Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
Choosing a law school means weighing several decisions at once, like accreditation, bar passage rates, employment outcomes, the costs associated with attending, the scholarships and financial aid available, the academic support they provide, and if they offer practical training. Of course, there are more personal options to weigh like location and the kind of legal community you want to be part of for the next three years of your life. If you’re wondering how to choose the right law school for you, then you need to think about which of these options matter most for your goals.
Western State College of Law at Westcliff University is the oldest law school in Orange County with six decades of history, and is an ABA-approved law school in Tustin, California. In this guide, you’ll find a framework you can use to evaluate any law school, as well as how Western State measures up in each of the criteria to help you choose what works best for you.
Make Accreditation Your Priority
Before you start sizing up a law school, the first thing you should do is confirm its accreditation status. Think of it as one of the baseline checks in your law school search. It gives you a foundation for evaluating everything else, from cost and bar passage to employment outcomes and academic programs.
Western State is one of California’s ABA-approved law schools, and you can review its accreditation information directly. You should be able to review any law school’s accreditation information readily. Founded in 1966, Western State stands as the oldest law school in Orange County. That history becomes even more relevant when you begin looking at factors like alumni connections and network, and the school’s ties to the legal community it is meant to serve.
Look Closely at Bar Passage Rates
Bar passage rates are an important factor when comparing law schools. These numbers show how graduates perform on the bar exam, which is notoriously difficult and the biggest hurdle they need to cross to get into legal practice. As you review a school’s numbers, make sure you look at both overall graduate performance and how first-time takers perform against an appropriate benchmark.
Western State’s Class of 2025 had an overall pass rate of 85.2%. Western State graduates also outperformed the California benchmark among first-time takers of the February 2026 California bar exam, with 68.2% passing compared with 62.9% of first-time takers from ABA-accredited California schools.
62.9%
First-time takers, February 2026 California bar exam. Sources: Western State College of Law; State Bar of California.
Those results give you two useful measures of bar performance. The overall Class of 2025 rate shows how the graduating class performed, while the February 2026 comparison shows how Western State’s first-time takers performed relative to their peers at ABA-accredited law schools across California. When comparing schools, make sure you compare the same types of results so you understand what the numbers actually mean.
Consider Employment Outcomes
Employment outcomes can show how graduates fare after law school and whether a school’s employment outcomes actually improve over time. When comparing law schools, look beyond a single graduating class and consider whether employment results are holding steady, improving, or moving in the opposite direction.
Western State has seen a steady upward trend in employment results over the past three graduating classes. The Class of 2023 had an 87% employment rate, followed by 93.4% for the Class of 2024 and 94.6% for the Class of 2025. That improvement is also reflected in a broader national comparison. Western State was ranked No. 2 in the nation for most improved law school for employment by the National Jurist, second only to UCI Law.
Think About Scholarships, Affordability and Value
Law school is expensive, so cost is clearly one of the biggest factors in choosing which one you’ll go to. But tuition alone doesn’t tell you the full story. When you’re comparing law schools, look at tuition and fees, available scholarships and financial aid, and whether the program structure works with your own financial and professional circumstances. Scholarships typically have requirements you have to meet, including maintaining a specific GPA. Be sure to review the requirements, how long each one lasts, and what you need to do to keep it.
Western State was named a Best Value Law School for 2026–2027, by National Jurist preLaw. Western State is also one of the most affordable law schools in California. It also does not charge a fee to apply.
Consider Whether You Need a Part-Time Program
Have you ever considered law school, but hesitated because you can’t put your career or other responsibilities on hold? If you plan to keep working while earning your Juris Doctor, make sure the schools you’re considering offer a part-time program that fits into the rest of your life.
Western State offers a part-time program with an evening option, giving working professionals another path to earning a J.D. without following a traditional full-time schedule. That flexibility becomes really important if you’re balancing law school with a career, family responsibilities, or other commitments.
If you fall into this category, be sure to look closely at the law schools on your list. Look into how classes are scheduled, how long the program takes to complete, and whether you’ll have access to the same academic support and opportunities available to full-time students. Stay tuned for our upcoming guide to Western State’s part-time J.D. program.
Prioritize Experiential Learning
What you learn in class is important, but having opportunities to apply that knowledge before graduation is even more critical. During your law school search, make sure to look for clinics, externships, advocacy opportunities, and other opportunities where you can develop legal writing, analysis, and courtroom experience in real or simulated settings.
At Western State, we want you to practice what we teach. We offer several ways to gain that practical experience while earning your J.D., including:
- Five law clinics serving the local community
- Externships
- Competition teams
- Law Review
- A courtroom on campus
Together, these opportunities give you multiple ways to build practical skills beyond traditional classroom work. You can explore Western State’s experiential learning opportunities in more detail.
Consider the Academic Support Available
In law school, you have to develop new ways of reading, writing, analyzing, and applying the law. It’s worth taking a closer look at whether the law schools on your list build support into the student experience from the beginning and whether it continues as your academic needs change.
Western State’s Academic Success Program begins supporting students from the very beginning. 1L students receive instruction in skills such as case briefing, legal analysis and writing, the Socratic method, and exam strategies, along with mentorship from high-performing students who serve as Dean’s Fellows.
