California Western School of Law

REGISTRAR'S PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
619-525-1414/619-615-1446/
registrar@cwsl.edu

CAREER SERVICE PHONE/FAX/EMAIL:
619-525-7087/619-615-1415/
career_services@cwsl.edu

An Overview

California Western School of Law is an independent school in San Diego, which educates lawyersas creative problem solvers and principled advocates - lawyers who frame the practice of law as ahelping, collaborative profession.

California Western provides a rigorous, traditional legal education which emphasizes developingproblem-solving, communication, writing, and analytical thinking skills. This broad skill-base allowsstudents to see the big picture, and evaluate the social and economic context behind a wide arrayof legal problems to find the best possible outcome for their clients.

The second year 'STEPPS' program allows students to role play issues of professionalresponsibility and client interaction in a small office setting, supervised by a practicing attorney.Students can participate in pro bono service and a rigorous Clinical Internship program to furtherdevelop the skills and experience needed for ethical and rewarding practice.

California Western Centers, Programs and Institutes include the California Innocence Project,Community Law Project, and Institute for Criminal Defense Advocacy, Centers for CreativeProblem Solving, and the Institute of Health Law Studies. This enriches students' law schoolexperience enabling them to have a substantive impact on the broader society.

Professors and students involved in the programs shape real-life legal events - whether freeing wrongly convicted inmates in California or training more than 2,000 lawyers and judges in Latin America. Further, here's an overview on how these programs make a difference in the community and around the world.

In addition to pursuing a traditional legal education, California Western students may specialize in a specific area of law such as Intellectual Property, Telecommunications, International Law, Criminal Justice, or Health Law and Policy in order to meet the rapidly evolving needs of the legal profession.

California Western with diversified student body enriches the academic and interpersonal experiences of law school. The faculty and staff quickly and comfortably welcome each student into the school community, encouraging all students to participate in the numerous academic and social opportunities present at the law school. For more information, visit California Western's Office of Diversity Services.

California Western's campus is in downtown San Diego, a thriving metropolitan region offering opportunities unlike any other city. The proximity to courts and numerous public and private legal offices make California Western an ideal place to study law.

Degrees Offered

• LL.M. in Trial Advocacy
• Master of Laws in Comparative Law, LL.M.

Details of Courses Offered

The LL.M. in Trial Advocacy at California Western School of Law offers students a unique combination of coursework and training that makes it one of the top criminal law LL.M. degree programs in the country. In this two-semester program, students will earn masters of law degree while learning from the best criminal defense attorneys in San Diego. To apply, a student must have passed or taken a state's bar exam before the program. To graduate, a student must complete 24 units over two semesters.

LL.M. in Trial Advocacy Hands-On Training:

• Two mock trials before active judges
• Clinical internship at a Federal Defenders Office or with a private clinical defense law firm
• Week-long training program for Federal Defenders hosted by the Office of Defender Services/Training Branch, Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

The courses that students take during the LL.M. Trial Advocacy program, include both substantive and criminal law, designed to prepare our LL.M. students to step right into the courtroom. In the fall semester, students will take the following courses:

• Federal Defender Training
• LL.M. Trial Skills Program
• Federal Motions Practice
• Evidence Advocacy
• LL.M. Scholarship Seminar

Each class is interactive which will improve a student's litigation skills (e.g., oral advocacy or motions practice). The legal research and writing assignments are often based on real cases and show complexity of practicing federal criminal law. The small class sizes means that each student will receive personalized supervision, instruction, and feedback. The fall semester will include two mock trials held before active judges.

In the spring semester, students will complete a clinical internship at a Federal Defenders office or with a private criminal defense law firm. California Western will help students in finding the right placement for them in San Diego or in another part of the country. Students can appear in court, help with case preparation, and take part in client meetings under the supervision of an experienced federal defender. California Western was the first criminal law LL.M. program to offer a clinical part and students gain valuable experience that will offer advantage in finding employment after graduation.

After completing the clinical part, students return to San Diego to participate in a week-long training program for Federal Defenders hosted by the Office of Defender Services/Training Branch, Administrative Office of the United States Courts. During this program, students attend advanced trial skills lectures and participate in small group simulations with the top Federal Defenders from around the country.

The LL.M. program's co-founders Professors Justin Brooks and Mario Conte both teach courses each year and carefully select instructors with ability to work with students. In addition, Professor Brooks supervises the clinical placement part. Each course instructor has years of experience practicing and teaching federal criminal defense law and many have worked at a Federal Defenders office. California Western's faculty enhances the skills and knowledge needed to become a successful practitioner, and also focus their curriculum on preparing students for courtroom practice.

The Master of Laws in Comparative Law (LL.M.) / Master of Comparative Law (M.C.L.) Program is designed to introduce foreign law graduates to a basic working knowledge of the U.S. legal system and the practice of law in the United States. This curriculum prepares lawyers from other countries to work knowledgeably with U.S. lawyers on questions of common interest arising under either their own or the U.S. legal system.

Financial Aid

California Western administers financial aid programs that aid more than 85% of the student body in financing their education. Financial aid is available to LL.M. students and students may be eligible for loan deferment for their undergraduate and law school loans.

LL.M./M.C.L. degree candidates, with the exception of those having permanent U.S. residency, are not eligible for financial aid. The law school strongly encourages applicants to investigate sources of financial help in their own countries and make timely application for such aid (e.g. with the bi-national Fulbright Commission in their countries or the Cultural Attache of the Embassy of the U.S.A.).

Cost of Attendance

You should anticipate the following expenses (For Fall 2013):

Students who enroll in the LL.M. program should anticipate the following expenses (tuition costs subject to change): 2013/2014

Career Development/Services Offered

Career Services works aggressively to provide assistance for all students and alumni. The office is the conduit to law firms, public interest organizations and government agencies for students seeking summer associate, law clerk and attorney positions.

While many graduates choose to stay in Southern California, the office receives job listings from firms and agencies throughout the country. Many of the job listings come from California Western's impressive network of alumni residing in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries.

References

• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=directory.asp&body=forms/contact_us.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=directory.asp&body=directory/registrar.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=directory.asp&body=directory/admissions.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=directory.asp&body=directory/career_services.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=marketing.asp&body=marketing/about_california_western.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=academic_programs.asp&body=academic_programs/llm_overviews.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=trial_advocacy.asp&header=academic_programs.gif&body=trial_advocacy/Requirements_new.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=mcl.asp&body=mcl/home.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=trial_advocacy.asp&header=academic_programs.gif&body=trial_advocacy/faq.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=mcl.asp&body=mcl/requirements.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=trial_advocacy.asp&header=academic_programs.gif&body=trial_advocacy/Course_Descriptions.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=trial_advocacy.asp&header=academic_programs.gif&body=trial_advocacy/program_overview_new.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=trial_advocacy.asp&header=academic_programs.gif&body=trial_advocacy/Financial_Aid.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=mcl.asp&body=mcl/fees.asp
• http://www.cwsl.edu/main/default.asp?nav=career_services.asp&body=career_services/home.asp