Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
LMU Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, founded in 1920, has had a profound impact on the legal profession in California and beyond. Members of its ,000-plus alumni have gone on to become governors, US ambassadors, CEOs, Supreme Court clerks, state bar presidents, groundbreaking litigators, world-renowned scholars, and more. Known best for producing many of our nation’s most exciting and influential attorneys, Loyola instills in its graduates a deep commitment to public service and ethical practice while emphasizing the philosophical, analytical, and professional skills essential to the lawyering process. It was the first law school in California to establish a pro bono service requirement for its students, who annually give upwards of 40,000 hours of legal service to the community.
The Law School, a division of Loyola Marymount University (LMU), is housed on a campus designed for the study of law by world-renowned architect Frank O. Gehry, who has received international recognition for his work. Located on an entire city block in downtown Los Angeles, the Law School is outfitted with cutting-edge instructional technology. It includes several mock courtrooms with multiple cameras for trial and appellate advocacy practice, some of which occasionally stand in as venues for actual proceedings by the California Court of Appeals. In Loyola’s newly remodeled Social Justice Law Clinic, students and professors operate 20+ clinics in a setting mirroring that of a law firm, with shared client space and resources. Loyola’s William M. Rains Library is one of the largest private law libraries in the western United States, providing extensive research capabilities with a collection of over 600,000 volumes and the latest advances in information technology. Additionally, its vast array of online subscriptions allows students to dive deep in researching a wide range of topics. Other amenities include a wireless-capable printing center and study rooms available for online reservation. Next door, students unwind in the Student Union, which features an entertainment center, large-screen TV, quiet lounge area, mini-kitchen, and desks. The recently inaugurated Multicultural Center celebrates inclusivity and the rich fabric of the law school's community, featuring bookable rooms for student organization use and a setting welcoming to all.
Loyola’s central location, just minutes away from many courts, major law firms, and public interest agencies, provides excellent opportunities for our students. Students also have easy access to LA Live, an entertainment and sports venue that includes the Crypto.com Arena, Microsoft Theater, Grammy Museum, a movie theater, and restaurants.
The JD Program
The JD program prepares students to be outstanding lawyers and judges in any jurisdiction in the United States. Loyola recognizes that a quality education must do more than simply prepare a student to file a lawsuit or draft a contract. The program is designed to teach students to think and reason critically. The faculty strives to instill in students a respect and appreciation for the law and a desire to improve the society in which we live.
The Juris Doctor is offered in both a full-time, three-year day division and a part-time, hybrid evening division that's requires one night a week on campus.
Other Programs
- JD/MBA: Loyola Law School and the Graduate Program of the College of Business Administration of Loyola Marymount University offer a dual-degree program in law and business. Graduates of the program receive the Juris Doctor (JD) and the Master of Business Administration (MBA). A graduate certificate in International Business can also be earned with the MBA. The dual-degree program allows students to earn both degrees in four years instead of the five normally required to complete the degree programs separately. The program is open only to full-time day students. Students may receive up to 12 units of business classes toward the 87 units required to earn a JD, and may be allowed to count up to 12 units of law classes toward the 54 units required to earn an MBA. Applicants must apply and be accepted separately to the Law School and the MBA program. Applicants must also apply and be accepted to the JD/MBA program. Applications for the JD/MBA program may be submitted after the first year of law school.
- Tax LLM and JD/LLM in Tax: Loyola also offers the Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Taxation. This degree distinguishes tax specialists by its advanced legal theory, tax policy, and scholarship. Students may earn both the JD degree and the LLM in Taxation in three years (rather than the four years typically required to complete the degree programs separately) by completing an intensive summer tax session and by taking advanced tax courses that count for double credit toward both the Juris Doctor and the LLM in Taxation.
- MLS: The Master of Science in Legal Studies (MLS) is designed for the professional who desires legal training but does not want to pursue a JD degree. The MLS requires a minimum of 26 units and can be completed either full or part time.
Experiential Learning
Loyola is renowned for its long-standing tradition of graduating lawyers adept in philosophical, analytical and professional skills. This takes the form of real-world simulation in the classroom and hands-on experience in the field.
Experiential learning opportunities at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, include:
- Field placements and practica that provide students with invaluable practical experience while embedding them in some of SoCal's finest public agencies and law firms;
- Concentrations that combine rigorous intellectual training with in-depth clinical and experiential learning components;
- Externships that offer academic credit and exposure to practical experience; and
- Over twenty clinics comprising the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic, Los Angeles's premiere aggregation of renowned social-justice clinics under one roof.
The Loyola Social Justice Clinic
LMU Loyola Law School's unparalleled commitment to social justice is reflected in the variety and richness of its 20+ live-client legal clinics, whose students have dedicated more than 60,000 pro bono hours per year to helping, since 1996. Known collectively as the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic, these clinics share a 23,000-square-foot facility that simulates the experience of a law practice with several specialties, thereby giving students practical experience working in a law-firm setting.
"Loyola’s mission has always focused on serving the underserved,” says Elizabeth Bluestein, Executive Director. “The Social Justice Law Clinic provides our students even more ways to gain practical experience while giving back to the community." To read more about our clinical course offerings, please visit the link below.
Student Life
Student Life
Engaged and committed, the Loyola community brings together a multitude of perspectives, dreams, big ideas and ambitious goals that inspire and invigorate Loyola's campus life. We celebrate this diversity in and outside the classroom and the student experience highlights the importance of understanding a wide arange of backgrounds, cultures and points of view..
Our downtown Los Angeles campus, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, reflects this diversity. Colorful, contemplative and unique, the campus is is a hidden gem with terrific proximity to downtown courts, law firms and nonprofit organizations.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
The university offers a comprehensive financial aid program and university financial aid staff can assist students through all stages of the financial aid process.
Admitted students are automatically considered for scholarship programs during the admissions process. The committee uses the merits of the application file to evaluate the admitted student’s potential to contribute to our community. In addition to the general scholarship program, Loyola offers the Public Interest Scholars Program and the HBCU Scholars Program. The law school also offers an Entertainment Law Fellows and Business Law Fellows programs that include mentorship from program directors and select networking opportunities.
For graduates working at public interest organizations or with government agencies, a Loan Repayment Assistance Program is available.
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Admission to the law school is based on a comprehensive evaluation that includes LSAT or GRE performance, undergraduate academic record, the personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Professional experience, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and qualities such as motivation, maturity, and focus are also closely evaluated. A prospective student may also submit a résumé and optional statements (see application guidelines).
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis. The committee begins reading complete files in December. Deadlines are February 1 for the Day program and April 15 for the Hybrid Evening program. Early applicants have greater prospects for gaining admission and receiving scholarship awards.
Admitted Applicant Profile
