Re: NWCULAW IS NO GOOD

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Are you a CPA or a tax preparer?

Victoria Weaver

On 4/19/09, Linda wrote:
> 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.