Any law school that is not accredited by the examining committee of the State Bar shall provide every student with a disclosure statement, subsequent to the payment of any application fee but prior to the payment of any registration fee, containing all of the following information:
(a) The school is not accredited. However, in addition, if the school has been approved by other agencies, that fact may be so stated.
(b) Where the school has not been in operation for 10 years, the assets and liabilities of the school. However, if the school has had prior affiliation with another school that has been in operation more than 10 years, has been under the control of another school that has been in operation more than 10 years, or has been a successor to a school in operation more than 10 years, this subdivision is not applicable.
(c) The number and percentage of students who have taken and who have passed the first-year law student’s examination and the final bar examination in the previous five years, or since the establishment of the school, whichever time is less, which shall include only those students who have been certified by the school to take the examinations.
(d) The number of legal volumes in the library. This subdivision does not apply to correspondence schools.
(e) The educational background, qualifications, and experience of the faculty, and whether or not the faculty members and administrators (e.g., the dean) are licensees of the California State Bar.
(f) The ratio of faculty to students for the previous five years or since the establishment of the school, whichever time is less.
(g) Whether or not the school has applied for accreditation, and, if so, the date of application and whether or not that application has been withdrawn, is currently pending, or has been finally denied. The school need only disclose information relating to applications made in the previous five years.
(h) That the education provided by the school may not satisfy the requirements of other states for the practice of law. Applicants should inquire regarding those requirements, if any, to the state in which they may wish to practice.
The disclosure statement required by this section shall be signed by each student, who shall receive as a receipt a copy of his or her signed disclosure statement. If any school does not comply with these requirements, it shall make a full refund of all fees paid by students.
Subject to approval by the board, the examining committee may adopt reasonable rules and regulations as are necessary for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 659, Sec. 48. (AB 3249) Effective January 1, 2019.)