CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW

EIN: 952944594 501(c)(3) Education

SAN DIEGO, CA

Total Revenue
$45,105,610
Total Expenses
$43,194,205
Total Assets
$78,519,082
Net Assets
$67,591,915
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Financial Vulnerability Assessment (Tuckman-Chang)

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Financial Trends

Organization Details

Formation Year
1975
Legal Domicile
CA
Principal Officer
JEANNIE L POSNER
Phone
6195257073
Tax Period
2024-08-01 to 2025-07-31

CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW, founded in 1975, is a mid-sized nonprofit in the Education sector that reported $45.1M in total revenue in fiscal year 2024. Expenses of $43.2M left a modest 4% surplus.

Mission

CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW IS AN INDEPENDENT, ABA/AALS AND WASC SENIOR COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY COMMISSION (WSCUC) ACCREDITED S.D. LAW SCHOOL THAT PREPARES GRADUATES FOR THE PRACTICE OF LAW THROUGH A CAREFULLY SEQUENCED PROGRAM OF STUDY COMBINING TRADITIONAL LEGAL THEORY WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING IN REAL AND SIMULATED CLIENT ENVIRONMENTS. CALIFORNIA WESTERNS CLINICS ARE A LEGAL RESOURCE TO THE COMMUNITY, AND THROUGH THEM THE LAW SCHOOL MAKES SIGNIFICANT, MEASURABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SOLUTION OF LEGAL PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR SOCIETY, AND OUR WORLD.

Program Service Accomplishments

Program 1
Expenses: $37,170,968 Revenue: $41,836,937

FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW HAS HELPED STUDENTS PREPARE FOR SUCCESS IN LEGAL PRACTICE AND BECOME OUTSTANDING LAWYERS SERVING THEIR CLIENTS AND THEIR...

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FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW HAS HELPED STUDENTS PREPARE FOR SUCCESS IN LEGAL PRACTICE AND BECOME OUTSTANDING LAWYERS SERVING THEIR CLIENTS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW PROVIDES A RIGOROUS TRADITIONAL LEGAL EDUCATION INCLUDING J.D., DUAL J.D. /MBA, AND DUAL J.D. /MSW DEGREES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON DEVELOPING PROBLEM-SOLVING, COMMUNICATION, WRITING, AND ANALYTICAL THINKING SKILLS.AT THE SAME TIME, THE LAW SCHOOL TEACHES STUDENTS THE SKILLS OF LAW PRACTICE, THROUGH SIMULATION COURSES, CLIENT-SERVICE CLINICS, AND A ROBUST EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM. THIS STRONG THEORETICAL GROUNDING AND ADVANCED SKILL BASE HELPS GRADUATES PASS THE BAR EXAM AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO CLIENTS AND THE LEGAL PROFESSION FROM THE EARLIEST DAYS OF THEIR CAREERS.CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE PRESIDENT'S HIGHER EDUCATION COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOR ROLL NUMEROUS TIMES IN RECOGNITION OF THE SCHOOLS VARIOUS COMMUNITY-FOCUSED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE INNOCENCE AND JUSTICE CLINIC (IJC), COMMUNITY LAW PROJECT, NEW MEDIA RIGHTS, AND MORE. OUR IJC ATTORNEYS, STAFF AND CLINICAL STUDENTS HAVE HAD AMAZING SUCCESSES IN CHANGING PEOPLES LIVES. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE CLINIC, IJC HAS BEEN INOLVED IN THE RELEASE OR EXONERATION OF OVER 40 WRONGFULLY CONVICTED CLIENTS.THE NEW MEDIA RIGHTS PROGRAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO CREATORS, CONSUMERS AND EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURS WHO NEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PRIVACY, AND MEDIA LAW EXPERTISE. THE PROGRAM EDUCATES THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, PRIVACY AND INTERNET LAW THROUGH WORKSHOPS, WRITTEN MATERIALS, VIDEO AND THE NEW MEDIA RIGHTS WEBSITE.THE COMMUNITY LAW PROJECT PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS TO NEEDY INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT SAN DIEGO. LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS, TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY LAW PROJECTS STAFF AND APPROXIMATELY 100 VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ASSIST ABOUT 1,000 INDIVIDUALS ANNUALLY. COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SERVED IN WEEKLY CLINICS AND THROUGH THE COMMUNITY LAW PROJECTS INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHERE WE EDUCATE THE UNDERSERVED ON ISSUES RANGING FROM CONSUMER PROTECTION TO IMMIGRATION, ESTATE PLANNING, TENANT RIGHTS AND MORE. THE COMMUNITY LAW PROJECT PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN SAN DIEGO, WORKING TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED WITH LEGAL MATTERS.LOCATED AT THE HEART OF SAN DIEGOS LEGAL, POLITICAL, AND JUDICIAL CENTER, CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW MAINTAINS AN ANNUAL ENROLLMENT OF ABOUT 650 STUDENTS AND 150 FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME FACULTY AND STAFF MEMBERS. STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF YEARLY DONATE MORE THAN 10,000 PRO BONO AND SERVICE HOURS TO NONPROFITS, CLINICAL PROGRAMS, AND LAW OFFICES.

