LAW PORTAL
- About
About USC Gould
USC Gould is a top-ranked law school with a 120-year history and reputation for academic excellence. We are located on the beautiful 228-acre USC University Park Campus, just south of downtown Los Angeles.
- Academics
Academics
Learn about our interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and specialized areas.
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- Admissions
Admissions
USC Gould helps prepare you for a stellar legal career. You can pursue a JD degree, one of our numerous graduate and international offerings, or an online degree or certificate.
- Students
Students
Participate in an unparalleled learning experience with diversity of people and thought. Get involved in the law school community and participate in activities that enhance your studies.
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- Careers
Careers
We work closely with students, graduates and employers to support successful career goals and outcomes. Our overall placement rate is consistently strong, with 94 percent of our JD class employed within 10 months after graduation.
- Faculty
Faculty
Our faculty is distinguished for its scholarship, as well as for its commitment to teaching. Our 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio creates an intimate and collegial learning environment.
- Alumni and Giving
- Admissions
Graduate Certificate Program Options
USC Gould School of Law
- DEGREES
- CERTIFICATES
- + AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
- ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- BUSINESS LAW
- MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT AND TECHNOLOGY LAW
- PUBLIC INTEREST LAW
- + EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
- UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
- CORPORATE AND CUSTOM EDUCATION
- + NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS
- ACADEMIC CALENDAR
- COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
- BAR ADMISSIONS
Build skills in dynamic areas of interest by pursuing one or more certificates offered by USC Gould. Our certificates are designed to deepen your knowledge, further prepare you for specific areas of practice and give you a leg up in your chosen career path.
We offer a wide variety of options to best suit your individual needs and career goals, from earning a certificate concurrent with a USC Gould degree, or obtaining a standalone certificate online or on campus. USC Gould offers the following certificate:
- Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate
- Business Law Certificate
- Legal Compliance Certificate
- Financial Compliance Certificate
- Health Care Compliance Certificate
- Human Resources Law and Compliance Certificate
- Law, Social Justice, and Diversity Certificate
- Media and Entertainment Law Certificate
- Privacy Law and Cyber Security Certificate
- Public Interest Law Certificate
- Social Work Administration Certificate
- Technology and Entrepreneurship Law Certificate
- Transnational Law And Business Certificate
Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate
Covering one of the fastest-growing areas of the law, the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) certificate offers two tracks - mediation and arbitration. An ADR certificate teaches methods for resolving disagreements among parties instead of through costly, time-consuming lawsuits. The certificate instills numerous skills that are invaluable no matter what field of law you ultimately practice. An ADR certificate also prepares you for an array of opportunities in business. An ADR certificate can be obtained:
Business Law Certificate
Businesses large and small require informed, resourceful legal professionals to help them thrive. Faculty with decades of wide-ranging experience teach Business Law certificate students the skills needed to apply legal concepts and strategic thinking to real-world business problems. A business law certificate also offers opportunities for sub-specialization in such areas as taxation, corporations, media and technology, small business or real estate. USC Gould offers the opportunity to obtain a business law certificate:
Legal Compliance Certificate
A legal compliance certificate is designed to instill in you the fundamental knowledge of compliance and related legal issues necessary to implement compliance protocols or programs in your current or future workplaces. The certificate offers the opportunity to pursue specific legal compliance-focused online classes that benefit those who work for large organizations that deal with compliance and regulatory issues as part of regular, daily operations.
Financial Compliance Certificate
The Financial Compliance certificate provides you with the fundamental knowledge of financial compliance, including regulations for financial institutions, and governance of corporate entities and global organizations. The financial compliance certificate creates the opportunity to pursue specific financial- and compliance-focused online classes. These classes benefit those who work for financial institutions or in finance departments, and deal with recurring compliance and finance-related regulatory issues.
Health Care Compliance Certificate
The Health Care Compliance certificate provides you with fundamental knowledge of compliance, risk management, privacy and related legal issues in the health care setting. Ideal for those who wish to pursue specific health care- and compliance-focused online classes, a health care compliance certificate benefits those who work for hospitals, clinics, health insurance providers, or other health care related organizations.
Human Resources Law and Compliance Certificate
The Human Resources Law and Compliance certificate provides you with the fundamental knowledge of human resources law and compliance related to employment. The certificate offers the opportunity to pursue specific human resources law and compliance-focused online classes that benefit those who work for large organizations that deal with employment issues, HR managers who handle negotiations, compliance managers who deal with risk management involving employees, and others in the human resources field.
Law, Social Justice and Diversity Certificate
USC's Gould School of Law and Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offer a residential Law, Social Justice and Diversity certificate which provides you with an overview of common legal issues in the areas of social justice and diversity. The certificate is ideal for those who want to learn the fundamental concepts of social justice, gain basic training in social policy and justice with a focus on those who are underrepresented or experience discrimination and incorporate social justice values into social change processes and actions.
Media and Entertainment Law Certificate
Based in the world's entertainment capital, our Media and Entertainment Law certificate or standalone Entertainment Law and Industry certificate increases your fluency in laws specific to the demanding film, television and media industries. The curriculum's practice-oriented approach gives you the problem-solving skills and business knowledge needed to navigate complex transactional and litigation practices — from intellectual property and patents to copyright infringement and First Amendment issues.
Privacy Law and Cybersecurity certificate
The Privacy Law and Cybersecurity certificate provides you with the fundamental knowledge to understand essential legal background, policies and best practices that preserve digital integrity today. Students will have the opportunity to explore legal framework concerning information privacy in the U.S. and common legal issues and emerging laws in the areas of privacy and cybersecurity.
Public Interest Law Certificate
The Public Interest Law certificate prepares you with the substantive knowledge and practical skills needed for a successful career in the nonprofit or government sectors. The certificate builds upon the school's longstanding national leadership in public interest law. It exposes students to a wide range of substantive areas, faculty and experiences, and is augmented by a mentorship component and an enriching series of relevant speakers and events throughout the year. Courses encompass poverty, criminal justice, immigration, civil liberties, mental health, international human rights and more.
Social Work Administration Certificate
USC's Gould School of Law and Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work offer the Social Work Administration certificate online which provides you with an introduction to the U.S. legal system and deepens your knowledge by offering a working understanding of the law and social work administration. The certificate is geared towards those who work in administrative and leadership positions in the field of social work and within social service agencies, in particular.
Technology and Entrepreneurship Law Certificate
This certificate is designed to provide you with a powerful edge for a career as a transactional lawyer in the startup, venture capital and technology markets. A major theme is the convergence of technology and content. Taught by faculty with decades of experience, the courses focus on transactional skills through simulated negotiation, drafting and other active learning exercises. You will participate in individual and collaborative projects, and hands-on courses that mimic the experience of a junior associate.
Transnational Law and Business Certificate
Today's global businesses face a host of issues — from negotiating cross-border transactions to navigating regulations that vary from country to country. The Transnational Law and Business certificate provides you with a strong legal foundation for the organizational, transactional and compliance aspects of servicing globally engaged clients. You'll also gain an understanding of the policies and best practices that shape international commerce.
RECENT NEWS
‘The Best Beloved Thing is Justice’
June 1, 2023
New book by Gould alum Lisa Kloppenberg celebrates life of Judge and former Dean Dorothy W. Nelson
USC Gould Title IX trailblazer works to put more women in leadership roles
May 30, 2023
"If we can continue moving forward, the future is very bright," says Associate Dean Nickey Woods
USC Gould Commencement Day 2023 - Ceremony Videos
May 12, 2023
Join the USC Gould School of Law in celebrating the accomplishments of the Class of 2023!