That support continues throughout the J.D. program. Resources available for 2Ls include multiple-choice, Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), and bar logistics workshops, while 3L students begin more intensive bar preparation through courses covering multiple-choice questions, essay writing, and the performance test. The program also provides workshops, writing assistance, individual faculty support, and dedicated bar preparation for graduates.
Look For Programs that Match Your Practice Interests
If you already have an idea of what kind of law you want to practice, look into whether there are dedicated programs, centers, certificates, or other opportunities that let you build deeper knowledge and experience in the areas that interest you most.
At Western State, business law and criminal law are two areas with that kind of depth. Western State earned badges as a Top School for Business Law and Top School for Criminal Law for the 2026–2027 year from preLaw. The school also has a Business Law Center, a Criminal Law Practice Center, and certificate programs that support further study in these areas. We also have five law clinics in Immigration, Probate, Entrepreneurship, Criminal, and Mediation, where, as a law student, you can work with real clients and serve the community.
Western State offers academic pathways to a J.D., an LL.M., and a Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Compliance. Reviewing the J.D. curriculum can help you see whether the courses and opportunities available align with the kind of legal career you are considering.
Consider the Campus and Community You’ll Join
Where you attend law school matters for more than just status. It’s the environment you’ll be spending the next several years of your life in. Make sure the legal community is one you want to be part of. Also, check that the campus offers spaces that support both classroom learning and practical training.
Western State is located in Tustin, California, in the heart of Orange County, and has spent six decades developing roots in the region where many of its students will study, train, and begin building professional relationships.
The Tustin campus includes modern classrooms, collaborative study spaces, and a courtroom where students can develop practical skills in a professional setting. That courtroom also complements the clinics, externships, and other experiential opportunities available to you through the J.D. program.
This is one of those factors that deserves a campus visit. This is how you get the chance to see where classes are held, what study spaces are available, and what it would actually feel like to spend several years there. Visit Western State’s Tustin campus to experience the learning environment for yourself.
Look Into the Alumni Network
A law school’s alumni network can become part of your professional network after you graduate. Be sure to look at the size of the alumni network, where graduates have built their careers, and whether that network has a strong presence in the field you want to study.
Western State has an alumni network of over 12,000 strong. More than 150 Western State alumni have also been elevated to the bench, giving the school a notable judicial presence. These numbers matter because an alumni network can become professional contacts, employers, colleagues, and members of the legal community you work with throughout your career. A long-standing alumni presence can be especially relevant if you plan to practice law in the region the law school is in.
Be sure to consider how established a school’s alumni community is in the region and what opportunities you may have to strengthen those relationships while you’re in law school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Western State College of Law ABA accredited?
Yes, Western State College of Law is an ABA-accredited / ABA-approved law school in Tustin, California. ABA approval is one of the first things prospective students should verify when comparing law schools because it affects factors like bar eligibility, required disclosures, and the standards a law school must meet.
What is Western State College of Law known for?
Western State is the oldest law school in Orange County, founded in 1966. It is also known for small classes and personal attention, a network of more than 12,000 alumni, and more than 150 alumni who have been elevated to the bench. Students can also gain practical experience through clinics, externships, competition teams, and other experiential learning opportunities.
Is Western State College of Law a good law school?
Yes. Western State is an ABA-approved law school with a long-standing presence in Orange County. The Class of 2025 had an 85.2% overall bar pass rate and a 94.6% employment rate, and Western State was ranked No. 2 in the nation for most improved law school for employment by the National Jurist. The school also offers five law clinics, an Academic Success Program, a part-time program, and a network of more than 12,000 alumni. Those are the kinds of concrete factors worth weighing when deciding whether a law school is a strong fit for your goals.
What rankings has Western State College of Law received?
National Jurist ranked Western State No. 2 in the nation for most improved law school for employment in 2026, based on ABA employment data comparing earlier and recent graduating classes. Western State has also received 2026–2027 preLaw recognition as a Best Value Law School and as a Top School for Business Law and Criminal Law.
Does Western State College of Law offer a part-time J.D. program?
Yes. Western State offers a part-time J.D. program, making law school accessible for students who may need to continue working or manage other responsibilities. Prospective students should compare scheduling, program length, academic support, and experiential opportunities when evaluating part-time law programs.
Is Western State College of Law a good choice for working adults?
Western State offers part-time and evening options, which may make earning a J.D. more manageable if you plan to continue working. When comparing programs, look at class schedules, tuition and financial aid, academic requirements, and the support available to help you balance law school with your other professional and personal responsibilities.
What is the oldest law school in Orange County?
Western State College of Law is the oldest law school in Orange County. Founded in 1966, Western State has been part of the Southern California legal community for six decades and today operates from its campus in Tustin, California.
Want to learn more about Western State? Explore our At A Glance page for additional facts and information about the law school.
Ready to Start Your Law School Journey?
Choosing the right law school means deciding which combination of outcomes, affordability, academic opportunities, support, flexibility, and community best fits your goals. If Western State is on your list, your next step is to explore the J.D. program, visit the Tustin campus, or contact the admissions team to learn more.