Disability Support
California Western is committed to creating an inclusive community where all students feel supported as they pursue their legal education. We offer a number of resources for students with disabilities, so they feel empowered.
Accommodations
If you have a disability and are seeking accommodation, we encourage you to contact the Office of Student Affairs to identify and work with our staff to remove barriers that may impact your learning while at California Western. We determine reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and the law school’s policies. Students seeking accommodations do need to submit an application form and should follow the steps listed below.
Know your rights and obligations
- Review General Policies Section IV of the Complete Student Handbook, CWSL Policy and Procedures for Provision of Services to Students with Disabilities.
- Contact the Office of Student Affairs with concerns or questions.
- Submit a Request for Disability Services form prior to the trimester deadline (announced via the Student Affairs Canvas page at the beginning of each trimester). Please contact the Office of Student Affairs at JavaScript Required to receive the packet.
- Submit a completed Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information form for every medical professional who will be providing documentation to support your accommodation request.
- Give the Authorization for Disclosure of Health Information form and the Health Care Professional Verification of Disability form to all qualified medical professionals who will support your request. Both forms are included in the packet. The completed forms should include documentation demonstrating the qualifying disability and the reasonable accommodations you will need while you are in law school.
- Each professional should send the Health Care Professional Verification of Disability form and the supporting documents directly to CWSL. They can submit by (1) sending an email to JavaScript Required,(2) sending a confidential fax to (619) 615-1448, or (3) via mail to Office of Student Affairs, 225 Cedar Street, San Diego, California 92101.
Finalize Accommodations
Once all materials are reviewed and received by the Office of Student Affairs,
we will contact you to go over your request. Some of the final steps include:
- If your request is approved, we will engage in an interactive process to determine accommodations from the law school.
- You should also follow the procedures in the trimester Accommodation Agreement and other applicable rule.
Bar Exam and MPRE Accommodations
Students seeking testing accommodations for the Bar Exam or the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination should through the following information.
Bar Exam Accommodations
Students who need accommodations for the California Bar Exam will need to submit an
Accommodations Application. The applications should be prepared six months before
you plan to sit for the exam. The Office of Student Affairs works with students to
ensure students with disabilities know about the bar exam process. Our office can
also help students with disabilities get support in preparing the petition packet
for testing accommodations. Please note timelines for outside licensing or testing
agencies can differ significantly from policies and procedures for testing at California
Western.
Suggested Guidelines for California Bar Exam Accommodations
- Prepare Early - Second Year
- Start Early: Students should thoroughly review the State Bar of California Accommodations website at the end of their second year in law school as the process for bar exam testing accommodations is detailed and time-consuming.
- Register with the State Bar. All applicants must register with the State Bar; this is the first step. You will use your State Bar number for the accommodation packet.
- Know if you qualify: Students who received accommodations during law school may qualify for testing accommodations for the bar exam. Other students including students who are pregnant, nursing mothers, and students who have experienced a recent accident may also qualify for testing accommodations.
- Prepare Each Part of the Application Packet
- Follow the instructions provided on the State Bar website in every detail.
- Important Tip: Download and print out the checklist of items that need to be completed in order for your application to be considered. Click here.
- Follow the instructions provided on the State Bar website in every detail.
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- Follow the steps outlined by the State Bar:
- Complete Petition for Testing Accommodations – Form A
- Draft Personal Narrative as described in Question 2 of the Petition (Form A)
- TIP: This is a KEY part of your application. Take time to craft a persuasive statement akin to a Points and Authorities in a Motion. Confer with Assistant Dean of Student Affairs on tips for an effective Personal Narrative.
- Complete Disability Verification forms – Have your qualified health care professional
complete each applicable disability form and return it to you.
- You may have multiple grounds to receive testing accommodations. A separate Verification Form is required for each category of disability.
- Each Verification Form also requires additional documentation from your qualifying health care professional.
- Provide a history of accommodations
- Any prior testing agency grant of testing accommodations (ACT, SAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT)
- Form F: Request and submit Law School Verification – the Office of Student Affairs must fill out a Form F. Please allow 3 business days for OSA to fill out the form.
Other supporting documentation may be required for you to include in your packet. It is the student’s responsibility to submit a complete packet by the bar deadline. Questions should be directed to the State Bar of California Office of Admissions at 213-765-1500.
3. Submit complete packet per State Bar instructions
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- Keep a complete copy for your records.
- Submit 6 months before the exam date.
MPRE Accommodations
The MPRE is required for admission to the Bar of all but four U.S. jurisdictions and is required by the State Bar of California. Students register for the MPRE during your second or third year of law school after completion of a Professional Responsibility/Ethics course.
Registration for the MPRE is a multi-step process, so we strongly encourage applicants to do so well in advance of their anticipated MPRE test administration. You will need to apply for testing accommodations for the MPRE before registering for the exam. You will need to apply for accommodations, schedule a test appointment with Pearson VUE (MPRE administrator), and pay the test fee by the registration deadline. To begin the accommodation process, you’ll need to first create an NCBE account.
We remind students the MPRE will be administered using a computer-based system at Pearson VUE centers. Computer-based testing offers test-takers with functional limitations the following benefits:
- Candidates will no longer need to request large-print materials. All candidates have the option to increase the text size by 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, or 200% of the standard text size.
- Monitor brightness, text color, and background color may be adjusted. The Pearson VUE system allows candidates to select from twelve different color schemes, including black text on a white background, black text on a yellow background, black text on a salmon background, and white text on a blue background.
- Candidates are assigned seats in a quiet environment, in individual carrels with high walls on three sides to avoid visual distractions. Earplugs or noise-reducing headphones are provided for all candidates.
Disability Support
Click here for more information on the MPRE and online registration and testing accommodation application procedures.
For further assistance or to schedule a personal consultation, contact Student Affairs.
San Diego, CA 92101