Accreditation Policies

Trinity Law School students must comply with the rules and regulations of the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California (CBE) as well as the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Trinity Law School students are also responsible for reading, knowing, and complying, in letter and spirit, with the policies, rules, regulations, and procedures contained in the current Trinity Law School Catalog. Trinity Law School provides students with this Catalog as a convenient reference to the basic rules, regulations, and standards under which Trinity Law School operates in the ordinary course of its academic functions and student-related activities. Trinity Law School may adopt and publish additional or modified policies consistent with the operative Catalog at any time.

Trinity Law School is part of Trinity International University. Students should refer to the Trinity International University Catalog for information on the following policies, each of which is incorporated by reference into the Trinity Law School Catalog:

  • Academic Integrity
  • Acceptable Use of Technology and Telecommunications
  • Auxiliary Aids and Services for Students with Disabilities
  • Copyright
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
  • Firearms, Weapons, and Explosives
  • Student Loan Program Code of Conduct

Catalog

Students are subject to the residency, unit, grade, and course requirements of the Trinity Law School Catalog in effect at the time of their matriculation. Students who withdraw from the program of study and are later re-admitted will be subject to the requirements of the Catalog that is current at the time of re-admission.

Registration

Registration for the Juris Doctor (JD) program generally begins in July for the fall semester, December for the spring semester, and April for the summer session. Registration for the Master of Legal Studies (MLS) program begins typically four weeks before the start of each module. Exact dates are found on the academic calendar published by the Registrar’s Office.

 

Add/Drop/Withdrawal

To add or drop a course or to change a class schedule, a student must submit an ADD/DROP request through the TLS Portal. In the JD program, the last day to add a course is the end of the third week of class. In the MLS program, the last day to add a course is the end of the first week of class. A student who fails to satisfy a course’s attendance requirement or take a course’s final exam will receive a grade of “UW” for an unauthorized withdrawal in that course. The date the ADD/DROP request is submitted to the TLS Portal is the date the student is deemed to have dropped, withdrawn from, or enrolled in a course. Tuition refunds are based on the date the ADD/DROP request is submitted, as logged in the records maintained by the Registrar's Office.

Students are responsible for the completion of every course in which they are enrolled. If a student properly withdraws from a course, it will appear on the student's transcript as "AW," indicating authorized withdrawal from the course while doing acceptable work. A "UW" will appear on transcripts indicating an unauthorized withdrawal from the course while doing unacceptable work, or a failure to timely withdraw from a course. Neither a course grade designated as "UW" nor “AW” will factor into the grade point average. In the JD program, the last day to withdraw from a course and receive an “AW” is the end of the twelfth week of class for fall and spring semesters, and the eleventh week of class for summer session. In the MLS program, the last day to withdraw from a course and receive an “AW” is the end of the fifth week of class. Exact dates may be found on the academic calendar published by the Registrar’s Office. After the withdrawal deadline a “UW” will be assigned for that course.

Trinity Law School strongly believes that successful completion of Legal Research & Writing 1 and 2 is critical to students' ability to write well on law school exams. As a result, students enrolled in LA 559 or LA 560b may not drop that course without dropping all courses. Likewise, if a student receives a UW in either of those courses, the student will automatically receive a UW in all courses in which the student is enrolled. 

Leaves of Absence and Withdrawal from the Law School

A Leave of Absence

A student in the JD program may request a leave of absence for up to two semesters. To obtain a leave of absence, the student must request a leave via the TLS Portal prior to withdrawal. In calculating the duration of a leave of absence, the first semester of a leave of absence is the semester or term in which the leave of absence is requested, even if the student attended classes for part of that semester or term. Students in the JD program on academic probation cannot obtain a leave of absence after the twelfth week of the fall or spring semesters, or after the eleventh week of the summer session, in which they are on probation.

Students taking the JD Flex Academic Support Classes do not have the option to request a leave of absence. Permanent withdrawal will result through a failure to register for classes or through a student's withdrawal from classes. Students wishing to return after a permanent withdrawal must seek re-admission through the Admissions Office.

