Several barriers exist for aspiring law students in Santa Clara County, including the lack of an affordable, accessible public law school. With a large population and economic significance, this gap is problematic. Senate Bill 550 has been introduced to authorize San Jose State University to integrate with a nonprofit, state-accredited law school. This initiative aims to provide affordable legal education, addressing high student debt and underrepresentation of communities. Many students currently face long commutes and financial challenges, preventing them from pursuing their legal aspirations.
San Jose is the largest city in the Bay Area and third largest in California. Santa Clara County is home to 2 million people and has the sixth-highest GDP in the nation.
For a region like ours, the economic engine of our state, that's simply unacceptable. It is the reason I've introduced Senate Bill 550, which would create the pathway for Santa Clara County's first-ever public law school.
SB 550 legally authorizes our local San Jose State University (SJSU) campus to integrate with a nonprofit, state-accredited law school and provide access to an affordable legal education for our next generation.
The latest data from Equal Justice Works shows the average law student graduates with more than $130,000 in debt, thanks to costly private law schools.
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