History
Lincoln Law School was first established in 1919, following the conclusion of World War I and the return of a generation of young Americans to the United States. Many veterans settled in the growing port of San Francisco, seeking to make a new life in postwar America. These young soldiers often found, however, that they lacked the educational skills to readjust successfully to civilian life.
Recognizing this, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Lickey and his wife, Susan Lickey, were inspired to start a university tailored towards veterans and other working adults. Classes were held in the evenings to allow students to continue their employment while attending law school part-time. Within a few years, the law program was supplemented with additional subjects in other areas, making the Law School part of a larger university curriculum. In 1926, the new institution, Lincoln University, was chartered under the laws of the State of California as a private, non-sectarian college, and, in 1949, incorporated as a non-profit institution.
Over the next three decades, the Law School continued to expand its curriculum, operating through the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean War without closing its doors in the face of national and international crises. In 1961, following a rising demand for legal education, a second law school campus was opened in the South Bay Area. Surrounded by fruit orchards and home to a growing suburban population, San Jose became Lincoln Law School’s second home.
Graduating its first class in 1965, the San Jose branch of the Law School quickly became a center of innovative legal training and legal discourse in the South Bay. The Law School continued to flourish in the 1970s and 1980s, educating many who have since become leaders of today’s thriving Bay Area legal community.
In 1987, Lincoln’s entire law program was concentrated in San Jose where it eventually separated from Lincoln University in 1993, changing its name from Lincoln University, The Law School to Lincoln Law School of San Jose.
Lincoln Law School of San Jose first opened as the Lincoln University Law School in 1919
Dr. Benjamin Lickey Addressing Graduates c.1923
Mission
Today, Lincoln Law School of San Jose operates as a private, California non-profit educational institution, continuing the vision begun by the Lickeys over 100 years ago – to make a high-quality legal education accessible to adults whose family commitments, full-time careers, or prior academic training might otherwise preclude them from pursuing a law degree.
The Law School also continues the tradition of seeking a student body as diverse as the population of the state and providing an opportunity to individuals who are qualified for the study and practice of law. Engineers, teachers, social workers, doctors, police officers, auto mechanics, journalists, paralegals – all have found a home at Lincoln Law School of San Jose. Lincoln prides itself on a foundation of diversity and inclusion – the admissions policy has always included the provision to admit men and women, of all races, cultural, and religious identities. The current student body at Lincoln is nearly 70% female, with over 77% of the students identifying as Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC).
Law students receive engaging education in the core areas of Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Real Property, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law among other bar-tested courses. Students also receive education to hone their skills as legal practitioners, exposing them to practical experience through courses such as negotiations and mediation, moot court (appellate advocacy), trial practice and law practice management. Additionally students receive education in specific practice areas through electives such as Bankruptcy, Family Law, and Employment Law to name a few. Such training not only prepares Lincoln students for the California Bar Examination, but also for the successful practice of law.
Lincoln alumni have succeeded in every branch of the law. Graduates have gone on to make valuable contributions to the community and the legal profession as members of the judiciary, in private law firms, and as public servants.
Contributing to Lincoln’s success is an outstanding faculty, which includes judges, public defenders, prosecutors, public interest lawyers, and private civil and criminal practice attorneys. Because of the small class size, there is ample opportunity for students to interact with the faculty, which is largely comprised of active legal practitioners able to offer students real-world insights into the practice of law in addition to communicating the basic principles of law. Lincoln students learn in a collegial and supportive environment that facilitates dialogue and debate, allowing them to develop the analytical skills necessary for critical thinking and the effective analysis of the law.
While Lincoln faced some setbacks in the aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it continues to put its mission of providing affordable and accessible legal education to students who otherwise might not be able to afford a full-time program due to finances or other commitments.
History and Mission
History
Lincoln Law School was first established in 1919, following the conclusion of World War I and the return of a generation of young Americans to the United States. Many veterans settled in the growing port of San Francisco, seeking to make a new life in postwar America. These young soldiers often found, however, that they lacked the educational skills to readjust successfully to civilian life.
Recognizing this, Dr. Benjamin Franklin Lickey and his wife, Susan Lickey, were inspired to start a university tailored towards veterans and other working adults. Classes were held in the evenings to allow students to continue their employment while attending law school part-time. Within a few years, the law program was supplemented with additional subjects in other areas, making the Law School part of a larger university curriculum. In 1926, the new institution, Lincoln University, was chartered under the laws of the State of California as a private, non-sectarian college, and, in 1949, incorporated as a non-profit institution.
Over the next three decades, the Law School continued to expand its curriculum, operating through the Great Depression, World War II, and the Korean War without closing its doors in the face of national and international crises. In 1961, following a rising demand for legal education, a second law school campus was opened in the South Bay Area. Surrounded by fruit orchards and home to a growing suburban population, San Jose became Lincoln Law School’s second home.
Graduating its first class in 1965, the San Jose branch of the Law School quickly became a center of innovative legal training and legal discourse in the South Bay. The Law School continued to flourish in the 1970s and 1980s, educating many who have since become leaders of today’s thriving Bay Area legal community.
In 1987, Lincoln’s entire law program was concentrated in San Jose where it eventually separated from Lincoln University in 1993, changing its name from Lincoln University, The Law School to Lincoln Law School of San Jose.
Lincoln Law School of San Jose first opened as the Lincoln University Law School in 1919
Dr. Benjamin Lickey Addressing Graduates c.1923
Mission
Today, Lincoln Law School of San Jose operates as a private, California non-profit educational institution, continuing the vision begun by the Lickeys over 100 years ago – to make a high-quality legal education accessible to adults whose family commitments, full-time careers, or prior academic training might otherwise preclude them from pursuing a law degree.
The Law School also continues the tradition of seeking a student body as diverse as the population of the state and providing an opportunity to individuals who are qualified for the study and practice of law. Engineers, teachers, social workers, doctors, police officers, auto mechanics, journalists, paralegals – all have found a home at Lincoln Law School of San Jose. Lincoln prides itself on a foundation of diversity and inclusion – the admissions policy has always included the provision to admit men and women, of all races, cultural, and religious identities. The current student body at Lincoln is nearly 70% female, with over 77% of the students identifying as Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC).
Law students receive engaging education in the core areas of Contracts, Torts, Civil Procedure, Real Property, Criminal Law, and Constitutional Law among other bar-tested courses. Students also receive education to hone their skills as legal practitioners, exposing them to practical experience through courses such as negotiations and mediation, moot court (appellate advocacy), trial practice and law practice management. Additionally students receive education in specific practice areas through electives such as Bankruptcy, Family Law, and Employment Law to name a few. Such training not only prepares Lincoln students for the California Bar Examination, but also for the successful practice of law.
Lincoln alumni have succeeded in every branch of the law. Graduates have gone on to make valuable contributions to the community and the legal profession as members of the judiciary, in private law firms, and as public servants.
Contributing to Lincoln’s success is an outstanding faculty, which includes judges, public defenders, prosecutors, public interest lawyers, and private civil and criminal practice attorneys. Because of the small class size, there is ample opportunity for students to interact with the faculty, which is largely comprised of active legal practitioners able to offer students real-world insights into the practice of law in addition to communicating the basic principles of law. Lincoln students learn in a collegial and supportive environment that facilitates dialogue and debate, allowing them to develop the analytical skills necessary for critical thinking and the effective analysis of the law.
While Lincoln faced some setbacks in the aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic, it continues to put its mission of providing affordable and accessible legal education to students who otherwise might not be able to afford a full-time program due to finances or other commitments.
Lincoln entryway at night
Assoc. Dean of Academics and Faculty Speaking with Students