A student in the MLS program may request a leave of absence for up six (6), 8-week terms. To obtain a leave of absence, the student must request a leave via the TLS Portal prior to withdrawal. In calculating the duration of a leave of absence, the first semester of a leave of absence is the semester in which the leave of absence is requested, even if the student attended classes for part of that semester. Students in the MLS program cannot obtain a leave of absence after the sixth week of the semester in which leave is requested.

A Permanent Withdrawal

A permanent withdrawal occurs when a student leaves Trinity Law School at any time after registration, does not intend to complete the current semester, and does not wish to return in any subsequent semester. Failure to register for classes without seeking a leave of absence will also constitute a permanent withdrawal. Students wishing to return to Trinity Law School after a permanent withdrawal must seek re-admission through the Admissions Office. Re-admitted students are subject to the Catalog requirements that are current at the time of their re-enrollment.

Students who withdraw or are deemed withdrawn while on probation are likely to have re-admission denied except under unusually compelling circumstances.

Privacy and Confidentiality/Photography and Videography Release

Trinity Law School does not disclose to any outside person or entity any information about individual students such as social security number, grades, grade point average, class schedule, race, sex, religion and national origin, without the student’s prior consent, unless required by law (including statutes, government regulations, court orders, and the Committee of Bar Examiners of The State Bar of California), accrediting agencies, or emergency. Trinity Law School may release directory information, which includes: the student’s name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. Students may request in writing that all or part of their directory information be withheld. Students have the right to inspect and review their educational records and request the records be corrected if they feel the records are incorrect.

By accepting admission to and/or taking any classes at Trinity Law School, each student (and their parents/guardians if the student is under 18):

  • Authorizes Trinity Law School and its employees, agents, and contractors to use, copy, modify, publish, display, broadcast, and distribute:
    • the student’s name, voice, and likeness;
    • photographs, images, and video and sound recordings of the student; and
    • the city, state or province, and country where the student lives (together, the “Materials”).
  • Waives any right to inspect or approve Trinity Law School’s use of the Materials and also waives any right to royalties or other payment for the use of the Materials.
  • Acknowledges that Trinity Law School records Live Sessions and other live Trinity Law School sponsored events.
  • Authorizes Trinity Law School staff and faculty to post the recordings to its learning management system, otherwise make the recordings available to the Trinity Law School community, and archive the recordings.
  • Releases Trinity Law School, its employees, agents, contractors, and their successors and assigns from any claim or liability, whether known or unknown, resulting from use of the Materials, including but not limited to, claims for violation of publicity rights, privacy rights, defamation, and copyright infringement.

Change of Address

Changes of student mailing addresses, email addresses, and telephone numbers must be updated on the TLS Portal within five days of the change. Notices from Trinity Law School will be sent to the student's TIU email address. Students are expected to check their TIU email accounts daily for school communication and course updates. Certain notices will be sent to the contact information on record. The school relies on accurate contact information from students in order to inform students of important information.

Campus Facilities

The campus is open Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. The campus is closed on Saturdays and Sundays, with the exception of when classes are specifically held on Saturdays.

Formal Student Complaint Policy

Trinity Law School, as part of Trinity International University, in accordance with the federal compliance policy, keeps a record of formal student complaints. Students who have a complaint should make the complaint known to the Registrar's Office.  In the event that the complaint is not resolved, the student may choose to submit a formal complaint to one of the following offices: Law Faculty Senate, Dean of the Law School, Provost of the University, or the President of the University. The complaint must be dated, written, and signed. Upon receipt of the formal complaint, the person to whom the complaint is addressed will initiate the Student Complaint Tracking Form, which records the nature of the complaint, the steps taken by the institution to resolve the complaint, the institution's final decision regarding the complaint, and other external action initiated by the student to resolve the complaint.

Information regarding student complaints is accessible to members of the HLC evaluation team.  A student's privacy will be protected by removing the names of individuals involved unless the student has given permission for the release of the student's name.

Grievance Procedure for Discriminatory and Sexual Harassment Complaints

It is the policy of Trinity Law School not to discriminate on the basis of age, disability, color, national origin, race, or sex in student admission and recruitment, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, employment, and school-administered programs in accordance with applicable laws. It is Trinity Law School’s intent to comply with both the letter and the spirit of Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section SOL of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and all equal opportunity laws and regulations.

In compliance with these provisions, Trinity Law School has established a grievance procedure to be followed should a discriminatory or harassment situation occur. Those wishing to inquire, file a grievance, or seek other information should contact the Registrar's Office at Trinity Law School.

