Change the World From Here
USF is a law school built for the complex and dynamic world you’re stepping into. You’ll learn in the heart of San Francisco, a city defined by entrepreneurship, innovation, and a commitment to
That spirit shapes USF’s approach to legal education: creative, practical, and values-centered. In these pages, you’ll see how this translates into our curriculum through our eleven certificates, our nine clinics and practicums, and more than 100 externship placements.
USF Law is a place where ambition is nurtured by collaborative peers, committed faculty, and alumni who take great pride in welcoming newcomers to the profession. But you can’t understand the USF Law experience by reading a brochure. Come visit and see for yourself.
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advancing justice.
By the Numbers 87%
82% First-time Pass Rate on the July 2025 California Bar Exam
OF CLASS OF 2 0 2 5 G R A D UAT E S EMPLOYED WITHIN
92%
10 MONTHS
Ultimate Bar Pass Rate for Class of 2024
101 or 39% of upper division students earned externship credits
A R AT I N G I N : INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY TECH L AW HUMAN RIGHTS L AW F A M I LY L A W
(National Jurist's preLaw Magazine)
A TOP L AW SCHOOL FOR
PRACTICAL TRAINING A LT E R N AT I V E D I S P U T E RESOLUTION
18,865
488
30,015
BEST L AW SCHOOL
Clinical hours
JD and LLM students
Externship hours
(National Jurist's preLaw Magazine)
BUILDINGS
#14 FOR PROFESSORS' TEACHING
(Princeton Review)
#7 BEST L AW SCHOOL FOR AAPI STUDENTS
(preLaw Magazine)
#8 BEST L AW SCHOOL F O R L AT I N X S T U D E N T S
(preLaw Magazine)
FO R T H E C L A S S E NT E R I N G FA L L 202 5
students of color
37% first-generation college graduates
20% identify as LGBTQ+
(U.S. News & World Report)
5:1 S T U D E N T-T O FA C U LT Y R AT I O
73 undergraduate institutions represented
45% of upper division students participated in law clinics
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67%
#14 most diverse law school in the nation
PROGR AM OPTIONS
JD PROGRAMS Full-Time — Complete in three years Part-Time — Complete in four years, hybrid in-person and online asynchronous learning
G R A D U AT E PROGRAMS • LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology Law • Master of Laws (LLM) • LLM in Taxation • Master of Legal Studies in Taxation
DUAL DEGREES • JD/LLM in Taxation • JD/MBA
1 1 J D C E R T I F I C AT E S
• AI and Emerging Tech Law • Animal Law • Business Law • Environmental Law • Intellectual Property Law • International and Comparative Law • Labor and Employment Law • Privacy Law • Public Interest Law • Taxation Law • Trial Advocacy
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Earn certificates by completing course requirements in specialized areas:
Areas of Study Choose a focus or explore broadly. USF Law’s curriculum is designed to give you both depth and flexibility.
