Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our DEI Philosophy

USD School of Law is committed to fostering a culture in which members of the community from all backgrounds and lived experiences can thrive.  Our goal is to create a learning environment in which students feel welcomed, included, and a full sense of belonging, while promoting vital discourse and an open exchange of ideas.  By interweaving these values into our educational mission, we aim to cultivate legal professionals who can diligently represent all clients and be changemakers for their communities.

Dean Robert Schapiro

Our Institutional Work

• Admissions & Financial Aid
  Check out our Admissions & Financial Aid Office to learn about our affinity mixers for admitted students, our work to streamline the pipeline for underrepresented students in San Diego and California to attend law school, and scholarships specifically for diverse students.
• Alumni Relations
  Visit our Alumni Relations team to learn about our Alumni Affinity Networks or their fundraising efforts dedicated to diverse students.
• Law Careers
  The Office of Career & Professional Development partners with prominent legal employers as well as local and national bar associations to provide diverse law students with opportunities for mentorship and pathways to employment in law firms, corporate legal departments, public agencies, non-profit organizations and courts.
• Law Student Affairs ("LSA")
  The LSA team leads student-driven DEI efforts and programming, including managing our student affinity organizations, running the JD Immersion program, hosting the JD as Me series, and leading SOAR DEI student leadership trainings.
• Office of Graduate and International Programs ("OGIP")

  The OGIP manages our LLM in Comparative Law, Maestría en Derecho (LLM) en Derecho Comparado,and the US Law & Policy Program. They bring international exchange students from 10 countries into our classrooms, send our JD students to live and study abroad in a variety of global settings, and actively seek and support graduate law students from underrepresented populations.

   

• Pardee Legal Research Center ("LRC")
  The Legal Research Center  undertakes DEI initiatives that reflect the values in the LRC’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Statement and are spearheaded by the LRC’s DEIA Committee. These include events for faculty and students, resource guides and book displays on diversity topics, additions to the library’s collection, and facilitated learning and conversation for LRC staff.
• Campus-Wide Initiatives
  Central Campus, through the leadership of the Center for Inclusion and Diversity, has produced a Strategic Plan for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence.  There are also resources available to all students!

Our DEI Committees & Strategic Plans

DEI Leadership

View All News

View All Events