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Senate committee hears SB 550 to authorize potential public law school at San José State; UC objects, advocates cite access and diversity gaps
Summary
Senator Cortese presented SB 550, which would permit a nonprofit, state‑accredited law school to become an academic unit of San José State University if mutually agreed. Supporters said the policy would expand affordable legal education in Silicon Valley and diversify the profession; UC and private institutions urged broader master‑plan changes.
Sen. Dave Cortese presented SB 550, a bill authorizing the potential integration of an eligible nonprofit, state‑accredited law school into San José State University as a public law school option. Cortese framed the measure as addressing an access and diversity gap: Santa Clara County — the largest Bay Area county and major center of economic activity — has no public law school and many residents are underrepresented in the legal profession.
Supporters, including the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley and San José State students and pre‑law…
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