California Western School of Law

Introduction

California Western School of Law is the independent San Diego law school that educates lawyers as creative problem solvers and principled advocates—lawyers who frame the practice of law as a helping, collaborative profession. The law school's centers and institutes offer students many opportunities to explore the full scope of the law in real-life situations. California Western, accredited by the ABA (1962) and AALS (1967), emphasizes both theory and practice—rigorous academics and renowned real-world clinical programs—and invites students to explore the wide expanse of the law while preparing for practice.

Library and Physical Facilities

The award-winning, four-story, 50,000-square-foot law library was dedicated in 2000 by US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. The library holds more than 350,000 volumes, including approximately 5,600 serial subscriptions, microforms equivalent to 162,000 volumes, audio- and videotapes, and access to a large number of online databases. The library also offers an excellent computer lab and is wired with high-speed digital lines supporting over 250 data ports in addition to wireless access. Renovations to the historic classroom building at California Western have provided several large lecture halls, office space for 30 on-campus student organizations, a 1,840-square-foot student lounge, individual study rooms, and a computer lab. Students enjoy additional access to the student network and Internet via campus-wide wireless technology.

Curriculum

The California Western curriculum offers a broad and diverse selection of courses. The law school provides a rigorous, traditional legal education with an emphasis on developing problem-solving, communication, writing, and analytical skills. Areas of concentration are also offered in eight fields of study: business law; international law; labor and employment law; child, family, and elder law; criminal law; creative problem solving; intellectual property, telecommunications, and technology-regulations law; and health law and policy. Numerous academic programs, including clinical placements and skills-based learning, supplement the course curriculum.

In addition to the traditional three-year curriculum, California Western offers a trimester academic calendar that allows students to study law year-round to complete their legal education in two years. California Western also offers a part-time day program.

Interdisciplinary Programs

California Western offers several dual-degree programs, allowing students to study two disciplines concurrently. The dual-degree program with the University of California, San Diego, offers degrees in political science (JD/PhD) and history (JD/PhD). California Western and the University of California, San Diego, also offer a joint degree in health law studies (MAS). In addition, California Western offers a dual-degree program with San Diego State University in both business (JD/MBA) and social work (JD/MSW).

University of California, San Diego Affiliation

California Western and the University of California, San Diego have an Agreement of Association that provides broad interdisciplinary opportunities for the faculty and students of both institutions. These opportunities include joint academic degrees, joint research efforts, a vibrant speaker series, sharing of facilities, and community outreach programs.

Study-Abroad Programs

Students have the opportunity to study in academic programs throughout the world, including in Chile, England, Ireland, Malta, and the Czech Republic. Additionally, semester-abroad opportunities are available at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, the University of Aarhus in Denmark, the University of Paris X-Nanterre in France, and Leiden University School of Law in the Netherlands. Students may also choose to do an academic internship with the International Criminal Process Clinic at The Hague, the Netherlands.

Special Programs

The Center for Creative Problem Solving investigates collaborative approaches to communication, conflict resolution, and problem solving. The Center develops curriculum, research, and projects to educate students and lawyers on methods for preventing problems and creatively solving those problems that already exist. It also houses Proyecto ACCESO, a Latin American center for training lawyers, judges, law students, government officials, and community leaders in the skills of oral advocacy, problem solving, and other forms of conflict resolution.

Through the California Innocence Project, law students work alongside practicing criminal defense lawyers to seek the release of wrongfully convicted prisoners. Law students assist in the investigation, write briefs, and advocate for the release of clients.

The Institute of Health Law Studies is a health law center that focuses on "improving health care today for all our tomorrows." It performs research, participates in advocacy activities, engages in community service, and provides education to advance its mission.

The law school offers the LLM in Trial Advocacy specializing in Federal Criminal Law. International lawyers who are interested in studying comparative law or the US legal system may pursue the Master of Laws in Comparative Law (LLM) and the Master of Comparative Law (MCL).

Clinical Internship Program

California Western's Clinical Internship Program provides opportunities for students to gain practical lawyering experience in law offices, corporations, government agencies, and courts. Nearly 70 percent of California Western students participate in this popular program. Students have the opportunity to intern in almost any area of law. Out-of-town internships are available for students interested in developing these skills outside of San Diego. Our students have worked in many countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, England, the Philippines, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Students have arranged internships at the United Nations, the Asian Development Bank, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Paramount Studios, the Federal Communications Commission, and the US Department of State.

