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USC LawThe USC CampusEnlivened with the spiritof collaborative learning,USC sits in the heart ofLos Angeles. Here you’llfind a true academiccommunity where facultyand students share apassion for learning anda commitment to therule of law.

Spirit of Self-determinationWith a rigorous multidisciplinarycurriculum,USC Law prepares newgenerations of attorneysto define their own futuresand change the world.It’s intense and tough,but worth it.100 Year HeritageToday’s USC Law reflectsa distinguished past builton the principles of equityand excellence. Courageto break new grounddrove the past and fuelsthe future.

We are committed to creating a place where learning,community, public interest and multidisciplinarystudy combine to create the nation’s most excitinglegal education program. USC Law is a small, selectiveglobal law school with a 100+ year history anda reputation for academic excellence.Our admissions standards are high. Our classes aretough enough to challenge the brightest students.If this academic setting suits your goals and learningstyle, read on. And make an informed, confidentdecision. USC Law is a place where your successis our highest priority.Robert K. RasmussenDean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair In Law6 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law7

CurriculumUSC Law’s curriculum is comprehensive, interdisciplinaryand designed to challenge. We ground students in the realityof the law: letter and spirit, theory and practice. Not onlywill you learn the functions and structures of legal rulesand argument—you’ll learn how lawyers actually work byparticipating in clinics, internships and externships.What makes USC Law’scurriculum among the best?The challenge—includingrigorous first-year coursesthat provide a solidfoundation in the law.The choices—excitingoptions for your second andthird years. And the chanceto learn by doing—andwitness the results.Because we believe your legal educationshould be deep as well as broad, our three-yearcurriculum lets you specialize in traditionallaw or an emerging field. We stress theinterconnections among law and other academicareas, from economics and history to publicpolicy and health care. USC Law’s scholarly yetpractical approach ensures that you will gainthe skills and perspective every lawyer needs.Whether you think you would like to enterprivate practice, public service, academia or thecorporate arena, USC Law will help you designa course of study that meets your plans for thefuture. USC Law provides an innovative takeon traditional law, and we encourage pioneeringviewpoints. Through mind-expanding coursework and hands-on experience with real clients,USC Law really prepares you for practice.Juris Doctor DegreeUSC offers its Juris Doctor degree througha three-year (six semester), full-time academicprogram. Your first year will consist of9 required courses. In your second and thirdyears, you will choose the courses you take.A total of 88 credits is required to graduate.First YearPrepare to examine the foundations of thelaw and develop the lawyering skills you’ll needfor any legal career you choose. Your coursematerials will include the basic sources of law—case reports, constitutions, and statutes.Teaching methods vary across courses,but expect to engage in Socratic dialogueand participate in class discussions analyzinglegal issues, reasons, and arguments. First-yearclasses meet in sections ranging in size from17 to 8o students—small enough to fosterclass participation, big enough to offerdiverse perspectives.Constitutional Law: Learn how responsibility forcreating and administering the law is shared by theexecutive, legislative, and judicial branches; the nationand the states; and the government and the individual.Topics include federal powers, the role of the SupremeCourt, due process, and equal protection.Contracts: Develop an understanding of the rulesthat regulate consensual agreements entered intofor commercial purposes. Discover what promises thestate should and does enforce, and what remedies areavailable when enforceable promises are broken.Criminal Law: How does a legislature or court decidethat a particular behavior is a “crime?” Find out as youexplore the moral, psychological, and philosophicalissues involved in ascribing criminal responsibility.Law, Language, and Values: Get your firstglimpse of how legal rules and concepts functionin the organization of society. True to USC Law’sinterdisciplinary focus, this class draws on a broadvariety of fields—including economics, philosophy,and psychology—to examine the underlying structureof legal argument and decision.Legal Profession: Examine the ethical dilemmasattorneys confront in their various roles. Topics includeconflicts of interest, confidentiality, and problemsinherent in adversarial advocacy.Legal Research, Writing, and Advocacy: Develop youranalytic, research, and communication skills in thistwo semester course. Start fall semester with short,written exercises, then progress to drafting legal officememoranda. In the spring, concentrate on developingyour skills in written advocacy by drafting legal briefs.And in your first-year moot-court program, discover anddevelop your own eloquence in advocacy by practicingoral argument.In the Legal Research component, explore the basicsources of law for federal and state jurisdictions.Analyze research methods and techniques. And learnto use a vast array of sources—from books to onlineresearch systems.Procedure: What constitutes fair, adequate, andefficient procedure in resolving legal disputes? Learnhow authority for these matters is allocated betweenfederal and state courts and among Congress, theexecutive branch, and the courts.Property: Analyze the development of rules dealingwith land, water, and other natural resources fromhistoric and economic perspectives. Your study includesthe controls placed on use and exploitation of land bylocal, state, and federal governments.Torts: Explore the individual’s obligation to refrainfrom harming others. Study the bases for compensatingthe injured either by holding responsible whoever is atfault for harm or by invoking other principles of liability,including the efficiency of resource allocation and thespreading of losses.In classrooms, library carrels,computer labs, studentlounges or even outsideon a grassy lawn, USC Lawis alive with studentsimmersed in the study ofthe law. From morning untilevening, there are theories tomaster, clinical skills to hone,oral arguments to perfectand hot topics to debate.8 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law9

Year 1Summer InternshipsYear 2+3Legal ClinicsHousing ClinicIntellectual Property and Technology ClinicInternational Human Rights ClinicImmigration ClinicMediation ClinicPost-Conviction Justice ProgramSmall Business ClinicJudicial ClerkshipsClinical ExternshipsEntertainment PracticumInternational ProgramsPublic Interest88 Credits Required to GraduateCurriculum OverviewYear 19 Foundation Courses:Constitutional LawContractsCriminal LawLaw, Language and ValuesLegal ProfessionLegal Research, Writing and AdvocacyProcedurePropertyTortsStudent OrganizationsSummer InternshipJanuary:February:Public Interest Career DayInterview ProgramSpring On Campus Interview ProgramPersonalized Academic Path9 Foundation CoursesUpper Level Courses and SeminarsConstitutional LawClinical Training and Public Interest LawContractsCorporate and Business LawCriminal LawThe Court System and Civil RightsLaw, Language and ValuesEnvironmental Law and Land UseLegal ProfessionFamily Law, Health, and Behavioral SciencesLegal Research, Writing and AdvocacyGovernment RegulationProcedureIntellectual Property, Entertainment, and Patent LawPropertyInternational LawTortsLaw and SocietyLaw of TaxationStudent OrganizationsContinuing Legal Education ProgramInstitute on Entertainment Law and BusinessInstitute for Corporate CounselReal Estate Law and Business ForumTax InstituteInterdisciplinary EducationTrust and Estate ConferenceSouthern California Innovation ProjectIntellectual Property InstituteCenter for Law and Social SciencesCenter for Law, History, and CultureCenter for the Study of Law and PoliticsPacific Center for Health Policy and EthicsCenter on Law and PhilosophySaks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy,and EthicsLaw Reviewand JournalsPublic ServiceJudicialAcademicMoot CourtClerkshipSupportCompetitionPreparationProgramIntensiveBarStudy AbroadCareerExaminationProgramsManagementPreparationProgramDual Degree ProgramsJ.D./Master of Arts in EconomicsJ.D./Master of Business AdministrationJ.D./Master of Business TaxationJ.D./Master of Arts in International RelationsJ.D./Master of Arts in Communications ManagementJ.D./Master of Arts in Political ScienceJ.D./Master of Science in GerontologyJ.D./Master of Real Estate DevelopmentJ.D./Master of Social WorkJ.D./Master of Public AdministrationJ.D./Master of Public PolicyJ.D./Master of PhilosophyJ.D./Doctor of PharmacyJ.D./Doctor of Philosophy in Social Science (CalTech)J.D./Doctor of Philosophy in Political ScienceYear 2Foundation Courses completed.Pursue your personal interest in the law.Recruitment InterviewsMoot Court CompetitionPublic Service OpportunitiesUSC Law Journals and the Law ReviewAcademic Honors ProgramsStudent OrganizationsPart-time EmploymentSummer InternshipAugust: Early Interview WeekOff Campus Interview Programs inNew York and Washington, D.C.September: Fall On Campus Interview ProgramFebruary: Spring On Campus Interview ProgramYear 3Continue pursuing your areas of interest.Prepare for Judicial Clerkships.USC Law Journals and the Law ReviewAcademic Honors ProgramsStudent OrganizationsPart-time EmploymentBar Examination PreparationAugust: Early Interview WeekOff Campus Interview Programs inNew York and Washington, D.C.September: Fall On Campus Interview ProgramNovember: Public Interest Career DayInterview ProgramFebruary: Spring On Campus Interview Program10 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law11

2nd and 3rd YearsWith your first-year foundation firmlyin place, you’re ready to develop andpursue your personal interest in the law.Your coursework is entirely up to you.Choose from USC Law’s broadcurriculum of courses, seminars, clinicalinstruction, and supervised writingprograms. Some upper-division coursesexplore basic subjects, such as taxation,evidence, and criminal procedure.Others provide advanced instructionthat assumes knowledge of basicsubjects. Upper-level courses andseminars are small, and instruction isintensive. Seminars are offered on manytopics and are designed to facilitate indepth,small-group discussion.In your second and third years,you can earn academic credit by servingas an editor or staff member for one ofUSC Law’s scholarly journals. Facultymembers will review and evaluateyour written work. You also can earnacademic credit by writing a dissertationunder faculty supervision, or byassisting on directed research projects.Interdisciplinary EducationAt USC Law, we believe thatknowledge of legal rules alone does notequip students to excel in the law. Manyof our professors hold advanced degreesin economics, history, philosophy,political science, or psychology.In addition to imparting their legalexpertise, they reveal how diverse forcesbeyond the law affect legal decisionmaking.Interdisciplinary teachingdeepens students’ understanding ofthe law and opens doors to uniqueopportunities. Outside the classroom,students can get involved with sixinterdisciplinary centers that exploreand shape the law in a larger context.In addition, you may earn as many as12 credits for graduate-level courses thatare related to law and offered by otheracademic departments at the Universityof Southern California—an excellentchance to complement your legaltraining with relevant courses.Center for Law, History, and Culture:Encourages the study of law as a historicaland cultural institution with USC DornsifeCollege of Letters, Arts and Sciences.Center for Law and Social Sciences:Investigates the relationship between lawand the social sciences, spanning the fieldsof economics, political science, psychology,sociology and more. The Center seeks toexpand our understanding of how law andlegal institutions work and to develop soundpolicies to achieve goals such as a fair socialorder and a productive economy.Center for the Study of Law and Politics:Explores the intersection of law, institutions,and citizens as part of a broader politicalsystem in partnership with the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology (Caltech).Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics:Works to improve the quality of the healthcaresystem by focusing on traditional andemerging ethical dimensions of health care,biomedical research, and medical education.Center on Law and Philosophy:Promotes interdisciplinary scholarshipin legal, moral, and political philosophy,and publishes the online Journal of Ethicsand Social Philosophy (JESP).Saks Institute for Mental Health Law,Policy, and Ethics:Allows law students to work collaborativelywith faculty members across seven USCdepartments: law, psychiatry, psychology,social work, gerontology, philosophy andengineering to affect important mental healthpolicy issues.Legal ClinicsBy the time you’ve finished your firstyear of the USC Law curriculum, you’velearned that lawyers do not live bytheory alone. To instill lawyering skillsof the highest quality—and to steepstudents in real experience of the law—USC Law maintains seven client clinics(six of which are live client clinicsand not simulated) that give you theopportunity to put theory into practice.Los Angeles itself allows USC Lawto offer an incredible diversity of legalclinics with exposure to both litigationand transactional work.The clinical program offers two kindsof training. Through classroom exercisesthat simulate real-life law practice,you’ll use hypothetical case materialsto study a case and take it to court,with actors serving as clients andwitnesses. And in the clinics, underthe supervision of faculty members andpracticing attorneys, you’ll work withactual clients—sharpening your skillswhile experiencing the impact yourlegal education can have on real peoplein the community.Housing Clinic: USC Gould’s newest clinicprovides professional training in localaffordable housing issues, landlord-tenantdispute resolution and housing discriminationlaw. Under the direction of a supervisingattorney, law students in the Housing Clinicprovide legal representation to affordablehousing tenants. Clients are assisted in avariety of ways including free tenantrepresentation in administrative hearings,landlord-tenant litigation services, housinginformation and social services referrals.12 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law13

