Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services
California Western School Of Law
About the role
California Western School of Law (California Western or CWSL), a private, non-profit, independent law school located in San Diego, California, seeks an experienced, data-driven leader to serve as Associate Dean for Career and Professional Development (Associate Dean). This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of CWSL and the Career and Professional Development Office (CPDO) by strengthening employment outcomes, expanding employer and alumni partnerships, and implementing a strategic, data-informed approach to supporting student success.
Accredited by both the ABA and the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), California Western is San Diego's oldest law school and has a distinguished tradition of preparing outstanding legal professionals to serve in California and around the world. CWSL has been on a steep ascent over the last few years, dramatically increasing its ABA reported first-time bar passage rate from 48% in 2023 to over 71% in 2025. CWSL's incoming credentials have similarly surged, resulting most recently in a current median LSAT score of 157 and a 3.54 median undergraduate GPA for the incoming Fall 2026 class.
CWSL operates a full-time day program and a part-time evening program that attracts professionals and nontraditional students. The school enrolls approximately 650 students, and at least a third of CWSL's students identify as first-generation college students. Many of CWSL's students are San Diego residents who intend to begin their legal careers in San Diego or elsewhere in California. Between 6 and 9 percent of the incoming class have military ties.
California Western has a strong reputation for combining practical and theoretical training. The school operates an array of programs designed to develop core skills and on-the-ground thinking. In addition to a highly praised clinical externship program, the school is home to the California Western Innocence and Justice Clinic, which focuses on innocence work and exonerations; the Community Law Project, a pop-up clinic providing an array of legal services and advice to indigent individuals; and the New Media Rights Clinic, which provides assistance in a number of legal areas, including First Amendment rights, data and privacy protection, and intellectual property rights. These hands-on programs enable students to apply their learning to the world of legal practice, allowing them to gain experience as they make an impact on the community around them.
Reporting to Dean and President Miriam Baer, the next Associate Dean will provide vision and leadership for Career and Professional Development, ensuring that all California Western students receive the guidance, resources, and opportunities necessary to achieve their professional goals. The Associate Dean will provide structure, accountability, and data-informed decision-making to the office while supporting a talented and committed team. The Associate Dean will also develop systems and strategies to maintain meaningful engagement with alumni and faculty, monitor career progression, and strengthen post-graduate support. Success in this role will require a collaborative leader who can cultivate partnerships across the law school, develop relationships with employers in San Diego and beyond, build a high-performing team, and position the office to meet the evolving needs of students and graduates alike.
The anticipated salary range for this position is $165,000 to $185,000, commensurate with experience and subject to other negotiated benefits. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be determined by a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, departmental budgets, qualifications, expertise, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring range represents CWSL's good-faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation range at the time of posting. Given the highly collaborative and student-facing nature of the role, the Associate Dean is expected to maintain a full-time, on-campus presence.
APPLICATIONS, INQUIRIES, AND NOMINATIONS
Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process. Inquiries, nominations, referrals, and CVs with cover letters should be sent to Isaacson, Miller through the search page linked below.
Sean Farrell is leading this search with Robin Dougherty and Drew Chang.
California Western School of Law is committed to using the law to prevent and solve human and societal problems. In conjunction with our mission to train ethical, competent, and compassionate lawyers, we value the different perspectives of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff, as well as those of the larger communities of which we are a part.
The law school is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities upon request.
HOW TO APPLY
https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/california-western-school-law/associate-dean-careers-and-professional-services
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Posted
10/05/2026
Website
https://www.cwsl.edu/
City
San Diego
State
California
Functions
Administration, Director, Senior Management
Industries
Higher Education, Non-profit - NPO
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Questions about this role
Who is hiring for the Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services role?
California Western School Of Law is hiring a Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services, based in San Diego, CA. The posting was placed by the organization hiring or the search firm it retained, not copied from another board.
Where is the Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services job located?
San Diego, CA. This position is on-site.
Is the Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services role remote, hybrid or on-site?
This role is on-site. The person hired is expected to work from the location named in the posting.
What does the Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services role pay?
The posting states $165,000 to $185,000. Where a range is given, the figure a candidate is offered inside it usually depends on experience.
How do I apply for the Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services role?
Apply directly to California Western School Of Law through the link on this page. The application goes to the employer, not to us, and we do not sit in the middle of it.
Will an algorithm screen out my application?
Not here. ExecSearches does not run resumes through automated screening and does not reject anyone by software. Every posting on this board is reviewed by a person before it goes live, and expired duplicates are taken down.
When was the Associate Dean of Careers and Professional Services job posted?
This role was posted on October 8, 2026.
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