Academic Success
We get to know our students as people — in and out of the classroom. From the minute you step onto campus for orientation through bar exam preparation, California Western is committed to helping you fulfill your goals and aspirations.
Experiential Courses
California Western’s experiential courses allow you to learn and practice what lawyers actually do on a daily basis. That’s why our curriculum has been carefully designed to include clinics, externships, and simulation courses. We offer opportunities for you to learn through practice to prepare you for your legal career.
Your are required to successfully complete 10 units of experiential (EXP) coursework prior to graduation. You will receive 2 units of EXP credit for successful completion of Legal Skills II. You may satisfy the remaining 8 units by taking any course designated by the law school as an EXP course.
Legal Skills
The Legal Skills Program is a two-trimester course that develops essential skills for thriving in law school and legal practice. Along with focusing on legal research, writing, analysis, and professions, our students begin thinking and acting like a lawyer well before officially entering the field.
Scholarly Writing Component
Scholarly writing skills are vital for effective legal advocacy. As an upper division student, you will be required to write a scholarly paper on a topic of your choice, with the consultation of your professor. These scholarly papers are often published in legal journals providing a unique differentiator to your resume.
Legal Skills Faculty
Our Legal Skills professors are committed to helping you succeed in law school and beyond. Professors will offer you extensive feedback on your work, allowing you to revise and refine your assignments throughout the year. Additionally, you will have access to skilled research librarians who have developed advanced legal research courses in a range of areas.
Competitive Advocacy Program
California Western’s Competitive Advocacy Program (CAP) provides students with the opportunity to develop real-world lawyering skills by working closely with practicing attorneys and experienced coaches. Through intensive training and hands-on competition experience, students become practice-ready advocates — often performing at a level that rivals seasoned attorneys.
Our three advocacy teams — trial, appellate, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) — compete in prestigious local and national competitions throughout the academic year. CWSL teams consistently advance, place, and win, building a strong reputation for excellence in advocacy. Whether you’re arguing before a mock jury, negotiating a complex dispute, or delivering an oral argument before appellate judges, CAP offers a dynamic platform to sharpen your skills and stand out as a future leader in the legal profession.
Preparing for the Bar Exam
California Western is committed to setting you up for success upon graduation. That’s why we start preparing students for the Bar Exam from the first day of law school.
Summer Skills Program
Get a head start on your legal education. The Summer Skills Program (SSP) introduces newly enrolled students to the study of law as well as the core skills used in law school and the legal profession.