Academic Counseling
Continuing and new students receive personal guidance related to study habits, course planning, exam preparations,
etc. Get advice on proven tactics for success!
Alumni Connect
The annual Sunset Reception is a diversity networking event for students and legal professionals in the San Diego community in order to honor our student leaders and community mentors. Diversity Services also gives award recognition to one outstanding student leader and one outstanding community mentor. The office can also connect you with CWSL alumni in the legal community to grow your network of contacts.
Bar Connect
The Bar Connect Program brings together underrepresented students with local attorneys and judges who provide role
modeling, guidance, scholarship and employment resources, and mentoring support.
Events like the Diversity Mixers, Women of Color in Law Luncheon and the SDCBA Diversity
Fellowship Program support our mentoring mission. Students become associated with legal professionals in formal and
informal settings that provide pre-professional development opportunities.
Diversity Services arranges for students to attend and participate in special events by various local diversity bar
associations. Scholarship dinners, social events, and continuing legal education (CLE) talks are the most popular bar
association events.
Diversity Fellowship Program
The Diversity Fellowship Program is a collaboration with the San Diego County Bar Association, the Association of
Corporate Counsel-San Diego, California Western's Career and Professional Development Office and the Diversity
Committee. The program, for 1Ls and part-time 2Ls, was created in response to the low number of diverse attorneys practicing law in San Diego
County law firms and corporate legal departments.
Lunch and Learn Series
Diversity Services invites local and national experts to come to California Western to give keynote addresses on
topics relating to diversity in the law. The series focuses on social justice issues current in legal discourse.
Multicultural Celebrations
Diversity Services celebrates special holidays like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Harvey Milk Day, Norooz, Lunar New
Year, and Cesar Chavez Day. At the end of the fall trimester Diversity Services hosts the Multicultural Holiday
Reception in which we showcase various holidays celebrated by the diverse cultures represented at California
Western.
New-to-Law-School Coaching
New students receive one-on-one counseling to help them identify law school resources and to discuss best practices
for success. Get advice on proven tactics for success!
Peer Mentoring
Our Buddy Program matches new students are matched with an upper division mentors during their first year. Mentors
provide encouragement, friendship and helpful advice on surviving the rigorous first year of law school.
A word from a Buddy...
"I signed up for the Buddy Program hoping to meet an upper classman who would take me under their wing. I found
exactly what I was looking for. My buddy was very kind, caring and approachable. She would text me periodically
to check up on me. Although not a tutor, she would look over my outlines and advised me to speak to a professor
if something seemed out of place. She also texted me before and after finals to make sure I was okay. These are
the type of amazing individuals who are involved in the this program."
Taylor Williams, Class of 2017
Personal Coaching
Students can receive problem solving assistance and leadership development support.
Never hesitate to ask for support and assistance when you need it!
Contact Information
Jeff Chinn, Associate Director of Student and Diversity Services, at 619-515-1577 or jchinn@cwsl.edu.