More than 200 attendees and government officials, including Tustin’s mayor, marked the opening as the institution welcomed its largest entering class in recent years
TUSTIN, Calif., Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Western State College of Law at Westcliff University marked its 60th anniversary with the grand opening of its Tustin campus on Aug. 28. More than 200 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The campus includes a courtroom, modern classrooms and collaborative study spaces. Western State Dean and Professor of Law Justice Halim Dhanidina (Ret.) and Westcliff University President and CEO Dr. Anthony Lee spoke before the ribbon cutting. Attendees braved the hot weather to attend and were treated to a tour of the building, followed by a reception.
This year, Western State enrolled its largest entering class in recent years. The law school also has five law clinics that serve the local community.
Fast Facts
- What: Western State College of Law at Westcliff University Tustin Campus Grand Opening
- When: Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
- Where: 15101 Red Hill Avenue, Tustin, CA 92780
- Milestone: 60th anniversary (founded in 1966)
- Clinics: Five law clinics that serve the local community
Six Decades in Orange County
Western State, the oldest law school in Orange County, was founded in 1966. The school’s legacy shines through a robust network of more than 12,000 graduates, including over 150 alumni who have been elevated to the bench as judges.
“We think back to all of the things that brought us to this point as the oldest and most storied law school in Orange County,” Dhanidina said, “while also looking forward to a very bright future, which is going to have its foundations right here in our brand-new permanent space.”
Judges, City Officials and Alumni
Attendees included Tustin city officials, Western State and Westcliff leaders, alumni, representatives from the legal community, and Orange County judges:
- Mayor Austin Lumbard and other Tustin city officials
- Retired Orange County Superior Court Judge John Nho Trong Nguyen (Class of 1988), the first Vietnamese judge to serve in Orange County
- Westcliff University President and CEO Dr. Anthony Lee
- Alumni Jeff Witjas (Class of 1979), Heidi Plummer (Class of 2014) and Michelle Reinglass (Class of 1978)
- Public Law Center CEO and General Counsel Monica Eav Glicken
- Orange County Bar Association Secretary Casey Johnson, partner at Aitken Aitken Cohn
Ranked No. 2 Nationally for Improved Employment
Western State has been ranked No. 2 by National Jurist for improved employment outcomes, reflecting the success of the Class of 2025, with 94.6% employed and 85.2% passing the bar.
Among first-time takers on the February 2026 California bar exam, 68.2% of Western State graduates passed, compared with 62.3% from ABA-accredited California schools. “Western State is in many ways a unicorn in legal education these days, because of our students’ focus on becoming practice ready,” Dhanidina said.
Additional employment and bar data is available in Western State’s ABA Required Disclosures.
Official Recognitions Presented at the Grand Opening
Federal, state, county and city officials and the Tustin Chamber of Commerce presented recognitions at the ceremony, honoring the school’s 60 years in Orange County and its new campus in Tustin. The California State Senate certificate also cited Western State’s 1966 founding and standing as Orange County’s oldest law school.
- U.S. Congress: Signed by Rep. Young Kim, 40th District
- California State Senate: “Ribbon Cutting & 60th Anniversary,” signed by Sen. Steven S. Choi, Ph.D., 37th District
- California State Assembly: Signed by Assemblyman Phillip Chen, Ed.D., 59th District
- California State Assembly: “Tustin Grand Opening,” signed by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris, 73rd District
- Orange County: Signed by Supervisor Donald P. Wagner, Third District
- City of Tustin: Signed by Mayor Austin Lumbard and the Tustin City Council
- City of Tustin: Certificate of Recognition to Justice Halim Dhanidina (Ret.), signed by Mayor Austin Lumbard and the Tustin City Council
- City of Tustin: Certificate of Recognition to Dr. Anthony Lee, signed by Mayor Austin Lumbard and the Tustin City Council
- Tustin Chamber of Commerce: Certificate of Membership, signed by Board of Directors Chairman Juan Carlos Vazquez
About Western State College of Law
Western State College of Law at Westcliff University is an established institution with 60 years of producing successful attorneys and more than 150 alumni elevated to the bench. Its J.D. program offers specialized tracks, allowing students to develop unique skill sets tailored to their careers. Visit www.wsulaw.edu to learn more or follow Western State College of Law on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bc8b5751-a69d-4709-bf68-5a8e9b720edc