Student Activities

The Law Review and the International Law Journal publish articles by academic scholars and practitioners as well as by California Western students. Students edit and manage these publications under supervision from faculty advisors and a professional staff.

The Moot Court Honors Board allows students interested in trial and appellate advocacy skills to practice and compete against other students. Under the supervision and guidance of faculty coaches, students also participate in advocacy competitions around the country. California Western advocacy teams are nationally recognized, and our students have won many regional and national awards in these competitions.

California Western has a vibrant student government. Nearly 30 student organizations reflect a broad range of interests and diversity.

Career Services

Career Services offers individualized, professional advice to students about their personal career goals and tailors strategies to assist students in reaching those goals. The department coordinates the on-campus recruitment program, career development programming, practice-area panel discussions, national alumni mentor network, Pro Bono Honors and Public Service Programs, and access to technological resources for career development. Prospective employers and alumni regularly visit the campus to meet with interested students.

Alumni

California Western's nearly 9,000 alumni work in large firms, domestic and foreign governments, large corporations, private practice, the judiciary, and academia. The law school's Alumni Admissions Recruiter program matches alumni with prospective students in the areas in which they reside. The Admissions Office can provide prospective students with a list of alumni in their area who are available to talk with them about employment opportunities and career advice.

Diversity

California Western's belief is that a richly diversified student body enhances the academic and interpersonal experiences of the law school. Half of the student body is female and approximately one-third is of an ethnic minority. California Western does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Admission

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applicants are admitted based on an evaluation of the LSAT score, undergraduate academic record, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and other criteria, including work experience, campus and community activities, life/personal experiences, and evidence of leadership promise. Students are admitted to California Western to begin in August and January. A bachelor's degree and registration with LSAC's Credential Assembly Service are required. Application deadlines: fall—April 1; spring—November 1.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

More than 90 percent of California Western's students receive some form of financial assistance to fund their legal education. Need-based financial aid includes loans and work study. Numerous scholarships are awarded based on academic criteria and LSAT scores. Scholarships include the prestigious Kennedy Scholarship, the Robert J. Grey Jr. Scholarship, and the Trustees' Scholarship which, among other benefits, provides full tuition for three years. Other merit-based full and partial scholarships are awarded to incoming students, including diversity, career transition, and creative problem-solving scholarships. Academic achievement scholarships are available to continuing students. Scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Office after reviewing student admission applications.

Applicant Profile

California Western School of Law

This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.

	GPA
LSAT Score	3.75+ Apps	3.75+ Adm	3.50–3.74 Apps	3.50–3.74 Adm	3.25–3.49 Apps	3.25–3.49 Adm	3.00–3.24 Apps	3.00–3.24 Adm	2.75–2.99 Apps	2.75–2.99 Adm	2.50–2.74 Apps	2.50–2.74 Adm	Below 2.50 Apps	Below 2.50 Adm	No GPA Apps	No GPA Adm	Total Apps	Total Adm
LSAT score 170–180	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	2	2
LSAT score 165–169	1	1	2	2	4	4	3	3	4	4	4	4	1	0	0	0	19	18
LSAT score 160–164	10	10	15	15	29	28	30	27	15	14	11	11	10	7	4	2	124	114
LSAT score 155–159	29	27	51	50	85	82	98	89	83	72	48	36	32	15	3	3	429	374
LSAT score 150–154	36	35	93	88	165	153	165	129	119	78	68	24	50	8	13	11	709	526
LSAT score 145–149	11	11	78	57	102	42	136	30	101	13	54	0	43	1	8	4	533	158
LSAT score 140–144	7	2	23	2	29	0	46	1	40	0	22	1	26	0	2	0	195	6
LSAT score Below 140	3	0	2	0	6	0	8	0	18	0	13	0	10	0	1	0	61	0
Total	97	86	264	214	420	309	486	279	381	182	220	76	173	32	31	20	2072	1198

Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.
Miscellaneous applicants with no LSAT (i.e., MCL/LLM program) and nonstandard administration not in grid.