California Western Named to 2009 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction
San Diego law school recognized for commitment to and achievement in community service

SAN DIEGO, February 26, 2010 - California Western School of Law is named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction for 2009, in recognition of service donated by the school's faculty, staff, and students through academic service learning and volunteerism. The award is one of the federal government's highest community service honors for institutions of higher education.

"It is a great honor to be recognized by the President for the many ways in which the California Western family contributes to the San Diego community," says Dean Steven R. Smith. "We have long viewed the practice of law as a helping, collaborative profession, and this honor affirms the value of our commitment to San Diego. The California Western community celebrates this honor and the faculty, staff, and students who give back every day."

Only 16 institutions in California were named to the Honor Roll with Distinction. California Western is the only independent law school to receive the honor.

President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll
President Obama's commitment to service is honored through the recognition of higher education institutions who commit time, energy, and resources to address some of the nation's most pressing social problems on the local and national level.

Since 2006, the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized higher education institutions for their commitment and achievement in community service through the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

Some past and current recipients of the Honor Roll with Distinction are: Cornell University; Duke University; Georgetown University; New York University; Stanford University; University of California, San Diego; University of Notre Dame; and the University of Texas at Austin.

Commitment to Community Service
California Western values the importance of community service in providing students the real-world experience to develop the knowledge, skills, and perspective necessary to become creative problem solvers and principled advocates. Below are descriptions of three programs highlighted in California Western's winning application:

The Community Law Project, a joint program with the University of California, San Diego offers students the opportunity to provide pro bono legal services to homeless and financially disadvantaged community members in Downtown San Diego. Their counterparts from the UC San Diego Student-Run Free Clinic Project provide free medical care.

Street Law San Diego takes law students into the classrooms of local high schools to teach youth about the law, democracy, and human rights. By addressing the negative stereotypes of law enforcement and the legal system often found among inner city youth, some high school students are encouraged to improve their academic performance and pursue careers in law.

California Western established the Pro Bono Program in 1991, a formalized effort to engage students in pro bono service to non-profit organizations, as well as the underrepresented and disadvantage individuals they serve.

These contributions, along with many additional school-sponsored and student-generated volunteerism opportunities, make California Western deserving of this national honor.