San Joaquin College of Law

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San Joaquin College of Law A COBE & WASC-accredited law school located midway between LA & San Francisco. Since that time, SJCL graduates have distinguished themselves professionally.

SJCL is the only accredited law school in a 100-mile radius and our graduates go on to pursue a variety of leadership positions locally, nationally and internationally. San Joaquin College of Law (SJCL) was founded in 1969 by a visionary group of San Joaquin Valley judges and attorneys who believed that capable individuals were being denied a quality legal education. Among their alumni ranks are fifty-six judges and court commissioners, the Fresno, Kings, and Madera County District Attorneys, the former California Health and Human Services Secretary, the former Deputy Director of the California Environmental Protection Agency, and practitioners in every area of public and private service. Your Bachelor’s Degree in any major qualifies you to apply. In as little as three years, you could be an attorney.

Meet the students helping shape the SJCL experience this year. 💙We’re excited to introduce our 2026–2027 Student Bar Ass...
10/16/2026

Meet the students helping shape the SJCL experience this year. 💙

We’re excited to introduce our 2026–2027 Student Bar Association Executive Board and Class Representatives! ⚖️

At SJCL, every student is a member of the Student Bar Association—but these students have stepped up to take on an even bigger role: representing their classmates, bringing student perspectives forward, building community, and helping make law school a little more connected along the way.

Throughout the year, SBA helps coordinate student events and traditions, supports student mentoring, sponsors scholarships, recognizes student leadership and achievement while creating a space for conversations about the issues that matter to our students.

From helping classmates feel heard to creating opportunities for students to connect outside the classroom, these are some of the people working behind the scenes to make the law school experience stronger for everyone. 👇

⚖️Executive Board
President: Navpreet Dhillon
Vice President: Cody Nothaus
Treasurer: Daniel Dougherty
Secretary: Edna Villicana Madrigal

⚖️4L Representatives
Lorena Goodnight + Nancy Diaz

⚖️3L Representatives
Anthony Randell + Jordan Kemp

⚖️2L Representatives
Shelby Hollenbeck + Edward Moraga

⚖️1L Representatives
Alexis Clynes + Tessa Thom

To our 2026–2027 SBA Board: thank you for stepping up to lead, serve + advocate for your fellow students. We’re excited to see what you build together this year! ✨

10/16/2026

Here’s why 👇

You might already have more of the skills law school demands than you realize. 🇺🇸

Because think about what military service asked of you 🤔

💠Learn complex information quickly.
💠Make decisions when the stakes are high.
💠Communicate clearly.
💠Pay attention to details.
💠Work with people from different backgrounds.
💠Lead when necessary and follow when the mission requires it.
💠Stay disciplined when something is difficult.
💠Understand that your decisions can affect someone other than yourself.

Sound familiar?

Those same qualities have an important place in the legal profession.

And there’s something else your military experience gives you that can’t simply be taught from a casebook:

Perspective. 🔑

You’ve experienced systems, leadership, responsibility, service, and problem-solving in ways many law students haven’t.

Those experiences don’t disappear when you enter a classroom. They become part of the way you analyze problems, advocate for others, understand clients, and eventually decide what kind of lawyer you want to be. ⚖️

Maybe that’s continuing a life of service through public interest or government work.

Maybe it’s advocating for your fellow veterans.

Maybe you’re interested in criminal law, business, family law, immigration, or an area you haven’t even discovered yet.

Or maybe you’re just wondering if law school could actually be a good next chapter for you?

That’s the kind of questions we want you to bring to ✨Veterans to Law School on Wednesday, November 4 at 6pm✨

Together with the Clovis Veterans Memorial District, we’re bringing together veterans who are currently in law school and SJCL graduates who are now practicing attorneys.

You’ll hear how they made the transition from military service to law school, see how their experiences helped prepare them, find out what career opportunities a law degree can give you, and get the answers you’re looking for from fellow veterans who’ve actually made the journey. 🇺🇸

You’ve already answered one call to serve. Maybe the law is another way your experience can make a difference. 🔗

Some cases change precedent. Others change how an entire community approaches a crisis. ⚖️We’re incredibly proud to cong...
10/13/2026

Some cases change precedent. Others change how an entire community approaches a crisis. ⚖️

We’re incredibly proud to congratulate SJCL alumnus and Chief Deputy District Attorney Kendall Reynolds (JD ’12) on being named one of Fresno County’s 2026 Public Safety Heroes at the annual State of the County luncheon, hosted by the Fresno Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the County of Fresno. 👏

Kendall received the honor alongside Major Crimes Commander Michael Johns for their leadership in the investigation and prosecution of Fresno County’s first fentanyl-related homicide case to result in a second-degree murder conviction of a drug dealer—which, at the time, was only the third such conviction in California.

Getting there required far more than what anyone eventually saw in the courtroom. 💼

Hundreds of hours of investigation and preparation. Extensive evidence review. Search warrants. Surveillance. Controlled purchases. Late nights and long weekends. And, most important, close collaboration between prosecutors and investigators.

