Why USD School of Law?

USD School of Law offers the perfect climate for studying law. It’s not just about the great weather and our location in America’s finest city and on one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. It’s also about our outstanding faculty, dedication to student success, extensive alumni network, and innovative skills training. USD is recognized for having one of the most collegial and supportive environments among its law school competitors. USD develops human capital in a rigorous and collaborative learning environment, shaping leaders who will carry forward that same spirit of collaboration to make a positive impact where they work and in the communities where they live.

Responding to changes in the marketplace, USD School of Law has set a new course to ensure that our graduates are not only well-educated and well-trained, but also well-networked. Our faculty members are internationally recognized and experts in their fields- and we provide comprehensive curriculum, centers and institutes, and hands-on practical skills training. Moreover, we have actively engaged our powerful network of 14,000 alumni to assist with advising and career placement. These initiatives are designed to ensure that our graduates are prepared to realize the full value of their legal education.

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Begin quote I was told that law school would be this shark tank of individuals constantly competing and undermining each other, ripping pages out of legal text books looking to get an edge. But what I found at this law school was a community of people that always helped each other out. We shared outlines, we shared notes, we shared stories, and because of that, more than anything else we learned in law school, we will remember the people we met here at USD as the best part of the experience. – William Lange, Class of 2017, during 2017 Commencement Student Address

Our JD Program is Challenging, Collaborative and Practical.

Outstanding faculty, comprehensive curriculum, centers and institutes.

At USD School of Law, students are taught by highly ranked, internationally recognized scholars and experts in their fields who are also great teachers. Our faculty also includes leading practitioners and judges who teach as adjunct faculty, bringing their practical skills and experience into the classroom. USD School of Law offers unsurpassed opportunities to explore broad areas of the law, gain highly valuable specialized legal expertise, explore the intersections between law and other disciplines and engage in important public interest and policy research.

Dominance of regional legal market.

San Diego is a global center of innovation especially known for its life sciences, healthcare, technology and action sports industries. The presence of many national and global law firms makes San Diego a sophisticated legal market, offering many exciting employment opportunities to our talented graduates. Graduates of USD School of Law dominate both the public and private sectors of San Diego's legal community. USD School of Law has also established a strong national reputation and reach with alumni who are leaders in government and at major law firms and businesses throughout the United States.

Innovative skills training.

USD is committed to providing students with hands-on practical experience through our extensive clinics, advocacy programs, externships and other placement programs. Practical training starts during the first-year with an innovative and new Practicum, which integrates transactional and litigation skills into the core curriculum.

Culture of collaboration.

USD School of Law students are highly talented and highly motivated, with diverse backgrounds, who also share a common commitment to excellence, teamwork and collaboration.

Strength of alumni network.

As USD School of Law graduates, students will become part of a strong network of more than 14,000 law alumni who are successful in diverse practice areas and industries throughout the United States and around the world. USD law alumni are distinguished by their leadership, commitment to service and willingness to mentor and support our students and recent graduates.

70% of all students receive scholarship support with an average funding of more than $20,000 annually.

USD also currently offers more than 80 privately funded scholarships to students based on need, academic achievement, leadership and other criteria.

Graduates of USD School of Law are leaders in the legal profession and in their communities.

USD School of Law counts among its alumni numerous federal, state and local judges, members of Congress, ambassadors to the United Nations, state attorneys general, city and district attorneys, some of the country's finest litigators and legal practitioners, presidents of emerging and major corporations and national sports teams, and advisors to United States presidents and foreign leaders.