SJCL announces with sadness the passing of one of the law school’s early major financial and academic supporters. James Herbert, Jr. (February 16, 1938 – December 5, 2023) was a graduate of Stanford University and Boalt Hall, Berkeley. He practiced law at a firm in Los Angeles and spearheaded the legal work for the fight to “Save Our Coastline” by the city of Palos Verdes.
Jim was a master lecturer on the subject of law and taught classes at Loyola Law School and McGeorge Law School at the University of the Pacific, in addition to San Joaquin College of Law. He and his wife Carol developed Intensive Courses for the Multistate and Performance portions of the Bar Exam, in addition to his creation of the Herbert Writing Course. Their bar prep program BAR eventually merged with BRI to become BAR BRI. They also created the Bar Passers program with Jim traveling throughout the country to lecture and help students by the thousands prepare for the Bar Exam. Jim also worked to establish the Santa Barbara College of Law.
During the time that Carol Herbert served as Dean of San Joaquin College of Law, from September 1982 – March of 1985, Jim taught classes and served on the Board of Directors. He established a scholarship fund at SJCL and made major financial contributions that provided multiple new resources and improvements.
In addition to their academic pursuits, Jim and Carol established the Herbert Wetland Prairie Preserve in Tulare County. It is now part of the Sequoia Riverlands Trust.
Anyone wishing to honor James Herbert, Jr. is urged to contribute in his memory to their favorite charity, or to plant a tree. His internment will be private.