Intellectual Property and TechnologyLaw Clinic: Opportunities to learn aboutintellectual property law abound in LosAngeles, one of the world’s leading centersfor media, entertainment, and technology.This clinic represents clients in cases that mayinvolve, technology, copyright, trademark,privacy, the Fair Use Doctrine, and FirstAmendment issues. Law students engagein patent evaluation and application; thereview of technology contracts; litigationinvolving intellectual property; and filmclearance work.Mediation Clinic: Created to give studentshands on experience with an essential taskof lawyering—helping people solve problemscreatively, effectively, and efficiently—the Mediation Clinic teaches students thedispute resolution skills required to becomeprofessional mediators. Unlike traditionallitigation clinics where students advocate forone side in a dispute, USC students do notrepresent one side or the other. Instead,they are third party neutrals who act asfacilitators to help craft a resolution to thelawsuit. By the end of the semester, studentswill have mediated six or more Los AngelesCounty Superior Court cases.Immigration Clinic: In a city shaped byimmigrants, gain first-hand legal experiencewith the U.S. Citizenship and ImmigrationService (USCIS), the Immigration Court,and law enforcement agencies involvedin immigration matters. Cases range fromasylum claims by people who fear persecutionif returned to their homes to claims for relieffrom deportation filed by people held atregional USCIS detention centers. You alsohave the opportunity to represent clientsseeking relief under the Violence AgainstWomen Act, which enables male and femaleimmigrants to file their own claims forpermanent immigration status if they arebeing abused by a spouse or parent whois a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.International Human Rights Clinic: TheInternational Human Rights Law Clinic givesstudents the opportunity to work on projectsand cases, both local and international,which confront the most pressing humanrights concerns of our day. In the clinic,students seek accountability for human rightsviolations and progressive development ofhuman rights law. Through this experience,students acquire knowledge and skills foreffective human rights advocacy andinternational lawyering more generally.Post-Conviction Justice Project: Throughthis yearlong program, students, supervisedby full-time faculty, represent actual clientsin traditional post-conviction situations,such as parole hearings and habeas corpuspetitions, and also advise clients on civilissues, such as immigration, civil rights,criminal detainer, and return-of-propertymatters. As a participant, you attendseminars covering substantive law relevantto your case, discussing such subjects asthe laws of sentencing and parole, prisoners’constitutional rights, the use of evidenceof battering in criminal cases, and genderand racial bias in the criminal justice system.Students have argued their cases before theNinth Circuit Court of Appeals—an excitingpreview of the work they can do as attorneys.Small Business Clinic: This clinic providesSouthern California businesses with a widerange of legal services while teachingstudents the fundamentals of business lawinvolved in representing small businesses.Clinical work focuses on the formation ofbusiness entities, such as corporations andlimited liability companies, but also involvesother business transactions, such as draftingcontracts, preparing shareholder agreements,dissolving entities, forming partnerships andcreating non-profit organizations.Dual-Degree ProgramsUSC Law sponsors several dual-degreeprograms, in partnership with otherprofessional schools at USC andCaltech. Participate in one of theseprograms and leave USC Law withrecognized competence that combineswith your legal education to prepareyou for specific career options.Many dual-degree programs canbe completed in three to four years.To pursue a dual degree, you must applyseparately to the J.D. program and tothe non-law discipline, at the time ofyour application to USC Law or duringyour first year of law school.All dual-degree candidates, with theexception of those participating inthe J.D./Doctor of Pharmacy program,must complete their first year of lawschool before taking non-law courses.Dual-Degree ProgramsJ.D./Master of Arts in EconomicsJ.D./Master of Business AdministrationJ.D./Master of Business TaxationJ.D./Master of Arts in International RelationsJ.D./Master of Arts in CommunicationsManagementJ.D./Master of Arts in PhilosophyJ.D./Master of Arts in Political ScienceJ.D./Master of Arts in Public PolicyJ.D./Master of Science in GerontologyJ.D./Master of Real Estate DevelopmentJ.D./Master of Social WorkJ.D./Master of Public AdministrationJ.D./Doctor of PharmacyJ.D./Doctor of Philosophy in Politicsand International RelationsJ.D./Doctor of Philosophy in Social Science(Caltech)14 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law15

Master of Law (LL.M.)USC Law’s master’s degree program foroutstanding foreign graduate studentstrained in law brings a rich arrayof educational backgrounds, cultures,and perspectives to our diverse andchallenging classrooms. This rigorous,two-semester, full-time programprepares participants for leading roles ininternational government and businessby introducing them to American lawand the U.S. legal system. The studentsenrolled in the program take classesalongside J.D. students. Our LL.M.program brings talented attorneys fromBrazil, China, Germany, Great Britain,Israel, Italy, Japan, and Korea to campusto study the American legal systemand share their global perspectiveswith J.D. students.Study Abroad ProgramsUSC Law offers four study abroadprograms for J.D. students whichprovide opportunities to learn aboutforeign legal systems and experiencedifferent cultures. Qualified second andthird year J.D. candidates are exposedto international law as they take partin exchange programs with leadingpartner institutions worldwide.Experience in other cultures andknowledge of international legal arenasis important for law school graduates inan increasingly interconnected world.Study abroad locations:Hong Kong, China: University of Hong KongMilan, Italy: Bocconi UniversityLyon, France: University Jean Moulin LyonQueensland, Australia: Bond UniversitySão Paulo, Brazil: Fundação GetúlioVargas UniversityContinuing Legal Education ProgramAt USC Law, opportunities for learningcontinue beyond graduation. Majorinstitutes and conferences offered by ourContinuing Legal Education Programbring alumni, practicing attorneys,and guest speakers together to explorethe latest perspectives on specializedand emerging fields while they networkand share experiences with participatingJ.D. students. Students also serveas coordinators, research assistants,and editors of institute proceedings.Institute on Entertainment Lawand Business: Explores new frontiers inthe law and economics of entertainmentindustrydealmaking.Institute for Corporate Counsel: Keepsin-house and outside counsel abreast of thelatest legal developments affecting corporateclients. Also maintains an extensive corporatelaw research center.Real Estate Law and Business Forum:Informs commercial real estate professionalsabout critical issues facing the industry,including financing, construction,environmental, and land use challenges.Tax Institute: Offers new perspectives oncritical issues of tax and tax policy, includingdevelopments in corporate, partnership,real estate, and individual taxation,and estate planning.Trust and Estate Conference: Focuseson practical rather than theoretical issues,providing real-world solutions and strategiesfor estate planning professionals.Intellectual Property Institute: Bringstogether sophisticated legal and businessprofessionals to share creative ideas andup-to-the-minute information from the widevariety of arenas in which copyright, patent,trademark and other IP issues arise.Judicial ExternshipsAt USC Law, you have the careermakingopportunity to earn academiccredit while working as an extern fora state or federal judge. Judicial externsdevelop legal analysis and writing skills,gain exposure to adversarial practice,and witness the judicial decision-makingprocess from a unique and valuableperspective. Working closely andcollegially with judges, externs oftendevelop important, lasting relationships.Entertainment PracticumSouthern California is the ideal placeto explore options in entertainment law.This practicum blends classroom studyof substantive entertainment-related legalissues with the chance to earn additionalacademic credit through placements instudios and other entertainment businesses.Students also may participate in USC Law’sInstitute on Entertainment Law andBusiness seminars.Certificate ProgramsCertificate in Entertainment Law: With a focuson the understanding and expertise requiredto practice Entertainment Law, this certificateprogram delves thoroughly into intellectualproperty, as well as taxation, antitrust and otherspecific business organization issues.Certificate in Business Law: This certificatesignals to employers that students have theknowledge and skills—from organizational andfinancial aspects to deal making—required tobe top-notch business lawyers.The benefits of hands-onexperience are undisputed.Taking advantage of the manyopportunities for nonacademiclearning, such as working on alaw journal or in a clinic, lets youexplore your interests and helpsto focus your career goals. It’s achance for real-world lawyeringand honing your leadership skills.16 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law17

Clinical ExternshipsPut classroom learning into practice through anexternship with a government agency, public-interestorganization, or legal services program in your areaof interest. Supervised by practicing attorneys andfaculty members, you’ll earn academic credit whilerepresenting real clients and learning importantgovernment processes. This program, which offersacademic credit, provides a valuable opportunity toobserve and affect government and legal processesfrom the inside.Choose from more than 70 pre-approved agencies,some of which are listed below:Alliance for Children’s RightsAmerican Civil Liberties Union(Southern California and Nevada)Asian Pacific American Legal CenterBet TzedekCA Attorney GeneralChildren’s Hospital Los Angeles, Office of General CounselChildren’s Law Center of CaliforniaCoalition to Abolish Slavery and TraffickingDepartment of Justice (Washington, DC)Directors Guild of AmericaEqual Employment Opportunity CommissionFederal Trade CommissionThe Financial Industry Regulatory AuthorityHarriet Buhai Center for Family LawInner City Law CenterIt Gets Better ProjectLambda LegalLegal Aid Foundation of Los AngelesLos Angeles Center for Law and JusticeLos Angeles District AttorneyLos Angeles Gay & Lesbian CenterMental Health Advocacy ServicesMexican American Legal Defense and Educational FundNational Health Law ProgramNational Immigration Law CenterNatural Resources Defense CouncilNeighborhood Legal ServicesNorwalk-La Mirada Unified School DistrictPublic CounselPublic Defender, Federal and Los Angeles CountyScreen Actors Guild / American Federation ofTelevision and Radio ArtistsSEIU Local 721Southern California Regional Rail Authority (MetroLink)US Attorney, Civil, Criminal and Tax DivisionsUS Securities & Exchange CommissionWage & Justice CenterWestern Center on Law and Poverty18 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law19

Judicial ClerkshipsJudicial Clerkships are a key credential for your future practiceof law—no matter what the area of legal specialty. Many USCLaw graduates win coveted berths as judicial law clerks tofederal and state judges. By beginning their legal careers in ajudge’s chambers, and taking on these prestigious clerkships,USC Law graduates find themselves in the enviable positionof being later courted for a wealth of amazing careeropportunities in both the public and private sectors. It’scommonly noted that a judicial clerkship can help acceleratea young attorney’s path to law firm partnerships and otherprestigious positions.The experience in and of itself is consideredunmatched and prestigious amongst lawyers.Offering a unique glimpse behind the scenes,clerkships let young lawyers see how judgesthink and courtrooms work. Invaluable insights,useful for all of an attorney’s future dealingswith any kind of judge, are gained.Judicial clerks serve judges in trial and appellatecourts, typically engaging in legal researchand writing to meet their judge’s obligations.USC Law alumni have held judicial clerkshipsin the United States Supreme Court, the UnitedStates Court of Appeals, the United StatesDistrict Court, and State Courts throughoutthe United States.Clerkship positions are highly competitive.However, USC Law mentors students whowish to be judicial clerks through the process.Starting in the first year, students review thepossibility, and find out more information aboutvarious opportunities. Clerkship workshopsare held to further assist students. USC Lawconducts a number of receptions and lunchesthroughout the academic year so that studentscan learn first-hand from the judges themselvesthe importance and prestige of clerkshippositions. Then in the beginning of their thirdyear, students apply for clerkships. USC Lawhas created a faculty clerkship committee to helpstudents with the application process, and willeven pay for application expenses involved.In addition, when possible, USC Law supportsclerkship candidates by helping to pay for travelto interviews with judges outside the greaterLos Angeles area.20 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law21

Moot CourtMoot Court allows USC Law students totake part in simulated court proceedingsbefore mock appellate-court panels madeup of seasoned practicing attorneys andsitting judges from the local communityand across the country. Actually preparingcases that mimic real cases often pulledfrom current events provides you with livelyhands-on experience. It’s an excitingopportunity to research, write and presentin order to hone these important skills ina controlled environment.Through USC Law’s Hale Moot Court honorsprogram you will take mock cases before“the court”—a panel of visiting attorneys andjurists who assess your performance. Even ifyou don’t participate in this honors program,you’ll experience Moot Court through our firstyear Legal Writing, Research and Advocacycourse, in which you prepare appellate briefsand deliver oral arguments.Ackerman Courtroom, complete with jurydeliberation room and a judge’s chambers,provides all the necessary resources for MootCourt and clinical training. The courtroomis one of USC’s special studio classrooms.It is equipped with state-of-the-arttechnology to enable instructors to integratemultiple media forms into their teachingactivities, as well as capture and recordproceedings, presentations, lectures,and discussions.All studio classrooms feature a touch-screencontrol system, dual projectors and screens,a document camera, an electronic writingtablet, and multiple cameras andmicrophones for video teleconferencing,online streaming, and digital recording.22 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law23

Commitment to Public ServiceCan one law student make a difference? The USC Lawcommunity says, unequivocally, “Yes.” Whether you’re assistinga family in adopting a child, or a veteran with medical andhousing benefits, you can make a difference through countlessvolunteer opportunities, internships, in-house legal clinics,and grant programs.USC Law’s student-run Public Interest LawFoundation (PILF) offers myriad volunteeropportunities in partnership with Los Angeles’leading public interest organizations. PILF alsoprovides more than 25 summer grants that enablestudents to work for a variety of public-interestagencies each summer —gaining practical legalexperience while providing desperately neededlegal aid to the poor and underrepresented.USC Law’s Office of Public Service (OPS)supports all student-driven service projects. TheOPS also coordinates public-service externships.Approximately 1oo students annually earnacademic credit and develop their advocacy skillswhile working for public interest organizations,government agencies, and judges.USC Law’s Clinical Program offers students anopportunity to participate during the academicyear or work full time over the summer forone of several in-house clinics, including:Immigration Clinic, Intellectual Propertyand Technology, International Human RightsClinic, Post-Conviction Justice Project,Small Business Clinic, Housing Law Clinicand Mediation Clinic.There are many ways to get involved in publicinterest projects at USC Law. Legal AidAlternative Breaks (LAAB) sponsored springbreak trips to the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast,where students provided crucial legal servicesto residents rebuilding their lives. Other studentledservice projects include Latino Law StudentsAssociation’s Teen Court, a diversion programfor first-time juvenile offenders in lieu of formaljuvenile court proceedings, and Street Law,a nationally recognized educational outreachprogram that teaches legal literacy to local highschool students.USC encourages students to pursue careersin public interest, pro bono opportunities,and other public service beyond law schoolby providing:PILF’s Irmas Fellowship:An annual fellowship for a one-year, post-graduateposition with the nonprofit agency of the fellow’s choiceClinton Orfalea Brittingham Fellowship:A one-year, post-graduate opportunity to work on oneof the foundation’s domestic or international initiativesLoan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP):Funds which help repay student loans for graduatesworking in public servicePILF’s Outstanding Public Interest Graduate Award:Honors alumni commitment to public-interest careersInterested in learning more? Visit:Office of Public Service:http://law.usc.edu/why/public/ops.cfmPublic Interest Law Foundation:http://law.usc.edu/why/students/orgs/pilf.cfmLatino Law Students Association Teen Court Program:http://law.usc.edu/why/students/orgs/laRaza.cfmStreet Law Outreach Program:http://law.usc.edu/why/students/orgs/streetLaw.cfm24 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law25

FacultyThis is who we are:USC Law boasts 51 full-time facultyand more than 100 adjunct professorswith legal expertise in a variety ofareas, including politics, intellectualproperty, business, international,entertainment, ethics and tortreform. USC Law’s interdisciplinaryfocus is strengthened by thesefaculty members, many of whomhold doctorates in other fields.26 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law27

