Re: NWCULAW IS NO GOOD

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"if I want to put any education costs as a business expense because I
feel it will advance/grow my business I will and I have."

If you don't care about following the law, maybe NWCU is a good place for you.

On 4/20/09, Go pay more... wrote:
> Ok since we all want to be lawyers, let's look at a few facts... as a DL the 1st hurdle is the FYLSE or
> the Baby Bar, not the tax return...
>
> most recently October 2008 the results are as follows:
>
> Taft: 35 took 5 passed 17&37;
> Concord: 196 took 28 passed 14.3&37; WTF???
> NWCU: 58 took 2 passed 3%;
>
> so why you may want to argue taxes, writeoff's, and any other BS you can muster up to justify paying
> between 65 and 200 &37; more to not go to NWCU the facts indicate you will not be at any better of an
> advantage unless you consider having less money an advantage... while I realize their are other factors
> to consider, w/ out passing the BB you're out!
>
> While you may think this tax issue effects the validity of NWCU (the oldest DL in CA) the facts
indicate
> you are wrong and wasting everyone's time...
>
> while not relevant to a LS forum, if I want to put any education costs as a business expense because I
> feel it will advance/grow my business I will and I have.
>
>
>
> On 4/20/09, Linda wrote:
>> My husband is a CPA who has researched this forward and backward. He even contacted NWCU last year
>> and they admitted the information was in error said they would correct the website. Apparently they
>> haven't.
>>
>> On 4/20/09, Victoria Weaver wrote:
>>> 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.