Complaint Review: Saratoga University School Of Law - San Jose California

In my last post I stated the small stiuation I had with Dr. Narkin and it was resolved as soon as we talked on the phone. Dr. Narkin has always been right to the point and honest with me about how the non-bar classes worked before I ever paid a dime. He's always been straight forward and honest to me about everything. It also seems that the one who made the first report against Dr. Narkin also knew how the classes worked but it was found that he lied on his application and decided to wrongfully attack Dr. Narkin by purchasing a web site domain name simular to the schools web site domain name and making a web site with the same graphics and fonts to wrongfully slander and get even with Dr. Narkin and Saratoga U. This in itself seems like it is a crime in some way. I don't think Dr. Narkin or Saratoga University school of law has done anything wrong at all. I'm looking forward to taking more classes soon now that I went back to school since I took the non-bar classes and will have enough credits and my Bachelor's degree to qualify for the courses that will qualify me for the bar exam. What I like about the school is it offers courses I can take at home that I have to take do to my handicap. Sincerely, Phil from Upper Lake

In my last post I stated the small stiuation I had with Dr. Narkin and it was resolved as soon as we talked on the phone. Dr. Narkin has always been right to the point and honest with me about how the non-bar classes worked before I ever paid a dime. He's always been straight forward and honest to me about everything. It also seems that the one who made the first report against Dr. Narkin also knew how the classes worked but it was found that he lied on his application and decided to wrongfully attack Dr. Narkin by purchasing a web site domain name simular to the schools web site domain name and making a web site with the same graphics and fonts to wrongfully slander and get even with Dr. Narkin and Saratoga U. This in itself seems like it is a crime in some way. I don't think Dr. Narkin or Saratoga University school of law has done anything wrong at all. I'm looking forward to taking more classes soon now that I went back to school since I took the non-bar classes and will have enough credits and my Bachelor's degree to qualify for the courses that will qualify me for the bar exam. What I like about the school is it offers courses I can take at home that I have to take do to my handicap. Sincerely, Phil from Upper Lake

I have worked with Saratoga University and the Dean Dr. Michael Narkin for some time and have a great deal of respect for the school. A former student by the name of Michael Walker was forced to leave the school after it was discovered by the California State Bar Association that he had forged his original transcrips and was therefor unable to sit for the "baby bar." Walker demanded a refund from Saratoga University and the University refused to give him one. Walker has since launched an effort to spread false rumors about the school, including impersonating other students. There is a current student of Saratoga University by the name of Phillip, who lives in Upper Lake California. Phillip did not "take a few courses a few years back," but is a current student, and a satisfied student, to my knowlege. There are hundreds of satisfied students currently enrolled at Saratoga University. In addition, many people have graduated from the school, passed the Bar exam and are now practicing attorneys. Even if your goal is not to practice law, earning a JD is good investment in your profit earning potential.

Unfortunately, Phillip, you are probably going to have to retake your classes whether or not you get your transcript. If you are trying to transfer distance learning law school credits to a traditional university I think you'll find yourself out of luck. Distance learning programs are not sanctioned by the ABA, and the State of California is the only one that allows JDs from correspondence and online law schools to sit for the bar. Additionally, the first year of studies is the cornerstone of legal education. Virtually every law school adheres to the same curriculum for first year students. An integral part of this curiculum is the use fo the socratic method. Many legal scholars will tell you that the socratic method is the most important part of the substantive courses a first year law student takes, even beyond the substance itself. It fosters the sharp reasoning abilities required of lawyers. Distance learning law schools are devoid of the socratic method. This, coupled with the lack of recognition from the ABA, prevents the traditional schools from accepting transfers from distance institutions. Also, a JD from this institution only allows you to practice law in California. California already has far more law schools than any other state, including some of the largest and highest ranked. Even in the schools outside of California tons of students want to be California lawyers. The high desirability of California legal employment is why the California bar passage rate is only about 50%. All in all, unless you decided to hang out a shingle and open a private practice, you'd probably have a hard time finding a job upon graduation with a degree that most of the legal community looks down upon. I'm sure we'll here from my esteemed colleauge from Pennsylvania on this one, and maybe a good debate on the merits of distance learning will be had. Best of luck,