Jody David ArmourRoy P. Crocker Professor of LawKim Shayo BuchananAssociate Professor of Law andGender StudiesAlexander M. CapronUniversity Professor, Scott H. BiceChair in Healthcare Law Policy andEthics, Professor of Law and MedicineDavid B. CruzProfessor of LawSusan R. EstrichRobert Kingsley Professor of Law andPolitical ScienceNiels W. FrenzenClinical Professor of LawAriela J. GrossJohn B. and Alice R. Sharp Professorof Law and HistoryGillian K. HadfieldRichard L. and Antoinette S. KirtlandProfessor of Law and Professorof EconomicsEducation: B.A., Harvard University;J.D., University of California, BerkeleySpecialty: Race issues in legaldecision-making; tortsExperience: Practiced law in SanFrancisco and Pittsburgh. Taught atthe University of California, Berkeley;Indiana University; and the Universityof Pittsburgh.Published work: “Just Desserts:Narrative, Perspective, Choice, andBlame”; “Stereotypes and Prejudice:Helping Legal Decisionmakers Breakthe Prejudice Habit”; Negrophobiaand Reasonable Racism: The HiddenCosts of Being Black in AmericaClasses: Torts; Enterprise Liability;Stereotypes, Prejudice, and the Ruleof LawBest advice anyone ever gave youabout law school: “You’re not goingto law school to memorize a lot ofrules; you’re here to learn to think likea lawyer. Rules come and go rapidly,but mastering the legal method—the way lawyers approach, argue,and resolve disputes—is anenduring achievement.”Next frontier in your field:“Applying the insights of cognitivescience to legal conceptions ofhuman responsibility in torts andcriminal law.”Education: B.A., Queen’s University;J.D., University of Toronto; LL.M.,Columbia University; J.S.D., ColumbiaUniversity Specialty: Constitutionallaw; torts; prisoners’ rights;reproductive rights; race, genderand sexual regulationExperience: Litigation associate atMcCarthy Tétrault and at SackGoldblatt Mitchell, in Toronto; SeniorFellow, Center for ReproductiveRights, in New York CityPublished work: “Impunity:Sexual Abuse in Women’s Prisons,”“Lawrence v. Geduldig: RegulatingWomen’s Sexuality”Classes: Constitutional Law;International and ComparativeHuman Rights Law; Prisoners’ Rights;Reproductive RightsHow you made it through lawschool: “When discussions in my lawschool classes got too far removedfrom reality, clinic work alwaysreminded me that law does matterin the lives of ordinary people.”Next frontier in your field: “In myarea of research, we’re trying toadvance a human-rights analysis inAmerican constitutional law whilesimultaneously trying to prevent theerosion of the hard-fought gainsearned by the generation before us.”Education: B.A., SwarthmoreCollege; LL.B., Yale UniversitySpecialty: Legal/medical issues;biomedical ethics; health policyExperience: Served as director ofEthics, Trade, Human Rights andHealth Law at the World HealthOrganization in Geneva, Switzerland;appointed by President Clinton asa member of the National BioethicsAdvisory Commission; served asexecutive director of the President’sCommission for the Study of EthicalProblems in Medicine and Biomedicaland Behavioral Research; chairof the Biomedical Ethics AdvisoryCommittee of the U.S. Congress;served on The Joint Commission,which accredits hospitals andother healthcare organizations.Published work: Law, Science,and Medicine; Treatise on HealthCare Law; Ethical Issues in GoverningBiobanks: Global PerspectivesClasses: Public Health Law; TortsEducation: B.S., B.A., University ofCalifornia, Irvine; M.S., StanfordUniversity; J.D., New York UniversitySpecialty: Constitutional law; sex,gender, and sexual orientation law;civil rights; equality issuesExperience: Clerked for theHonorable Edward R. Becker, Judgeof the United States Court of Appealsfor the Third Circuit. Served as aBristow Fellow in the Office of theSolicitor General in Washington, D.C.Published work: “Sexual Judgments:Full Faith and Credit and theRelational Character of Legal Sex”;“The Defense of Marriage Act andUncategorical Federalism”; “MakingUp Women: Casinos, Cosmetics,and Title VII”; “Disestablishing Sexand Gender”Classes: Constitutional Law; FederalCourts; First Amendment; SexualOrientation and the Law; Sex, Gender,and Law; International/ComparativePerspectives on Sex, Gender,and Sexual Orientation; IdentityCategories; Sex, Gender, and the LawNext frontier in your field:“Two frontiers I see are the equalprotection and due process rightsof lesbian, gay, bisexual, andtransgender persons.”Education: B.A., Wellesley College;J.D., Harvard UniversitySpecialty: Law and politics; criminallaw; gender discriminationExperience: Clerked for theHonorable J. Skelly Wright, Judge ofthe United States Court of Appeals forthe District of Columbia Circuit, andthe Honorable John Paul Stevens,Associate Justice of the United StatesSupreme Court. Taught at HarvardLaw School. Served as specialassistant to Senator Edward M.Kennedy and staff counsel andspecial assistant to the chief counselfor the U.S. Senate JudiciaryCommittee. Served as nationalcampaign manager for theDukakis-Bentsen campaign in 1988.A weekly syndicated columnist,a regular contributor to Fox News,and a frequent national commentatoron law and politics. Partner, QuinnEmanuel Urquhart & Sullivan.Published work: The Case for HillaryClinton; Sex and Power; Getting Awaywith Murder: How Politics isDestroying the Criminal JusticeSystem; Real Rape; DangerousOffenders: The Elusive Target ofJustice (with Moore, McGillis,and Spelman)Classes: Criminal Law; GenderDiscrimination; Election LawEducation: B.A., Beloit College; J.D.,Drake UniversitySpecialty: Immigration law;refugee lawExperience: Practiced with non-profitlegal organizations in Los Angeles andMiami; serves on board and ispresident of Program for TortureVictims; past president of theCoalition for Humane Immigrants’Rights of Los Angeles; El RescateLegal Services in Los AngelesPublished work:“U.S. Migrant Interdiction Practices inInternational and Territorial Waters”;“National Security and ProceduralFairness: Secret Evidence and theImmigration Laws”Classes: Immigration Clinic;Immigration Law; Forced Migrationand Refugee Law SeminarSmartest thing you did in lawschool: “Began volunteer work withthe American Civil Liberties Union.It helped me decide what I wanted todo after law school and helped openthe door to summer employment andwork after graduation.”Education: B.A., Harvard University;J.D., Stanford Law School; Ph.D.History, Stanford UniversitySpecialty: American legal history;comparative race and slaveryPublished work: What Blood Won’tTell: A History of Race on Trial inAmerica; Double Character: Slaveryand Mastery in the AntebellumSouthern Courtroom; “Law, Raceand Comparative History”; “When IsThe Time of Slavery? The History ofSlavery in Contemporary Legal andPolitical Argument”Classes: Contracts; History ofAmerican Law; Race, Gender,and the LawBest advice anyone ever gave youabout law school: “Go to yourprofessor’s office hours even if youdon’t have a specific question.Choose upper-level courses basedon the professors you want to learnfrom—not on whether it’s onthe bar exam.”Education: B.A.H., Queen’sUniversity; J.D., M.A., Ph.D.Economics, Stanford UniversitySpecialty: The design of legal anddispute resolution systems; contractlaw and theory; economic analysis oflaw; regulation of legal markets andlegal professionExperience: Clerked for theHonorable Patricia Wald, Chief Judgeof the U.S. Court of Appeals, Districtof Columbia Circuit. Director of theAmerican Law and EconomicsAssociation. Former Presidentof the Canadian Law and EconomicsAssociation. Fellow of the Center forAdvanced Study in the BehavioralSciences.Published work: “What is Law?A Coordination Model of theCharacteristics of Legal Order”“Higher Demand, Lower Supply? AComparative Assessment of the LegalResource Landscape for OrdinaryAmericans”; “Legal Infrastructure andthe New Economy”; “The DynamicQuality of Law”; “Legal Barriers toInnovation: The Growing EconomicCost of Professional Control overCorporate Legal Markets”; “Framingthe Choice between Cash and theCourthouse: Experiences with the 9/11Victim Compensation Fund.”Classes: Contracts; AdvancedContracts: Strategy and Counseling;Legal Innovation28 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law29

Thomas D. LyonJudge Edward J. and Ruey L. GuiradoChair in Law and PsychologyCamille RichAssociate Professor of LawDaria RoithmayrGeorge T. and Harriet E. PflegerProfessor of LawEducation: B.A., Dartmouth College;J.D., Harvard University; Ph.D.Psychology, Stanford UniversitySpecialty: Child witnesses, evidence,law and psychologyExperience: Served as researchassociate at Harbor-UCLA MedicalCenter. Was attorney with Children’sServices Division of Los AngelesCounty Counsel. Taught at StanfordUniversity.Published work: Child Witnessesand the Confrontation Clause,“Assessing the Competency ofChild Witnesses: Best PracticeInformed by Psychology and Law”,“‘How Did You Feel?’ Increasing ChildSexual Abuse Witnesses’ Productionof Evaluative Information”Classes: Evidence; Law andPsychology; Child InterviewingBest advice anyone ever gave youabout law school: “Don’t quit afteryour first year. The worst part is over.”Next frontier in your field: “I’mnow learning more about languagedevelopment, in order to find ways ofimproving how we question childrenin court.”Education: B.A., Brown University;J.D., Yale UniversitySpecialty: Constitutional law;feminist legal theory; legal ethics;employment discrimination; childrenand the law.Published work: “MarginalWhiteness”; “Innocence Interrupted:Reconstructing Fatherhood in theShadow of Child Molestation Law”Experience: Postgraduate researchfellowship at Yale Law School.Clerked in the Southern District ofNew York for District Judge Robert L.Carter., and on the Eleventh CircuitCourt of Appeals for Circuit JudgeRosemary Barkett. Joined Debevoise& Plimpton, LLP, for generalcommercial litigation and internalinvestigations. Also, worked onvarious pro bono matters involvingTitle VII retaliation claims anddisability rights.Classes: Law, Language and Values;Children, Sexuality and the Law;First Amendment (also calledConstitutional Law II)Next frontier in your field:“Negotiating the law’s need forstability in defining racial and ethnicidentity as well as individual plaintiffs’desire for anti-discrimination lawsthat are dynamic enough to fullyreflect the complexity of their livedexperiences.”Education: B.S., UCLA; J.D.,Georgetown UniversitySpecialty: Critical Race TheoryExperience: Clerked for TheHonorable Marvin J. Garbis, Judgeof the U.S. District Court in Baltimore,Maryland. Served as special counselto Senator Edward M. Kennedy,practiced law in Washington, D.C.,and is a consultant for the EducationRights Project in South Africa.Taught at the University of IllinoisCollege of Law.Published work: “Locked inSegregation” and “Access, Adequacy,and Equality: The Constitutionalityof School Fee Financing inPublic Education.”Classes: Civil Procedure; Critical RaceTheory; Evolutionary Game Theoryand the LawBest advice to someone whochooses USC Law: “Students wronglyassume that class is for absorbingwhat the professor tells them is thelaw, and student discussion is justto pass the time. In fact, learning tothink through the unsettled questionstogether with one’s classmates is thecenterpiece of learning how to thinklike a lawyer! Listen to and learn fromyour classmates.”2013 FacultyScott A. AltmanPauline M. AranasJody David ArmourJonathan M. BarnettAnthony M. BertelliScott H. BiceMichael J. BrennanRebecca L. BrownKim Shayo BuchananDeborah A. CallAlexander M. CapronElizabeth CarrollMichael A. ChasalowMarshall CohenCatherine ColemanGeoffrey CowanDavid B. CruzBryant DannerJudy K. DavisMatthew DeGrusheLee EpsteinSam ErmanSusan R. EstrichEdward J. FineganRaymond FloresNiels W. FrenzenAlice R. GalstianRonald R. GaretElizabeth GarrettHannah R. GarryThomas D. GriffithAriela J. GrossSofia Maria GruskinGaurang Mitu GulatiGillian K. HadfieldElizabeth HennekeCynthia B. HerrupLeeanna IzuelDiana C. JaqueEarl Johnson, Jr.Gregory C. KeatingEdward D. KleinbardDaniel M. KlermanBart KoskoKimberly D. KrawiecRosanne KrikorianYoon-Ho Alex LeeGeorge LefcoeJack LernerMartin L. LevineSharon A. LloydRebecca S. LonerganThomas D. LyonAndrei MarmorJohn G. MatsusakaEdward J. McCafferyElyse MeyersClaudia MoattiPaul J. MoormanKevin J. MurphyWendy Y. NobunagaClare PastoreCynthia Prado-GuyerBrian M. RaphaelRobert K. RasmussenChloe T. ReidMegan Hibler ReidAlison Dundes RentelnCamille Gear RichStephen M. RichDaria RoithmayrHeidi L. RummelJulie A. RyanEmily RyoElyn R. SaksRobert M. SaltzmanWayne SandholtzHilary M. SchorDonald ScottenMichael H. ShapiroDan SimonJames E. SimonKaren SkinnerEdwin M. SmithPriya SridharanNancy C. StaudtNomi M. StolzenbergNina WaltonGary WatsonMark I. WeinsteinSimon J. WilkieDiana I. WilliamsLeonette M. WilliamsAbby K. WoodSusan C. Wright30 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law31

