San Luis Obispo College of Law sets May 16 graduation at Cuesta College

By AI, Created 4:50 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – San Luis Obispo College of Law will confer J.D. and Master of Legal Studies degrees at its Class of 2026 commencement on May 16 in San Luis Obispo. The ceremony highlights the school’s role as a local pathway for working adults, with some graduates already having passed the California Bar Exam.

Why it matters: - San Luis Obispo College of Law is graduating another class of working adults and nontraditional students who balanced law school with jobs and family responsibilities. - The ceremony underscores the school’s role in expanding access to legal education on the Central Coast. - Several graduates will receive degrees after already passing the California Bar Exam, while others will continue preparing for the July exam.

What happened: - San Luis Obispo College of Law will hold its Class of 2026 graduation on Saturday, May 16, at 1:00 p.m. - The ceremony will take place at the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo. - The school will confer Juris Doctor and Master of Legal Studies degrees. - Erica Flores Baltodano, SLOCL campus dean, said the class balanced full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and evening law school classes, clinics and internships. - Baltodano said the school will celebrate graduates’ accomplishments and the support provided by their families.

The details: - San Luis Obispo College of Law is an accredited branch of Monterey College of Law. - The campus celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. - SLOCL graduates now work as attorneys and business leaders in local law firms, public agencies, nonprofit legal organizations and other local businesses. - At the ceremony, the two highest-achieving students will receive the West Publishing Award. - Local attorneys who serve as adjunct law professors and are selected by students and the Monterey College of Law Board of Trustees will also be recognized. - The school has drawn notable commencement speakers in recent years, including a California appellate court justice and Superior Court judges from San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara County. - Monterey College of Law was founded in 1972 by local lawyers and judges as an evening law school program for people living and working in the local community. - San Luis Obispo opened in 2015 as the law school’s first accredited branch campus. - The campus offers the same curriculum and degree programs as the Monterey campus and other locations in Bakersfield and Santa Rosa. - Students can enroll in on-site courses or in a hybrid online option. - Monterey College of Law has added three residential campus locations in the last 12 years: San Luis Obispo College of Law, Kern County College of Law and Empire College of Law in Santa Rosa. - The school also developed one of the first California-accredited online hybrid law school enrollment options. - Monterey College of Law is the only state-accredited legal education program that offers an advanced graduate LL.M. degree in addition to J.D. and Master of Legal Studies degrees. - Lisa Sperow, Monterey College of Law president and CEO, said the Master of Legal Studies degree is designed for people who are not interested in practicing law but want legal training to support their careers.

Between the lines: - The graduation schedule reflects a broader shift in legal education toward flexible, part-time and hybrid programs for adult learners. - The school is also using commencement to reinforce its position as a regional pipeline into law and related careers. - The bar exam update signals that some graduates are moving into the profession faster than a traditional post-graduation timeline.

What’s next: - Graduates who have not yet passed the bar will continue studying for the July California Bar Exam. - SLOCL is still recruiting applicants for Spring, Summer and Fall semesters. - Prospective students can learn more at the school’s website.