1111 North State College Boulevard
Fullerton, CA 92831
Phone: 800.WSU.4LAW, 714.459.1101; Fax: 714.441.1748
E-mail: adm@wsulaw.edu; Website: www.wsulaw.edu
Western State College of Law (WSCL), founded in 1966, is the oldest law school in Orange County, Southern California. Our 11,000 graduates have distinguished themselves as jurists, lawmakers, district attorneys, public defenders, and civil practitioners; they constitute a strong alumni network that mentors and enables an enviable job placement record for WSCL graduates. Located in the college town of Fullerton, in the heart of the vibrant economy and healthy legal market of Orange County, the WSCL campus is about 30 miles south of Los Angeles and 100 miles north of San Diego. It is within commuting distance of the greater Los Angeles/Orange County metropolitan areas, the fast-growing Inland Empire, and the Southland's beach cities and high technology, finance, and business centers. A private law school of fewer than 500 students, WSCL offers small class sizes, personal interaction with faculty, and an extraordinary, supportive learning environment. Repeatedly cited as one of the most ethnically diverse law school student bodies in the country, WSCL is also known for giving students practical hands-on lawyering experience along with a strong academic foundation.
WSCL prides itself on a faculty of excellent professors whose first priority is teaching and student success. Most bring extensive real-world legal experience to the classroom in addition to their strong academic and teaching credentials. The full-time faculty is supplemented by an outstanding adjunct faculty of practicing attorneys and judges. With a student-to-faculty ratio below 20 to 1, and a highly accessible faculty, students benefit from individualized attention and mentoring.
WSCL offers a full-time program that is normally completed in three academic years and part-time day or evening programs that take four full years to complete. Students may start in any of the programs in the fall. WSCL also offers a January-start, part-time evening program; students in good standing may transition to full time in the fall. The Business Law Center and Criminal Law Practice Center programs give students the option to focus their electives to earn a Certificate in Business Law or Criminal Law with a notation on their transcript indicating their special study emphasis.
In addition to required and elective coursework, the centers also bring distinguished speakers to campus, arrange student visits to criminal justice facilities or business venues, and provide connections to practitioners, including internship and externship opportunities and career networking. The on-site Immigration Legal Clinic provides students with hands-on skills training while responding to the pressing needs of immigrants in Orange County. Students represent immigrants who cannot otherwise afford legal representation before Citizenship and Immigration Services and in Immigration Court. Each student, along with a partner, serves as the client's primary representative. Under faculty supervision, they interview the clients, investigate and gather facts, research the relevant law, draft briefs and affidavits, file applications for relief and supporting documentation, and represent clients in immigration interviews and in court.
In the externship program, students receive placement in courts or in the offices of district attorneys, public defenders, practicing attorneys, corporate legal departments, or public interest organizations where they gain hands-on experience and earn academic credit.
WSCL has a diverse student body of about 500 students, with an entering class of approximately 200 students. Minority enrollment constitutes over 40 percent of the total, with an even enrollment of men and women. The fall 2011 class entered from 98 different undergraduate institutions, and about 20 percent came from 21 different states outside California. About 15 active student-led organizations enrich and complement the academic program with their cocurricular educational, networking, philanthropic, and social activities for students. These include the Student Bar Association, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Black Law Student Association, Latino Student Bar Association, Christian Legal Society, Business Law Association, J. Reuben Clark Society, Entertainment Sports Law Society, Gay and Lesbian Organization, Criminal Law Association, and Trial Lawyers Association. Students who qualify for the law review and moot court team gain high-visibility legal writing and competitive advocacy experience.
The library has more than 175,000 on-site volumes as well as access to electronic resources on campus and remotely. Students may use the library's 20 computers, including 25 located in a large computer classroom, or the wireless network. The library has 19 study rooms, a Student Learning Center, Quiet Reading Room, and open reading areas for group or individual study. The library maintains long hours to service the needs of our students. Our librarians provide extensive reference services and training in legal research, online research, and software.
