Author: cdtalaw

The Benefits Of Online Resources

The Benefits Of Online Resources

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) is on the cutting edge of modern, progressive 21st Century legal education. The ability to connect with students in the digital age and supplement classroom learning through the internet is an immensely valuable tool. At the California Desert Trial Academy, we are continuously seeking ways to better utilize online resources for the benefit of CDTA’s growing student body. Educating, training, and developing extraordinary advocates is our mission. The CDTA optimizes the use of online resources to pursue this mission to its fullest. We’ve designed our state-of-the-art technology platform to allow students to stay connected and...

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Did You Know That CDTA Also Offers MCLE Classes?

Did You Know That CDTA Also Offers MCLE Classes?

The California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA) has served the Coachella Valley in a variety of ways since it was founded in 2012. First and foremost, we brought higher legal education to the Inland Empire. We’ve also started charitable legal causes such as Project #180, which kept at-risk teens from committing crimes and entering the California juvenile justice system. CDTA has a direct affiliation with the Desert Center for Legal Education (DCLE), which provides insightful commentary on our justice system while supporting educational commentary on high profile legal issues produced and distributed on radio, television, print, and social media in the Coachella Valley. But...

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Bar Exam Basics: The California Bar Exam

Bar Exam Basics: The California Bar Exam

The California Bar Exam is as daunting as any bar exam in the country. The preparation for an examination of this magnitude is like no other test anyone will likely take in a lifetime. All the California Desert Trial Academy’s (CDTA) California State Bar tested courses are uniquely taught in a real courtroom environment by real lawyers and judges. Our 4-year law school program prepares students to take and pass the California Bar Examination. Most students are used to studying a few days in advance for a test in an undergraduate class. For many tests, the preparation may require only a...

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CDTA Students Support One Another

CDTA Students Support One Another

“We’re all in this together, so let’s help each other achieve common goals.” This a strong tenet of the California Desert Trial Academy (CDTA). The more resources, human or otherwise, that a student has in learning about any subject, the more a student will learn. It really is nothing but basic common sense. The CDTA emphasizes student collaboration and teamwork as an important component of achieving academic and professional goals. It seems every law school student knows the story of a certain fellow student who “misplaced” and unscrupulously concealed books in the law library to prevent his classmates from completing a...

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Going Beyond 20th Century Legal Education: CDTA’s Progressive Approach

Going Beyond 20th Century Legal Education: CDTA’s Progressive Approach

Traditional law schools prepare students to be lawyers by a rigorous schedule that compresses legal education into three years. CDTA meets the needs of working people by providing a more relaxed “study at your own pace” approach to legal education that considers adult students’ responsibilities away from legal school. A student will take four years of classes at CDTA before graduation. This additional year allows a slower, more reasonable, manageable pace while providing courses and teaching skills that equip graduates to be competent advocates on their first day of practicing law. Discussions with legendary trial attorneys, F. Lee Bailey and Gerry...

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Soft Skills: Strong Ethics & Professional Conduct are Key

soft skills

While some critics today think there should be even greater emphasis on hard skills courses in law school, and less attention to the soft, much of what you learn in your soft skills courses at California Desert Trial Academy, College of Law could be invaluable to your success as a trial attorney. There is no doubt that you must master an enormous amount of information about the law. Additionally, soft skills will help you strengthen many aspects of lawyering that are not taught in the classroom that will be critical to your career. You will take a course in Professional Responsibility...

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Law School: How Many Hours a Week Should I Be Studying?

studying

How much time will it take to prepare for classes and how much studying should you do for exams in law school? While this question has as many answers as there are law students, there is a formula that many professors advocate using. You will most likely want to plan to study for at least two hours for every hour of class. For example, in your first year, you will study Torts, Contracts and Criminal Law. Each class is 3 ½ hours a week. This means you should plan on studying and preparing for each class about 7 hours per...

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Think You Live Too Far Away from CDTA to Go to Law School? Think Again!

soft skills

At the California Desert Trial Academy, College of Law, our goal is to see you succeed in law school. If you live too far away from our campus in Indio to comfortably drive in three nights a week, you may be eligible to participate in our unique Distance Learning Program. This State Bar approved, hybrid program allows you to attend classes from the comfort of your home by attending remotely through the Zoom platform. You will attend class at the same time as your classmates attending in person by logging into our program on your computer. You will be able to...

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Studying Hard Skills—The Difference Between Civil & Criminal Procedure

hard skills

Your law school experience will teach you both hard skills such as evidence, contracts, torts, civil and criminal procedure, and soft skills. Soft skills include relationship building, negotiation, and teamwork. As a student at the California Desert Trial Academy, College of Law, you will learn all of the required hard skills during your course work during the week and practice sessions on Saturdays. Soft skills are emphasized during your Saturday Enrichment program where you will network with the local legal community and learn valuable negotiating and practice skills. It is imperative that you develop a strong understanding of both civil and criminal...

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As A Law Student & Future Attorney—Learn to Love Doing Research!

If you are planning on a career as a trial attorney, you probably find yourself envisioning your future frequently during law school. Practicing law as a trial attorney can be exciting and rewarding. However, the bulk of your work as an attorney will require a great deal of legal research, reading, and writing. If that sounds familiar to you as a law student, you are correct. Law school offers a great training ground for the skills required to be a successful attorney and you will certainly do your fair share of reading, writing and researching. That overwhelming feeling you may have...

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