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← CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW

Form 990 for tax year 2023

Filed by CALIFORNIA WESTERN SCHOOL OF LAW.

Totals

Total revenue
$46,171,819
Total expenses
$41,949,225
Contributions and grants received
$2,150,483
Grants paid
$14,435,432
Program service revenue
$40,965,134
Investment income
$3,042,974
Other revenue
$13,228
Total assets, end of year
$77,247,675
Total liabilities, end of year
$12,493,803
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$64,753,872
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$36,113,027
Management and general expenses
$5,308,421
Fundraising expenses
$527,777
Program service expenses (Part III)
$36,113,027

Program services were 86.1% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1c · Fundraising events

    $9,000

  • 1e · Government grants (contributions)

    $417,456

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $1,724,027

  • 2a · Program service revenue: CILE Disbursement

    total $19,035 · related or exempt $19,035

  • 2b · Program service revenue: FEDERAL WORK STUDY

    total $32,166 · related or exempt $32,166

  • 2c · Program service revenue: FORFEITED DEPOSITS

    total $39,200 · related or exempt $39,200

  • 2d · Program service revenue: LAW REVIEW / LAW JOURNAL

    total $5,306 · related or exempt $5,306

  • 2e · Program service revenue: TUITION AND FEES

    total $40,869,427 · related or exempt $40,869,427

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $1,420,706 · excluded $1,420,706

  • 4 · Income from investment of tax-exempt bond proceeds

    total $0

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 6d · Net rental income or loss

    total $0

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $15,219,215

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $13,596,947

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $1,622,268

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $1,622,268 · excluded $1,622,268

  • 8a · Fundraising events: gross income

    $3,017

  • 8a · Fundraising events: contributions included on line 1c

    $9,000

  • 8b · Fundraising events: direct expenses

    $24,812

  • 8c · Net income from fundraising events

    total -$21,795 · excluded -$21,795

  • 9c · Net income from gaming

    total $0

  • 10c · Net income from sales of inventory

    total $0

  • 11a · Other revenue: OTHER REVENUE

    total $35,023 · related or exempt $35,023

  • 11e · Other revenue, total

    $35,023

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 1 · Grants to domestic organizations and governments

    total $0

  • 2 · Grants to domestic individuals

    total $14,435,432 · program services $14,435,432

  • 3 · Grants to foreign organizations and individuals

    total $0

  • 4 · Benefits paid to or for members

    total $0

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $1,355,227 · program services $509,675 · management and general $845,552

  • 6 · Compensation of disqualified persons

    total $0

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $12,997,479 · program services $11,000,798 · management and general $1,680,173 · fundraising $316,508

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $0

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $1,875,911 · program services $1,472,857 · management and general $366,906 · fundraising $36,148

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $1,114,144 · program services $910,387 · management and general $178,024 · fundraising $25,733

  • 11a · Fees: management

    total $0

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $582,437 · program services $125,384 · management and general $457,053

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $76,666 · program services $56,789 · management and general $17,605 · fundraising $2,272

  • 11d · Fees: lobbying

    total $0

  • 11e · Fees: professional fundraising services

    total $0

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $0

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $3,184,487 · program services $2,349,682 · management and general $778,607 · fundraising $56,198

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $97,980 · program services $12,903 · management and general $84,170 · fundraising $907

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $1,137,534 · program services $1,033,507 · management and general $94,703 · fundraising $9,324

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $0

  • 15 · Royalties

    total $0

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $1,104,613 · program services $922,892 · management and general $176,166 · fundraising $5,555

  • 17 · Travel

    total $0

  • 18 · Travel or entertainment for public officials

    total $0

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $688,905 · program services $580,333 · management and general $74,778 · fundraising $33,794

  • 20 · Interest

    total $267,545 · program services $237,628 · management and general $28,806 · fundraising $1,111

  • 21 · Payments to affiliates

    total $0

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $2,077,566 · program services $1,845,249 · management and general $223,689 · fundraising $8,628

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $618,552 · program services $458,187 · management and general $142,038 · fundraising $18,327

  • 24a · Other expenses: FEES, DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $228,921 · program services $77,219 · management and general $144,477 · fundraising $7,225

  • 24b · Other expenses: MATERIALS, POSTAGE & PRINTING

    total $105,826 · program services $84,105 · management and general $15,674 · fundraising $6,047

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $0

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 1 · Cash, non-interest-bearing

    beginning of year $1,078,003 · end of year $2,257,421

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $12,892,821 · end of year $12,833,119

  • 3 · Pledges and grants receivable

    beginning of year $590,253 · end of year $745,882

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $196,339 · end of year $152,819

  • 5 · Loans and receivables from officers and key people

    beginning of year $190,000 · end of year $140,000

  • 6 · Loans and receivables from disqualified persons

    end of year $0

  • 7 · Other notes and loans receivable

    beginning of year $351,570 · end of year $208,800

  • 8 · Inventories for sale or use

    end of year $0

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $1,173,909 · end of year $1,048,221

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $74,670,109

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $46,748,263

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $27,848,818 · end of year $27,921,846

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $25,050,311 · end of year $27,748,425

  • 12 · Investments: other securities

    beginning of year $4,172,725 · end of year $4,191,142

  • 13 · Investments: program-related

    end of year $0

  • 14 · Intangible assets

    end of year $0

  • 15 · Other assets

    end of year $0

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $2,758,155 · end of year $2,748,015

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $603,993 · end of year $783,668

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $9,833,827 · end of year $8,736,486

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $337,455 · end of year $225,634

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $45,955,852 · end of year $49,723,134

  • 28 · Net assets with donor restrictions

    beginning of year $14,055,467 · end of year $15,030,738

Mission and programs · 2023

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.