Soliciting

No soliciting is permitted on campus and violations of this policy should be reported to the Registrar's Office.

BUREAU OF PRIVATE POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION (BPPE) APPROVED SCHOOL DISCLOSURES

Under the provisions of the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009, the State of California created within its Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), the BPPE, which oversees the 1,500 private postsecondary institutions to prevent deception in the conferring and use of fraudulent or substandard degrees. Trinity International University is an accredited private institution and has been granted approval to operate as an accredited institution in the state of California. The BPPE has determined that the University is in compliance and was granted approval to operate under the terms of California Education Code (CEC) section 94890(a)(1).

STATEMENTS

Any questions a student may have regarding this catalog that have not been satisfactorily answered by the institution may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) at P.O. Box 980818, West Sacramento, CA 95798-0818 or 1747 N. Market Blvd. Ste 225, Sacramento CA 95834; www.bppe.ca.gov; 888.370.7589 or 916.574.8900; or by fax 916.263.1897.

A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (toll-free telephone number 888.370.7589) or by completing a complaint form, which  can be obtained on the bureau's internet web site (web site address: www.bppe.ca.gov). Trinity International University does not have a pending petition in bankruptcy, is not operating as a debtor in possession, has not ever filed a petition in bankruptcy, or has never had a petition in bankruptcy filed against it in its history that resulted in reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et seq.).

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S STANDARD OCCUPATIONAL CLASSIFICATION (SOC)

The Juris Doctor program prepares graduates for occupations such as:

  • Lawyers (SOC 23-1011.00)
  • Judicial Law Clerks (SOC 23-1012.00)
  • Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers (SOC 23-1021.00)
  • Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators (SOC 23-1022.00)
  • Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates (SOC 23-1023.00)
  • Law Teachers, Postsecondary (SOC 25-1112.00)

The Master of Legal Studies program prepares graduates for occupations such as:

  • Paralegals and Legal Assistants (SOC 23-2011.00)
  • Legal Support Workers, All Other (SOC 23-2099.00)

Student Records

Trinity Law School maintains a file for each student who enrolls in the institution, whether or not the student graduates, which contains all of the following pertinent student records:

  • Written records and transcripts of any formal education or training, testing, or experience that are relevant to the student's qualifications for admission to the institution or the institution's award of credit or acceptance of transfer credits including
    • Verification of high school completion or equivalency or other documentation establishing the student's ability to do college level work such as successful completion of an ability-to-benefit test.
    • Records documenting units of credit earned at other institutions that have been accepted and applied by the institution as transfer credits toward the student's completion of an educational program.
    • Grades or findings from any examination of academic ability or educational achievement used for admission or college placement purposes.
    • All documents evidencing a student's prior experiential learning upon which the institution and the faculty base the award of any credit.
  • Personal information regarding a student's age, gender, and ethnicity if that information has been voluntarily supplied by the student.
  • Copies of all documents signed by the student, including contracts, instruments of indebtedness, and documents relating to financial aid.
  • Records of the dates of enrollment and, if applicable, withdrawal from the institution, leaves of absence, and graduation.
  • A transcript showing
    • The courses or other educational programs that were completed, or were attempted but not completed, and the dates of completion or withdrawal.
    • Credit awarded for prior experiential learning, including the course title for which credit was awarded and the amount of credit.
    • Credit for courses accepted in transfer earned at other institutions.
    • Credit based on any examination of academic ability or educational achievement used for admission or college placement purposes.
    • The name, address, website address, and telephone number of the institution.
  • For independent study courses, course outlines or learning contracts signed by the faculty and administrators who approved the course.
  • The dissertations, theses, and other student projects submitted by graduate students.
  • A copy of documents relating to student financial aid that are required to be maintained by law or by a loan guarantee agency.
  • Documentation of the total amount of money received from or on behalf of the student and the date or dates on which the money was received.
  • Documentation of the amount of any refund, including the amount refunded for tuition and the amount for other itemized charges, the method of calculating the refund, the date the refund was made, and the name and address of the person or entity to which the refund was sent.
  • Any official advisory notices or warnings regarding the student's progress.
  • Complaints received from the student.