California Western School of Law's Academic Achievement Programs complement the law school curriculum by helping students develop the skills necessary to succeed in law school and pass the bar examination.

Teaching Fellows Program

The Academic Achievement Department oversees the Law School’s Teaching Fellows Program. The Teaching Fellows Program is designed to help students grasp critical legal doctrine, perfect the skills necessary for success in law school, and interact with and learn from their colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere. Teaching Fellows are upper-division students who have performed exceptionally well in the class in a previous trimester. Teaching Fellows attend all classes, hold office hours, and, in most cases, facilitate weekly tutoring sessions. Teaching Fellows work closely with professors to ensure they are effectively assisting students and receive training on proven teaching and learning strategies.

First Year Teaching Fellows Program

Each first-year section will have a dedicated Teaching Fellow for Civil Procedure I, Civil Procedure II, Contract I, Contracts II, Criminal Law, Real Property I, Real Property II, and Torts I. The Academic Achievement Department will provide additional information to students regarding the First Year Teaching Fellows Program at the beginning of each trimester.

Upper Division Teaching Fellows Program

A dedicated Teaching Fellow is selected for Constitutional Law I, Criminal Procedure I, Evidence, and Torts II. The Academic Achievement Department will provide additional information to students regarding the Upper Division Teaching Fellows Program at the beginning of each trimester.

Lending Library

The Academic Achievement Department maintains a carefully cultivated library of study aids with useful organizational tools and realistic practice exam questions.

1L Academic Engagement Workshop Series

The 1L Academic Engagement Workshop Series is designed to introduce new 1Ls to the Academic Achievement Department and to provide explicit instruction in essential academic skills, such as effective time-management and memorization techniques, outlining, organizing legal analysis, prewriting, exam preparation, and multiple-choice strategies. Workshops run throughout the semester and are open to all first-semester 1Ls.  The Academic Achievement Department will provide more information on the 1L Academic Engagement Workshop Series at the beginning of each trimester.

Legal Methods

Legal Methods is designed to hone student’s study, analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving and self-assessment skills.  Students will work collaboratively and individually to develop skills that can be transferred to other courses, the bar examination, and legal practice. 

Bar Review Program

The California Western Bar Review Program is designed help students transition into law practice. California Western School of Law offers three bar review courses:

1. Advanced Legal Analysis, taken in the second year.
2. Pre-Bar Review, taken in the last trimester.
3. Bar Review course, taken after graduation by qualifying students.

Academic Achievement Workshop: CA Civil Procedure

The Academic Achievement Workshop: California Civil Procedure (AAW) course teaches students the skills necessary to improve their performance in upper-division courses and on the California Bar Examination. Contact Information

Kiyana Kiel, Assistant Dean for Academic Achievement, 619-515-1578
Carly Sassi, Associate Director of Academic Achievement, 619-525-1680
Kathleen Bolus, Assistant Director of Academic Achievement, 619-515-1398