The curriculum at the University of San Diego School of Law combines traditional classroom learning with unique hands-on learning experiences. Both our Juris Doctorate (JD) and Master of Laws (LLM) programs are highly-flexible and provide students with a wide range of opportunities to discover what about the law is interesting to them!
Course Information
Syllabi and Class Assignments
The School of Law’s repository for syllabi and class assignments is available online, using your USD credentials.
*NOTE: Information will only be available if and when your professor provides it to us — for this reason, you might consider checking for updates daily as it gets closer to the start of the semester.
Experiential Advocacy Practicum
Part of the required coursework for all first-year students, the Experiential Advocacy Practicum allows law students to practice skills common to those performed by junior attorneys. The practicum represents an expansion of experiential learning and the integration of practical skills training with traditional classroom instruction.
Programs
Current and previous semesters' schedules are available through the MySanDiego Portal. To view the course schedule in the MySanDiego portal:
- Under "Torero Hub," click on "Law Student."
- Under "Banner Registration Tools" click "Look Up Classes."
- Select the semester you want to view.
- In the "College" drop down menu, select "School of Law."
- You can sort by course title by clicking on "Title" at the top of the left-hand column.
- You can also search specifically for upper division writing ("Law - Upper Division Writing") and experiential courses ("Experiential") by clicking on "Advanced Search" and using the attribute field.
The following courses will typically be offered as described below:
Fall
- Community Property
- Constitutional Law II
- Corporations
- Criminal Procedure I
- Evidence
- Fundamentals of Bar Exam Writing (December graduates only)
- Multistate Bar Exam Review (December graduates only)
- Professional Responsibility
- Remedies
- Tax
- Trusts and Estates
Spring
- Community Property
- Constitutional Law II
- Corporations
- Criminal Procedure I
- Evidence
- Fundamentals of Bar Exam Writing
- Multistate Bar Exam Review
- Professional Responsibility
- Remedies
- Tax
- Trusts and Estates
Upon graduation from the University of San Diego School of Law, students will be expected to demonstrate the following legal competencies:
- Doctrinal skills. Knowledge of core substantive and procedural legal doctrines, as well as of the specialized legal doctrines relevant to their chosen areas of practice.
- Analytical skills. Critical reasoning and problem solving skills, including how to identify legal issues, do legal research, apply the relevant law to the facts, and effectively analyze each aspect of a case or matter.
- Ethical and professional skills. Understanding of how to be ethical and responsible attorneys, conduct themselves in a professional manner, and fulfill their obligations to clients and society.
- Communication skills. Written and oral communications skills appropriate in the legal context and effective for the intended audience.
- Practice skills. Practical and managerial skills relevant to their chosen areas of practice.
Information about graduate requirements for each entering class.
Academic Rules
This version of the Academic Rules is fully effective for students who began law school in Fall 2024 or later. Other rules may apply to students who began law school before that date; these students should check with the Office for Law Student Affairs with any questions.
The University of San Diego School of Law is committed to complying with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and analogous California Laws, in all its programs and activities. The Academic Rules of the School of Law will be construed to assure compliance with these laws. Students with verified disabilities may request modification, accommodations or auxiliary aids which will enable them to participate in and benefit from all the School of Law's programs and activities.