Cal LAW Pathway

Program Overview: 

California Leadership-Access-Workforce (Cal LAW) was established under the leadership of the State Bar of California’s Council on Access and Fairness (COAF) and with support from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) to provide a clear educational pathway for diverse students from high schools, community colleges, and four-year institutions into law schools or law-related careers. In support of this goal, Cal LAW provides the foundational structure that connects, communicates, collaborates, and coordinates the programs essential to the educational pathway for the students we serve.

Ideally, students will spend two years at Cerritos College then transfer to any accredited undergraduate institution to complete their bachelor’s degree and then be considered for a priority admissions review to one of the partnering law schools.

For a list of the California LAW’s partners follow these links  undergraduate universities and law schools. 

Pathway Goals

  • Support for Students of Diverse backgrounds: This program is designed to support underrepresented students, helping to diversify the legal field.
  • Access to Resources and Mentorship: Early exposure to law school experiences and access to mentoring from lawyers, judges, law school deans, professors with legal expertise, and counselors.
  • Financial Benefits: Participants of the program may have their law school application fees waived, reducing the financial burden associated with applying to multiple schools

Steps to Join: 

  1. Orientation Video (less than 8 minutes)
  2. Complete the Cerritos College Cal LAW Application 

Cal LAW Certificate of Completion 

Require Courses:

•LAW 101
•ENGL 100 or 100S
•COMM 103, PHIL 103, or ENGL 103
•COMM 100 or 130
•MATH 112, 112S or PSYC 210
•HIST 102 or 103
•POL 101

Recommended Elective

•COUN 200
•LAW 172 (legal work experience) 

Benefits: 

  • Access to Resources and Mentorship
  • Clear pathway to Law School
  • Access to Cal LAW Pathways events such as: Annual Summit, Law Day, Day at Court, etc. 
  • Priority admissions review at Cal LAW Pathways partner law schools. Admissions is not guaranteed, only a priority review of your application
  • Law school application fee waived for Cal LAW Pathways  partner law schools. Student must contact the CA LAW Faculty Champion at each Law School to receive the waiver ahead of time. 

Upcoming Events: 

Save the Date: Cal LAW summit - February 21-22nd at Chapman University