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Trantor Score

Financial Health Score (300–850) · Liquidity · Solvency · Sustainability · Efficiency

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Liquidity (40%) • Solvency (30%) • Sustainability (20%) • Efficiency (10%)

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Financial Overview (2024)

Revenue Breakdown

Contributions & Grants $1,166,221
Program Service Revenue $41,806,256
Investment Income $2,123,984
Other Revenue $9,149
TOTAL REVENUE $45,105,610

Expense Breakdown

Grants Paid $14,395,931
Salaries & Benefits $17,858,188
Fundraising Expenses $605,660
Program Expenses $37,170,968
Other Expenses $10,940,086
TOTAL EXPENSES $43,194,205

Year-over-Year Comparison

2024 2023 Change
Revenue $45,105,610 $46,171,819 0.0%
Expenses $43,194,205 $41,949,225 +0.0%
Net Income $1,911,405 $4,222,594 -0.5%
Key Indicators
Grants to Organizations Grants to Individuals Lobbying Political Activity Foreign Activities Donor Advised Fund Schedule B Required
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Financial Distress Indicator

Liquidity & Cash Position

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Governance

Voting Members
16
Independent Members
16
Employees
413
Volunteers
171

Governance Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy
Whistleblower Policy
Document Retention Policy

Special Practices & Reported Activities

Operated a School
Operated a Hospital
Provided First Class Travel
Reported Conflict of Interest
Reported Asset Diversion
Excess Benefit Transaction
Made Political Expenditures
Engaged in Lobbying
Operated Donor Advised Fund
Maintained Art Collections
Filed Form 720

Compensation of Officers, Directors & Key Employees

Total Officers
10
$1,134,732
Total Directors
16
$0
Key Employees
0
$0
Highest Compensated
0
reported
Name Title Hours/Week Role Reportable Comp Other Comp Total
SEAN SCOTT FMR PRES & DEAN 65.00
Officer
$382,166 $47,280 $429,446
HANNAH BRENNER JOHNSON FMR VICE DEAN 50.00
Officer
$234,115 $36,330 $270,445
ERIN SHELEY FMR PROF. OF LAW 40.00
$215,619 $27,778 $243,397
JESSICA K FINK PROF. OF LAW 40.00
$161,071 $72,378 $233,449
WILLIAM J ACEVES PROF. OF LAW 40.00
$220,955 $9,030 $229,985
DANIEL B YEAGER PROF. OF LAW 40.00
$219,288 $8,239 $227,527
PHILLIP T GRAGG ASSOC DEAN LIBRARY 50.00
$196,347 $27,083 $223,430
CYNTHIA BERTRAND FORMER CFO 50.00
Officer
$202,449 $20,961 $223,410
JOANNA K SAX PROF. OF LAW 40.00
$211,168 $12,052 $223,220
LISA FERREIRA DEAN OF STUDENT 40.00
Officer
$172,950 $38,481 $211,431
DAVID BLAKE FMR VP of Admin 40.00
$27,920 $2,489 $30,409
ROBERT K SCOTT ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
JASON S BAZAR ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
ROY MORROW BELL ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
GAYLE M BLATT ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
TINA FRYAR ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
THOMAS J LOFARO ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
CHARLES R GREBING ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
KENNETH L GREENMAN JR ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
D RUSSELL HYMAS ESQ Secretary 4.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
KPISH GOYAL ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
SALLY WONG AVERY ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
RAHIL K SWIGART ESQ Vice Chair 4.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
MICHAEL J WHITTON ESQ Chair 10.00
Officer Director
$0 $0 $0
DUANE W LAYTON ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
LISA DORDOEZ PHD Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
BRUCE E MACDONALD ESQ Trustee 1.00
Director
$0 $0 $0
MIRIAM HECHLER BAER CUR Dean & Pres 65.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
JEANNIE L POSNER Current CFO 50.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
LIAM VAVSOUR CUR VICE DEAN 50.00
Officer
$0 $0 $0
Note: Compensation data is self-reported by the organization on their Form 990. "Reportable Comp" includes salary, bonuses, and other reportable compensation from the organization and related organizations. "Other Comp" includes benefits, deferred compensation, and non-taxable benefits.

Historical Data

Year Revenue Expenses Assets Net Income
2025 $45,105,610 $43,194,205 $78,519,082 $1,911,405
2024 $46,171,819 $41,949,225 $77,247,675 $4,222,594
2023 $47,305,666 $41,888,161 $73,544,749 $5,417,505
2022 $48,863,777 $45,628,034 $69,688,098 $3,235,743
2021 $51,339,100 $45,990,365 $73,937,064 $5,348,735
2020 $46,796,179 $47,456,853 $67,408,736 $-660,674
2019 $44,301,695 $48,786,693 $65,586,641 $-4,484,998
2018 $43,616,922 $46,336,241 $67,473,553 $-2,719,319
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