The University of West Los Angeles (UWLA) began as a private educational institution with just six students in 1966 when a visionary group of local educators resolved to address the need for educational programs geared toward working-class adults. With a mission of democratizing education and broadening the greater community’s access to top-notch education in law, UWLA was born.
The UWLA School of Law has provided high-quality education to budding legal professionals ever since. In July 2002, the law school expanded by acquiring the San Fernando Valley College of Law, which was located in Chatsworth. UWLA now has campuses in West LA, near LAX, and Woodland Hills, having taken over the space once held by UCLA in the Warner Center Towers. In 2012, UWLA School of Business launched two degree programs with a similar opportunity mission – to democratize education by serving our communities with high-quality higher education for a more diverse population of students.
UWLA is a small private university that prides itself on its high-touch, hands-on learning environment. Students are supported by small class sizes and taught by professors who are not only scholars but are experts and professionals in their fields. The result is a practical program that prepares students for real-world work scenarios rather than purely theoretical learning.
A pioneer of online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, UWLA has continued to perfect its online coursework and has added back an in-person hybrid model, allowing students the best of both worlds. UWLA is also an attractive option for international students, many of whom find the affordability, the flexibility of learning options, the practical program applications, and the school’s focus on technology highly appealing.
UWLA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
UWLA proudly offers a Master of Science in Leadership, Management, and Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (degree completion program) alongside the law school’s Juris Doctor program.
With 15-month and two-year program options and rolling admissions throughout five starts per year the UWLA School of Business Master of Science program opens a world of opportunity for the right student. There are no entry requirements or exams besides providing a documented Bachelor’s degree in good standing. Students interested in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration completion program only require proof of an Associate’s degree or equivalent credits. UWLA admissions counselors will help anyone assess their candidacy and walk them through the application and financial aid process.
UWLA SCHOOL OF LAW
UWLA Law School has a unique focus in California due to its dedication to making quality legal education accessible to those who might not otherwise have the opportunity. With small classes designed for working professionals, the UWLA Law Degree program was designed for those who never thought they could be lawyers. It enabled them to do so in only three or four years, depending on full-time or part-time status.
UWLA Law takes a whole-person approach to the entire journey, including admissions, graduation, and the beginning of law practice. It prepares students with both degree and career opportunities, focusing on high-touch learning that delivers knowledge and practical skills that can be implemented in real life, often in real time.
Another UWLA Law School difference is that even though our books and curriculum are the same as other more famous institutions, our faculty are different because they are also practitioners. These teaching skills are directly applicable to law practice and life today.
UWLA is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC); additionally, the committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California has continuously accredited the School of Law since 1978. By focusing on state bar accreditation (vs. ABA), UWLA can more capably expand opportunity and equity for students pursuing their law education. UWLA’s accreditations encompass both modalities online/distance and the traditional on-site on campus since 2021.
Learn more at uwla.edu.
Note About Accreditation: Study at, or graduation from, this law school may not qualify a student to take the bar examination or be licensed to practice law in jurisdictions other than California. A student who intends to seek licensure to practice law outside of California at any time during their career should contact the admitting authority for information regarding its education and licensure requirements prior to enrolling at this law school.