Why California Western
There are many reasons to pursue your legal education at California Western. Here are the big ones.
Live and Learn in a Thriving City
San Diego, with its quality of life and dynamic economy, is an ideal location to launch your legal career.
San Diego is home to established industries, including defense and tourism, while leading in the burgeoning industries of biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
Major firms like Qualcomm and the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences are headquartered in San Diego, increasingly recognized as a top location for innovation.
Where our alumni work
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Law firms57%
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Government14%
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Business14%
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Public interest10%
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Judicial clerkships3%
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Academia2%
Learn the Art and Science of Lawyering
Lawyering: the art and science of assisting clients. At various times in your legal career you will act as counselor, negotiator, drafter, and advocate on behalf of your clients. At the California Western School of Law, you will develop the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill these roles ethically and competently.
Doing the right thing is such a passion here that, in 1999, we founded the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic (formerly known as California Innocence Project), which is dedicated to the release of the wrongfully convicted. We have released 40 people from prison in that time with the help of student interns.
The Competitive Advocacy Team has a superlative record and gives students a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Learn more about their 2023 ABA Negotiation National Championship - and many more victories.
Community Law Project, 2022 California Non-Profit of the Year.
Engage with Thought Leaders
Our faculty are dedicated scholars, public intellectuals, and highly skilled teachers.
Learn from experts
California Western is known for its close-knit learning community, which starts with a deeply committed faculty invested in the success of its students.
Faculty in the Media
Nancy Marcus
Article: Nancy Marcus's “Teaching Around Generative AI Plagiarism Risks” was recognized as a Recent Top Paper by SSRN in March
William Aceves
Op-Ed: William Aceves writes on the Watts Treaty for the Los Angeles Times
Connect Legal Theory and Practice
California Western builds legal skills with a logical, intentional progression. Students are taught to translate theoretical concepts into daily application, and then given numerous opportunities to hone those skills through externships or clinics.
Experiential Coursework
Our upper division curriculum includes a selection of experiential courses designed to help students prepare for success in the job search and workplace. Our experiential courses provide students with skills like interviewing, negotiating, contract drafting, and trial skills. The courses also touch on topics such as professional ethics and career satisfaction.
The line between who creates media versus who owns media is blurrier than ever before. Our partner New Media Rights supports content creators in their quests to defend their work.
Immerse Yourself in a Law School that Represents Society
California Western welcomes students from all backgrounds and creates an intellectual
environment that challenges future lawyers to think about how best to pursue justice.
California Western School of Law is committed to building a collaborative environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe these values affirm mutual respect and foster innovation, enabling students, staff, and faculty to fully develop and use their skills to promote positive change. We recognize and appreciate the unique contribution each person brings to our law school. We strive to create an atmosphere of open discussion, mutual respect, and dignity toward all. We also extend these values to serve our local, national, and international communities.
Transformative Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs
Read about the largest gift in California Western’s history, which supports diversity, equity, and inclusion.
US News and World Report, Most Racially and Ethnically Diverse Law Schools