University of West Los Angeles Campuses

The University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) Main Campus in Inglewood primarily focuses on legal education, offering a comprehensive Juris Doctor (JD) program designed to prepare students for the California Bar Examination and a career in law. The curriculum emphasizes practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for legal practice.

• Contracts: This foundational course explores the formation, interpretation, and enforcement of contracts, covering topics such as offer and acceptance, consideration, breach, and remedies. Students analyze case law and draft contract provisions to understand real-world applications in business transactions.
• Torts: Delving into civil wrongs, this class examines intentional torts, negligence, strict liability, and defenses. Through hypotheticals and simulations, students learn to assess damages and advise clients on liability issues in personal injury and property damage cases.
• Property Law: Covering real and personal property, estates in land, landlord-tenant relations, and intellectual property basics, this course teaches students to navigate conveyancing, zoning, and ownership disputes, with emphasis on California-specific statutes.
• Criminal Law and Procedure: Students study elements of crimes, defenses, constitutional rights, and trial processes. The curriculum includes mock trials to simulate prosecutorial and defense strategies, highlighting ethical considerations in criminal justice.
• Constitutional Law: This course analyzes the U.S. Constitution's structure, federalism, individual rights under the Bill of Rights, and equal protection. Discussions focus on landmark Supreme Court decisions and their impact on contemporary legal issues like free speech and privacy.
• Civil Procedure: Exploring litigation from pleading to appeal, including jurisdiction, venue, discovery, and motions, students gain proficiency in federal and state rules, preparing them for courtroom advocacy.
• Evidence: Covering admissibility rules, hearsay exceptions, relevance, and privileges, this class uses trial simulations to teach effective examination of witnesses and objection techniques.
• Professional Responsibility: Essential for ethical practice, it addresses the California Rules of Professional Conduct, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, and attorney-client relationships, with case studies on disciplinary actions.
• Business Associations: This elective delves into agency, partnerships, corporations, and LLCs, teaching governance, fiduciary duties, and securities regulation for corporate law careers.
• Family Law: Focusing on marriage, divorce, child custody, support, and adoption, students learn California family code applications through mediation and negotiation exercises.
• International Law: An advanced course on treaties, human rights, and global trade, providing insights into cross-border legal challenges.
• Clinical Programs: Hands-on externships and clinics offer practical experience in areas like immigration, public interest law, and trial advocacy, supervised by practicing attorneys.

UWLA's program integrates technology in legal research using tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis, alongside seminars on alternative dispute resolution and legal writing. With small class sizes, personalized instruction fosters critical thinking and professional development. The campus supports bar preparation through dedicated courses and mock exams, boasting high passage rates. Beyond the JD, limited undergraduate pre-law courses and continuing legal education (CLE) are available, emphasizing diversity, equity, and community service in legal education. This holistic approach ensures graduates excel in various legal fields, from litigation to public policy.