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Shape the Conversation

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First Monday: An Overview of the Supreme Court's 2026-2027 Term

Join California Western’s Constitutional Law Faculty for a professional preview of key U.S. Supreme Court cases on the 2026–2027 docket. Moderated by Dean Miriam H. Baer, this annual First Monday program will analyze several significant cases and provide an overview of the term.

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CWSL All-Alumni Reunion 2026

Join us on Thursday, October 8, 2026, for the CWSL All-Alumni Reunion, an evening dedicated to reconnecting with classmates, expanding your professional network, and celebrating the lifelong connections that begin at California Western School of Law. The reception begins at 5:00 p.m. at the Kona Kai San Diego Resort, where alumni from every graduating class are invited to come together for an evening of conversation, camaraderie, and community.

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Empower the Next Generation

At California Western, your gift has the power to make a lasting difference. Donations directly advance our mission by supporting student scholarships, academic excellence, and innovative legal education.

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LaunchYour Career

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Our Programs

Earning a law degree from California Western means mastering legal theory and fundamentals, honing critical-thinking skills, and gaining the ability to apply the law in dynamic settings. For more than 100 years, California Western has succeeded in helping law students gain the skills and experience that employers and clients seek.

Academics

CWSL entering 1L’s took the Oath of Professionalism at the James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse.

 

 

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Connect Legal Theory and Practice

Students volunteering for the Community Law Project
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Learn more about our faculty, including their scholarly activity and media appearances.

Meet Our Faculty

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California Western Weekly

Faculty at California Western School of Law (CWSL) continue to produce groundbreaking work and present it across the country and around the globe. 

Issue 39 - September 18, 2026

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James Stout, investigative border journalist and Harlo Holmes, chief security programs officer of Freedom of the Press Foundation

New Media Rights Hosts Conversation on Border Journalism and Source Protection

California Western School of Law's New Media Rights clinic recently hosted A Conversation on Border Journalism and Source Protection, bringing together an audience of journalists, legal professionals, students, and community members for a discussion on the challenges of reporting in high-risk environments.

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Drive Change

Students listening to Professor Shawn Fields during a lecture
LeBrian Mays ‘25

At CWSL, we have cultivated more than just legal minds; we have fostered a vibrant community where solidarity and support reign. As President of CWSL’s Black Law Student Association, I have witnessed firsthand the power of unity in overcoming challenges and championing diversity. Together, we have excelled academically and forged lasting bonds that transcend the confines of our campus.

LeBrian Mays ‘25
2026 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards

California Western School of Law proudly recognizes the recipients of the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Awards, celebrating eight remarkable alumni whose leadership, service, and professional excellence have left a lasting mark on the legal profession and beyond. The honorees will be formally recognized at the All-Alumni Reunion on October 8, 2026.

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From left: SILSA Board Members 2L Samuel Finkelstein, 2L Kannica Chandy, Assistant Director of Admissions Planning and Data Janelle Brown-Peters, 2L Lauren Tyler, 2L Julie Hinton, 3L Colleen Murphy, and 2L Nicolas Bell

California Western Students Featured in KPBS Story on Expanding Pathways to the Legal Profession

Three California Western School of Law students are being recognized for their efforts to expand access to the legal profession for formerly incarcerated individuals. A recent KPBS feature spotlights 3L Colleen Murphy and 2Ls Julie Hinton and Lauren Tyler, co-founders of the System Impacted Law Student Association (SILSA), as they share their experiences navigating law school, advocating for justice, and supporting fellow system-impacted students.

 

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Live and Learn in a Dynamic City

Students walking in front of Judicial Center in downtown San Diego
Gwendolyn Peng '24

I would choose CWSL a thousand times over. Everyone I have met, including faculty, staff, and students, has been very welcoming ... Everyone wants each other to succeed, and that is clear in the interactions they share.

Gwendolyn Peng '24