WSCL's campus is located in the heart of Fullerton's university district and consists of a four-story main building and the three-level library, with on-site parking. Most areas of both buildings are covered by Wi-Fi. The main building contains classrooms, the modern Frank and Marleen Darras Moot Court Room, an administrative suite, faculty offices, a student lounge, and a café.
All applicants are assigned to an admission advisor who assists in the admission process, may conduct a personal or telephone informational interview, and arranges for visits to the campus and contact with professors, students, or alumni. Each applicant's entire file is reviewed; admission decisions are made by a faculty committee. A bachelor's degree is required for admission. A personal statement and two letters of recommendation are required, and a résumé is encouraged. Details of the applicant's undergraduate record and LSAT score, writing ability, and maturing life and work experiences are key indicators of potential for success in law school. When there are multiple LSAT scores, the highest, most recent score may be accorded significant weight.
Admission is on a rolling basis, but application by April 1 for fall, and October 1 for spring, is highly encouraged.
WSCL offers generous merit-based scholarships, and in the 2011 entering class, over 40 percent of new students received scholarships. No separate application is required. Admitted students are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on academic predictors (undergraduate track record and LSAT score). After the first year, law students are eligible to compete for merit scholarships, provided they rank within the top 30 percent of their class. A full range of loan programs is available to complement students' financial needs, including Stafford loans, Perkins loans, and private loans. All students receiving scholarship funds or loans should plan to file the FAFSA and a preliminary financial aid application.
With a 46-year history in Southern California and an influential alumni network of more than 11,000 graduates, WSCL has a strong placement track record and the connections to assist students in their job searches. The May 2011 class found employment as follows: 61 percent in private practice, 22 percent in business and industry, 6 percent in academia, 4 percent in government, 3 percent in public service, and 3 percent in government/other.
The active Career Services Office arranges on-campus interviews, career-related workshops, speaker panels, networking events, and individual counseling to help educate students about the many possible areas of practice and how to secure employment. The office serves as a liaison with legal employers, both public and private. It solicits job listings from alumni and local practitioners and assists students with permanent and summer employment. The Career Resource Center provides students with reference materials and counseling on résumé writing, job-search techniques, and study-abroad programs. Convenient online job- and résumé-posting services are provided by WSCL to facilitate employment searches by students and alumni. WSCL alumni mentor students and recent graduates. Additionally, alumni assist with on-campus career fairs, mock interviews, and networking events.
We encourage you to visit our website, speak to an admission advisor, and arrange to visit WSCL in person so that you can sit in on a class and meet with students, alumni, and professors. Experience the personal attention and support, great learning environment, and dedication to student success that set Western State apart.
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 |
2.25– 2.49 Apps |
2.25– 2.49 Adm |
2.00– 2.24 Apps |
2.00– 2.24 Adm |
Below 2.00 Apps |
Below 2.00 Adm |
No GPA Apps |
No GPA Adm |
Total Apps |
Total Adm |
| LSAT score 175–180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| LSAT score 170–174 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| LSAT score 165–169 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| LSAT score 160–164 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 64 | 57 |
| LSAT score 155–159 | 14 | 14 | 26 | 26 | 57 | 53 | 51 | 44 | 49 | 43 | 32 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 260 | 218 |
| LSAT score 150–154 | 26 | 25 | 61 | 58 | 100 | 93 | 130 | 119 | 102 | 94 | 62 | 48 | 37 | 14 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 547 | 459 |
| LSAT score 145–149 | 14 | 14 | 47 | 34 | 113 | 85 | 118 | 74 | 102 | 35 | 72 | 13 | 35 | 3 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 529 | 264 |
| LSAT score 140–144 | 4 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 201 | 1 |
| LSAT score 135–139 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 0 |
| LSAT score 130–134 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| LSAT score 125–129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| LSAT score 120–124 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 66 | 56 | 163 | 125 | 313 | 242 | 368 | 253 | 323 | 183 | 240 | 96 | 128 | 32 | 58 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 29 | 12 | 1701 | 1009 |
Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.