California Western students can choose to enrich their law school education by participating in a wide array of student activities, both academic and social. The Advocacy Honors Board is composed of students with demonstrated skills in oral advocacy. Appellate teams write a brief that discusses legal issues, then advocate their position to a panel of judges, taking questions from the bench. Trial teams prepare and conduct trials before judges and sometimes juries, doing direct and cross examination of witnesses, and making motions and objections, and opening and closing arguments.
Students have the opportunity to compete in moot court exercises early in their law school careers.
Second and third year students are eligible to compete in the Gafford Intramural Trial competition, which serves as a tryout for the AHB Trial Team. In addition, AHB establishes and maintains files of materials, forms, briefs and points and authorities for the training of law students in the advocacy areas of law practice. AHB students have also entered a mentor relationship with the San Diego Trial Lawyers Association, which matches students with some of San Diego's premiere trial lawyers. Amnesty International is an independent, impartial movement that plays a specific role in the worldwide protection of human rights. The Association of Trial Lawyers of America is a national organization with a student chapter at California Western.