But Kendall said those hours were worth it for a reason far more important than an award:

The work gave a voice to a victim who was no longer here to speak for herself—and allowed her story to continue making an impact.

That perspective says so much about what public service can look like at its best. ✨

For Kendall, prosecution is about accountability, but it also requires partnership, compassion for victims and their families, and a commitment to doing what’s right for the community.

And the impact of this case didn't end with the conviction.

Both Kendall and Commander Johns have continued sharing what they learned with prosecutors and law enforcement professionals throughout California to help others better understand how fentanyl-related homicide cases can be investigated and prosecuted.

That's how one case in Fresno County became knowledge that can now help communities across the state.

Kendall, congratulations on this incredibly meaningful recognition. We’re proud not only of what you’ve accomplished, but of the leadership, persistence, and commitment to public service that continue to define your career. 💙

📸: Fresno County District Attorney's Office

Veterans already know what it feels like to step into something difficult without knowing exactly what the experience wi...
10/10/2026

Veterans already know what it feels like to step into something difficult without knowing exactly what the experience will ask of you. 🇺🇸

That's why more vets should consider going to law school.

Military service can develop skills that translate surprisingly well to legal education and practice: discipline, preparation, leadership, teamwork, attention to detail, decision-making under pressure and the ability to keep moving when something gets difficult.

But knowing those skills can translate into law is different from sitting across from someone who's actually done it.

That’s why we’re bringing together three SJCL alumni from three branches of the military for our upcoming Veterans to Law School Career Panel. ⚖️

Three veterans. Three different journeys. ✨

And three people who can answer the questions you can’t Google like:

🔹What was the transition actually like?
🔹What parts of military service helped in law school?
🔹How did you know becoming a lawyer was right for you?
🔹And what does life after earning the JD really look like?

If you’ve ever wondered if your military experience could lead somewhere new, come hear from people who’ve already taken this path.

And bring the people who would take the journey with you. Spouses, significant others, adult children and parents are welcome, too. 💙

🇺🇸Hosted by SJCL + Clovis Veterans Memorial District
📅 Wednesday, November 4
⏰ 6–8 p.m.

Your service is already part of your story. Come find out if law school could be part of what comes next. ⚖️

to a room filled with thousands of Central Valley women—and a few familiar SJCL faces. 💕Last month, the Fresno office ...
10/09/2026

to a room filled with thousands of Central Valley women—and a few familiar SJCL faces. 💕

Last month, the Fresno office of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani (GRSM50) returned to the Central California Women's Conference, marking the firm’s third consecutive year as a sponsor and fourth year attending the event.

And we especially loved seeing our alumnae Elizabeth Thomasian (JD ’14), Jenna Halop (JD ’21), and Marisol Cruz Rodriguez (JD ’24) representing GRSM50 while connecting with so many women in our community.

The annual conference brings together more than 3,500 women throughout the Central Valley for a day centered around education, inspiration, connection, and empowerment—and this year, attendees also heard from Olympic Gold Medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Mia Hamm about going “Beyond the Goal.”

For Elizabeth, Jenna, and Marisol, their law school journeys might have ended at graduation, but the relationships they’re building and the impact they’re making throughout the Central Valley hasn't. ⚖️

Sometimes betting on yourself changes more than your career. It changes the rooms you get to walk into. ⚖️In 2024, Stude...
10/08/2026

Sometimes betting on yourself changes more than your career. It changes the rooms you get to walk into. ⚖️

In 2024, Student Bar Association President and 3L, Navpreet Dhillon, made a decision that required a whole lot of courage.

She left a teaching career, school, and coworkers she loved to go to law school—all while raising two young children.

There was no guarantee where that decision would take her.

She just believed enough in herself and the future she wanted to build.

And now? That bet on herself is paying off. ✨

Congratulations to Navpreet on receiving the Justice Pauline Davis Hanson Scholarship from Fresno County Women Lawyers, an award carrying the name and legacy of Fresno County’s first female judge. 👏

There’s something especially powerful about that.

A scholarship honoring a woman who helped make history in our local legal community is now helping support another woman building her own place within it. 🔑

And Navpreet is already seeing what happens when you walk into spaces you never imagined yourself in.

She’s sitting in rooms with judges and attorneys who now know her name.
They know her story.
They know the work she’s putting in.

And they’re becoming part of the professional community she’s building before she’s even graduated. 🎓

We’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished Navpreet and grateful to organizations like Fresno County Women Lawyers for continuing to invest in and create opportunities for the women who continue to shape the future of our legal community. ✨

Here’s to betting on yourself—and one day looking around the room and realizing just how far that decision took you. 💙

10/06/2026

Take that first step 👟

Maybe you thought you’d go to law school right after college. Then a gap year turned into two or three.

Or you started working. Built a career. Had kids. Took care of family. Or life was just life-ing.

There’s no roadmap that tells you when to take the LSAT, when to apply, or what age you’re “”supposed”” to start law school. 🗺️

So you might look at the years it’ll take and think:

💭Is it too late? Is this going to take too long? Should I have started sooner?

