CA Senate Advances Bill To Establish First Public Law School At San Jose State

Photo: San Jose State University/James Tensuan

India-West Staff Reporter

SACRAMENTO– The California State Senate has passed SB 550, a bill introduced by Senator Dave Cortese (D) to authorize the creation of the first public law school in the California State University (CSU) system. If approved by the Assembly, the law school would be established at San José State University.

The proposal seeks to address long-standing affordability and access issues in legal education, particularly for underrepresented and first-generation students. Santa Clara County, home to nearly two million residents, currently lacks a public law school despite its population being over 65% Asian or Latino—two groups that remain underrepresented among licensed attorneys statewide.

SB 550 outlines a potential integration between San José State University and Lincoln Law School of San José, a nonprofit, state-accredited institution. The collaboration would create the first public law school in San José and the CSU system. Final approval would require a green light from the CSU Board of Trustees.

“Cost and geographic barriers continue to keep many talented individuals from entering the legal profession,” said Cortese. “This bill is about providing an affordable, community-based option to diversify and strengthen California’s legal pipeline.”

The bill highlights the growing financial burden of legal education, with average law school debt at private institutions now exceeding $130,000. Nearly 67% of young attorneys report financial stress, which discourages public service careers and limits diversity in the legal field.