As you consider which law school offers you the right mix of programs and experiences, thank you for considering California Western School of Law.
We pride ourselves on welcoming students who share our view of the law as a tool to help solve societal problems, who share our commitment to community engagement - through such programs as the California Innocence Project and Community Law Project - and who will benefit from our focus on the development of both textbook knowledge and practical skills.
At California Western, your journey to practice begins in the first year, through the traditional core classes that build a strong foundation upon which you build skill and experience.
Our nationally-recognized STEPPS class adds a full year of the first-hand experience as you join your peers in a "mock law firm" environment, working through the ethical and practical requirements many students must face after they begin their careers.
Third-year internships - working side-by-side with attorneys and professionals in San Diego and worldwide - and pro bono works further develop new attorneys' skills to build successful careers. San Diego's oldest law school offers the right climate for a career in the law, and I do not just mean the year-round temperate weather or access to abundant recreational and cultural offerings. Our academic programs, diverse student body, and engagement with high-quality faculty and staff provide a range of individual approaches to the profession that together reflect our broad view of the law.
California Western School of Law is committed to using the law to solve human and societal problems. Our mission is to train ethical, competent, and compassionate lawyers, representing our diverse society, who can use the law effectively and creatively.
We recognize that, in the 21st century, the rapid rate of change will accelerate and create further problems. We also recognize the pervasive perception, and partial reality, that the legal system and lawyers have helped create, rather than solve, the problems our evolving society confronts.
While continuing to graduate lawyers well-equipped to practice law, we also seek to graduate creative problem solvers committed to improving our legal system and society. Our graduates will not merely react to problems. However, they will anticipate them and be ready to devise innovative and responsible solutions to serve the needs of their clients and the broader community.
Further, by contributing to legal scholarship, participating in public deliberations about legal matters, and serving as a community legal education resource, California Western School of Law will make significant, measurable contributions to the solution of problems in our community, our society, and our world.
Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing the resources you need to succeed in law school and practice. Through these services and more, we help you develop and support your career and professional goals while providing a supportive and comfortable learning environment.
The Clinical Internship Program is an essential component of the curriculum at California Western School of Law. The Program builds upon the healthy practice foundation students receive in the second year STEPPS Program. The 13-week Program allows third-year students to earn academic credit for legal work in not-for-profit agencies, private law offices, courts, corporations, or government agencies. Students participate in legal work in these settings and acquire useful insights and experiences toward building their careers. The Program develops and promotes confidence, problem-solving skills, and professionalism that lead to becoming practice-ready attorneys.
Most students would not be able to afford law school without some form of financial assistance. The financial aid awarded to California Western students may consist of scholarships, federal and private loans, work-study programs, and veterans' benefits.
Our Admissions and Financial Aid staff can help you understand the many scholarships, loans, and work-study options available to help you pay for law school.
Any established attorney knows that preparation is crucial to success. At California Western, that preparation starts before your first classes begin. Learn what you need to know before you apply to law school. Once you've enrolled, get a head start on your 1L classes through our Summer Enrichment program.
In conjunction with U.C. San Diego and San Diego State University, our A.I.M. for Law Program helps those thinking about law school prepare for the LSAT and meet classmates on a similar journey.
The Summer Enrichment Program is a six-week law school class experience that introduces you to a law student's tasks and gives you a better understanding of what law school entails. You will become acquainted with American law's basic structure and the American legal system in such class topics as harmful words, death, birth, property, and freedom and regulation in the market. The Program includes exercises in taking law school exams, client interviewing, negotiation, and instruction on the briefing, case analysis, and precedent.
All students admitted to California Western are eligible to enroll and will receive three units of credit upon successful completion of the course and matriculation at California Western.
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