Activities or mission (Part I)

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.

  • 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 PROJECT, IJC HAS BEEN INOLVED IN THE RELEASE OR EXONERATION OF 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 OVER 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.

    Expenses $36,113,027 · Grants $14,435,432 · Revenue $41,000,157

As filed on the 2023 return.

Listed in Part VII

  • Sean Scott

    PRES & DEAN

    Total calculated
    $415,204
    From this org
    $370,976
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $44,228
    Hours/week
    65

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $304,189
    Bonus
    $17,500
    Other
    $49,287
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $36,228
    Filer's total
    $415,204
  • Daniel B Yeager

    PROF. OF LAW

    Total calculated
    $257,930
    From this org
    $249,761
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,169
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $242,761
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $7,000
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $169
    Filer's total
    $257,930
  • Cynthia Bertrand

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $237,556
    From this org
    $215,280
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $22,276
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $195,761
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $19,519
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $14,276
    Filer's total
    $237,556
  • William J Aceves

    PROF. OF LAW

    Total calculated
    $235,461
    From this org
    $226,398
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $9,063
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $212,698
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $13,700
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $1,063
    Filer's total
    $235,461
  • Jessica K Fink

    PROF. OF LAW

    Total calculated
    $234,405
    From this org
    $167,077
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $67,328
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $152,477
    Bonus
    $2,100
    Other
    $12,500
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $59,328
    Filer's total
    $234,405
  • Niels Schaumann

    PROF. OF LAW

    Total calculated
    $229,848
    From this org
    $179,217
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $50,631
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $179,217
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    not reported
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $42,631
    Filer's total
    $229,848
  • Hannah Brenner Johnson

    VICE DEAN

    Total calculated
    $227,821
    From this org
    $193,627
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,194
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,627
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $8,000
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $26,194
    Filer's total
    $227,821
  • David Blake

    VP of Admin

    Total calculated
    $227,058
    From this org
    $216,348
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $10,710
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $197,301
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $19,047
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $2,710
    Filer's total
    $227,058
  • Phillip T Gragg

    ASSOC DEAN INFO

    Total calculated
    $220,667
    From this org
    $195,501
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $25,166
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $177,563
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $17,938
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $17,166
    Filer's total
    $220,667
  • Joanna K Sax

    PROF. OF LAW

    Total calculated
    $215,591
    From this org
    $204,506
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $11,085
    Hours/week
    40

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $199,506
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $5,000
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $3,085
    Filer's total
    $215,591
  • Susan Bisom-Rapp

    FORMER VICE DEAN

    Total calculated
    $203,537
    From this org
    $195,276
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $8,261
    Hours/week
    50

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $185,276
    Bonus
    not reported
    Other
    $10,000
    Deferred
    $8,000
    Nontaxable benefits
    $261
    Filer's total
    $203,537
  • Jeffrey D Lewin Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Robert K Scott Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Jason S Bazar Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Roy Morrow Bell Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Gayle M Blatt Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Tina Fryar Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Thomas J Lofaro Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Charles R Grebing Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Kenneth L Greenman Jr Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • D Russell Hymas Esq

    Secretary

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Kpish Goyal Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Sally Wong Avery Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Rahil K Swigart Esq

    Vice Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    4
  • Michael J Whitton Esq

    Chair

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    10
  • Duane W Layton Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Lisa Dordoez PhD

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1
  • Bruce E MacDonald Esq

    Trustee

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    1

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 1a · Discretionary spending account
  • 1a · Housing allowance or residence for personal use
  • 1a · Health or social club dues or initiation fees
  • 1b · Written policy on the line-1a expenses
  • 2 · Substantiation required before reimbursing expenses
  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Form 990 of other organizations
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

The filer's explanations (Part III)

Part I, Line 1a: Relevant information in regards to selections on 1a.
THE PRESIDENT & DEAN, SEAN SCOTT, RECEIVED AN AUTOMOBILE AND HOUSING ALLOWANCE PER THE TERMS OF HER EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT PAID TO HER VIA PAYROLL AND INCLUDED AS W-2 REPORTABLE WAGES.

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Related organizations on this return

Schedule R Part II: tax-exempt organizations related to the filer by control. It does not record shared board members or money.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2023
Filed
11 June 2025
IRS schema version
2023v6.0
Source object
202531629349301863

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