But the thing about those years is they’re going to pass anyway.

Three or four years from now, you’ll still be three or four years older.

So maybe the question isn’t if you should’ve started earlier. Maybe it’s what are you going to do with the time ahead of you? 🤔

💠Do you care deeply about justice?

💠Is there something happening in your community that you wish you had the tools to change?

💠Have you spent years thinking “”I could do more...””?

💠Is being a lawyer a dream you keep coming back to?

Then give yourself permission to go after it. ⚖️

Your path might include a gap year—or five. It might include raising kids, working full time, being the first in your family, or just figuring things out as you go.

That doesn’t put you behind. It makes the path yours.

And your first step can simply be finding out what’s possible for you 👇

Join our ✨Law School 101 on Tuesday, October 27 at 6pm✨ online or in person. You’ll get an inside look at law school, hear from students with their own unique paths to get here, and see what makes SJCL different.

The years ahead are coming either way. Why not give yourself the chance to see where they could take you? 🔗

10/02/2026

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a 1L?

Thinking that knowing the material is the same thing as knowing how to use it. 📚

Law school throws a LOT of information at you. Cases. Rules. Exceptions to the rules. Notes from class. More cases. More exceptions. 😅

And by finals, the goal isn’t simply to remember everything you’ve read.

You have to be able to make sense of it, find the connections and clearly show that understanding on an exam.

That’s why SJCL alumna and Legal Methods Professor, Jodie Howard’s (JD ’19), advice for law students might sound simple, but it can completely change the way you study:

Get organized early—and build your study materials yourself. 🔑

Because there’s something important happening while you’re turning weeks of class notes, case briefs, rules, and concepts into an outline or study guide that actually makes sense to you.

You’re not just organizing information.

You’re processing it. Making connections. Figuring out what you understand and what you don’t understand just yet.

And that’s why borrowing someone else’s beautifully organized outline may feel like a shortcut, but creating your own is part of the learning itself.

That’s why the process is the study session. 💡

It also helps prepare you for something bigger than your next final: learning how to take a huge amount of legal information, identify what matters, organize your thinking + communicate it clearly—skills you’ll continue developing throughout law school, Bar prep, and eventually legal practice.

And Professor Howard knows that journey from both sides of the classroom. As an SJCL alumna who now teaches Legal Methods, she’s helping the next generation of law students develop the skills she once had to learn herself. 💙

Who says law students have to be miserable during law school? 📚Ask someone what law school is like and you'll probably h...
09/30/2026

Who says law students have to be miserable during law school? 📚

Ask someone what law school is like and you'll probably hear about the reading. The cold calls. The finals. The stress.

And yes—law school is hard.

You're learning an entirely new way of thinking, reading, writing, and analyzing problems. So it should challenge you.

But challenging and miserable aren't the same thing.

Law school can also be where you finally learn how to advocate for the issues you've cared about for years. Where your study group becomes your friend group long after graduation. Where you meet professors who know your name, join organizations, attend events, find an area of law you didn't know you'd love, and build relationships with people who become your colleagues for decades.

That's why at SJCL, we've intentionally built a law school culture where collaboration, community + having a life outside the classroom are part of the experience. 💙

So, future lawyers, before you let someone else's law school horror story convince you this isn't for you...

👉SWIPE through for a few things about law school you might actually love.

You know your child better than anyone. But knowing how to advocate for what they need at school? That can feel like lea...
09/29/2026

You know your child better than anyone. But knowing how to advocate for what they need at school? That can feel like learning an entirely new language. 💙

IEPs.
Assessments.
Accommodations.
Services.
Meetings filled with terminology you probably haven't heard before.

For parents and caregivers of children with special needs, understanding your child's educational rights makes it easier to walk into those conversations feeling informed, prepared, and ready to ask the questions that matter.

That's exactly what our upcoming Special Education Advocacy Classes are designed to help families do. ⚖️

Led by SJCL alumnae Shannon Wentworth (JD ’19) and Laura Higareda-Chapa (JD ’22), alongside BREN law clerks, this community class will help parents better understand the special education system and be more confident advocates for their children.

And we especially love that two of our SJCL graduates are using their legal education this way.

Both Shannon and Laura have dedicated their careers to helping families navigate systems that can feel complicated and intimidating to make sure parents have access to knowledge that helps them advocate for the education and support their children deserve.

Because sometimes legal advocacy doesn't begin in a courtroom.

Sometimes it begins with a parent sitting across a table, understanding their options, and knowing which questions to ask. 💙

If you're raising a child with special needs—or know a family who could benefit from understanding their educational rights a little better—please share this with them. The right information can make an intimidating process feel easier to navigate. 📚

REGISTER: https://bit.ly/SJCLBREN

Address

901 5th Street
Clovis, CA
93612

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 10pm
Tuesday 9am - 10pm
Wednesday 9am - 10pm
Thursday 9am - 10pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 6pm
Sunday 8:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+15593261455

Website

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