University of Southern California

The University of Southern California Law School, or Gould School of Law, was founded in 1896. The law school enrolls just under 650 students. Students seeking a vibrant urban scene will benefit from the proximity to downtown Los Angeles.

First-year, or 1L, students are required to take a set of basic, fundamental courses. Fall semester classes consist of law, language, and values; torts; procedures; and contracts. Spring semester classes consist of criminal law, constitutional law, property, and legal profession. There is also a two-semester course on legal research, writing, and advocacy. Second- and third-year students have great flexibility in designing their curricula and the school gets high marks for encouraging them to consider courses outside their current career goals.

The Gould School of Law offers several dual-degree programs. If the second degree can be completed in one year, the dual-degree can be completed in three years and if the second degree takes two years to complete, then the dual-degree takes four years to finish. Students also have opportunities to study abroad in Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America.

USC Gould students have seven clinical and four practicum options to work on actual cases with real clients including the Immigration Clinic; Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic; International Human Rights Clinic; Mediation Clinic; Post-Conviction Justice Project; and Small Business Clinic. The top admitted applicants are invited to participate in the Summer Fellowships and receive a guaranteed paid position with a prestigious law firm, business, or public-interest organization after finishing their first year of studies. USC’s law school offers plenty of opportunities for students to get involved on campus with nearly 50 student organizations and there are also many opportunities to be active in the local community through public service.

The Gould School of Law boasts over 13,000 alumni and networking opportunities abound. Students seeking a rigorous law school education with numerous opportunities for clinical experiences and extracurricular involvement in an urban setting should look into the University of Southern California Law School.