A.I. AND EMERGING T EC H N O LO GY L AW
CERTIFICATE • Animal Law
COURSES • Applied A.I. • Artificial Intelligence and the Law • Biotechnology Law • Blockchain Technology & the Law • Information Privacy Law • Internet Law • Patent Law • Privacy Practice Skills • Social Impact of Emerging Tech
CONFLICT RESOLUTION & R E S T O R AT I V E JUSTICE
FACULTY • Jessica Fajfar • Michele Neitz • Alex Serra CERTIFICATES • AI and Emerging Tech Law CENTER • Center for Law, Tech, and Social Good CLINIC • CREATE Clinic
A N I M A L L AW COURSES • Administrative Law • Animal Law • Animal Law & Policy: Contemporary Issues • Animals and Justice Seminar • Environmental Law • Property • Torts • Water Law FACULTY • Matthew Liebman • Allison Tirres • Megan Wachspress
COURSES • Interpersonal Dynamics for Attorneys • Mediation • Negotiation • Restorative Justice FACULTY • Lara Bazelon • Bill Ong Hing • Megan Hutchinson • Joshua Rosenberg • Gabby King
CONSTITUTIONAL L AW COURSES • Administrative Law • Education Law • Equality & Religious Freedom • First Amendment Seminar • Jurisprudence • Poverty Law • Racism and Justice Seminar FACULTY • George Bach • Julie Nice • Allison Tirres • Mark Niles • Duane Rudolph
C O R P O R AT E A N D COM M E RC IA L L AW COURSES • Antitrust Law • Bankruptcy • Business Associations • Corporate Governance • Contracts Drafting
• • • • • • • •
Corporate Taxation Federal Income Taxation Financial Services Seminar Labor Law Partnership Taxation Role of the General Counsel Securities Regulation Transactional Skills
FACULTY • Michele Neitz • Bruce Price • Steve Varholik DUAL DEGREE • JD/Master of Business Administration CERTIFICATES • A.I. & Emerging Technology Law • Business Law • Labor & Employment Law • Tax Law CLINIC • In House Counsel Practicum • Tax Law Practicum
C R I M I N A L L AW AND PROCEDURE COURSES • Applied Evidence • Criminal Law • Criminal Procedure • Criminal Procedure II • Death Penalty Seminar • Evidence • Interrogation and Confessions • Restorative Justice • Trial Practice: Criminal Law • Wrongful Convictions FACULTY • Lara Bazelon • Amy Flynn • Richard Leo • Alex Serra
CLINICS • Criminal Justice Clinic • Racial Justice Clinic SPECIAL PROGRAM • Keta Taylor Colby Death Penalty Project
D I S C R I M I N AT I O N L A W COURSES • Contemporary Issues of Race & the Law • Employee Benefits (ERISA) • Employment Discrimination • Immigration Law • Poverty Law • Sexuality Law FACULTY • Lara Bazelon • Bill Ong Hing • Julie Nice • Mark Niles CLINICS • Immigration Policy Clinic • Racial Justice Clinic
E N V I R O N M E N TA L A N D E N E RGY L AW COURSES • Animal law • Administrative Law • CA Land Use Practice • Energy Law • Environmental Law • Property • Water Law FACULTY • Phillip Babich • Anand Durvasula • Richard Roos-Collins • Megan Wachspress • Matthew Liebman CERTIFICATE • Environmental Law
CERTIFICATES • Intellectual Property
COURSES • Community Property • Domestic Violence Law & Litigation • Estate Planning • Family Law • Wills and Trusts
CLINIC • CREATE Clinic
FACULTY • Joseph Gruber • Koren Stevenson • Juan Carlos Ibarra
I M M I G R AT I O N L A W COURSES • Administrative Law • Crimmigration in Immigration Practice • Employment Law • Family Law • Immigration Law • US Asylum Law Seminar FACULTY • Jacqueline Brown • Bill Ong Hing • Alison Tirres • Lindsay Harris CERTIFICATE • Public Interest Law CLINICS • Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic • Immigration Policy Clinic
INTELLECTUAL PRO PE R T Y L AW COURSES • Art Law • Biotechnology Law • Copyright Law • Intellectual Property Seminar • IP Litigation Skills • Legal Issues in Sports • Patent Law • Trademark Law FACULTY • Jessica Fajfar • Tom Onda • Karren Shorofsky • Vern Norviel
I N T E R N AT I O N A L A N D C O M P A R AT I V E L A W COURSES • Comparative Law • International Business Transactions • International Human Rights Law • International Taxation • Public International Law FACULTY • Lindsay Harris • Josh Rosenberg • Dana Zartner CERTIFICATE • International and Comparative Law CLINIC • Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Law Clinic
