Juris Doctor (JD) Program
Our innovative Juris Doctor (JD) program prepares you for the future of law. You will acquire an essential legal writing foundation, skills-based training through externships and clinics, and crucial preparation for passing the bar and finding employment after graduation.
Designed for Success
Because of our status as an independent law school, we can stay ahead of the latest legal trends, so you can gain the skills and experience that employers and clients seek.
JD Program Details
Our program is carefully crafted to impart a strong law foundation. In your second year, you'll build on that foundation, honing legal skills through hands-on experience. Explore our course offerings and discover what to expect throughout your journey at California Western.
We offer a part-time evening program designed for students who are fully employed or have other obligations while they are attending law school. Part-time students take a reduced course load per semester and an established sequence of courses in the first year.
Program Highlights
The JD program at California Western School of Law gives you a strong foundation in legal theory and practices, as well as hands-on experiences with clients in the field. Find out more below.
Before you take your courses, you might want to know the details of all the courses that we offer. After gaining a strong foundation in legal analysis, research, and writing, you’ll have the chance to explore more electives in years two and three.
As a part of your studies, you can specialize in several areas of law, including:
- Business Law
- Criminal Justice
- International Law
- Labor and Employment Law
We offer more than 40 simulation courses through the JD program at California Western School of Law. Some include:
- Advanced Negotiation
- Culture & the Criminal Justice System
- Law & Lawyers in Pandemic
- Trial Practice
The Clinical Externship Program gives third-year students the opportunity to hone their practice-ready skills while earning between one to ten academic credits for legal work in nonprofit agencies, private law offices, courts, corporations, or government agencies in San Diego and around the world.
California Western is committed to setting you up for success upon graduation. That’s why we start preparing students for the Bar Exam from the first day of law school and continues after graduation.
Upon graduation, you can participate in the California Bar Review Course. All qualifying JD graduates who are taking the Bar for the first time are eligible for the course.
The course provides a complete review of all subjects tested on the California Bar Exam. It also offers essays, multiple-choice questions, and performance exam workshops. Simulated exams and group and individual tutoring are also available through the course.