Student Affairs Office
USC Gould School of Law

Student Affairs Office - Suite 104

USC Gould School of Law is dedicated to providing a cohesive experience that helps students achieve their academic, personal and professional goals. The Student Affairs Office is the place for students to come with questions throughout their time at Gould. The office serves as a central hub coordinating with faculty and administration on academic and student issues and provides campus resources when life presents challenges.

Our mission

is to facilitate learning and support the health and well-being of every student by developing a culture of intellectual curiosity, accountability, inclusion and respect for each other and ourselves.

Our vision

is to set the standard for innovative and student-centered programs and services in support of an ever-growing diverse population. Our goal is to develop leaders who will increase access to justice, strengthen the legal profession and make a difference in our society and in our world.

Services

Student Care

The Student Care team is the first stop for guidance on all aspects of law school life outside of academics. We provide non-clinical counseling services and liaise between students and other administrative offices. In addition, we oversee the Peer Mentor Program and provide administrative guidance for more than 40 student organizations. We also plan school-wide programming such as Wellness Week and coordinate the publication of five student journals. Finally, the Student Care team facilitates professional networking and mentoring via the Gould Gateway platform and sponsors the C. David Molina First Generation Professionals Program.

Academic Services: Records and Registration

In collaboration with the faculty, the Academic Services team helps develop students from orientation to graduation by supporting the academic aspects of their law school experience. We provide academic advising to help students meet their graduation and bar requirements, and enrich their intellectual and professional development.

Externships

Externships provide an opportunity for experiential learning in judicial chambers, nonprofit and public interest organizations, government agencies and in-house counsels' offices, including those in the entertainment business. Read more about our externship program.

Study Abroad

In our increasingly interconnected world, exposure to international and comparative law is invaluable. Our longstanding exchanges with partner institutions in five countries offer the chance for students to immerse themselves in a foreign legal system while gaining a new perspective in international law. Read more about our partner schools.

Assistance to Students with Disabilities

The Student Affairs Office works closely with the Office of Student Accessibility Services to provide reasonable accommodations for students consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

International Student Support

International JD students are encouraged to use the Student Affairs Office as a resource for their needs. We work with the campus Office of International Services to ensure our international students thrive during their time at Gould. Occupational and Curricular Practical Training information is located on the LawPortal.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism

At USC Gould, we promote a culture of inclusive engagement. Although a separate office, for student convenience, the DEIA Office is located within the Student Affairs Suite.

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