LABOR AND E M PLOYM E NT L AW COURSES • Contracts Drafting • Employee Benefits (ERISA) • Employment Discrimination • Employment Law • Labor Law • Legal Issues in Sports • Mediation • Negotiation FACULTY • Roy Eisenhardt • Megan Hutchinson • Nicole Phillips CERTIFICATE • Labor and Employment Law
L I T I G AT I O N A N D TRIAL ADVOCACY COURSES • Adv Legal Writing: Federal Civil Pre-Trial Motion Practice • Appellate Advocacy • Applied Evidence • CA Civil Discovery • Civil Procedure
• Remedies • Trial Advocacy and the Ethical Prosecutor • Trial Practice FACULTY • Amy Flynn • Monalisa Vu • George Bach CLINIC • Housing Clinic Practicum • Racial Justice Clinic SPECIAL PROGRAMS • Advanced Moot Court Competition • Intensive Advocacy Program • Moot Court Program
P R I VA C Y L AW COURSES • Artificial Intelligence and the Law • Health Law & Policy • Information Privacy Law • Information Privacy Seminar • Internet Law • Privacy Practice Skills • Social Impact of Emerging Tech FACULTY • Susan Freiwald • Everett Monroe • Jessica Fajfar CERTIFICATE • Privacy Law CLINIC • CREATE Clinic
PUBLIC INTEREST AND SOCIAL JUSTICE COURSES • Constitutional Law • Death Penalty Seminar • Domestic Violence Law and Litigation Skills • Education Law • International Human Rights • Restorative Justice • Sexuality Law FACULTY • Lindsay Harris • Bill Ong Hing • Richard Leo • Julie Nice
CERTIFICATE • Public Interest Law CLINICS • Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic • Immigration Policy Clinic • Housing Justice Practicum • Racial Justice Clinic SPECIAL PROGRAM • Keta Taylor Colby Death Penalty Project
SPORTS, E N T E R TA I N M E N T , AND THE ARTS COURSES • Art Law • Contracts • Copyright Law • Intellectual Property Seminar • Legal Issues in Sports • Trademark Law FACULTY • Roy Eisenhardt • Karren Shorofsky CLINIC • CREATE Clinic
TA X AT I O N L A W COURSES • CA Tax Appeals Assistance Program • Corporate Taxation • Estate Planning • Federal Income Taxation • International Taxation • Partnership Taxation • Tax Research & Writing FACULTY • Joshua Rosenberg • Mike Woo DUAL DEGREES • JD/LLM in Taxation • JD/Master of Business Administration CERTIFICATES • Business Law • Tax Law CLINIC • Tax Law Practicum
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E S TAT E P L A N N I N G A N D F A M I LY L A W
Learn by Doing Students provided 18,865 hours of legal services through nine clinical programs.
01 F R A N K C . N E W M A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L HUMAN RIGHTS L AW CLINIC
By partnering with human rights defenders in exile from places like Afghanistan, students design, present, and implement advocacy plans before leading bodies, including the United Nations.
02 I M M I G R AT I O N A N D D E P O R TAT I O N D E F E N S E C L I N I C
Under faculty supervision, students represent families and individuals seeking asylum or those in removal proceedings in immigration court. The Clinic handles more than 500 cases annually.
03
07
I M M I G R AT I O N P O L I C Y C L I N I C
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL PRACTICUM
Students analyze changes to immigration policy, prepare resources for those impacted by it, and provide direct assistance in special cases. The Clinic hosted 12 Know Your Rights presentations in 2025.
Work inside the legal departments of startups, established companies, and nonprofits, and see what it takes to succeed as in-house counsel.
R ACIAL JUSTICE L AW CLINIC
Under faculty supervision, students work on innocence claims, resentencing efforts, and implementation of California’s Racial Justice Act.
05 CRIMINAL JUSTICE CLINIC
Through a long-standing partnership with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, students gain hands-on experience litigating misdemeanor or felony cases.
