Re: NWCULAW IS NO GOOD

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Please, don't trust me on the tax issue. (I only have 15 years of experience in taxes.) Do the
research yourself. No deduction is ever possible under section 162.

On 4/19/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
> I don't know if that is necessary false. I applied for a tax deduction for my studies at West
> Coast School of Law, who is in the same accreditation boat as NWCU Law. Anyone who is not a
> lawyer can use this as training for a new job. Not everyone is a patent agent.
>
> Victoria Weaver
>
> On 4/19/09, Li nda wrote:
>> It still bothers me that they keep the incorrect income tax deduction information on their
>> website. If they get something as simple as this wrong, can we have confidence in their
>> other legal conclusions?
>>
>> On 4/19/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>> Depends on what you are comparing it against. I think it is, considering that many DL law
>>> students get what they put in to online education. What you get at a school like Concord
>> is
>>> bells and whistles. Concord always brags that students who get a B+ average in thier
>>> program pass the bar with flying colors (like 80&37; of the time, I think). If a student
>>> actually does the studying at NWCU Law, then yes, they will pass.
>>>
>>> They have been around a lot longer, and one year they even beat some ABA schools on the
>> bar
>>> exam (in terms of percentage passing rate).
>>>
>>> Victoria Weaver
>>>
>>> On 4/18/09, Karen wrote:
>>>> According to the State Bar stats, for the past two years less than one in four of NWCU
>>>> graduates have passed the bar on the first attempt. Is this considered pretty good?
>>>>
>>>> On 4/17/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>>>> What do you base that on? Certainly not baby bar or bar passage rate. If you were to
>>>>> base it on those, you would have to concede that Concord or Oakbrook are at the top of
>>>>> the curve, but you pay through the nose at Concord and Oakbrook requires an in-
>>>>> residence requirement. NWCU has pretty good baby bar and bar passage rates, and is
>>>> half
>>>>> the price of a lot of the other schools. I chose to transfer to NWCU because of the
>>>>> good pass rates, the price, and the fact it has been around for a long time.
>>>>>
>>>>> ALU has high tuition and the bar pass rates are less than stellar. If you were to
>>>>> actually give some reasons, then perhaps we might consider agreeing with you. I am not
>>>>> one who advocates DETC accreditation, but that is actually another thing against ALU
>>>>> (because Taft and Concord have that designation).
>>>>>
>>>>> Victoria Weaver
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 4/17/09, Mel wrote:
>>>>>> The only good school is Abraham Lincoln University School of Law.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>>> A good example of what I was writing follows:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Question
>>>>>>> I have read the general rule of no deduction for law school, but I haven't read
>>>>>>> anything for my particular situation. I am a registered patent agent with the
>>>>>>> United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). My point is that there is
>>>>>>> nothing a patent attorney can do with the USPTO with patents that I cannot do as a
>>>>>>> patent agent. I have written patents since 2005, I became a registered patent
>>>>>>> agent in 2008, and am now in law school for one reason: increase my earnings
>>>>>>> potential.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> When I am finished with law school I am going to be in the same industry and trade
>>>>>>> I was before law school. I realize that law school could generally "qualify me
>>>>>>> for a new trade or business" but at the same time, law school is not qualifying me
>>>>>>> anymore than I am already to work with the USPTO. The USPTO doesn't really care
>>>>>>> if I am an agent or an attorney. Both can have clients, both can write the patent
>>>>>>> applications, both can file the patent apps with the USPTO, and both can prosecute
>>>>>>> the patent apps through several office actions until the application is dropped or
>>>>>>> published as a patent.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> So in your opinion, do I have a shot at a legitimate deduction?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Answer:
>>>>>>> Thanks for your question.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> No, you cannot deduct your law school costs. It does qualify you for a new trade
>>>>>>> or business whether you ever pursue that or not. The IRS has ruled specifically
>>>>>>> in such situations.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Hope this helps.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> John Stancil, CPA
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>>>> First, please excuse the typos. Some, but not all are because the Board
>>>>>>>> apparently won't allow some words. I have no reason why but on average one in
>>>>>>>> three of my posts go through.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I wasn’t referring to Section 162. But since you brought it up, law school
>>>>>>>> expenses are never deductible under 162 because it qualifies a person for a new
>>>>>>>> profession. There are dozens if not hundreds of cases in this area and the
>>>>>>>> taxpayer always loses. Don’t trust me, research it. Or ask NWCU to give you
>>>>>>>> some cases. I did and they couldn’t.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The tax credits are only available to students enrolled in schools that are
>>>>>>>> accredited, as defined by the Department of Education. You can view the Taf t
>>>>>>>> website for more specific details.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> As I wrote earlier, I don't think the NWCU is a bad option for some. But they,
>>>>>>>> and you, need to get some facts straight.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> The fact that they continue to give incorrect tax info is worrisome.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Res Ipsa Loco wrote:
>>>>>>>>> NWCU is accredited in the sense that it is "registered" with the CBE. (LOL)It is
>>>>>>>>> not "accredited" in the sense which you are speaking, but it does not matter.
>>>>>> (Except if you want an accredited degree)
>>>>>>>>> Do you now (spelled correctly) see my point. The tuition can still be deducted
>>>>>>>>> for tax purposes--here is the info from the website:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Tax Deduction
>>>>>>>>> A tax deduction may be allowed for expenses undertaken to: Maintain or improve
>>>>>>>>> skills required in one's employment, trade or business, or Meet specific
>>>>>>>>> requirements of an employer or a law imposed as a condition to retention of
>>>>>>>>> employment, job status or rate of compensation. (See Treasury Regulation 1.
>>>>>>>> 162-
>>>>>>>>> 5.) (My tax man is H & R Boock)
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Do your research, and learn how to spell. I understand that an occasional
>>>>>>>> stray
>>>>>>>>> key may be hit, but you are incorrectly spelling way too many words in a
>>>>>>>> single
>>>>>>>>> sentence. It is irritating.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Res Ipsa Loco
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> On 4/16/09, Li nda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>> Tree but NWCU is NOT accredited. Do you know see my point.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>> On 4/15/09, Res Ipsa Loco wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>> Tax credits can be used from any accredited school. There are no strong
>>>>>>>>>>> points in your argument. NWCU Law is the best around in terms of quality
>>>>>>>>>>> and price.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> Res Ipsa Loco
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/15/09, L inda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>> I stand corrected with respect to con cord. But T aft is not three
>>>>>>>>>>>> times and factoring in tax credits the difference is not all that much
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/14/09, GET NEW INFORMATION wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/13/09, Linda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Based on information I received from all three school, the bar pass
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> rate over the past five years is lower at NWCU than the other two
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> accredited schools. And according to the websites, the tuition is
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> not three times as much.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Linda
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>> NWCU is 2850 a year for starters, Concord is 9k+, so I your right....
>>>>>>>>>>>> it
>>>>>>>>>>>>> is more than 3 x's as much and as far as bar passage rates again you
>>>>>>>>>>>> are
>>>>>>>>>>>>> wrong especially w/ regard to the FYLSE... go to calbar.org
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/12/09, Linda wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> You could do worst than Northwestern but I suggest that you also
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> check out the other schools, particularly COn cord and Taf t.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Both offer Federal student aid.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> On 4/11/09, questions wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I am considering Northwest California Law School for a
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> distance learning Law degree. I can not move at this
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> time, I can not quit my job, I have a family who needs me
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> home. I live in Maine and I am about 6 hours from the law
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> school. Has anyone gone/going to NWCULAW? I understand it
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> is unaccredited with the ABA and I understand all I must
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> do to pass the bar and practice law later. Any help would
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> be great thanks so much.