California Western Community Law Project Receives Witkin Award
California Western Community Law Project (CLP) will be presented with the Bernard E. Witkin Award for Excellence in Legal Education by the San Diego Law Library Foundation.
The award will be accepted by Clinical Professor Dana Sisitsky at the Witkin Award Dinner on October 23, 2025, at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse.
"What a privilege it is for the Community Law Project to be recognized with the Bernard E. Witkin Award for Excellence in Legal Education. For twenty years, our clinic has strived to make an impact on the community, and to develop future attorneys and leaders through the experience we provide to our students.”
- Dana Sisitsky, Clinical Professor and Executive Director of the Community Law Project
This year, CLP celebrates its 20th anniversary of providing free legal services to marginalized communities in San Diego.
California Western School of Law congratulates CLP staff, Executive Director and Clinical Professor Dana Sisitsky, Associate Director Ted Janowsky, and Program Administrator Lizeth Cervantes on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for all you do to educate CWSL students and serve the San Diego community.
“I am so delighted for Dana and her team to be receiving this well-deserved honor. The Community Law Project beautifully demonstrates the ways in which our law clinics serve dual purposes. First, we provide much-needed legal advice and counsel to our community. Second, and just as important, we train our students in practical legal skills, such as counseling, interviewing, and helping community members navigate a maze of rules and regulations. In doing so, we complete our mission of developing compassionate and creative future lawyers.”
The Witkin Awards are presented annually to members of the San Diego legal community
for civic leadership and excellence in the practice of the law, adjudication of the
law, legal education, and the advancement of access to justice. The awards are named
after Bernard Witkin, a lawyer, writer, lecturer, and California Supreme Court clerk.
His work continues to have a long-lasting impact on the California legal profession.
The awards dinner is the signature event of the San Diego Law Library Foundation and
ticket sales and donations go towards supporting the Law Library’s mission of providing
access to justice.
About the California Western Community Law Project
The Community Law Project (CLP) offers free legal services to low-income and vulnerable
communities in the San Diego area through its legal clinics. Law students work under
a supervising attorney and with volunteer attorneys to offer free legal information
through clinics and workshops. Visit the CLP website or the Facebook page to learn more about CLP’s services and clinics. As CLP celebrates its 20th anniversary,
please consider donating to the clinic to commemorate this milestone.
For 100 years, California Western School of Law (CWSL) has trained practice-ready lawyers and thoughtful advocates for justice. As the first and longest-running law school in San Diego, CWSL remains committed to providing students with the fundamental knowledge, skills, and real-world experience to thrive in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. CWSL enrolls a student body representative of our diverse society, amplifying access to opportunities for social and economic mobility. Tailored programming allows students to focus on specific areas of interest, and distinguished faculty are dedicated to student growth and scholarship on critical social issues. The law school emphasizes practical, hands-on training through clinics, internships, externships, and pro bono service. CWSL is committed to excellence in education, nurturing compassionate legal professionals who use the law effectively and creatively to solve complex human and societal problems. For more information, visit www.CWSL.edu.