, it was certainly worth it.

When my husband decided to go to law school, his Aunt suggested he look into Pacific Coast University. At the open house, he was told that Pacific Coast’s program was intended for working professionals who wish to become attorneys.
He attended Pacific Coast University for their entire 4 year program and also passed the bar on his first attempt. Pacific Coast University is a great school for working adults who want to become attorneys. The tuition is low (approximately 5k per year), and the teachers are all practicing attorneys. They are good at teaching the law, but also share with you their real world practical experiences.
If you are a working adult and want something better for you and your family, Pacific Coast University is definitely a great option to consider. Graduation from the school will give you a JD and the opportunity to sit for the bar exam. If you want to get hired at a big prestigious firm you should probably look into another school. But if you want to start your own practice or advance your current career, I would definitely attend the open house and give it some serious consideration.

When I decided to go to law school, my Aunt suggested I look into Pacific Coast University. At the open house, I was told that Pacific Coast’s program is intended for working professionals who wish to become attorneys.
I attended Pacific Coast University for their entire 4 year program and also passed the bar on my first attempt. From my personal experience, I can tell you that Pacific Coast University is a great school for working adults who want to become attorneys. The tuition is low (approximately 5k per year), and the teachers are all practicing attorneys. They are good at teaching the law, but also share with you their real world practical experiences.
If you are a working adult and want something better for you and your family, Pacific Coast University is definitely a great option to consider. Graduation from the school will give you a JD and the opportunity to sit for the bar exam. If you want to get hired at a big prestigious firm you should probably look into another school. But if you want to start your own practice or advance your current career, I would definitely attend the open house and give it some serious consideration.

I am a PCU graduate, class of 2005. I’m new to Unilocaling, but so far it’s been fun.
I love PCU… It is a wonderful law school and it provided an opportunity for a girl like me (who started life with limited opportunities) a chance to pursue my dream and become an attorney. For that, I am eternally grateful. The workload was tough (especially working full-​time) but definitely within anyone’s reach to be successful. I passed the bar on my first attempt without a bar prep course and was sworn in on December 2, 2005. (Helpful hint: I went to the law library for a few months before the bar and took practice tests I downloaded from the calbar website and used old Barbri books I picked up here and there for multiple choice. I would sit in the library from 8am-​5pm religiously and literally time myself and «take the bar» over and over, taking lunch breaks and practicing with different foods that would keep me full and awake without making me drowsy. This way, when I took the actual test, I felt comfortable and confident.)
I have been practicing law consistently since December 2, 2005 and I hope to continue down my legal career path.
The school may not fit everyone’s needs, but it fit mine perfectly.
Thank you, PCU!
p. s. It’s also nice to live without the burden of large law school loans! :-))

I attended PCU for a year a few years back. I passed the baby bar on the first try, but life changes moved me away from enrolling in school for about 5 years. I re-​enrolled in PCU for this year’s track 1 2L class. The PCU staff honored all of my previous work, and made re-​admission to the school easy, and accessible.
I attribute my previous PCU training in helping me out of some tight work situations, as understanding how institutions work helped me to better protect my employment interests. Believe me, this training has been crucial to my professional survival.
As far as the education, it is the same base «content» as any law school. It’s tough, and yet very rewarding to study. There is a discipline to the madness. I have witness people attempt shortcuts, but in order to finish, they usually have to adjust, come to terms with the work and actually «do the work».
Best wishes to all who have chosen PCU, and best of luck.
And best wishes to my good friend Marissa B.

Today, I heard the advertisement from the radio and called (562) 961‑8200 to find out their open house schedule. The woman answered the phone was absolutely rude demanding my name and said, «It is only courteous to have your name.» I asked her would it be discourteous if I chose not to talk about my name, but to walk in the open house? She made an agitated noise and abandoned my call. A man took over the phone and said his name is Charles, a vice dean who brushed me off saying, «I don’t know what to say other than apologize for her behavior.» He then demanded my last name. It appears that my name is the most important issue than the school and its program. I did not have a chance to ask other questions regarding the school staff, accredited or not? It is a hostile school that I would not recommend it to anyone!

I absolutely love this school! I’m able to pursue my dreams without forsaking my current career and income.
PCU has given me amazing opportunities to immerse myself in my chosen specialty (Criminal Defense), I spend my weekends investigating Gang Homicides and other crimes.
This institution as well as all law schools require self study at home and a Socratic discussion in the classroom. Without the self-​study, failure is assured because 3 nights a week of lecture will not sufficiently teach you the law.
What more can you ask for the $ 5,000 per year tuition?

