Accreditation Statement

The University Of West Los Angeles School Of Law, UWLA has been continuously accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California (CBE) since 1978.

CBE Accreditation

• UWLA’s accreditation by the CBE exempts its regularly admitted students from the requirement to sit for the First-Year Law Students’ Examination (commonly referred to as the “Baby Bar”).
• UWLA graduates who have passed the general California Bar Examination and completed the other requirements outlined in the Rules Regulating Admission to Practice Law in California are entitled to practice law in the State of California.
• This accreditation also entitles UWLA graduates who have met the requirements stated above to the same rights and privileges in the State of California as those afforded graduates of schools approved by the American Bar Association (ABA).

CBE Accreditation vs. ABA Approval

Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be admitted to practice law in jurisdictions other than California.  A student who intends to seek admission to practice law outside of California should contact the admitting authority in that jurisdiction for information regarding its education and admission requirements.

Information relating to the school's bar examination passing rates can be found at the State Bar's website at www.calbar.ca.gov.

Accreditation and UWLA’s Mission

The School of Law has made a decision not to seek ABA approval because we believe that meeting the standards for ABA approval would be in conflict with the University’s Mission to offer affordable, quality legal education to the non-traditional student (one who must work, attend to family issues, and so on). We also believe that adoption of ABA criteria would impose increased financial burdens on students while severely limiting admission opportunities to the students we want to reach.

The University of West Los Angeles (“UWLA”) has applied for Eligibility from the Senior College Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.  WASC has reviewed the application and determined that UWLA is eligible to proceed with an application for Candidacy for Accreditation.  A determination of Eligibility is not a formal status with the Accrediting Commission, nor does it ensure eventual accreditation; it is a preliminary finding that the institution is potentially accreditable and can proceed within four years of its Eligibility determination to be reviewed for Candidacy status with the Accrediting Commission.  Questions about Eligibility may be directed to the institution or to WASC at wascsr@wascsenior.org or (510) 748-9001.

For more information, refer to The Success of UWLA Graduates and Practicing Law Outside of California.