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Westcliff University Finalizes Acquisition of Western State College of Law

“It is an honor to bring Western State’s rich history and reputation serving Southern California in to complement Westcliff University’s family of top-performing colleges,” said Dr. Anthony M. Lee, president and CEO of Westcliff. “The procurement of this prominent and reputable law school is a tremendous achievement in many ways. Westcliff was honored to have the opportunity to help secure Western State’s future of educating the state’s brightest legal minds – both today and well into the future. Together, we are even stronger, and we are pleased to move forward with a shared commitment to providing advanced higher education opportunities to students locally, nationally and globally.”

Founded in 1966, Western State College of Law curriculum provides students exposure to real-world legal settings and practical experience and is fully ABA approved. The college’s 11,000+ alumni are well represented across public and private sector legal practice areas, including 150 California judges and roughly 15 percent of Orange County’s deputy public defenders and district attorneys. Notable graduates include Erick Larsh, the incoming presiding judge of the Orange County Superior Court, and George Gascon, the newly elected district attorney of Los Angeles.

Western State College of Law has benefited from Westcliff’s technical prowess and experience in online education and was able to seamlessly transition to remote instruction in the wake of the pandemic so that students could continue to receive the quality instruction and engagement for which Western State is so well known. Both organizations quickly grew to appreciate their shared values and commitment to student support. Their inclusive philosophies enable a work/life/education balance for students upheld by a culture of excellence, teamwork and innovation. Small class sizes, one-to-one attention and an engaged staff and faculty who put students first contribute to the collaborative and supportive culture.

“Working alongside an institution like Westcliff that genuinely values education and is committed to the quality experience students receive is a privilege,” stated Allen Easley, Dean of Western State. “We look forward to continuing to serve students and the community with the integrity for which both schools are recognized.” Western State students have access to advanced legal programs, including the innovative S.T.E.L.L.A.R. Program, which provides students with the skills of being a successful law student. The college prioritizes student preparation for the bar exam, practical experience in the classroom and mentorship through its large network of alumni practitioners. Western State College of Law at Westcliff University was most recently recognized as the third most diverse law school in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report.