06 HOUSING JUSTICE PRACTICUM
Students step into the role of a tenants’ rights attorney and work with Open Door Legal, a USF Law alumni-founded organization, to help real clients facing eviction and housing insecurity.
08 TA X L AW P R AC T I C U M
Represent clients in California income tax disputes with the state’s Franchise Tax Board or, at the federal level, assist clients with income and payroll tax controversies before the IRS.
09 C R E AT E L AW C L I N I C
In the Creative Rights, Entrepreneurship, Access, Technology, and Enterprise (CREATE) Law Clinic, students help secure copyright registrations for creators’ work, defend against trademark bullying, engage in freedom to operate analyses for biotech companies, help companies understand complex privacy laws, or draft contracts for start-ups. Students may also file patent or trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and be named an attorney of record.
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04
Recent placements include: Airbnb, Coinbase, McKesson, PG&E, Salesforce, Shipt, Walmart, and Warner Bros.
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O R AC L E PA R K
01
07
CALIFORNIA
CHASE
SUPREME COURT
CENTER
02
08
SAN FRANCISCO
CLEMENT STREET
CITY HALL
FA R M E R S M A R K E T
03
09
TH E DE YO U N G
LEGION OF
MUSEUM
HONOR MUSEUM
04
10
FISHERMAN'S
SUTRO
WHARF
TOWER
05
11
SAN FRANCISCO
T H E PA L AC E
CABLE CARS
OF FINE ARTS
MINUTES FROM CAMPUS DRIVING:
5 Golden Gate Park
10 Ocean Beach
20 Marin Headlands
25 SFO Airport
1.5 hrs Napa
3.5 hrs Lake Tahoe
4 hrs Yosemite
OVER
40,000 TEC H COM PAN I E S
42 OF THE FORTUNE 5 0 0 COM PAN I E S HEADQUARTERED I N T H E B AY A R E A
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I N T H E B AY A R E A
Gain Real-World Experience Graduate with practical experience, professional skills, and a network that supports your career long after law school. Through our domestic and international externships, you’ll earn academic credit while working in government agencies, corporate legal departments, law firms, nonprofits, and state and federal courts. Alongside your fieldwork, you'll learn directly from experienced faculty in a companion seminar. RECENT DOMESTIC EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS:
• Federal courts: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; Eastern District of CA • State courts: San Mateo County Superior Court; San Francisco Superior Court • Government agencies: US Attorney’s Office, Civil Division; Franchise Tax Board • Corporate legal departments: Mercedes-Benz; Doordash • Nonprofits: Bay Area Legal Aid; Catholic Charities • Law firms: Nixon Peabody; Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
101 STUDENTS EARNED ACADEMIC CREDIT THROUGH EXTERNSHIPS LAST YEAR
RECENT EXTERNSHIP SITES:
Cambodia | Vietnam China | Mexico Czech Republic Italy | France Germany | Spain
RECENT I N T E R N AT I O N A L EXTERNSHIP PLACEMENTS:
Deloitte (Prague, Czech Republic)
United Nations Development Program (Hanoi, Vietnam) Trevisan & Conzo Law Firm (Milan, Italy)
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Shanghai SILS Law Firm (China)
STEP I N TO T H E CO U R T R O O M Arns & Brandi Trial Institute The Arns & Brandi Trial Institute brings together USF’s trial prep courses, experiential learning programs, and competition teams into one comprehensive litigation training program. Through the progressive curriculum, you’ll build courtroom competence step by step, from foundational doctrine to trial practice. And, you can deepen your expertise and gain a competitive edge by earning a Trial Advocacy Certificate.
