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California Desert Trial Academy College Of Law
05 August
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Communicating Powerfully in the Legal Arena: Always Write to Your Reader

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, Distance learning law school, legal writing
communicating

Even the most seasoned lawyers and judges enjoy reading clearly written material. While legalese may seem to be the accepted norm, if you want to get your point across to others fully, it’s quite simple: you must be a bold and inspiring communicator with organized and intelligent thoughts. And just as in negotiating or arguing in court, you must know who your reader is. In writing to your reader you can connect in a powerful manner that may be surprisingly effective time and time again. Although legal issues can be rather dry at times, and you may not have a lot...

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02 August
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Should You Seek Out an Attorney Mentor?

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, Distance learning law school

There is a steep learning curve in the legal profession. It can take years as an attorney to really feel you have mastered the art of lawyering. There is a way to dramatically shorten that time so you are ready to practice law fresh out of law school. That is with the assistance of a mentor. At CDTA, Dean John Patrick Dolan founded the law school to develop strong trial attorneys. He envisioned a training program similar to that of a residency program in the medical field. He understood from his own experience the power of working with an attorney mentor...

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01 August
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Legal Writing: Learn to Be More Compelling to Your Readers

Posted by cdtalaw
in Distance learning law school, legal writing, Training
legal writing

You may be surprised to find that there is quite a bit of extremely bad writing stored away in law libraries. Not all attorneys are great writers and you will find that many attorneys submit poorly written motions and briefs to the Court. You will also find that these attorneys develop a less than stellar reputation with Judges and other counsel because of this. At CDTA, you will learn strong writing skills that will prevent you from ever submitting documents that rely on outdated legalese, with many unnecessary words thrown into the mix for good measure. You may also be surprised...

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31 July
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Don’t Let Stress & Study Burnout Lead to Depression or Other Health Issues

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, Distance learning law school, First year law students

Although your first year of law school can feel overwhelming and you may struggle with study burnout at times, the key is to find a balance between excelling in school and maintaining your health.  If you suspect you may be suffering from burnout—or perhaps you are on your way there—it is time to take a breather, no matter what is going on. Typical symptoms of burnout are escalating anxiety and depression, abnormal exhaustion that cannot be quelled, inability to focus, and feelings of being generally numb or even somewhat regretful about decisions such as attending law school. The truth is that...

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30 July
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Study Fever? Why You Should Avoid Overuse of Caffeine

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, Distance learning law school, First year law students
caffeine

If there was a true secret shortcut to getting ahead in law school, surely it would have been uncovered by now. And while there are many study tips and tricks available to all, the use of mood-altering substances is never a good idea. You may enjoy the taste of a nice hot cup of java in the morning or like a pick-me-up in the afternoon, but overuse of caffeine will work against you--just as alcohol or any drugs will do too. Most of us are familiar with the stereotype of the exhausted law student or attorney, slumped over a desk littered...

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29 July
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The Five Most Common Worries About Your 1L Year

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, Distance learning law school, First year law students
common worries

Finding out that you were accepted into law school was probably one of the most exciting days of your life and now that you are a law student, there are plenty more milestones ahead, and many common worries blended in with the excitement. Law school exams, internships, the state-mandated exams, passing the bar, being sworn in to practice and your first trial are just a few events that you have to look forward to. Law school has a reputation for being extremely rigorous, especially for first-year law students, and with good reason. There is a lot of knowledge to absorb, and...

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26 July
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Legal Negotiations—Some Stalemates Cannot Be Overcome

Posted by cdtalaw
in Distance learning law school, Negotiating
stalemates

Negotiating is a fine art and one that can end in triumphs or sometimes stalemates, unfortunately. While the process may sometimes be seamless, and all parties involved may be able to agree expediently, those are usually the bonus deals. In most cases, you would not be present at the negotiating table to begin with if everyone was having an easy time coming to an agreement. And just like going to court, you will not win every round of negotiations, unfortunately—as hard as you may try. To hedge your bets, however, do not enter negotiations lightly or without an arsenal of information...

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25 July
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Forgot Something in Your Notes? CDTA Offers Ongoing Access to Lectures

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, Distance learning law school, First year law students
lectures

Law school is centered around lectures, reading assignments, and case briefing. The workload can be great, especially in your 1L year as you adjust to a new way of thinking and writing. Your professors will expect you to be able to read voluminous amounts of material for each class, learn and memorize new legal rules and concepts and most importantly, learn how to apply the law to the facts. The volume of classwork can be daunting for even the best and the brightest of  law students entering their first year. You may find yourself in a panic at times, trying to...

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24 July
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First Year Students: CDTA is Laser Focused on Your Success

Posted by cdtalaw
in CDTA, First year law students, Uncategorized

Law school begins with a great deal of trepidation for many first year students, and although anxiety levels may run high, this type of intensity often leads to an intense motivation to succeed.  Prior to law school orientation, you will likely be bombarded by well-meaning friends and family members regaling their horror stories of their own cutthroat law school experience. They will direct you to watch films such as The Paper Chase  or One L , depicting first-year law students going to any length to push their fellow classmates “down the curve”.  You will hear about professors hell-bent on seeing...

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23 July
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The Benefits of Attending CDTA Through Our Distance Learning Platform

Posted by cdtalaw
in Distance learning law school
learning platform

California Desert Trial Academy, College of Law, has the solution to make your dreams a reality with a distance learning platform. Perhaps you have dreamt of being a lawyer since you were a child, envisioning yourself commanding a courtroom in front of a jury and seeking justice for others as an advocate. You may have put those dreams on hold as the demands of family and career took precedence. At CDTA, you can earn your J.D. in four years, while still maintaining your full-time employment and managing the needs of your family. Our classes are held in the evening, three nights...

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CONTACT INFORMATION

California Desert Trial Academy College of Law
45-290 Fargo Street
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 342-0900

Call: (760) 342-0900

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Statement of Nondiscrimination

Consistent with sound educational policy, CDTA College of Law does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, disability, medical condition, age, marital status, political affiliation, gender identity, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

California State Bar Standard and Required Disclosure

The method of instruction at this law school for the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree program is principally in physical classroom facilities.

Students enrolled in the J.D. degree program at this law school who successfully complete the first year of law study must pass the First-Year Law Students Examination required by Business and Professions Code 6060(h) and Rule VIII of the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California as part of the requirements to qualify to take the California Bar Examination.

A student who passes the First-Year Law Students Examination within three (3) administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it will receive credit for all legal studies completed to the time the examination is passed. A student who does not pass the examination within three (3) administrations of the examination after first becoming eligible to take it must be promptly disqualified from the law school’s J.D. degree program. If the dismissed student subsequently passes the examination, the student is eligible for re-enrollment in this law school’s J.D. degree program, but will receive credit for only one year of legal study.

Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or to satisfy the requirements for admission to practice in jurisdictions other than California. A student intending to seek admission to practice law in a jurisdiction other than California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding the legal education requirements in that jurisdiction for admission to the practice of law.

Copyright CDTA California Desert Trial Academy College of Law. All rights reserved. The Desert’s first and only Law School. Proudly serving all of Southern California; accepting applications from Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties.

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