JD Concentrations at California Western School of Law
A law school concentration, sometimes called a specialization, lets you tailor your JD around a specific area of law. At California Western School of Law in San Diego, concentrations go beyond coursework: they combine classroom learning with hands-on experience, pro bono work, and a writing requirement that demonstrates real expertise to prospective employers. Completed concentrations are formally recognized on your transcript.
We offer six JD concentrations: Business Law; Criminal Justice; Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Media Law; International Law; Labor and Employment Law; and Social Justice.
Areas of Concentration
Students must speak with the AOC Director of their chosen field before preparing or
submitting an online application form.
Please see our list of Concentration Courses for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Business law is one of the most versatile and in-demand concentration tracks for JD graduates entering private practice, in-house roles, or entrepreneurial ventures. The Business Law concentration at California Western blends theory and practice for students interested in business, entrepreneurship, and transactional law. Features include internships, pro bono or paid work, classroom and practicum courses, and a rigorous writing requirement that puts new skills on full display for a prospective employer.
Candidates are encouraged to discuss their interest in the Area of Concentration with one of the Area of Concentration Directors early in the second year of their J.D. studies. The Directors are Professor Laura Padilla and Professor Spencer Williams.
Requirements
If you are interested in the Business Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully.
Requirements for AOC in Business Law
Application Form
If you are interested in the Business Law Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully. Once you have reviewed the requirements, complete and submit the online application.
Please contact Professor Laura Padilla or Professor Spencer Williams for further questions.
For students who want to walk into a courtroom ready, the Criminal Justice concentration offers advanced trial advocacy skills alongside hands-on experience in the criminal justice system. This distinction signals to employers that you have the litigation skills and practice-readiness to hit the ground running. Through this concentration, students can participate in hands-on experiences in the sessions of the National Trial Skills Academy or in special programs like the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic.
Requirements
If you are interested in the Criminal Justice Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully.
Requirements for AOC in Criminal Justice
Application Form
If you are interested in the Criminal Prosecution and Defense Practice Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully. Once you have reviewed the requirements, complete and submit the online application.
Please contact the AOC Director, Professor Shawn Fields, for further questions.
Demand for legal expertise in intellectual property, data privacy, and media law is
growing faster than most areas of practice, driven by rapid advances in technology,
AI, and digital commerce. The IP, Privacy, and Media Law concentration at California
Western lets you focus on the national and international issues shaping these fields:
the ownership and regulation of technology, data, and creative work. Lawyers in these
fields foster groundbreaking innovation and cultural phenomena at IP-focused law firms,
university technology transfer offices, technology and entertainment companies, and
non-governmental organizations that work in the public interest.
Requirements
If you are interested in the Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Media Law Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully.
Requirements for AOC in Intellectual Property, Privacy and Media Law
Application Form
If you are interested in the Area of Concentration in Intellectual Property, Privacy, and Media Law, please review the requirements carefully and contact Academic Achievement for a course planner worksheet. Once you have reviewed the requirements, complete and submit the online application.
Please contact Professor Neill or Professor Simon with additional questions about this concentration.
As legal practice becomes increasingly global, lawyers in nearly every field encounter
transnational issues, from cross-border business transactions to human rights and
international trade. The International Law concentration at California Western provides
a rigorous foundation in international and comparative law, giving you the tools to
navigate a global legal environment from San Diego and beyond.
Candidates should discuss their application with a faculty member early in the second year of their J.D. studies. Faculty who specialize in international or comparative law include William Aceves, Emily Behzadi, Susan Bisom-Rapp, James Cooper, and Pooja Dadhania. Professors Aceves and Cooper serve as the Co-Directors of the Area of Concentration.
At California Western, students interested in international law can pursue several unique opportunities. Students may be invited to join the International Law Journal, one of the oldest international law publications in the country. Students may apply to join the school’s celebrated Jessup International Law Moot Court Team. California Western has a vibrant International Law Society as well as other student organizations that address international and comparative law issues. Additionally, students may participate in an externship that focuses on international or comparative law in their third year.
Requirements
If you are interested in the International Law Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully.
Requirements for AOC in International Law
Application Form
If you are interested in the International Law Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully. Once you have reviewed the requirements, complete and submit the online application.
Please contact Professors William Aceves or Jamie Cooper for further questions.
Labor and employment law is one of the highest-demand practice areas in today's legal
market, spanning the private sector, labor unions, government agencies, and employee
advocacy organizations. The Labor and Employment Law concentration at California Western
gives you a rigorous introduction to this specialized field, preparing you with the
coursework and demonstrated experience employers want to see.
From working in the private sector to the public sector, from representing private employers to working with labor unions, from representing employees to working with administrative or governmental entities, students specializing in this field will find themselves equipped for a broad range of careers.
Candidates are required to discuss their application with a member of the Labor and Employment Area of Concentration faculty advisor group (Jessica Fink, Susan Bisom-Rapp, or Paul Gudel).
For a student to be eligible for the Area of Concentration, the application must be approved by one of the Area of Concentration faculty advisors before any full-time student registers for their fourth semester or before any part-time student registers for their sixth semester.
This concentration is designed to provide students with a rigorous introduction to labor and employment law. The concentration will allow students to take the courses needed to prepare to practice in this highly specialized field, and it will demonstrate to prospective employers that graduates have the knowledge, training, and experience to hit the ground running in this area.
Requirements
If you are interested in the Labor and Employment Law Area of Concentration, please
review the requirements carefully.
Requirements for AOC in Labor and Employment Law
Application Form
If you are interested in the Labor and Employment Law concentration, contact Academic Achievement for a course planner worksheet. Once you have reviewed the requirements, complete and submit the online application.
Please contact Professor Jessica Fink with additional questions about this concentration.
For students driven by a commitment to equity and access to justice, the Social Justice
Law concentration offers a path that connects academic work directly to public interest
practice with internships, pro bono and paid opportunities, practicum courses, and
a writing requirement for students pursuing public interest careers after graduation.
Requirements
If you are interested in the Social Justice Area of Concentration, please review the requirements carefully.
Requirements of AOC in Social Justice
Application Form
Candidates are encouraged to discuss their interest in the Area of Concentration with
one of the Area of Concentration Directors early in the second year of their J.D.
studies. The Directors are Prof. Dana Sisitsky and Prof. Pooja Dadhania.
Once you have reviewed the requirements, complete and submit the online application.