California Western School of Law
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California Western School of Law
| Motto | lex schola ferenda (What law school ought to be) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1924 |
| School type | Private school, Non-Profit |
| Dean | Steven R. Smith |
| Location | San Diego, California, USA |
| Enrollment | 950 |
| Campus | Urban |
| Website | www.cwsl.edu |
Founded in 1924, California Western School of Law (popularly known as California Western or Cal Western) is a private, non-profit law school located in San Diego, California. The school was accredited by the American Bar Association in 1962 and became a member of the Association of American Law Schools in 1967. It is the oldest law school in San Diego. California Western is home to both the Southern California and Hawaii "Innocence Projects." Its International Law Journal is among the oldest in the nation.[1]
According to "Bestlawschools.com," California Western is considered to be among the "top 25" law schools for sports and entertainment law.[2]
In 2007 California Western School of Law Professor, Justin Brooks, was named one of California's Top 100 Attorneys by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. Brooks was one of only four law professors in the state of California selected and one of only six lawyers – and the only criminal lawyer – from San Diego on the list.
This institution is not, and has never been, associated with or related in any way to California Coast University of Santa Ana, California, which had called itself "California Western University" from 1973 - 1981.
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[edit] History
California Western was originally chartered in 1924 by Leland Ghent Stanford as a private graduate institution called Balboa Law College, the first law school in San Diego. His brother, Dwight Stanford, served as one of the first deans. Leland Ghent Stanford is not related to the founder of Stanford University, Leland Stanford, although he did attend Stanford, where he earned undergraduate and law degrees, and also M.A. and Ph.D degrees in Government Administration. Balboa Law College expanded to include undergraduate and other graduate studies and changed its name to Balboa University. The law school at Balboa University was closed in 1946.
In 1952, Balboa University became affiliated with the Southern California Methodist Conference, changed its name to California Western University, and relocated to Point Loma. The law school was reopened in downtown. In 1960, the law school had 6 full-time faculty and 23 students. In that year, it re-located to Rohr Hall at Point Loma. It received accreditation from the American Bar Association in 1962.
In 1968, California Western University changed its name to United States International University (USIU). The law school retained the name California Western. USIU moved to Scripps Ranch. Point Loma Nazarene University currently occupies the Point Loma site. In 2001, USIU merged with California School of Professional Psychology to become Alliant International University.
In 1973, the law school relocated from its Point Loma location to the current downtown campus at 350 Cedar Street. In 1975, California Western ended its affiliation with USIU and became an independent secular law school. In 1980, the new trimester system was announced, allowing two entering classes in one academic year, reducing individual class size and allowing students to graduate in two years rather than the standard three.
In 1993, the law school opened a new administrative and campus center at 225 Cedar Street, housing faculty and administration offices, including student affairs and financial aid.
The current Dean, Steven R. Smith, joined the law school in 1996. In January, 2000, California Western opened a new Law Library building at 290 Cedar Street, which was dedicated by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.
[edit] Academics
The law school teaches the traditional Juris Doctor curriculum plus dual-degree programs, specifically:
- Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration (with San Diego State University)
- Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work (with San Diego State University)
- Juris Doctor/Ph.D. in Political Science or History (with University of California, San Diego)
California Western also offers the Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Trial Advocacy with a Specialization in Federal Criminal Law as well as an M.C.L./LL.M for foreign law students.
While most students participate in a full-time academic program, the school also offers evening classes for working adults.
Its research centers include:
- William J. McGill Center for Creative Problem Solving
- Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy
- National Center for Preventive Law
- California Innocence Project - The California Innocence Project, part of the national network of Innocence Projects, is a non-profit clinical program based at California Western in which law professors and students work to free wrongly convicted prisoners in California. The law students assist in the investigation of cases where there is strong evidence of innocence, write briefs in those cases, and advocate in all appropriate forums for the release of the project's clients. Founded in 1999, the California Innocence Project reviews more than 1,000 claims of innocence from California inmates each year and has earned the release of five wrongfully convicted clients. The Project is directed by Professor Justin Brooks and Professor Jan Stiglitz.
Its clinical internship program routinely places students in U.S. Courts of Appeal, U.S. District Courts and U.S. Attorney's Offices.
[edit] Areas of Concentration
California Western's areas of concentration provide a rigorous academic experience in the following areas:
- Child, Family & Elder Law
- Creative Problem Solving
- Criminal Justice Program
- Health Law & Policy
- Intellectual Property, Telecommunications & Technology Regulation
- International Law
- Labor & Employment Law
[edit] Publications
Cal Western has two major publications, the California Western Law Review and the California Western International Law Journal, one of the oldest International Law journals in the country.
