Pacific West College of Law was founded in 1992. The college began with approval from the Council for Private Post Secondary Education of the Department of Education of the State of California to grant the Bachelor of Science in Law and Juris Doctor Degrees. A Dean from Lincoln Law School was instrumental in approving these first degrees. After three years of steady growth, and an expanding curriculum, the school received approval to add three Masters Degree programs. Dean Carpenter of Sowthwestern Law School granted the primary approval for these three additional Master Degrees. The college currently shares facilities and other assets with South Coast College.