San Diego's OldestLawSchool
Shape the Conversation
Join California Western’s Constitutional Law Faculty for a professional preview of key U.S. Supreme Court cases on the 2026–2027 docket. Moderated by Dean Miriam H. Baer, this annual First Monday program will analyze several significant cases and provide an overview of the term.
Registration for the 2026 All-Alumni Reunion is now closed. The reunion will take place on Thursday, October 8, at the Kona Kai San Diego Resort, bringing together alumni from every graduating class to celebrate the California Western community and the lifelong connections formed through the law school experience. To support the event, please consider making a donation here. For additional assistance, please contact alumni@cwsl.edu.
California Western School of Law's New Media Rights clinic has received a 2026 Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Award, one of the highest honors in the digital rights field. The recognition celebrates the clinic’s impact in copyright, privacy, free speech, and technology law while providing California Western students with hands-on experience addressing real-world digital rights issues.
LaunchYour Career
Our Programs
Earning a law degree from California Western means mastering legal theory and fundamentals, honing critical-thinking skills, and gaining the ability to apply the law in dynamic settings. For more than 100 years, California Western has succeeded in helping law students gain the skills and experience that employers and clients seek.
CWSL entering 1L’s took the Oath of Professionalism at the James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse.
Connect Legal Theory and Practice
Learn more about our faculty, including their scholarly activity and media appearances.
California Western Weekly
Faculty at California Western School of Law (CWSL) continue to produce groundbreaking work and present it across the country and around the globe.
Issue 41 - October 2, 2026
From Wrongful Conviction to Legal Advocate: Calvin Duncan Visits California Western
The California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic recently welcomed acclaimed legal advocate and author Calvin Duncan for a compelling conversation on wrongful conviction, access to justice, and the transformative impact of legal education. Drawing a large audience of students, faculty, alumni, legal professionals, and community members, the event highlighted Duncan’s remarkable journey from nearly three decades of wrongful incarceration to becoming a nationally recognized advocate, educator, and champion for justice.
Drive Change
At CWSL, we have cultivated more than just legal minds; we have fostered a vibrant community where solidarity and support reign. As President of CWSL’s Black Law Student Association, I have witnessed firsthand the power of unity in overcoming challenges and championing diversity. Together, we have excelled academically and forged lasting bonds that transcend the confines of our campus.
2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards
California Western School of Law proudly recognizes the recipients of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards, celebrating eight remarkable alumni whose leadership, service, and professional excellence have left a lasting mark on the legal profession and beyond. The honorees will be formally recognized at the All-Alumni Reunion on October 8, 2026.
1L Grant Van Gorp Receives Competitive Statewide Justice Pathways Scholarship
California Western School of Law student Grant Van Gorp has been awarded a highly
competitive Justice Pathways Scholarship from the California Lawyers Foundation, earning
recognition as one of only seven law students statewide selected for the honor. The
scholarship celebrates Van Gorp’s commitment to academic excellence, civic engagement,
community service, and the future of the legal profession.
Live and Learn in a Dynamic City
I would choose CWSL a thousand times over. Everyone I have met, including faculty, staff, and students, has been very welcoming ... Everyone wants each other to succeed, and that is clear in the interactions they share.