Monterey College of Law

Monterey College of Law Monterey College of Law (MCL) is a private, non-profit law school founded in 1972 providing an accredited part-time evening 4yr J.D. program, a 2yr MLS (MA) degree, and a 1yr LLM.

Located on the former Fort Ord Army base in historic Monterey Bay, The Monterey College of Law not only offers part-time degrees for those wishing to practice the law but an additional MA degree for those who have an interest in the law but wish to use the knowledge in other professions. Monterey College of Law (MCL) is a private, non-profit law school founded in 1972 in Monterey, California, and

the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California accredits its degree programs.

The school is the first California-accredited law school to be granted authority to offer a two-year Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) degree for individuals who want to study law but do not wish to pursue a traditional law degree. The Committee of Bar Examiners authorized the law school to offer a one-year LL.M. in International Law starting in Fall 2011.

The school opened its second building, a Certified LEED Platinum Community Justice Center, in April 2010. By achieving LEED Platinum certification, it is only the second law school in the US to open a LEED Platinum facility. The new courtroom and Mediation Center meet the highest US Standards for environmentally sustainable design, engineering, and construction.

In the Fall of 2015, the law school opened its first branch campus in San Luis Obispo, its second branch in Kern County in 2017, and its third branch campus in Santa Rosa in July of 2022. It also launched its hybrid online enrollment option in 2018.

Alums are community leaders, judges, lawyers, and business professionals representing the broad spectrum of individuals, organizations, and industries that define the area. Because the faculty remains actively involved in the legal community, students benefit from their knowledge of legal theory and legal practice.

Three days into your first week. How’s it going?Here’s what actually helps right now.👉👉👉 Brace for your first co...
08/19/2026

Three days into your first week. How’s it going?

Here’s what actually helps right now.
👉👉👉



Brace for your first cold call. It doesn’t have to be a good answer. It just has to be an answer. Nobody remembers who fumbled it by week two.

Start your outline the first night, not the week before finals. Every note you take from day one is the thing you’ll actually be studying in December.

Save one classmate’s number before you leave the building. You will text them “wait, what page is she on” before the month is out. Better to have the number already.

Academic Regalia. The stole, the hood, the tam. This is what it looks like when the hard work pays off.1Ls. Are you read...
08/10/2026

Academic Regalia. The stole, the hood, the tam. This is what it looks like when the hard work pays off.

1Ls. Are you ready? Your journey starts in 1 week.

Continuing student? Let’s go!

Bring your will to learn, and we’ll take it from there!

You have thought about it for years. The degree. The career change. The thing you keep putting off because the timing wa...
08/05/2026

You have thought about it for years. The degree. The career change. The thing you keep putting off because the timing was never right.

Monterey College of Law was built for people who stopped waiting for perfect timing. Evening classes. Four campuses across California. A hybrid program that lets you stay exactly where you are.

Spring 2027 applications are open.
Apply at montereylaw.edu — link in bio.

It’s summer! Sleep in. Take the long way down the coast. Hike, bike, enjoy the sun. You earned this stretch, and it is a...
08/01/2026

It’s summer!
 
Sleep in. Take the long way down the coast. Hike, bike, enjoy the sun.
 
You earned this stretch, and it is almost over.
 
If you’re new, Orientation is Monday, August 3.
If you’re returning, we hope you’re enjoying your much deserved time off.
 
Classes begin August 17.
 

At 88, Libby Downey is two years into her law degree at Monterey College of Law.Her story is a reminder of the importanc...
07/28/2026

At 88, Libby Downey is two years into her law degree at Monterey College of Law.

Her story is a reminder of the importance of never giving up on one's dreams. Downey spent 60 years in public service on the Monterey Peninsula as a nurse, a Monterey City Council member, and a member of nearly 30 boards. Law school was the one goal she never got to pursue, because when she graduated high school the options presented to women were nurse, teacher, or secretary.

She is now attending classes at MCL's Seaside Campus, a community based law school founded over 54 years ago to provide a high quality legal education with flexible options so students can study law while working or fulfilling other responsibilities. She plans to work in mediation or consult with attorneys in medicine and city policy when she graduates.

"The practice of law is such a critical part of equity and fairness in our community," said Mitch Winick, former dean of Monterey College of Law. "We need lawyers, and we particularly need lawyers who are rooted to the community."

Downey's own framing is simpler: "Nobody can take away from me what I've learned in law school."

Her feature aired tonight on KSBW 8.
https://www.ksbw.com/article/monterey-woman-88-dream-attending-law-school/73275619

Join Mitch Winick and special guest Dr. Lena Miller for an in-depth discussion in the latest episode of SideBarMedia.Dr....
07/16/2026

Join Mitch Winick and special guest Dr. Lena Miller for an in-depth discussion in the latest episode of SideBarMedia.

Dr. Miller is Co-Founder and CEO at Urban Alchemy, the largest community-based public safety programs in the nation, and an expert in the fields of psychology, education, and activism – all of which inform Urban Alchemy’s innovative approach to and demonstrated impact in healing communities challenged by the intersection of extreme poverty, mental illness, addiction, and homelessness.

https://sidebarmediaca.podbean.com/e/urban-alchemy-transforms-people-and-places-with-dr-lena-miller/

06/30/2026

Success in law school—and in the legal profession—is built one step at a time.

For nearly 60 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County has been transforming lives by providing local youth with...
06/25/2026

For nearly 60 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County has been transforming lives by providing local youth with mentorship, educational opportunities, and a safe place to learn and grow.

In this SideBarMedia episode with Ron Johnson, President and CEO, listeners will discover how community organizations create lasting impact through leadership, advocacy, and service.

For law students, it's an insightful look at how legal professionals can partner with nonprofits, influence public policy, and help strengthen the communities they serve.

Tune in: https://sidebarmediaca.podbean.com/e/boys-and-girls-clubs-are-the-foundation-of-our-future-with-ron-johnson/

Today, we honor Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality...
06/19/2026

Today, we honor Juneteenth, a day that commemorates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of justice and equality, and recognize the importance of learning from our history and advancing the principles of fairness, opportunity, and equal justice under the law.

Address

100 Colonel Durham Street
Seaside, CA
93955

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm

Telephone

+18315824000

Website

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