UPDATE: Just recently say a week or so, I (FINALLY) was able to resolve the transcript issue with the school and now, I can have the school forward my transcripts to anywhere I wish per the STATE BAR.
This school gave me a hard time & TRIED to get away with charging me for the whole year’s tuition (wrongfully charging me for services never rendered) ON TOP OF wrongfully kicking me out mid-​March.
TALK ABOUT ADDING INSULT TO INJURY!!!
PCU did ANYTHING [first blaming finances, then fussing about my recent grade] they could to prevent me from graduating, but you know that phrase: What comes around, goes around. This «learning institution» will not last as a business because of these incidents. State Bar knows this!
Also, as far as I am concerned, I have no idea what «party experience, day off, or sympathetic ear» Margot W is talking about. Students at PCU have families and careers. Wow, what a concept… Majority of students who have only positive things to say about this school NEVER had to deal with the politics I did, so that’s why their review is only taking into account according to their experience. I worked with some of these people who taught here and they know exactly what went down and are now retaliating against me. Talk about shady characters!
My personal experience is that this incident was a HORRIFIC experience being treated the way I was & it is a good school if teachers & students could just be honest with each other as to the issues going on. I am EXPOSING them for their unprofessionalism to the legal profession. It is quite oppressive for a law school I found; NO student should not have to deal with this.
The only positives in PCU for whom I will be eternally grateful for are the few professors such as (Professor Lee, Bernard, Eagle, Bir, Stribling) who not only have done an exceptional job with teaching, but teach with passion, intellectual vigor, excitement in a very knowledgeable manner.
It’s sad when a few bad instructors, whose names I will not mention, and a certain administrator, have to ruin the whole experience. On the whole, the balance is off here, but you do get what you pay for.
PCU is for someone who does not mind small petty school politics, but if I had to do it over again, I definitely THINK NOT. There are other schools (online/​unaccredited/​accredited) that are financially feasible and NOT forcing you to stay at the school. It is quite easy for a student to say what happened to me as «it is what it is». That is because it didn’t happen to them, so they should be lucky instead of arrogant… they know who they are. Another political kissass. That person lacks social grace anyway!!! I guess it shows you the lack of class in the general student body.
A few students told me they tried to leave PCU after their first or second year, but were cajoled into staying. Of course, the school sees this more of as a money mill versus considering the student’s interests!!!
If you are outspoken like me, stay BELOW the radar. Female, young, outspoken, pretty, you get the picture. This experience probably hasn’t/won’t happen to many others, but students DO HAVE A RIGHT to know the TRUTH of what happened.
You never know it may happen again (or who knows, maybe someone experienced it too, but is too afraid to speak out). I felt like I was back in a 3^rd world country, oppressive environment :(
Preparing for the Bar is bad enough without an administration like this trying to put me into a quicksand & outcast me (this kinda smells a bit like defamation) when I was «kicked out» of there & people did not know where I went… there was an inference that I «did not cut it»…Hmmm, when you are getting 70s, 80s, & 90s… something is just WRONG.
When I become successful, I will laugh at these LOSERS!!!
Sorry as to the whole «mystery» of why I disappeared.
If you read my reviews, I hope that truth enlightens you.
Please, FEEL FREE to refer to my Better Business Bureau complaint (which is public as well).
It shows my complaint, the school’s response, and my rebuttal.
Talk about trying to cover up the truth!!! Education is supposed to be engaging and encouraging, but here the administration feels they can be arbitrary, capricious, vicious, discriminate in harrassing.
WHAT A SHAME.

Don’t listen to the complainer on this site. This school has been around since 1927 — even before the California State Bar itself — It’s accredited and affordable. But don’t let money be the only reason you come here. The instructors are difficult, which is true but they are fair and you will learn. However, if you don’t enjoy critical thinking or a challenge then look elsewhere. You will work hard here. You will be challenged here but in no way will you feel on your own. You will meet highly professional students and instructors and as you expect professionalism… so will they. So if you are looking for the party experience or a day off or a sympathetic ear to missing your exams this isn’t the place but if you want a solid education and you want to pass the bar and you want a school that will push you then come here!!!