Blog

February 4, 2022

Empire College School of Law welcomes Christopher Kerosky who has been hired as a Professor of Law. Kerosky specializes in immigration law for the firm of Kerosky & Gallelli with offices in San Francisco and the North Bay. Previously Kerosky served as trial attorney for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He […]

May 28, 2020

Congratulations to the Empire Law School Class of 2020! This group of dynamic people entered law school with diverse educational and employment backgrounds and are ready to apply those experiences to the practice of law. We are honored to share portions of their bios illustrating the many paths that can be taken to achieve the […]

January 27, 2020

    SANTA ROSA, CA—Victoria Shanahan, a 2001 graduate of Empire College School of Law, and Paul Lozada, Class of 2007, have recently been appointed to the California judiciary. This marks 16 Empire College School of Law alumni who are members of the judiciary in California (15) and Arizona (1).       Paul Lozada […]

September 20, 2019

After passing the California bar exam, JD graduates attend a swearing-in ceremony where they are officially accepted into the State Bar of California. During the ceremony, a practicing attorney makes a motion to have the graduate admitted to the bar. Often, the attorney is a mentor or relative of the graduate, though not always. Once the […]

September 16, 2019

“If you’re going to change things, you have to be with the people who hold the levers.” U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg For over forty years, Empire College School of Law graduates have successfully taken up positions as community leaders, business executives, attorneys and judges, here in Sonoma County and beyond. The school […]

September 11, 2019

What can you do with Empire’s Master of Legal Studies? You don’t have to become a lawyer to understand the law. If you are interested in legal issues, desire a career related to the law, or need some legal expertise to give your career a boost, a Master of Legal Studies might be right for you. Earning a bachelor’s […]

August 28, 2019

Most people don’t know they can achieve their law career goals without a bachelor’s degree, but it is possible. There are many good reasons students do not complete a BA or BS, and that shouldn’t stop them from pursuing their law career ambitions. At Empire College School of Law, we make it possible for students […]

August 22, 2019

According to The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2017 was a record year for natural disasters in the United States, with cumulative damage from floods, fires and other weather events estimated to total $306.2 billion. As natural disasters increase, the demand for Disaster Law professionals continues to grow. The following Disaster Law specialties represent 5 […]

August 20, 2019

Moot Court Provides Real-World Experience to Students at Empire School of Law Events like the annual Roger J. Traynor California Moot Court Competition give Empire College School of Law’s students real-world legal experience. Every year, Empire Law students compete, getting valuable practice and learning what a courtroom experience really feels like. It’s one of the […]

August 13, 2019

A career in law is a noble pursuit. It takes commitment and a lot of hard work. A juris doctor degree (J.D. degree) is required for taking state Bar exams. However, the topics covered and skills learned in earning a J.D. degree have applications in many other respected professions, particularly in business. The path to […]

August 9, 2019

Curious about going to law school but not sure exactly what that looks like? At Empire College School of Law, you can earn your Juris Doctor degree in our conveniently scheduled evening classes while you continue to manage your other life responsibilities. In this article, we’ll explain what the JD program coursework entails and give […]

August 8, 2019

At Empire College School of Law, we believe in offering an excellent academic experience for busy students who dream of earning their Juris Doctor degree. You should not be expected to put the rest of your life on hold to pursue your law career ambitions, and Empire makes it possible for you to balance your […]

August 5, 2019

Want to become a lawyer in Santa Rosa, California? At Empire College School of Law, we know what a big dream that can be, and we have some advice. Here’s what you need to do next. Complete Your Undergrad Degree In the state of California, if you want to apply for the Bar, you must […]

July 31, 2019

Empire College School of Law understands that your life is busy and that you cannot put your responsibilities on hold to pursue your career dreams. That’s why we offer a 4-year evening course of study. You can continue working at your current job while you prepare to pass the California Bar Examination and become a […]

July 25, 2019

If you’ve been thinking about going to law school but need some more information about the degree lawyers earn in the United States, we’ve got the details for you! Here you can learn more about what the degree is, the kinds of course work it takes to earn it, what types of careers it makes […]

July 22, 2019

At Empire College School of Law, we believe in giving our students practical experience alongside their theoretical education. We offer them a chance to get hands-on experience in law school, all while helping those who otherwise might not have access to legal guidance. Our six diverse law clinics provide a real-world education. Here is an […]

June 27, 2019

There are many areas of legal practice that might interest future lawyers. At Empire School of Law, students learn about the many types of law careers and can even gain hands-on experience at our law clinics. Here we highlight just some of the many fields of law an attorney might practice. Business Law Business or […]

June 3, 2019

Santa Rosa, CA—Brian Purtill, Esq., Dean of Empire College School of Law, has been named to the newly created Committee of State Bar Accredited and Registered Schools (CSBARS). This committee was created by the California State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners (CBE), which is charged with accreditation and oversight responsibilities for California’s accredited and registered […]

May 22, 2019

Santa Rosa, CA—Patrick Grattan, senior attorney in the Geary, Shea, O’Donnell, Grattan & Mitchell firm’s family law division and an experienced trial lawyer, has joined the faculty of Empire College School of Law as a Professor of Community Property. Mr. Grattan is a past president of the Redwood Empire Trial Lawyers Association and a past director […]

May 15, 2019

When this year’s Empire College School of Law team packed their bags to travel to the annual Roger J. Traynor Moot Court Competition, they were carrying more than their law books, business suits, and briefs (pun intended). They were carrying precious cargo; namely, the 2-foot sterling silver trophy that is passed from reigning champion to […]

March 12, 2019

J. David Markham, a 2000 graduate of Empire College School of Law, and Kathleen “Katie” Ferchland Boriolo, Class of 2009, have recently been appointed to the California judiciary. This marks 14 Empire College School of Law alumni who are members of the judiciary in California (13) and Arizona (1). Gov. Jerry Brown announced the appointment […]

April 24, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SANTA ROSA, CA – Empire College School of Law captured first place in oral argument at the 2018 Roger J. Traynor California Appellate Moot Court Competition held April 14-15, 2018 in Los Angeles. In addition, team members Michelle Novi and Stephanie Ransom were recognized for individual excellence in appellate advocacy for their […]

March 20, 2018

By Professor Kathleen Pozzi, Sonoma County Public Defender Sunday, March 18th, marks the 55th anniversary of Gideon v. Wainwright, and the third nationwide celebration of Public Defense week.  The Law Office of the Sonoma County Public Defender is joining forces with National, State and County wide public defense offices and other indigent defense organizations to celebrate […]

March 13, 2018

Ever wondered what a career in the public law sector is really like? Professors Holly Rickett (Deputy County Counsel for the County of Sonoma) and Kathleen Pozzi (Sonoma County’s Public Defender) have organized a complimentary panel discussion for students, applicants, and new lawyers to explore careers in public service on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, from […]

January 1, 2018

As Sonoma County works to rebuild and come back stronger than before, now, more than ever, Empire College is proud to offer the opportunity of a quality, affordable legal education to our community. The New Year is also a good time to build or rebuild a career and reimagine your life. If someone you know has been […]

October 16, 2017

To everyone in our amazing Empire College community: Over the weekend, we attempted to call every student to ensure that they were safe and to ask about when they could return to school. The overwhelming response from the students we talked to was that they wanted to be back in their classes. Based on this […]