Welcome to USC Law.
Whether you are considering USC Law as a prospective student, seeking information on our professors or research programs, or simply browsing the web, I think you'll discover through this web site that USC Law is an amazing place where learning, community and multidisciplinary study combine to help create the nation's most exciting legal education programs.
One of the most prominent law schools in the country, USC Law offers a forward-looking, interdisciplinary legal education guided by nationally renowned professors and informed by the diversity of a friendly and collegial student body. Located in the nation's second largest city, one of the largest and most dynamic in the world, the school offers myriad opportunities to apply the law to real-world problems through partnerships with some of the world's leading companies and law firms. Through interdisciplinary academic training and practical application of skills, students acquire the experience necessary to succeed as leaders in a global environment.
Some things you might not know about USC Law:
Our professors are among the nation's most respected legal scholars. USC Law professors are shaping the future of the legal profession and the academy through innovative, interdisciplinary research. Many professors hold doctoral and master's degrees in subjects ranging from economics and history to psychology and political science. By examining the law through these disciplines, USC faculty develop research and ideas that provide real-world solutions to legal and business problems. Our professors are frequently called upon by legislators, businesses and the media to provide insight and expertise in matters ranging from legal theory to land use and human rights to corporate culture.
USC Law is the most diverse of the nation's top law schools. Half of the school's students come from outside California, and nearly 40 percent identify themselves as racial and ethnic minorities. Fifty percent of students are women. Many bring master's degrees and professional experiences in fields such as business, education and government. The diversity of experiences and ideas among students enriches the overall educational experience by providing new, broad perspectives on the law and its effects on diverse communities and professions.
Our research centers are on the cutting edge of legal theory. USC Law is home to seven thriving research centers: the Center for the Study of Law and Politics; the Initiative and Referendum Institute; the Center for Communication Law and Policy; the Center for Law, History and Culture; the Center for Law and Philosophy; the Center for Law, Economics and Organization; and the Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics. By studying the law's intersections with a range of disciplines, these centers are leading the effort to make legal theory more responsive to real-world needs and applications.
Our location in Los Angeles offers unique opportunities for work and learning. In the heart of the nation's second-largest city and the capital of the Pacific Rim, USC Law benefits from partnerships with international leaders in law, business, entertainment, communication and public policy. Throughout their legal education, students are able to meet, study with and work for people, companies and institutions that are shaping a global future.
We are leaders in public interest law. Through clinical education, internships and externships, and a range of pro bono placement opportunities, USC Law believes community service is our responsibility. Clinical programs enable students to provide direct legal assistance to clients and represent them in court under the supervision of clinical attorneys. Our student-run Public Interest Law Foundation is among the nation's largest and most active such organizations, offering summer grants to support student work in community legal aid and nonprofit agencies. And our Office of Public Service is developing innovative programs that combine professional experience and community service - a hallmark of the University of Southern California.
Our alumni are leaders in business, law and government: USC Law alumni work in all fields of business throughout the world. Graduates are partners in the world's largest law firms, CEOs and presidents of multimillion-dollar companies, and leaders of civil rights movements. Since its founding in 1900, the school has produced hundreds of California judges, and graduates have held elected offices ranging from mayor of cities large and small to U.S. Senator. A tightly knit family, members of the USC Law network are known for leadership in their fields and loyalty to each other.
Our collegial reputation is no myth. As part of the University of Southern California, USC Law offers all the advantages and resources of a major research university. But USC Law itself is small and intimate; students have immediate and easy access to professors, administrators know students by name, and the friendly atmosphere extends from faculty to staff to students. Collegiality, rather than competition, is the defining characteristic of our community.
Clearly, I'm proud to be dean of such a tremendous law school. I hope this web site is a helpful resource to you. We welcome all inquiries about our programs; please use our contact page to email questions to the appropriate departments.
Thank you for visiting USC Law.
Robert K. Rasmussen
Dean and Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law