Student ExperienceUSC Law offers support in many areas of student life. From themoment you begin law school, you’ll have access to programs,workshops, organizations, and activities that provide personal,academic, and professional enrichment. Through USC Law’sStudent Services, we offer the Academic Support Program as wellas the Office of Student Affairs. We’re here to help you have thebest possible law school experience.A great benefit for USC Lawstudents is that we are asmall, tight-knit community,amidst a large and vibrantcampus with resources thatserve thousands of students.USC Law School’s Office ofStudent Services recognizesand addresses the uniqueneeds of law students.Academic SupportIt is common for first-year law students to seekguidance in learning the new language andanalytic skills that confront them in law school.The Academic Support Program assists studentsas they learn how to study law. It also works tosupport students seeking to improve theiracademic performance throughout their studies.With the guidance of peer tutors and faculty,new students learn to hone their writing skillsthrough periodic co-curricular workshops aswell as specialized courses, myriad onlineresources, and individual counseling. All ofthese resources and approaches are designed tohelp students achieve success in their classes,on the Bar examination, and in law practice.Office of Student AffairsUSC Law’s Office of Student Affairs providespersonalized support for students. There aremany programs and services that help studentswith the personal issues associated withtransitioning to law school, and then thrivingonce here. Some things you can access throughStudent Affairs:Mentorship: We offer a Peer Mentor Program thathelps incoming students transition into law school byproviding trusting interactions with a second-yearstudent mentor. Mentors guide new students to socialand developmental resources that help them becomean integral part of the law school and alumni community.Health and Wellness: Law school involves a greatinvestment of time and effort that can often lead toanxiety and stress. We help students maintain a healthybalance between school and life. Through on-campuscounseling and medical services, students receivethe assistance required to face mental and physicalchallenges. For students with disabilities, we workwith other university services to coordinate necessaryaccommodations and support.Awards: Each spring, USC Law presents the Edwardand Eleanor Shattuck Awards, the Miller Johnson EqualJustice Award and the Mason C. Brown Award toselected graduating law students.Student Organizations: The diversity of USC Law’sstudent population is reflected in over thirty political,religious, social, cultural and ethnic organizations.Students play an active and valued role in the day-todayoperation of the law school and are encouraged topursue their interests through the creation of newstudent organizations and events. The Office of StudentAffairs oversees the following student organizations youmay wish to participate in:American Civil Liberties Union—ACLU @ USCAmerican Constitution SocietyArmenian Law Students AssociationArt Law SocietyAsian Pacific American Law Students Association(APALSA)Black Law Students Association (BLSA)Business Law SocietyCritical Legal Studies AssociationEntertainment Law SocietyEnvironmental Law SocietyFederalist SocietyGovernment Law Organization (GLO)Hale Moot Court Board (Honors Program)Health Law and Bioethics SocietyIntellectual Property and Tech. Law SocietyInterdisciplinary Law Journal (Honors Program)International Law and Relations OrganizationIraqi Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP)Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA)Latino Law Students AssociationLegal Aid Alternative Breaks (LAAB)OUTLawPhi Alpha Delta (PAD)Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF)Real Estate LawReview of Law & Social Justice (Honors Program)South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA)Southern California Law Review (Honors Program)Sports Law SocietyStreet LawWomen’s Law Society (WLA)32 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law33

Aaron GinsburgClass of 2015Hometown: Miami, FloridaUniversity of Florida, GainesvilleMajor: Political Science“Attending a top-tier law school may seem like an intimidating experience, but Ihave felt truly welcome and embraced by the Trojan Family. What sets USC Lawapart from other top law schools are the strong clinical programs, the incrediblealumni network and the diverse student organizations. As an executive boardmember of the Sports Law Society, I have been given some invaluable opportunities,including meeting some of the biggest sports lawyers in Los Angeles and touringthe Lakers’ practice facility. Additionally, USC Law’s Career Services helped mesecure an externship with Justice Frank Jackson in the Second District Court ofAppeals in Los Angeles County. These experiences undoubtedly will help me grownot only as a law student, but also as a legal professional.”Douglas HewlettClass of 2013Hometown: Wellington, FloridaHarvard UniversityMajor: Government andStudy of Religion“I was attracted to USC Law because it is a top-notch school with an extremelyimpressive faculty and course offerings. On Orientation Day, I observed the exactlearning environment I was looking for—a diverse faculty and student body devotedto higher learning, but without the excessive competitiveness you might find atother top law schools.I am most interested in criminal law, international law and the intersectionof law and race. Recently, I took a seminar course with Professor Jody Armour onStereotypes, Prejudice and the Rule of Law. I participated in presentations rangingfrom mock trial arguments on issues of race to a mock town hall meeting, whereI played a resident of the Ninth Ward after Hurricane Katrina hit. Experienceslike these are what make USC Law a unique law school—not just casebook aftercasebook, but truly engaging and innovative approaches to learning about the”law and the issues the law affects.34 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law35

Derek LipkinClass of 2012Hometown: Los Altos, CaliforniaUniversity of California,Los AngelesMajor: Political Science andInternational Studies“Even though I received my undergraduate degree from USC’s cross-town rival—UCLA—I have always been impressed with USC. I knew I would receive a stellareducation at USC Law, especially in the smaller environment. While I am drawnto a number of areas of practice, I am most interested in business law, and wouldlove to work in-house for a company in entertainment or international trade.I am very involved at USC Law—I am managing editor of the Southern CaliforniaReview of Law and Social Justice, and I am a tenor in LawCapella. Through mystudies and work on RLSJ, I have developed critical reading and editing skillsthat will be invaluable for me in whatever career I choose.”John MajorClass of 2013Hometown: San Diego, CaliforniaUniversity of Southern CaliforniaMajor: History“USC Law’s collegial environment and sense of camaraderie among the studentsis unique among the law schools I was considering. Further, there is a healthywork-life balance: students study hard but also find time to socialize and maintainlives outside of law school. I also appreciate that USC Law focuses on not onlytheoretical but also practical knowledge. This broader focus has strengthenedmy interest in litigation and prepared me for my summer associate position withGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles this summer. I’m involved in manyactivities, but my favorite is serving as a Writing Fellow. I find it rewarding to guidefirst-year law students through their first experience with legal writing.”Jasmyn JonesClass of 2013Hometown: Randolph, New JerseyNorthwestern UniversityMajor: Biological Sciences“I selected USC Law after attending Law Day. I was impressed with the welcomingstaff, sense of community among the students and faculty, and in particularthe Black Law Students Association’s alumni dinner that I attended at theend of the day. I sensed that USC Law would be a challenging environment,but also one that would foster and support my growth as a student.I am involved with the Hale Moot Court Honors Program. Moot Court hasprovided invaluable, hands-on experience. It is the one place in law schoolwhere I’ve been able to really hone my skills as a future trial lawyer.The Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) has also been an enrichingand life-changing experience. PILF is such an extraordinary organization as itsinglehandedly supports students interested working in public interest law jobsover the summer. I’m often amazed at just how much this student organization”takes on and, every year, achieves with the help of students and faculty.36 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law37

LegacyThis is our legacy:With more than 100 years ofrenowned legal education, USC Lawis an institution that continues tomake history, through its philosophyof innovation, and through itspeople. By the students, for thestudents, that’s the foundingpremise and guiding principlebehind USC Law.At the end of the 19th century, when there wasno formal law school in Southern California,aspiring lawyers prepared by “reading law” atlocal firms. Then, in 1896, a band of ambitiousapprentices brought organized legal educationto Los Angeles. Their goal: Create “a schoolof permanent character,” and educate lawyers ofexceptional quality. Today’s USC Law reflectsa distinguished past built on the principles ofequity and excellence, and the courage to breaknew ground.Diversity PioneersFrom its informal beginnings, the fledglinginstitution made diversity its earliest hallmarkand embraced this innovation every step of theway. USC Law’s early yearbooks showcasethe school’s deep commitment to diversifyingthe profession. The faces of students reflect thecommunities that USC alumni have gone onto lead.Alumni on the BenchIn the school’s first 1oo years, more than 45ograduates have held state and federal judgeships,making USC Law a key contributor toleadership in the legal profession. In 19o6,Frederick W. Houser ’oo, became the firstalumnus to serve on the bench when he waselected to the Los Angeles Superior Court.Georgia Bullock ’14 became the first womanappointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court.In recent years, USC Law graduates formed themajority on the California Supreme Court—unprecedented among law schools.Women in the LawThe five women on the committee that foundedUSC Law began a tradition of women inleadership perpetuated throughout the school’shistory. In 1911, USC formed the nation’s firstfemale law-student sorority, Phi Delta Delta.By 193o, USC was a national leader in preparingwomen for careers in law, and, in 1968, becamethe first leading law school with a female dean.Today, women constitute approximately half ofeach class, making way for a new generationof trailblazers.Law Without BoundariesRecognizing the complexity of law practice in anincreasingly interconnected world, USC Lawprofessors began to integrate the social sciences,such as anthropology and economics, intotheir law classes as early as the 196os. Today,USC Law continues to transcend traditionalboundaries through the many professors whohold advanced degrees in economics, history,political science, and psychology, in additionto law credentials.Public InterestBelieving that practical experience is essential,in 1928, USC became one of the country’s firstlaw schools to establish a public-interest clinic.In time, the clinic evolved into the Legal AidFoundation of Los Angeles, one of the state’slargest providers of free legal services and a placewhere USC students continue to contribute.Today, USC’s programs put students to work indiverse communities through six clinics: postconvictionmatters, small business, intellectualproperty, immigration, international humanrights, and mediation.Like Los Angeles itself, USCLaw has become a nationalplayer. In academic circles,it enjoys a reputation forintellectual vitality. Nearlyhalf the faculty hold doctoralor master’s degrees inaddition to their JDs.Uniquely multidisciplinaryin character, the school hasstrong programs in lawand economics, law andhumanities and clinicallegal education.Also driving the school’sreputation are its graduates.Today as in years past, theaccomplishments of USC Lawalumni in private practice,public service, government,teaching, the judiciary andbusiness add luster toUSC’s name.Philanthropy—much of itfrom alumni—has liftedthe school to new heights.Our endowment ranks amongthe nation’s 10 largest privatelaw school endowments.Another key indicator ofacademic competitivenessis the number of chairs andprofessorships, which nowtotal 37.38 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law39

1900Program becomes affiliatedwith USC; the universityawards degrees for studycompleted at the Los AngelesLaw School. As early as 1885,USC officials had contemplatedforming a law school. Thisaffiliation realized the dreamof early advocates RobertWidney and George I. Cochran,both Los Angeles attorneysand USC trustees.1911USC Law moves to the TajoBuilding (below). After 15 yearsof changing headquarters,USC Law found stability in thisdowntown building, at thecorner of First Street andBroadway. The schoolremained at this site until 1925.1924You Chung Hong ’24, LLM ’25(below) graduates. Hong wasthe first Chinese Americanadmitted to practice inCalifornia and became thenation’s foremost Chinese civilrights attorney.1927Southern California LawReview is first published.Edited and managed by lawstudents, this flagship USCLaw journal is known forpublishing high quality,cutting-edge scholarship bynationally known academics.Today, the Review’scirculation is among thelargest in the nation, and itsarticles among the mostfrequently cited.1930Manuel Ruiz Jr., USC Law’sfirst known Latino alumnus,graduates. Ruiz wasconsidered the “Californiadean of Mexican Americanlawyers.” He was appointedby President Nixon to the U.S.Commission of Civil Rights,and he authored numerousworks, including the seminalMexican American LegalHeritage in the Southwest.1949First William Green Hale MootCourt competition.1896Year established. Judge DavidC. Morrison “threw open thedoors of his courtroom” for36 law apprentices—fiveof them women—to hearprominent local attorneyspraise the concept of a formallaw school. James BrownScott (above), who was tohead the nascent institution,exhorted the students tocreate a “law school ofpermanent character.”1901USC begins awarding lawdegrees. Gavin W. Craigreceives the first diploma.1907USC Law gains membershipinto the Association ofAmerican Law Schools.1912Stare Decisis—the school’syearbook—reflects anincreasingly diverse andinternational student body.Japanese, Filipino, Armenianand Russian Jewish studentsare represented inphotographs, along withwomen and the school’ssecond black student. Theyearbook includes a section(above) devoted exclusively to“co-education.” A year earlier,students had founded PhiDelta Delta, the nation’s firstwomen’s law student sorority.1925USC Law moves to theUniversity Park campus.1928Among the first publicinterest law clinics inAmerica. Students pioneeredthe practice of providing probono legal advice to the poorthrough the USC Legal Clinic.1931African American, EdwinJefferson graduates (above).He rose to leadershippositions in Los Angeles, andwas appointed to the bench in1940. Other early outstandingAfrican-American alumniinclude David Williams ’37,who became a federal judge;Bert McDonald ’23, the firstblack lawyer in the LosAngeles City Attorney’s office;and Crispus Attucks Wright’38, who together withMcDonald, Williams andothers founded the John M.Langston Bar Association in1943 (other bar associationshad racial restrictions).1948The first USC Institute onFederal Taxation is held.The flagship of USC Law’scontinuing legal educationprograms, the Institute onFederal Taxation is one ofonly three such lawschool-sponsored institutesin the country today.40law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law 41

