Western State College of Law Named One of 20 Most Innovative Law Schools
News related to:Western State College of Law · 2 min read
TUSTIN, Calif., Oct. 22, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Western State College of Law, an established institution with 60 years of producing successful attorneys, has been named one of preLaw's 20 Most Innovative Law Schools for 2026. The recognition, published on October 14 by the National Jurist, highlights the school as the only Orange County law school to receive this honor.
Launched in September 2021, the Academic Success Program at Western State College of Law is led by Tania Shah, an associate professor of law and the director of the program. The initiative aims to provide individualized academic support and bar preparation for students, offering one-on-one faculty coaching and additional support beyond academic probation. For students retaking the bar exam, the program offers faculty mentors.
The program's impact is evident in the school's bar-passage outcomes. According to State Bar of California statistics, Western State's first-time pass rate on the July 2025 California bar exam increased from 47.8% (11 of 23) in July 2022 to 78.1% (57 of 73) in July 2025. In the February 2026 California bar exam, 68.2% of Western State's first-time takers (15 of 22) passed, compared with 62.9% of first-time takers from ABA-approved California law schools.
Western State College of Law, an institution with a rich history of producing successful attorneys, has seen its efforts in the Academic Success Program and bar preparation yield significant results. The program's expansion in 2023, which included in-house Multistate Bar Examination preparation and the addition of dedicated faculty members, has contributed to the school's improved bar-passage outcomes.
In addition to this honor, Western State College of Law has received several other recognitions in recent years. The school was named one of the most improved in employment for 2026-2027 by preLaw, and it was also recognized as the best value law school and the top school for business and criminal law for the same period. The LA Times Studios also named Western State one of the top law schools for 2026.
Western State College of Law, with its specialized tracks and dedicated faculty, continues to make strides in legal education and support for its students. The school's commitment to academic success and bar preparation is evident in its impressive bar-passage rates and national recognition.