Moot Court Program RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS:
• California Lawyers Association Environmental Law Negotiations Competition First Place Winners, 2026 • National Moot Court Competition Regional QuarterFinalists Fall 2025 • Saul Lefkowitz Western Regional Competition Winners, 2025 and 2024. Winners of 2025 Best Oral Argument • San Francisco Trial Lawyers Competition: First Place Fall 2024
• Two-week intensive summer trial training • Two full mock trials • Direct and cross-examination practice • Opening and closing argument workshops • Taught by 30+ judges and litigators from major firms
84
16
STUDENTS
COMPETITION
PA R T I C I PAT E D
TEAMS
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Intensive Advocacy Program
• Wagner National Labor and Employment Moot Court Competition: Quarter-Finalists 2025
Learn From Expert Faculty They Practice • Professor Lara Bazelon led the Racial Justice Clinic’s work to overturn three wrongful convictions over the past three years. • Professors Bill Hing (right) and Jacqueline Brown, together with Immigration Clinic students, represent 500+ cases annually in immigration proceedings. • Professor Jessica Fajfar and CREATE Clinic students advise artists, nonprofits, and small businesses on ways to protect their work in the age of AI.
99% O F FA C U LT Y H AV E LEGAL PRACTICE
5:1 FA C U LT YTO-STUDENT R AT I O
EXPERIENCE
#14 for Professors' Teaching (Princeton Review)
66% of upper division classes have fewer than 25 students
They Publish • Professor Richard Leo, an expert in false confessions and policing practices, is one of the most prolific and cited law professors in the country. • Professor Susan Freiwald (left) has authored leading academic papers on privacy and helped draft the statutory language for California’s Electronic Communications Privacy Act. • Professor Allison Tirres publishes extensively in leading academic journals on constitutional history and noncitizen civil rights.
They Advocate • Professor Lindsay Harris partners with Afghan human rights defenders to pursue justice for refugees and women in Afghanistan.
• Professor Michele Neitz serves on the United Nations’ AI for Human Development Discussion Group for Latin America and the Caribbean.
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• Professor Matthew Liebman (right) authored numerous amicus curiae briefs for both the California and Oregon Supreme Courts in landmark animal law cases.
P R AC T I C E R E A DY, F U T U R E R E A DY. Artificial intelligence is already transforming how lawyers work. USF was the first law school in the country to integrate training on the responsible use of genAI tools into the core curriculum. Here, you’ll study how to use these tools effectively and also how to think critically about the legal and ethical questions surrounding emerging technologies.
In your required coursework, you’ll learn to use emerging technologies the way practicing lawyers already do. LEGAL RESEARCH, W R I T I N G & A N A LY S I S
Understand the ethical implications of using genAI tools in lawyering practice. Use AI tools to assist in research and drafting, and learn to evaluate AI-generated content. EVIDENCE
Use litigation-focused AI tools to analyze claims, identify evidentiary gaps, and develop strategies to admit or exclude evidence.
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Examine the ethical and professional risks of AI in legal practice, including accountability for AI-assisted work and the protection of confidential information. And as you start to define your path into the profession, you'll find legal technology thoughtfully integrated into electives like Contracts Drafting, Employment Law, and Negotiations, helping you build the skills your specialization requires.
“In Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis, we explored how we can use AI to support our research process, to make our legal writing more effective, to develop the judgment to know when and how to use it ethically, and as a resource to practice our oral argument skills. I felt prepared going into my summer job knowing how to work with these constantly changing tools.”
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RUTH ALCANTARA ‘27
C AT H O L I C CHARITIES OF THE E A S T B AY
BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN AL AMEDA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF AL AMEDA
TESLA MORGAN LEWIS
CONTRA C O S TA DISTRICT AT T O R N E Y ’ S OFFICE
DUANE MORRIS LLP
E A S T B AY
Alameda County Family Justice Center Alameda County District Attorney’s Office
YELP
Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office Kaiser Permanente
When you attend law school in San Francisco, you have options. Study in one of the world’s most active legal landscapes, and you can choose whether to work in firms from San Francisco to Silicon Valley, in state or federal courts, in a variety of district attorneys’ or public defenders’ offices, in myriad nonprofits ... the list goes on. Our graduates do it all because they’ve had access to it all.