1961Southern California LawReview, first published in 1927is edited and managed by lawstudents, like these from 1961(below). This flagship USCLaw journal is known forpublishing high quality,cutting-edge scholarship bynationally known academics.1965“Law, Language, and Ethics”first offered. This signaturecourse, required of allfirst-year law students,transformed the way law istaught at USC. Drawing onfields such as philosophy,psychology and economics,the course encouragesstudents to examine legalissues in a comprehensivecontext.1970Chicano Law StudentsAssociation is founded.USC Law moves into itscurrent headquarters, theElvon and Mabel MusickBuilding (below). Thefive-level, 88,000-squarefootfacility providesstate-of-the-art resources,including a computerizedlibrary.1973Exchange program withCaltech begins, enablingprofessors at both institutionsto co-teach and co-authorworks in law, economics andpolitical science. Thepartnership evolved into theProgram in Law and RationalChoice in 1992, allowing forenhanced interactionbetween the schools, jointfaculty workshops, and a jointdegree program.1981Post-Conviction Justice Project isfounded. The program givesstudents real-world training asadvocates for prison inmates.1989Children’s LegalIssues Clinicfounded.1991Pacific Center for HealthPolicy and Ethics is founded.1998Employer Legal Advice Clinicis founded.The USC Center forCommunications Law andPolicy opens.2001Two new interdisciplinaryinstitutes formed: The Centerin Law, Economics andOrganization as well asThe Center in Law, Historyand Culture.2005The Center on Law andPhilosophy and theIntellectual Property andTechnology Law Clinicare founded, promotingadditional interdisciplinaryscholarship.A new café and refurbishedlaw library (below) opens.The library features a newmultimedia room andcomputer lab.2007Robert K. Rasmussenbecomes Dean ofUSC Law.Small Business andMediation Clinicsare founded.1955Legion Lex is founded.This active and successfulvolunteer fund-raisingsupport group for USC Lawhas generated millionsof dollars in annualcontributions—erectingbuildings, supporting facultyresearch and teaching,and providing studentscholarships.1968Judicial administration expertDorothy W. Nelson LLM ’56(above) becomes the firstwoman dean of a leadingAmerican law school.1969The Black Law StudentsAssociation is founded.1971Asian Law StudentsAssociation is founded.1987The Public Interest LawFoundation is founded.The foundation subsidizeshundreds of studentadvocatesserving the elderly,abused and neglectedchildren, homeless familiesand other vulnerablepopulations.1990The Musick Building’s new wingopens. Adding 62,000 squarefeet to the 1970 facility, thisexpansion yielded the AckermanMoot Courtroom, new seminarclassrooms, offices for studentorganizations and clinicalprograms, lounges and acafeteria, computer and videolabs and a greatly enlargedlaw library.1992Southern CaliforniaInterdisciplinary Law Journalis founded. This studentmanagedpublication focuseson the scholarly work of legalacademics, economists,physicians, anthropologistsand experts in other fieldswho analyze law from theirparticular perspectives.The Southern CaliforniaReview of Law and SocialJustice (above), inauguratedin 1991, explores legal issuesrelating to gender and society.2000The Center for the Study ofLaw and Politics is created:A unique network ofinter-connected scholars,drawn from diversedisciplines such as law,political science, economics,public administration,psychology, andcommunications.2004The Initiative and ReferendumInstitute—the nation’s mostprominent educational andresearch organization focusedon direct democracy—movesto USC Law and joins theCenter for the Study of Lawand Politics.2002Graduate and InternationalPrograms are launched withan inaugural class of 12students. Now the Masterof Laws and Master ofComparative Law programsinclude 100+ internationalstudents from dozens ofcountries on five continents.2006Office of Public Serviceis formed to expandopportunities for pro bonolegal work, internships andservice-learning programs.USC Law students providedassistance to Gulf Coasthurricane victims.2010The International HumanRights Clinic is launched.Students represent victimsof human rights violationsbefore international tribunals,and in US courts under theAlien Tort Statute.42 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law43

Alumni NetworkThis is who we become:Leaders in the practice of law. Careeradvantages begin before you evensearch for a job, and continue longafter you receive your degree. Fromour Alumni Mentor Lunch in your firstyear which introduces you to the USCLaw Alumni Network, to our CareerServices support throughout yourcareer, USC Law networkingepitomizes a collegial approachto career-building.44 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law45

Ben Wang ’03PartnerRuss August & KabatLos Angeles, CaliforniaNorma GarcíaGuillén ’02PartnerGarcia, Sullivan & Lopez LLPCosta Mesa, CaliforniaDana S. Treister ’94ShareholderGreenberg TraurigLos Angeles, California“USC taught me the fundamentals of the U.S. legal system, includingsubjects that impact my life on a daily basis, such as constitutionallaw, civil procedure, contracts, and professional responsibility,”states Ben Wang. “USC also exposed me to the multitude of policyconsiderations that guide our legal system and shed light on what weexpect from our government and peers. It also prepared me for thedemanding and challenging nature of the legal profession.Successfully juggling classes, extra-curricular activities, and jobsprepared me well for the long hours that come with being a lawyer.”While at USC, Wang was the Executive Notes Editor of the SouthernCalifornia Law Review. Wang was also a teaching assistant forProfessor George Lefcoe’s Real Estate Transactions and Real EstateFinance classes, and a legal writing instructor.After graduating Order of the Coif, Wang served as a law clerk to theHonorable Ferdinand F. Fernandez, United States Court of Appeals forthe Ninth Circuit, and to the Honorable George H. King, United StatesDistrict Court for the Central District of California. Both judges arealso USC Law alumni.Wang began his private practice at Irell & Manella LLP as anassociate in the intellectual property litigation workgroup where heparticipated in two trials, an arbitration, an appeal before the FederalCircuit Court of Appeals, and several settlements, all of which wereamazingly successful for his clients.Wang left Irell & Manella LLP after four years and is currently thenewest partner at Russ August & Kabat where he specializes inpatent litigation. His first case at RAK ended in a one week patentinfringement trial in the Eastern District of Texas. The jury returneda verdict in favor of Wang’s client on all issues.Well-regarded in Orange County’s legal community, García Guillénspecializes in business litigation and is Co-Chair of the firm’s LatinAmerican Practice Group. García Guillén has successfully handledinternational arbitration in Mexico City for a leading Hong Kongtechnology manufacturer, and represented a federal Receiver in ahigh-profile, SEC-enforced, anti-ponzi professional malpractice action.García Guillén has also practiced entertainment law, having served aslegal counsel to an internationally recognized Latin American artistand celebrity.Born and raised in Santa Ana, California, to immigrant parents fromGuerrero, Mexico, García Guillén graduated Smith College with a B.A.in Government and Latin American Studies. While at Smith College,she co-founded the national award-winning mock trial team andheaded the on-campus Latina organization, Nosotras. At USC, GarcíaGuillén was a member of the Jessup International Moot Court program,president of La Raza Law Students Association and a participantin the Immigration Clinic. Through the clinic, she advocated onbehalf of undocumented women who were victims of domesticviolence and assisted them in becoming legal Permanent Residents.She was awarded USC’s Shattuck Award for her leadership, dedicationand service.Numerous publications have recognized García Guillén’saccomplishments and humble beginnings: The Orange CountyRegister; Latina magazine; Selecciones; and La Opinion. In 2009García Guillén was the recipient of the Inspirational Alumnus awardby USC Law School’s La Raza Law Students Association. She alsoreceived the 2008 Emerging Leader award by Orange County’sAmerican Jewish Committee and was named one of OC MetroBusiness’ 2008 “20 Women to Watch.”García Guillén credits her accomplishments to the strong work ethicher parents exemplified throughout her life, their willingness to leaveall they knew behind in their native México for a chance at a brighterfuture, and their constant reminder that education is the key to anyunopened door.As a partner in the real estate department at Greenberg Traurig,Dana Treister focuses his practice on a wide variety of real estatetransactions, with an emphasis on the acquisition and sale ofcommercial properties, real estate finance, land use and entitlementwork, and commercial leasing transactions. He also has extensiveexperience representing parties in the formation of joint venturesand in structuring tax-advantaged real estate transactions. In recentyears Dana has represented borrowers in hundreds of millionsof dollars worth of conduit loan transactions, and has coordinatedthe defeasance, re-financing and restructuring of existingdebt instruments.Treister received his B.A. degree from Stanford University and J.D.degree from the USC Law, where he was elected to the Order ofthe Coif. At USC, he was managing editor of the Law Review anda legal writing instructor. Following law school, Treister servedas a law clerk to the Honorable John G. Davies in the Central Districtof California.Currently, Treister teaches Real Estate Transactions as a Lecturerin Law at USC Law. He is a founder of the Adam Freeman Scott ’93Memorial Endowment, which awards a summer grant to studentsworking in public interest. Treister is also very active in a numberof community activities, including, serving on the board of trusteesfor the Los Angeles Conservation Corps.When asked to provide advice to first-year law students, Treisteradvises to “enjoy law school. Students who focus too much on theircareer while still in school will miss a lot of the benefits that comefrom being in an environment where learning and education are thegoal without the everyday pressures of a busy practice.”5+years alumni10+ years alumni46 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law47

Suzanne L. Bell ’90Deputy Director for LegalRecruitment and OutreachOffice of Attorney Recruitmentand ManagementU.S. Department of JusticeWashington, D.C.Karen B. Wong ’86PartnerGlobal Project FinanceMilbank, Tweed, Hadley &McCloy LLPLos Angeles, CaliforniaMark L. Karasik ’81PrincipalBaker & McKenzie LLPChicago, IllinoisJoyce L. Kennard ’74Associate JusticeSupreme Court of CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaBefore becoming a lawyer, Suzanne Bell was an assistant treasurerfor Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York. Since graduatingfrom USC, she has worked in just about every legal environment,except a corporation. Bell served as a Research Attorney for the LosAngeles Superior Court, and was an associate at the law firm, Manatt,Phelps & Phillips. Since 1995, Bell has worked for the U.S. Departmentof Justice, first as an Assistant United States Attorney, then as DeputyGeneral Counsel.Currently Deputy Director, she provides general oversight of the DOJ’slegal recruitment programs and retention and diversity initiativesand works with DOJ components in developing a strategic plan forenhancing the DOJ’s outreach and recruitment efforts to ensurecontinued success in attracting and retaining highly-qualified legaltalent from diverse backgrounds.Bell has a challenging job—the U.S. Department of Justice is thelargest legal employer in the world with more than 9,500 attorneysnationwide. Annually, the DOJ hires approximately 120–150 entry-levelattorneys through the Attorney General’s Honors Program, 100second-year law students through the Summer Law Intern Program,650 lateral or experienced attorneys, and 1800 law student volunteers.In addition to conducting the Honors Program interviewer training forthe attorneys in the DOJ, Bell’s team has also expanded managementtraining initiatives, including workshops lateral or experiencedattorneys.“My career has evolved,” says Bell. “I had no idea that I would beinvolved in recruitment for the Department of Justice. It’s importantto develop a reputation for excellence. Excellence helps createopportunity. I recognized and landed this great opportunity becauseI was flexible and open to new ideas.”Karen Wong has been a Milbank partner since 1996. Her practicefocuses on the representation of sponsors and financing partiesin connection with the development, acquisition, financing and/orrestructuring of power, petrochemical and other infrastructurefacilities in North America, Asia, and Latin America. In her overtwenty-one years of practice, she has led numerous development,financing and acquisition transactions involving electric generationassets (including large scale coal, gas and LNG fired cogenerationplants, as well as solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, biomass,waste energy and other renewable energy facilities), transmissionlines, and oil and gas pipelines.Wong’s current transactions include several developments of coaland petroleum coke gasification poly-generation and substitutenatural gas projects, and financing transactions in the renewables(wind and solar), ethanol and biofuels sector throughout the UnitedStates. “Find a career path that will make you happy,” Wong advisesyoung attorneys, “because your best work doesn’t come out whenyou don’t like what you’re doing. After practicing for over 21 years,I am happy to say that I still find the legal work I’m doing to beinteresting, challenging and fulfilling.”Hailing from a Trojan family, Wong received her B.S. in BusinessAdministration from USC magna cum laude, then received a J.D.from USC Law. She served on the editorial boards of Major TaxPlanning and the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal(formerly known as the Computer/Law Journal). She is listed as aleading lawyer in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA for Projects inCalifornia and was recommended in PLC Which Lawyer? for bankingand finance. On the international arena, she is representing thesponsors of a mine mouth power project in Lao PDR that will sellelectricity to the Thai and Lao state-owned utilities.Mark Karasik has defended and prosecuted scores of commercialcivil litigation matters. He is a trial lawyer who has defended productsmanufacturers in product liability cases, employers in wrongfultermination and employee discharge cases, and professionals inbreach of fiduciary duty litigation. Karasik has been involved in jurytrials, bench trials, national and international arbitrations. He also hassignificant trial experience in the areas of negligence, product liability,contracts, and professional and fiduciary litigation.Karasik specializes in complex litigation that helps insure success forhis clients. He has worked for U.S. health care conglomerates andinsurers and handled litigation matters for national and internationalproduct manufacturers as well. Karasik’s litigation clients include AHRobins, Addison-McKee, Inc., Ford Motor Co., Intercraft, McDonald’sCorp., 6 N. Michigan Avenue Trust, Hubbell, and The Beitler Company.In addition to his litigation work, Karasik is also a frequent speaker andauthor on topics relating to areas in his particular practice expertise.He has been elected to membership in the American Board of TrialAdvocates. Karasik is also a current appointee to the Illinois AttorneyRegistration and Disciplinary Commission Hearing Board, and acts asa Hearing Board Chairman, appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court.Karasik received his B.A. at USC in 1978, before continuing his studiesat USC to receive his J.D. in 1981. “My education at USC Law wasintense and far-reaching,” says Karasik. “It exposed me to most areasof the law. My education at USC Law showed me that, as a trial lawyer,one can be successful in many different areas of the law, following myphilosophy that variety is the spice of life.”Court Watch calls Judge Joyce Kennard, “possibly the mostindividualistic justice on the Supreme Court.” Kennard has a legacyof dissent and championship of liberal-leaning causes. She hasa record of significant rulings, including Sands v. Morongo UnifiedSchool District regarding religious observance in public schools,Kasky v. Nike regarding labor practices and commercial speech,and Stevenson v. Superior Court, regarding age discrimination andpublic policy. Kennard works hard to look through the formalitiesto discover the real people at the heart of important issues.Born of a Dutch father and a Chinese-Indonesian mother, Kennardhas braved internment in World War II Japanese and New Guineaprison camps, the early death of her father, the amputation of herleg due to infection as a teenager, and on-going discrimination dueto being mixed-race. She eventually moved to California, attendingUSC and receiving a B.A. magna cum laude in German, thensimultaneously attaining her J.D. from USC Law and an M.P.A. fromUSC’s School of Public Administration. Prior to her position onthe Supreme Court of California, her previous judicial experienceincludes serving as Associate Justice on the state Court of Appealin Los Angeles; judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court;Associate Justice pro tempore on state Court of Appeal in LosAngeles; judge on Los Angeles County Municipal Court; seniorattorney on state Court of Appeal in Los Angeles; and DeputyAttorney General in Los Angeles.Kennard has received numerous awards and accolades for her manyaccomplishments over the years, including the Alumni Merit Awardfrom USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development; the PublicService Award from the Asian Pacific American Bar Association; andinclusion in the Marin Women’s Hall of Fame. She was included inThe Counselors, conversations with 18 courageous women who havechanged the world, by Elizabeth Vrato, and the law review articleentitled Joyce L. Kennard: An Independent Streak on California’sHighest Court (65 Albany Law Rev., p. 1181, July 2002).20+ years alumni25+ years alumni48 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law49

