University of West Los Angeles. in California Law Schools
University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) — Overview
General Info:
Location: Los Angeles, California
Founded: 1966
Private law school
California State Bar Accredited (Note: UWLA is not ABA-accredited but is accredited by the California State Bar’s Committee of Bar Examiners)
Programs: Juris Doctor (JD) primarily
Focus on part-time and evening programs catering to working students
California Law Schools Context
California has many law schools, including ABA-accredited schools (like Stanford, UCLA, UC Berkeley) and California State Bar-accredited schools like UWLA.
California legal education strongly emphasizes case law because California is a common law jurisdiction, relying on court decisions for legal principles.
California has a large and complex court system, including:
California Supreme Court (highest state court)
California Courts of Appeal (intermediate appellate courts)
Superior Courts (trial courts)
Legal Education at UWLA — Focus on Case Law
1. Case Law Method
UWLA, like all California law schools, trains students in:
Reading and briefing appellate opinions
Identifying legal issues, holdings, and reasoning
Understanding how courts apply and distinguish precedent
Developing legal argumentation skills based on case law
Since UWLA is California State Bar-accredited, its graduates are eligible to sit for the California Bar Exam, where case law knowledge is crucial.
2. California Case Law in Curriculum
Students study key California appellate decisions in core subjects such as:
Contracts: e.g., Gruen v. Gruen, 68 Cal.2d 48 (1968), discussing gifts and present intent
Torts: e.g., Rowland v. Christian, 69 Cal.2d 108 (1968), a foundational case on duty of care
Criminal Law: e.g., People v. Doolin, 45 Cal.4th 390 (2009), clarifying criminal intent and defenses
Property: e.g., Nahrstedt v. Lakeside Village Condominium Ass’n, 8 Cal.4th 361 (1994), dealing with homeowners association restrictions
These cases form the backbone of class discussions, problem sets, and exams.
3. Practical Legal Training and Clinics
UWLA offers clinics and externships where students apply case law principles in real legal contexts:
Civil Litigation Clinic: Students handle small claims or civil cases, using precedent to argue motions.
Criminal Defense Clinic: Students work on defense strategy citing relevant case law.
Family Law Clinic: Students assist clients with family disputes, guided by California family law decisions.
4. Example: Case Law Analysis in a California Contracts Class
Consider the case Gruen v. Gruen:
Issue: Whether a gift of stock was completed when the donor intended to keep possession but transfer ownership.
Holding: The California Supreme Court held that the gift was valid because the donor intended to transfer ownership, even though possession was retained.
Teaching: Students learn about the importance of intent and how courts interpret transactions based on case law.
Students brief the case, identify the legal rule, and apply it to hypothetical fact patterns.
Summary Table
| Feature | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles, California |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Accreditation | California State Bar Accredited (not ABA) |
| Programs | Juris Doctor (JD) |
| Educational Focus | Case law method: study of California appellate opinions |
| Key California Cases | Gruen v. Gruen, Rowland v. Christian, People v. Doolin |
| Clinics | Civil litigation, criminal defense, family law clinics |
| Bar Exam Focus | Prepares students for California Bar Exam relying heavily on case law |
Final Thoughts
The University of West Los Angeles College of Law provides a practical, case law-driven legal education tailored for students aiming to practice in California. Although it’s not ABA-accredited, its curriculum is structured around the common law tradition, emphasizing California appellate case precedent as the foundation of legal reasoning.
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