DHILLON L AW GROUP
MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP
USF DOWNTOWN CAMPUS
ANDERSEN
DLA PIPER
PILLSBURY WINTHROP S HAW PITTMAN LLP
WELLS FARGO
SALESFORCE BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA
ACLU OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
ORRICK HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
REED SMITH LLP
SE LECT E M PLOYM E NT AN D E X TE RNSHIP OPPORTU NITIES ACLU of Northern California Alameda County District Attorney's Office Alameda County Family Justice Center Alameda County Public Defender’s Office Andersen AppDynamics Apple Blue Shield of California Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP
California Attorney General's Office California Court of Appeal, First District Catholic Charities of the East Bay Cisco Systems Inc. Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP D.C. Public Defender Service
DLA Piper Dolby Laboratories Inc. Doordash Duane Morris LLP Electronic Frontier Foundation Eviction Defense Collaborative Family & Children's Law Center Gagnier Margossian LLP Gap Inc. Genentech Google Greenberg Traurig
Hanson Bridgett LLP Hewlett Packard Enterprise Human Rights First Intel Corporation Jackson Lewis Jones Day Kaiser Permanente King & Spalding Kirkland & Ellis LLP Levi Strauss & Co. Littler Lucasfilm Ltd.
HANSON BRIDGETT LLP
J O N E S DAY SILICON VA L L E Y
APPDYNAMICS MICROSOFT PUBLIC A DVO C AT E S
UBER
GAP
Apple Genentech Google Meta Netflix YouTube
DOLBY L A B O R AT O R I E S
ZYNGA
SQUARE LY F T
LOCAL COURTS
California Court of Appeal, First District uperior Court of S California, County of San Francisco Supreme Court of California U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Lyft Mercedes-Benz Meta Morgan Lewis Morrison & Foerster LLP National Labor Relations Board Netflix Nixon Peabody Oracle Corporation Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Perkins Coie LLP Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw
Pittman LLP Public Advocates Reed Smith LLP RiskIQ Salesforce San Francisco District Attorney’s Office San Francisco Public Defender’s Office Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office Sonoma County Public Defender’s Office
Square Inc. Superior Court of California, County of Alameda Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco Supreme Court of California Tenant Law Group Tesla U.S. Attorney’s Office, Criminal Division U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tax Division
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit U.S. District Court, Northern District of California U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission Uber Venable Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP Wilson Sonsini Yelp YouTube Zynga
Locations of organizations are listed as approximations and not intended for use as a navigational tool.
Building Your Community
30+ STUDENT O R G A N I Z AT I O N S AND CO - CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
“The Black Law Student Association’s Fireside Chat was one of my most memorable moments in law school. It was during my first year and I could immediately feel the love from all of the USF Law alumni. I knew I was coming into a community that was rooting for me and my success.” SOPHIA ABEBE ‘24
Annual Events Throughout the year, student organizations and the Office of Student Affairs bring the community together through social and academic programming. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
• Student orgs fair • Diversity Week • Judges of Color Panel • Pro bono fair • Friendsgiving • Welcome BBQ • Law Review Symposium
• Public Interest Law Foundation Auction • Finals Support Weeks • Public Defender/ District Attorney Panels • Fireside Chat • Wellbeing Week
S T U D E N T O R G A N I Z AT I O N S A N D C O - C U R R I C U L A R AC T I V I T I E S I N C L U D E :
• Animal Legal Defense Fund — USF Chapter
• Intellectual Property and Cyber Law Association
• Pilipinx American Law Society
• Asian Pacific American Law Student Association
• Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal
• Privacy Law Association
• Black Law Students Association
• Labor and Employment Law Student Association
• South Asian Law Student Association
• Business Law Association
• Latinx Law Students Association
• Civil Defense Law Student Association
• Law and Political Economy Society
• Sports and Entertainment Law Association • Street Law Student Association
• Compassionate Lawyering and Peer Support
• Law Review
• Student Bar Association
• Law Student Golf Association
• Criminal Law Society
• Middle Eastern and North African Law Students Association
• Student Immigration Law Association
• Environmental Law Students and Alumni Society • First Generation Law Students Association
• Moot Court Program • Neurodivergent Barristers Alliance
• Pride Law • Public Interest Law Foundation
• Students of Tax and Estate Planning Society • Veterans Oriented Law Society • Women’s Law Association
FROM FIR ST SEME STER TO F I R S T J O B Academic and Bar Exam Success Program (ABES) From orientation to the time you pass the bar exam, ABES offers personalized support and an innovative curriculum to help you achieve your goals. As a first-year, you’ll develop the skills and mindset necessary for law school success. In your second and third years, you’ll begin building your bar skills with practice essays and multiplechoice simulation exams while meeting with faculty for individual study and strategy sessions. And when you’re studying for the bar, the ABES team will be with you every step of the way, providing comprehensive programming and keeping you fueled and motivated with snacks and support.