Alumni NetworkWhether you stay in California, or your dreams take you elsewhere,USC Law offers plenty of support. The Career Services Office is readyto help you launch a cross-country job search by providing informationabout firms, scheduling special interviews, participating in recruitingprograms, and tapping into reciprocal career assistance provided byother law schools. Each fall and spring, hundreds of private law firms,government and public interest agencies, and corporations fromaround the country visit USC Law to interview students for permanentand summer jobs.USC Law’s Career Services understand the legal job market and howto best launch you into it. They work closely with students throughleading career management workshops and providing individualizedcounseling. Career Services also works closely with alumni, bringingthem back to campus to speak about their careers, participate inworkshops and mock interview programs that allow students topractice their job interview skills.USC Alumni work in firms and governmental agencies all over the globe, including:WestAkin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLPAllen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory LLPArnold & Porter LLPBaker & Hostetler LLPBingham McCutchen LLPBlank Rome LLPBryan Cave LLPCalifornia Department of JusticeCooley Godward LLPCox, Castle & Nicholson LLPCrowell & MoringDavis Wright Tremaine LLPDickstein Shapiro LLPDLA Piper US LLPFenwick & West LLPFoley & Lardner LLPFox Rothschild LLPGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPGoodwin Procter LLPGreenberg Glusker Fields Claman& Machtinger LLPGreenberg Traurig, LLPHaynes & Boone LLPHogan Lovells LLPHolland & Knight LLPInternal Revenue ServiceIrell & Manella LLPJackson Lewis LLPJeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLPJenner & Block LLPJones DayKatten Muchin Rosenman LLPKaye Scholer LLPKirkland & EllisK&L Gates LLPKnobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLPLane Powell PCLatham & Watkins LLPLewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLPLoeb & Loeb LLPLos Angeles County District AttorneyLos Angeles County Public DefenderManatt, Phelps & Phillips LLPMayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLPMcDermott, Will & Emery LLPMcGuireWoods LLPMcKenna Long & Aldridge LLPMilbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLPMitchell, Silberberg & Knupp LLPMorgan, Lewis & Bockius LLPMorrison & Foerster LLPMunger, Tolles & Olsen LLPNorton Rose FulbrightO’Melveny & Myers LLPOrrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPPaul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLPPerkins Coie LLPPillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLPPircher, Nichols & Meeks LLPProskauer Rose LLPQuinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan, LLPReed Smith LLPRopes & Gray LLPSedgwick LLPSeyfarth Shaw LLPSheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLPShook, Hardy & Bacon LLPSidley Austin LLPSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPSNR Denton LLPSquire, Sanders & Dempsey LLPSteptoe & Johnson LLPStroock & Stroock & Lavan LLPSullivan & Cromwell LLPTroutman Sanders LLPU.S. Attorney’s OfficeU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityU.S. Securities & Exchange CommissionVenable LLPWhite & Case LLPWilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLPWilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati LLPWinston & Strawn LLPSouthwestBallard Spahr LLPBrownstein, Hyatt & Farber LLPFaegre Baker Daniels LLPFennemore Craig PCFish & Richardson PCGreenberg Traurig LLPHolland & Hart LLPJackson Lewis LLPJones DayLewis & Roca LLPLewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard & Smith LLPLittler Mendelson PCLocke Lord LLPLorde, Locke & Bissell LLPModrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, PAOsborn Maledon, PAPolsinelli Shughart LLPShook, Hardy & Bacon LLPSnell & WilmerSNR Denton LLPSteptoe & Johnson LLPTexas RioGrande LegalU.S. Securities & Exchange Commission50 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law51

Alumni NetworkMidwestBaker & Hostetler LLPBaker & McKenzie LLPBarrack Ferrazzano LLPDinsmore & Shohl LLPDLA Piper US LLPEdwards Wildman Palmer LLPFoley & Lardner LLPGreenberg Traurig, LLPHonigman, Miller, Schwartz & Cohn LLPJones DayKatten Muchin Rosenman LLPKirkland & Ellis LLPLocke Lord LLPU.S. Attorney’s OfficeU.S. Securities & Exchange CommissionWinston & Strawn LLPSoutheastBallard Spahr LLPBanker Lopez Gassler LLPDLA Piper US LLPFinnegan, Henderson, Farabow,Garrett and Dunner LLPFoley & Lardner LLPHand Arendall LLCHunton & Williams LLPInternal Revenue ServiceKilpatrick Townsend LLPMcGuire Woods LLPOgletree DeakinsU.S. Air Force Jag CorpsU.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Navy Judge AdvocateGeneral’s CorpsU.S. Patent & Trademark OfficeNortheastAkin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLPArnold & Porter LLPBingham McCutchen LLPBlank Rome LLPCahill Gordon & Reindel LLPCooley Godward Kronish LLPCovington & Burling LLPCravath, Swaine & Moore LLPDavis, Polk & WardwellDebevoise & Plimpton LLPDechert LLPDickstein Shapiro LLPDrinker Biddle & Reath LLPFederal Bureau of InvestigationsFederal Communications CommissionFederal Energy Regulatory CommissionFinnegan, Henderson, Farabow,Garrett and Dunner LLPFish & Richardson PCFitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & ScintoFoley & Lardner LLPGibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLPHaynes & Boone LLPHogan Lovells LLPHolland & Knight LLPHunton & Williams LLPInternal Revenue ServiceJones DayKaye Scholer LLPLatham & Watkins LLPLoeb & Loeb LLPO’Melveny & Myers LLPOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPPaul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLPPaul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton& Garrison LLPProskauer Rose LLPRopes & Gray LLPSchulte, Roth & ZabelSidley Austin LLPSimpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLPSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher& Flom LLPSNR Denton LLPStroock & Stroock & Lavan LLPU.S. Air Force Jag CorpsU.S. Army Corps of EngineersU.S. Comptroller of CurrencyU.S. Department of AgricultureU.S. Department of CommerceU.S. Department of JusticeU.S. Department of LaborU.S. Department of TransportationU.S. Department of TreasuryU.S. Navy Judge AdvocateGeneral’s CorpsU.S. Securities & Exchange CommissionWachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz LLPWeil, Gotshal & Manges LLPWhite & Case LLPWilliam J. Clinton FoundationEuropeCravath, Swain & Moore LLPJP Morgan ChaseLatham & Watkins LLPMorgan StanleyOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPSimpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLPU.S. Air Force Jag CorpsU.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s CorpsWhite & Case LLPAsiaBaker & McKenzie LLPBingham McCutchen LLPDechert LLPJones DayMorrison & Foerster LLPO’Melveny & Myers LLPOrrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLPPaul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLPSheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLPShin & KimSidley Austin LLPSimpson, Thacher & Bartlett LLPSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLPSquire, Sanders & Dempsey LLPTroutman Sanders LLPU.S. Air Force Jag CorpsU.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s CorpsWhite & Case LLP52 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law53

LivingEncinoSherman Oaks101BurbankIf you’re going to spend three years as a law student immersedin the law, shouldn’t you choose a setting that’s dynamic,diverse, and rich in opportunity? That’s Los Angeles—theperfect place to study hard (maybe even at the beach), loseyourself in the local culture, and plot your first big career move.405Beverly HillsWestwood101West HollywoodHollywoodLos FelizGlendaleSilver Lake5Eagle Rock134PasadenaFrom outdoor adventures tolate-night hot spots, culturalvenues to career options,it’s all here waiting for you.Los Angeles is a global centerfor business, technology,culture, media, and worldtrade—the perfect backdropfor your legal education.USC Law takes full advantageof L.A. as a living laboratoryby allowing students to puttheir legal skills to use withinthe community throughvarious public service andother opportunities.USC is at the center of one of the most excitingurban environments of the 21st century. LosAngeles is ethnically diverse, culturally vibrant,and has a fantastic and varied climate thatpermits unparalleled year-round recreationalactivities. It’s one of few places in the worldwhere you could ski on snow-capped mountainsin the morning and hit the beach with yoursurfboard by afternoon.All aspects of high and popular cultureare represented in Los Angeles; L.A. is anincredible center of outstanding and innovativefilm, music, theatre and dance. L.A. is also oneof the most affordable and diverse cities in whichto eat. From the fresh produce in numerousfarmers’ markets to sidewalk stands that areL.A. institutions, you will find not just the besthamburgers and hot dogs, but also amazingsushi, burritos, dim sum, pho, kalbi and pupusas.If it’s culture you’re looking for, look no farther.Los Angeles boasts world-class art museumssuch as the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Museumof Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles CountyMuseum of Art, and the Norton SimonMuseum of Art. Depending on your musicaltastes, you could enjoy the Los AngelesPhilharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall,a world-music festival at the Hollywood Bowl, ashow at LA Live downtown, or a small rock gigat the Roxy on just about any given night of theyear. If it’s drama you long for, choose from therenowned Ahmanson Theatre, Mark TaperForum, or a plethora of smaller stages that boastbig names and world-premiere shows.If you’re a sports fan, you don’t need us to tellyou that Los Angeles is a sports haven. Startingwith our own national champion USC Trojans,you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see thebest in everything from football to basketball,baseball to hockey, and golf to soccer. Enjoyingsports is a year-round activity here. Localopportunities include skiing in the SanGabriel mountains, hiking and camping inthe California desert or the Santa MonicaMountains, and swimming or surfing in thePacific Ocean. Weekend trips from Los Angelesinclude some of the most awe-inspiring placeson earth, including the Sierra Nevadamountains, Joshua Tree and Death ValleyNational Parks, the Mojave Desert, and theBaja coast.Living in Los Angeles means choices. Just picka neighborhood from Downtown L.A. toBeverly Hills to Silver Lake or Pasadena toVenice Beach, Los Angeles’ eclectic and variedneighborhoods offer a wide range of lifestyles.Each one has housing options, shops,restaurants, and parks with its own uniqueflavor and vibe.MalibuSanta MonicaVeniceWest Los Angeles10Los AngelesInternationalAirportCulverCity405Manhattan BeachHermosa BeachRedondo BeachRancho Palos VerdesKoreatownUSC110Downtown710Long BeachMap not to scale.405510Metro RailFutureMetro LineOpens2015Freeway54 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law55

This is where we are9,107 law firms in Los AngelesCounty, of which, 3,259 are locatedin the city, Fortune 500 businessesand thousands of start-ups,52 courthouses, 841 museums andgalleries, theaters, hiking trails,and dance clubs. There is no betterliving laboratory in which to studylaw than Los Angeles, one ofthe world’s most innovative andinfluential legal markets. L.A.’smajor court system and extensivelegal community provide countlessopportunities for career trainingand exploration.

2 ndLos AngelesLos Angeles is a vital center of business, the arts, and international trade,where lawyers-in-training can find established and emerging industries:entertainment, manufacturing, communications, biotechnology, and multimedia.Beyond learning and career, Southern California offers every diversion a hardworkinglaw student could want: cafés, restaurants, beaches, galleries, and everysporting event under the sun.Largest city in the U.S.A.: City of Los Angeles3,857,799Approximate population: City of Los Angeles47oSquare miles in size: City of Los Angeles224Hollywood & HighlandIn the heart of Hollywood, theHollywood and Highland Center is agreat place to shop, dine, or stay. Itscrown jewel is the Dolby Theatre,home of the annual Academy AwardsOscar Ceremonies. Los Angelesmeans celebrity—movie, television,music and Internet stars abound. Theentertainment industry in Los Angelesis also big business, employing some250,000 people. Its products impactculture around the world.“The Hollywood Bowl is the ultimateL.A. experience… thousands ofpeople enjoying picnic dinners, mostwith flowers and wine, then hearingsome of the world’s finest musiciansin a lovely outdoor setting. And it isn’texpensive!”– Bill Givens, staff memberWatts TowersSimon Rodia created this collection oflacy spires between 1921 and 1954using broken bottles, tile, pebbles,steel rods and seashells. It’s a tributeto one man’s quirky artistic vision andexpresses the iconoclastic natureof the people who live Los Angeles.A population of 3.9 million makes L.A.equivalent to the eighth largest statein the nation.“There is no one best thing aboutL.A. Everyone finds different thingsto love—hiking in the hills, loungingat the beach, clubbing on Sunset,people watching in Beverly Hills,theater, music or opera downtown,the weather, ethnic neighborhoods,the excitement of the entertainmentindustry...”– Dan Klerman, facultyGriffith ParkAt 4,210 acres, Griffith Park is one ofthe largest urban parks in NorthAmerica. Los Angeles’ “Central Park”has something to offer everyone,including miles of hiking andequestrian trails, the Greek Theatrewith its open-air concerts, one 9-holeand two 18-hole golf courses, a113-acre Zoo, and the newly renovatediconic observatory atop MountHollywood.“I love the Huntington Library &Botanical Gardens. You can spendthe entire day just walking all of thegardens. The Art Gallery houses oneof the largest collections of British artwork in the country. Nice tearoomand café for lunch.”– Amy Stevens, staff memberMountain Hiking TrailsL.A.’s weather is renowned. With only15 inches of rainfall and moderatetemperatures all year, it’s a perfectplace for adventuring outdoors. Hike,jog or walk through rugged hills andleafy canyons throughout the city.Santa Monica Mountains NationalRecreation Area, for instance,is a contiguous conglomeration of350 public parks and 65,000 acresthat is home to deer, coyotes, foxes,hawks, and quail.“Los Angeles is the only majorAmerican city bisected by a mountainrange. You don’t necessarily thinkof hiking or mountain biking in L.A.,but if you can when you’re in L.A.,you should go up a trail in the SantaMonica Mountains—beautifulgreenery and spectacular oceanviews minutes away!”– Ariela Gross, facultyMetroEveryone always hears about itscar-crazy culture, but Los AngelesCounty’s Metropolitan TransitAuthority has a combined dailyridership of 1.7 million. Besidesoperating over 2,000 peak-hourbuses on an average weekday, Metroalso designed, built and operates73.1 miles of Metro Rail service.In addition to being committed toproviding environmentally conscioustransportation, Metro hascommissioned over 250 artists fora wide variety of projects, includingrail stations and streetscapes.Dodger StadiumLos Angeles is home to two MajorLeague Baseball teams, two NationalHockey League teams, two NationalBasketball Association teams,one Major League Soccer Team,one Women’s National BasketballAssociation team, and one MajorLeague Lacrosse team. USC hasthe third most NCAA nationalchampionships, all sports combined,in the United States. You do the math.Los Angeles is a sports town.“The best thing about L.A.are the local neighborhoods.”– Martin Levine, faculty“The best thing about L.A. is with littlemoney there is something to do forany interest a person might have.”– Beverly Moore, staff memberEthnic DiversityThe City of Angels has always beendiverse. Twenty-six of the originalforty-four settlers (pabladores) wereblack or mixed ancestry. Most ofthese people came from Sinaloa,Mexico, where two-thirds of theresidents were mulattos. Los Angeleshas welcomed immigrant populationsfrom all over the globe. Today, LosAngeles boasts a rich tapestry ofethnic groups, including the nation’slargest Arab and Asian communities.LACMALos Angeles has over 80 stagetheaters and 300 museums, morethan any other U.S. city. There arehistoric buildings, libraries withspecial collections, botanical gardens,and various art and scienceinstitutions, all of which make L.A.an international cultural center.The Los Angeles County Museum ofArt (LACMA) is one of the largest artmuseums in the country, housing acollection of over 100,000 artworks.Different languages spoken: City of Los Angeles60 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law61

Walt Disney Concert HallThe Los Angeles Philharmonic, one ofthe world’s outstanding orchestras,resides in the acoustically superb,stunning Frank Gehry-designed WaltDisney Concert Hall in Downtown.Los Angeles is simply one of the mostimportant sites in the world for therecorded music industry. Composers,musicians, producers, recordingengineers, and performers of everystyle and genre of music—jazz, heavymetal, rock, rap, opera, symphony,punk, and pop are all drawn here.“I’d recommend seeing theHollywood night life—any of theclubs on Sunset—at least once evenif it’s not your scene or even if you’rereally broke.”– Parfait Mwez, graduateThe BeachSun and fun awaits everyone at LosAngeles’ 75 miles of coastline. Thereare 20-plus beaches, each with itsown unique experience, includingswimming and bonfires at Dockweiler,volleyball at Manhattan, romanticsunsets at El Matador, the new$1.5 million solar-powered Ferriswheel at Santa Monica, surfing atZuma, and people-watching at Venice.“What’s the best thing about LosAngeles? The beach, the beach,and the beach.”– Julia Kim, graduateThird Street PromenadeTotal retail sales in Los Angeles areupwards of $223 billion. From megaindoor malls to quaint neighborhoodshops, L.A. has options for everytaste and budget. Some well-knownshopping areas are the Beverly Center,Melrose Avenue, The Grove,Robertson Boulevard, the infamousRodeo Drive, and most recently,Historic Downtown Los Angeles.In Santa Monica, the Third StreetPromenade attracts throngs ofpeople with its three-block stretch ofpedestrian-friendly shopping, cinemamultiplexes, and outdoor cafés.“LACMA . On the weekends there areconcerts and old movies.”– Michelle Buckley, staff memberLa Brea Tar PitsLa Brea Tar Pits, one of the world’smost famous fossil sites, is recognizedfor having the largest and mostdiverse assemblage of extinct Ice Ageplants and animals in the world. It’sa step back into ancient Los Angeles,when animals such as saber-toothedcats, giant sloths, and hugemammoths roamed here. This is onlyone of the many attractions favoredby tourists. About twenty-four millionpeople come to Los Angeles everyyear for their vacation.LAPL & LAUSDLos Angeles Public Library System(LAPL) and the Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District (LAUSD) are amongthe largest such institutions in thecountry. LAUSD is the second largestschool district in the United States,serving grades K-12, with over2,500 schools, 700,000 students,and 83,967 regular employees. LAPLsystem operates 72 public librariesthroughout the city to serve thediverse population of Los Angeleswith extensive collections, electronicresources, and innovative programsfor all ages.Business in Los AngelesWalt Disney Co., the 9th largestCalifornia company, is headquarteredin Los Angeles along with a variety ofother major corporations, such asHilton Hotels, Belkin (electronics),Princess Cruises, Cunard Line,CB Richard Ellis (real estate), andevery major motion picture studio.The economy is dominated bythe entertainment industry, thetourism service sector, retail andmanufacturing. Manufacturing oftextiles and toys employs hugenumbers, while the high-tech industryis gaining a firm foothold in L.A.“The best thing about Los Angeles is that you can besnowboarding in the morning, watching a movie inHollywood in the afternoon, and then enjoying a nicedinner and walk along a beach in the evening… all in thesame day!”– Cindy Guyer, staff member“My first big excursion in Los Angeleswas to Little Tokyo, and I completelyfell in love with the area. It’s fun, hip,and there are tons of little things tosee and do. The combination ofPinkberry, Japanese food, bubble tea,museums and lots of funkyknick-knacks makes Little Tokyo aneasy choice. Plus it’s a great place tostudy on a weekend (in a tea shop)and it has dozens of opportunities forstudy breaks built in.”– Elena Taryor, graduate“Best thing about L.A.: its diversepopulation, of course—over92 languages are spoken bystudents in the Los Angeles UnifiedSchool District!”– Daria Roithmayr, facultyThriving EconomyAgriculture was once the primarysource of wealth in the 19th centuryand early 20th in Los Angeles. Thencame the Cold War and the rise of theaircraft and aerospace industries.Entertainment and hospitality havealways been a significant part of theeconomy here. Now, L.A. is one of thetop ranked counties in manufacturingin the nation, of such diverse itemsas dental equipment, games and toys,gas transmission and distributionequipment, guided missiles, andwomen’s apparel.“What’s the best thing about LosAngeles? The light. It’s what attractedthe movie industry, and there isn’tlight like it anywhere else.”– Greg Keating, faculty“The best feature of the Los Angelesmetro region is its diversity, with‘critical mass’ of at least a dozencultures and countries representedin their own ‘mini cities’ and a choiceof living styles as broad as can beimagined (live at the beach, in acanyon, in the hills, in a high rise,in a loft, in a suburban setting, etc.”– Scott Bice, faculty“The best thing about L.A. isstepping outside in the morningand smiling because it’s 75 degrees,sunny, not humid, and just perfectweather, and you feel incrediblyfortunate to live in such a place.”– Becky Raizman, graduateThe New DowntownDowntown Los Angeles is in the midstof a major revitalization. With newconstruction, of such magnificentbuildings as the Staples Center,Walt Disney Concert Hall, and theCathedral of Our Lady of the Angels,along with thousands of newresidential units, typically sleekmodern lofts, the city center isitself increasingly vibrant. Theestablishment of businessimprovement districts and theconstruction of subway, light-rail andcommuter train systems, has broughtmajor office space users along withshops and restaurants causing a truerenaissance downtown.Los Angeles City HallThe Los Angeles Civic Center, whereCity Hall is located, is the largestgrouping of government buildings inthe U.S. outside of Washington,D.C.City Hall itself was built in 1928and has a distinct monumentalpyramid-capped tower. It is home tothe City Attorney, the elected chiefprosecutor for the City of Los Angeles.The Office of the City Attorney is thethird largest municipal law office inthe nation, with over 500 attorneyspracticing both criminal and civil law.“What do I do for fun in Los Angeles?I’ve gone to a couple TV show tapings,which is an incredible experience.When I have time, I head toDisneyland. Most weeks, my fun islimited to trying new restaurants orgoing to a movie.”– Jessica Walker, graduateCentral Civil West CourthouseThe Central Civil West Courthouse inDowntown houses The Los AngelesSuperior Court. Court Divisionsinclude Appellate, Civil, Criminal,Family, Juvenile, Mental Health,Probate, Small Claims and Traffic.This court is notable for its manyhigh-profile cases, including LosAngeles’ infamous celebrity murdercases. With its nearly 50 courthouses,600 judicial officers, and a staff of5,400 the Superior Court systemserves the 9.5 million people ofLos Angeles County with courtroomsspread throughout the 4000 squaremile County—from Pomona toSanta Monica and from Lancasterto Long Beach.“I encourage visitors to sample L.A.architecture. Most people don’tassociate us with wonderful buildings.And we do have some awful structures.But we also have the Gamble Houseby Greene and Greene, Frank LloydWright’s Freeman House, and ofcourse Frank Gehry’s Disney Hall.”– Scott Altman, faculty“There is some of everything here.L.A. is huge and you can pretty muchbet that if there is something youwant, L.A. has it!”– Sunita Bali, graduateWest Los AngelesMunicipal CourthouseThe West Los Angeles MunicipalCourthouse is a $40 million courtfacility for the County of Los Angeles.It contains eight courts and theoffices of the Marshal, the Sheriff,the District Attorney, and theCourt Clerk. The District Attorney,elected by Los Angeles county voters,prosecutes felonies throughout thecounty, and misdemeanors inunincorporated areas, as well as78 of the 88 cities in the county.The largest local prosecutorial agencyin the nation, the Los Angeles’ D.A.has a staff of approximately 2,105that includes 1,017 deputy districtattorneys, 277 investigators, and 811support personnel.Los Angeles Public DefenderThe concept of Public Defender waspioneered by the County of LosAngeles, which responded to the needfor legal representation for all citizensas early as 1914. Since then the ideahas spread to many other cities andstates, and the Public Defender isnow a well-established conceptservicing courts throughout the U.S.The L.A. Public Defender’s Officehandles misdemeanors, felonies,juvenile cases, mental health cases,and some civil cases. It employs over700 attorneys, 78 investigators,55 paralegals, 17 psychiatric socialworkers, and a clerical/secretarialstaff of approximately 150.“What do I do for fun in Los Angeles?I don’t know where to begin to answerthat question. The beach, theHollywood club scene, watching theLakers at the Staples Center, the listgoes on and on.”– Emeka Orjiakor, graduateLaw in Los AngelesFounded in Los Angeles in 1937,Latham & Watkins is the largest andhighest-grossing law firm on theWest Coast. It fields 2,100 lawyers in26 offices around the world, with over$2 billion in revenue. Other top L.A.firms include O’Melveny & Myers,Neilson Elggren Durkin & Co., GibsonDunn & Crutcher, and Paul HastingsJanofsky & Walker. California hasapproximately 150,000 resident andactive attorneys, according to theAmerican Bar Association.“I can do anything and everything Ifeel like in L.A., that is why I love it.I can hike, ski, surf, run, go to aworld-class museum, listen to anytype of music or eat any type of foodI can imagine.”– Wende Nichols-Julien, graduate62 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law63

Apply: What to do NextImportant DatesDecember7Last DayTo Take LSAT TestUSCToursAdmissionsDecisionsBeginJanuary1File FAFSADocument24Frank RothmanScholarship Application DueClassroomVisits1August/September2013Register for LSAT and Subscribe to CASSubscribe to the Credential Assembly Service (CAS), and take the LSAT no later thanDecember 2o13. For more information, contact the Law School Admission Council(LSAC) at www.LSAC.org or by calling (215) 968-1oo1.February1USC Law School Application Deadline23October2013December2013Get Letters of Recommendation Written and Submit to CASWe require that you submit at least two letters of recommendation through the CASLetter of Recommendation Service. At least one of these letters should specificallyaddress your academic abilities. Letters submitted through CAS will be copied and sentto us along with your CAS Report. Applicants may submit up to two Evaluationsthrough CAS.Begin Admissions ApplicationComplete USC Law’s Application for Admission and write your personal statement.The application can be found online at law.usc.edu/admissions/applynow.cfm. You musttransmit your application electronically using LSAC’s electronic application service.LSAC will send an electronic version of your application directly to USC Law.(Applications will be considered postmarked on the day they are submittedelectronically.) Applicants seeking need-based and Teach for America application feewaivers should consult the website for instructions.MarchAprilMayJune11Priority Filing Datefor FAFSAFirst EnrollmentConfirmationDeposit Due151515Begin Researchfor HousingScholarshipReservationDeadlineFinal DescisionLetters mailed17–2118Law DayAdmitTour DaysSpringBreakRegionalReceptions4January2014File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)Complete the 2o14–2o15 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) onlineat www.fafsa.ed.gov. When completing the FAFSA, list University of SouthernCalifornia (code #oo1328) in the schools release section of the form, so that USCLaw will receive your data. If your tax information is not yet available, you may useestimates. Parental information is not required. Submit the FAFSA to the processoras soon as possible after January 1, 2o14. To be considered for all available financial aid,be sure the processor receives your FAFSA no later than March 1, 2o14.JulyAugust1Second EnrollmentConfirmation Deposit Due5February 1,2014Final Deadline for Application SubmissionPriority review will be given to applicants who file a timely application by February 1,2o14. All applicants who submit by this deadline will receive an admissions decision byMay 15.19–21Orientation(mandatory)21TuitionPaymentDueClasses25 Begin64 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law65