Academic Support Program (ASP) USF recognizes that the path to law school isn’t the same for everyone. The demands of a legal education can be especially challenging for students who have faced educational, economic, cultural, or historical barriers, or who are returning to the classroom after time away. ASP begins with a two-week summer orientation focused on building community and developing effective study skills. The program continues with a dedicated course in legal analysis and exam writing, upper-division peer mentorship, and individual meetings with the director to build a study plan tailored for you. Students may note their interest in ASP on their USF Law application.
Office of Career Services Staffed by attorney-counselors with decades of experience in legal practice in firms, the judiciary, government, and nonprofits.
100% OF STUDENTS WHO WORKED WITH CAREER SERVICES LAST YEAR SECURED SUMMER POSITIONS AFTER THEIR FIRST AND SECOND YEARS
92% U LT I M AT E B A R P A S S R AT E FOR CLASS OF 2024
“Taking Advanced Legal Analysis as part of ABES meant we had an additional 16 weeks of study that were incorporated into our curriculum. This is a testament to how committed USF is to seeing all students pass the bar exam. I am grateful for all the support and encouragement that the ABES program provided to me.”
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ALEGNA GOMEZ ‘22 JUDICIAL LAW CLERK, U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Alumni Network “Many significant connections in my life were forged during my time as a USF law student and have had a lasting impact on me.”
10,000+ A L U M N I W O R L D W I D E , D E E P LY CONNECTED TO THE N E X T G E N E R AT I O N
YUKI CRUSE ‘15 SENIOR ASSOCIATE LEGAL COUNSEL, EMPLOYMENT LAW, ADOBE
“Many of my professors at USF were kind and nurturing; they took care of me. Without that, I would not be in my role today.” BRENDON WOODS ‘96 CHIEF PUBLIC DEFENDER, ALAMEDA COUNTY
“USF's experiential learning opportunities, especially the International Human Rights Clinic, helped me build confidence in my work.” SHANNON LABUSCHAGNE ‘25 LEGAL FELLOW, CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
“I love what I do, and I am grateful to the faculty and classmates who helped me along this path. I stay connected with the law school as a way of giving back.”