A straightforward application.An admissions committeeinterested in the real you.Terrific opportunities—andall the support you need topursue them. The next moveis yours.What sets USC Law students apart from theirpeers at other institutions? Extraordinaryacademic credentials, and a rich diversity ofbackground and experience.Eligibility: To be eligible to apply, you must plan toreceive a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accreditedcollege or university before enrolling at USC Law. Webase our admission decisions on academic record, LSATscore, personal statement, letters of recommendation,and other information in your application file.Academic Requirements: In reviewing applicationfiles, the committee focuses on college grades,academic major, selection of courses, grade trends andsignificant scholarly achievements. Although USC Lawdoes not require specific college courses for admission,we look favorably on students who have selectedintellectually challenging courses of study.Whatever your discipline, we urge you to concentrateon developing strong writing and analytic skills. Coursesthat require intensively researched written projects andactive participation in classroom dialogue also will behelpful in preparing you to study law.Our Admissions Committee: All admission decisionsat USC Law are made by the Faculty Committee onAdmissions and Financial Aid. The committee iscomposed of members of the faculty, the associatedean, the director of admissions, and an electedstudent representative. The committee reads all filesthoroughly and considers each application on anindividual basis. All committee decisions are final.Your Personal Statement: The admissions committeegives careful attention to your personal statement.We are particularly interested in your motivation forstudying law, your academic background, leadershipqualities and other qualities you possess that mayenhance the diversity of our student body. If you area college senior or recent graduate, you may wish tomention your work history and extracurricular activities.If you have spent a year or more in the workforce aftercollege, tell us about your employment experience;enclose a resume to illustrate your chronologicalwork history.The personal statement should be between 2–4 pages,double-spaced, and at least 12 point font. Thecommittee values carefully crafted essays that areclear, concise, and compelling.Letters of Recommendation: We require two lettersto be sent along with applications. However, we willaccept additional letters. The most influential lettersof recommendation focus on your academic potential.They are written by people who know you well, and canevaluate your academic performance. Althoughrecommendations not pertaining to academic abilitiesare helpful, academic recommendations carry the mostweight with the admissions committee.LSAC Evaluations: Applicants may submit up to twoLSAC Evaluations along with their letters ofrecommendation.Contribution to Diversity: USC Law’s admissionsprocess is guided by the view that a student body thatreflects the broad and rich diversity of our societyprovides a superior educational environment for all lawstudents. The primary goal of our admissions processis to enroll students who demonstrate outstandingacademic and professional promise and whosebackground and experience will enrich USC Law’seducational environment or enhance the diversity ofour student body or the legal profession.You may be regarded as potentially contributing tostudent diversity if your background or experiencewould not ordinarily be well-represented in the studentbody or the legal profession. Examples include (but arenot limited to) students who:• have struggled against prejudice, economicdisadvantage, family or personal adversity, or othersocial hardships (perhaps as a result of disability,race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexualorientation and gender identity, or religious affiliation);• lived in a foreign country or spoke a language otherthan English at home;• have unusual career goals, employment history(perhaps military or law enforcement experience),or educational background (including graduate study);• demonstrate unusual extracurricular achievement(including school or community service).If you believe your background or experience cancontribute to USC Law’s goal of diversity and if youwould like this factor considered in the admissionsprocess—please include detailed written informationabout your background or experience in yourapplication. (Providing such information is voluntary.)USC Law’s admissionscommittee takes care toadmit students who will bringexceptional talent, broad lifeexperience, newperspectives, and strongpotential to our campus.66 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law67

Admissions ApplicationsDeadline: February 1, 2014A complete, accurate and timely application is the first step to being admitted to USC Law. Applicants withhearing disabilities may call (213) 740-2503 (TTY/TTD). You must transmit your application electronically usingthe Law School Admission Council website. We do not accept paper applications.The history of the USC GouldSchool of Law is peopled bylegal innovators who wenton to head firms, guidecompanies, govern andcrusade for justice. We lookfor students who will followthese examples, but find theirown paths.Admissions Decisions: The committee normally beginsto mail admission decisions in January and continuesthrough May. Applications that are completed prior tothe February 1 deadline receive priority review.Requirements for Enrollment: If you are admittedto USC Law, you must adhere to all enrollmentrequirements, including payment of all tuition depositsby the specified deadlines. Enrollment instructionsincluded with your admission letter will specify theamount of this deposit.Prior to enrollment, you must submit an officialtranscript, verifying your receipt of a bachelor’s degreefrom a regionally accredited college or university.Familiarize Yourself With Your State Bar: Applicantsare encouraged to contact the Board of Bar Examinersof the state(s) in which they intend to practice, in orderto secure information regarding the qualifications foradmission to the practice of law in that jurisdiction.Additional information can be found on the website ofthe National Conference of Bar Examiners. For applicantsinterested in the practice of law in California, informationcan be found at the State Bar of California website.Applicants With Disabilities: It is the policy andpractice of USC Law to comply with the Americans withDisabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,and state and local requirements regarding studentsand applicants with disabilities. Under these laws, noqualified individual with a disability shall be deniedaccess to or participation in services, programs andactivities of the law school. USC provides reasonableand appropriate accommodations necessary to affordequal access, opportunity and full participation in allprograms for students with professionally verifieddisabilities. Accommodations are based on the presentcondition of the student’s disability and on current andspecific assessment data documented by a qualifiedprofessional. The law school’s Office of Student Affairshandles all disability- related matters in cooperationwith USC Disability and Services Programs.Our Non-Discrimination Policy: USC Gould Schoolof Law is firmly committed to a policy againstdiscrimination based upon ethnicity, national origin,disability, race, religion, political beliefs, sexualorientation or gender identity, or age.Questions: If you have questions about the admissionsprocess, please call the Office of Admissionsat (213) 740-2523 or send an email message toadmissions@law.usc.edu. Applicants with hearingdisabilities may call (213) 740-2503 (TTY/TTD).Application for Admission for Fall 2014USCLAWSECTION 1: Type of ApplicationCheck all that apply.First time USC Law ApplicationReapplicant--Applied for the fallSECTION 2: Personal InformationName Ms. Mr.Preferred First NameSocial Security No.E-mail addressMailing addressytiCStatePlease use this mailing address fromPermanent addressytiCBirthdateCountry of BirthFirst Middle Initial LastFirstStreetPermanent address same as aboveStreetState/ /- -Monthsemester.edoCpiZedoCpiZMaleFemaleCitizenship StatusLSAC Account No. LCell Phone ( )Street continuedHome Phone ( )State of ResidenceU.S. CitizenPermanent ResidentNon-ResidentProviding the information below is voluntary. These questions comply with the US Department of Education's new standards for ethnic and racial datacollection. We request the data to facilitate reporting of data and to enrich USC Law's educational environment by attracting a diverse student body.EthnicityAre you Hispanic or Latino?Yes NoSECTION 3: Conduct InformationUniversity of Southern California Gould School of Law699 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90089-0074(213) 740-2523CountryRace: Please check any or all that apply.American IndiannaisAor Alaskan NativeChineseAmerican IndianFilipinoAlaskan NativeJapaneseKoreanPakistaniThaiVietnameseOther AsiantoCHECKLISTHome Phone ( )ro kcalBAfrican AmericanHispanic/LatinoCentral AmericanMexicanCubanPuerto RicanSouth AmericanOther Hispanic/LatinoThis application mustbe postmarked byFebruary 1, 2014Application Form and $75 FeePersonal statementLetters of recommendation(Must be submitted through LSAC'sCredential Assembly Service)RésuméyaD raeYhtnoMDay YearCountryStreet continuedNative Hawaiian orOther Pacific IslanderWhite/CaucasianIf you answer "yes" to any of the following questions, you are required to submit, a separate explanatory statement.Yes No Have you ever been dropped, suspended, warned, placed on academic or disciplinary probation, disciplined, expelled, orrequested or advised to resign from any post-secondary school, college, university, professional school, or law school? (If yes,you are required to submit a separate explanatory statement from the institution's dean providing information about the incident.)YesNoHave you ever been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor (other than a minor traffic violation)? If yes, then please submitan addendum explaining the circumstances and the resolution.Yes No Are any charges pending against you?Yes No Have you ever been or are you currently registered at another law school?LSAC E-APP page 1 of 268 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law69

Tuition and fees for the 2o13–2o14academic year are $27,357 per semester,including mandatory health, studentgovernment, and activity fees. Residentand non-resident students pay the sametuition. Rates for tuition and fees are setannually and are subject to change.All applicants who are offered admission willautomatically be considered for a USC LawSchool Scholarship award. With the exceptionof the Frank Rothman Scholarship Program,no separate application is required forscholarship consideration. Scholarshipdecisions are typically made shortlyfollowing receipt of an admission decision.All scholarships awarded to incomingfirst-year students are guaranteed for threeyears. Assuming full-time enrollmentcontinues, you can expect the same level ofscholarship assistance for three consecutiveyears regardless of law school grades.Scholarships are awarded in amounts rangingup to full tuition and they are awarded onlyin the incoming first year. Scholarship fundsare not available to transfer applicants, nordo we make new awards or increase awardsin the 2nd or 3rd year. At USC, scholarshipsare awarded based upon the strength of theadmission application and all factors that areconsidered for admission are also consideredfor scholarship decisions. Undergraduate GPAand LSAT score are two of these factors, butother strengths of the admission applicationare also taken into account.USC Law does not award any need-basedgrants, and therefore, once you receive yourscholarship decision you will know the fullextent of your financial aid package since allother financial aid would be in the form ofstudent loans. There are no federal grantfunds available to graduate-level students,so any scholarship/grant funds must comefrom the institution’s resources or fromexternal sources that you might identify onyour own. To the extent that we may learnabout any external scholarship opportunitieswe will make every effort to pass the wordalong to our applicants, but generallyspeaking, the vast majority of law studentswill have a financial aid package that consistssolely of student loans, and perhaps ascholarship award offered by USC Law School.Frank Rothman Scholarship ProgramUSC Law recruits and supportsexceptionally qualified law studentsthrough the Frank Rothman ScholarsProgram. One student is selected fromeach incoming class to receive a fulltuitionscholarship for three years atUSC Law. Recipients also receive aSummer Fellowship that providesa guaranteed job in the law firm ofSkadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &Flom, following the first year oflaw school.The admissions office invites topadmitted applicants to apply for theRothman scholarship; to be consideredfor an invitation, you should submityour admissions application early.Frank Rothman Scholars are selectedentirely on the basis of merit. Criteriainclude strong undergraduate record,LSAT score, and additionalaccomplishments, such as publishingbooks and articles, running a business,inventing useful devices, and othersimilar, highly significant achievements.Finalists are provided with airfare andlodging in order to participate ininterviews and meetings at USC Law.Final selections are made in the spring.Student Loan Programs: Applicants with anyinterest in receiving student loans to assist infinancing law school are encouraged to filethe 2014–15 Free Application for FederalStudent Aid (FAFSA) soon after January 1,2014. Do not wait for an admission decisionbefore submitting your FAFSA. List USC(Federal Code 001328) as a school designatedto receive your FAFSA report.The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loanis available to all graduate students,regardless of financial need, and with nocredit check required, up to an annualmaximum of $20,500.The Federal Graduate PLUS loan is availableto all graduate students, regardless of need,upon successfully passing a credit check,up to the full cost of attendance as set bythe school. The school-established “cost ofattendance” includes tuition, fees and books,as well as living expenses for the periodof attendance.Private educational loans are also availableas an alternative to the federal loan options.As with the Graduate PLUS loan these loansare also available without regard to financialneed, require credit approval (a morestringent credit check than is required forthe Graduate PLUS loan) and are limited tothe cost of attendance as established by theschool. Occasionally a student might opt fora private loan after considering all of thedifferences, due to more favorable terms.Most students will not likely qualify for aninterest rate which is lower than the federalloan options, however, and there are alsoother important differences which, more oftenthan not, make the federal loans the morefavorable options. Nevertheless,for some students, a private loan can bea viable option.Additional details about all of these loanoptions may be found on USC’s financial aidwebsite at www.usc.edu/finaid.Other Resources: Many USC Law studentsalso help finance their education throughpart time work during the summers or duringthe second and third years of law school.Students working in public service legal jobsfor the summer may be able to receive a grantfor their volunteer experience through theUSC Law Public Interest Law Foundation.Veterans Education Benefits/Yellow Ribbon Program:The Veterans Affairs Office on campus(www.usc.edu/va) can assist veteransin receiving educational allowances.The Law School is proud to participate inthe Yellow Ribbon GI Education EnhancementProgram (Yellow Ribbon Program), whichis a provision of the Post-9/11 VeteransEducational Assistance Act of 2008. Studentswho meet the specified criteria may be ableto earn tuition awards of $20,000 througha matched scholarship program with theU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Studentsmay also wish to visit www.gibill.va.govfor more information regarding the GI BillEducational Assistance.Loan Repayment Assistance Program:The USC Law Loan Repayment AssistanceProgram (LRAP) provides assistance inrepaying loans to graduates who acceptemployment with low-paying public-interestorganizations. If you work for a qualifyingorganization after graduating, you may applya specified percentage of your earnings toyour annual loan repayment obligations;USC Law will advance LRAP funds to coverthe remainder. All LRAP assistance will beforgiven if you remain in qualifyingemployment for five years.Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Thisfederal program cancels some federalstudent loan debt for borrowers employedby non-profit or government employers.Borrowers must make 120 on-time monthlypayments while working full-time in aqualifying public service job. Any remainingdebt is cancelled after 10 years of eligibleemployment and qualifying loan payments.For more information, please visitwww.studentloans.gov.70 law.usc.eduUSC Gould School of Law71

Financial Aid ChecklistUse this checklist to ensure that you followall steps necessary to apply for Financial Aid,including scholarships and loans.All ApplicantsComplete the 2o14–2o15 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.When completing the FAFSA, list University of Southern California (code #oo1328)in the schools release section of the form, so that USC Law will receive your data.If your tax information is not yet available, you may use estimates. Parentalinformation is not required.Submit the FAFSA to the processor as soon as possible after January 1, 2o14.To be considered for all available financial aid, be sure the processor receivesyour FAFSA no later than March 1, 2o14.Design: AdamsMorioka • Copy: Terry Lee Stone • Photography: Blake Little, Teri Weber, others • Printing: ColorGraphicsAdmitted ApplicantsTo help ensure that you receive a timely offer of financial aid, carefully followthe additional instructions provided with your admission letter.If you have questions about financial aid, please call the Financial Services Officeat (213) 740-6314 or send an email message to lawfao@law.usc.edu.72law.usc.edu

Los Angeles, California 90089-0074(213) 740-2523admissions@law.usc.eduwww.law.usc.edu2013–2014