“USF Law gave me more than a degree, it gave me a community. The Moot Court Program specifically helped me find my voice and gave me a launchpad.” CALLA YEE ‘15 PARTNER, TRADEMARK & COPYRIGHT, KILPATRICK TOWNSEND & STOCKTON LLP
“One of the things I love about USF is that it’s a hands-on education. It’s not an ivory tower.” CHINH PHAM ‘93 SHAREHOLDER AND CO-CHAIR OF THE VENTURE CAPITAL & EMERGING TECHNOLOGY GROUP, GREENBERG TRAURIG
“Throughout my career, USF alumni I encountered suggested doors for me to walk through and were there to greet me on the other side.” JUSTICE MARTIN JENKINS ‘80 ASSOCIATE JUSTICE (RET), CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT
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SIMRON GILL ‘12 PRINCIPAL COUNSEL, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, NETFLIX
Admissions Application Timeline • Applications open: Early September
Requirements • USF Law application: www.lsac.org • LSAT • Undergraduate transcripts
• First acceptance letters: November
• Two letters of recommendation
• Rolling admissions through April
• Resume
• Personal statement
Contact Us USF SCHOOL OF L AW
Kendrick Hall 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 ADMISSIONS
lawadmissions@usfca.edu 415.422.6586 FINANCIAL AID
• Schedule a campus tour • Sit in on a class • Meet with admissions: bit.ly/MeetUSFSchoolOfLaw
LEARN MORE
usfca.edu/law/ admissions
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Get in touch to:
lawfinaid@usfca.edu 415.422.6210
W H AT S T U D E N T S S AY “The students USF attracts are among the kindest, most intelligent, and passionate individuals I’ve had the privilege of learning alongside, allowing me to build a strong personal and professional community that continues to shape my growth.”
“I came to USF in large part because of the location in the heart of San Francisco. We have access to exceptional career opportunities across so many legal fields and industries.”
MELITZA ORTEGA ‘27
“The faculty genuinely cares about our development. My professors give feedback whenever we ask, even late at night or over the weekend. It speaks to how invested the faculty are in our growth. That same energy carries over to our classmates as well. People here actually want each other to do well, and that has made the law school experience much more rewarding.”
GABE ADARNE ‘27
“Our professors work so hard to support us students, and it shows. There were a few times when I was nervous about certain topics or assignments, and my professors were always available to chat, both during and outside of their office hours.” FAITH LEE ‘28
JACOB ABDALIAN ‘28
“USF's campus is beautiful, but I chose USF for law school because of the welcoming community and the clear commitment of the administration and faculty to students." MIYANA LEGGETT ‘26
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“I chose USF because of the emphasis on ethical practices and exploring the relationships between social justice, policy, and law.”
KIMBERLY PEREZ ‘28
A Message From the Dean Choosing a law school is the moment you begin to shape the lawyer you'll become. As you weigh your options, I want to share what I believe truly sets USF Law apart. Our faculty are serious scholars who are equally committed to teaching. They know their students by name. They will meet you for coffee, stay after class, and work through a difficult concept until it lands. That kind of engagement is not exceptional here; it is expected. Our students show up for each other in the same way. 3Ls organize study groups for 1Ls not because it’s required, but because they remember what it felt like to start the law school journey. Our student organizations create spaces to learn, recharge, and celebrate, often with alumni who return to mentor and support. The community that forms at USF Law is purposeful and lasting. With 67 percent students of color and 37 percent first-generation college graduates in our recent 1L class, our classrooms are shaped by lived experience as much as case law. That diversity strengthens our discussions, broadens perspectives, and prepares our graduates for the realities of practice. The results speak for themselves. Our alumni are partners at the country's leading law firms. They serve as district attorneys and public defenders, as federal and state court judges, and as leaders in the technology and innovation companies that have defined San Francisco’s global influence. They are civil rights advocates, immigration lawyers, and venture-backed entrepreneurs. Together, they are shaping the legal landscape of one of the most consequential regions in the world. USF Law is where that work begins. So come for a visit. Sit in on a class. Talk with our students and faculty. See for yourself what it feels like to learn in a community that is ambitious, supportive, and deeply committed to your success.
33 | USF SCHOOL OF L AW
JOHANNA K ALB, DE AN AND PROFESSOR OF L AW
C O N TAC T U S
USF School of Law Kendrick Hall 2130 Fulton Street San Francisco, CA 94117-1080 Admissions lawadmissions@usfca.edu 415.422.6586
OMC13532
Financial Aid lawfinaid@usfca.edu 415.422.6210