University of San Francisco School of Law

Introduction

Founded in 1912, the University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law has a tradition of educating effective lawyers who graduate with the professional skills and theoretical foundation necessary to succeed in the legal profession.

The San Francisco Bay Area is an extension of the campus and plays a vital role in the educational experience. The school is located on a hilltop campus overlooking Golden Gate Park, the Pacific Ocean, and downtown San Francisco. It is minutes away from the Civic Center, home to federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as federal and state courts, including the California Supreme Court. The city and its surrounding communities provide exceptional learning, practice, and service placements to complement the academic program. Students represent clients in law school clinics, extern in major national and international law firms, clerk for judges, and work for public interest organizations.

The USF School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

Commitment to Justice

The USF School of Law offers a rigorous education with a global perspective in a diverse, supportive community. Our graduates are skilled, ethical professionals prepared for any legal career, with a commitment to social justice as their enduring foundation. Our inclusive Jesuit mission integrates humanity and ethical conduct into the practice of law. Evidence of this mission in action includes our extensive list of programs dedicated to serving communities throughout the United States and around the globe and our unique curriculum focused on ethics and professional responsibility.

Inspiring Facilities

The USF School of Law is housed in the Koret Law Center and comprises Kendrick Hall, where classrooms and faculty offices are located, and the Dorraine Zief Law Library. Kendrick Hall features a rotunda skylight, spiral stairways, and circular configurations that enhance natural light and offer informal gathering spaces for students and faculty. Students prepare for trial practice in a state-of-the-art, 70-seat moot courtroom. Administrative offices are located in Kendrick Hall to provide easy access to services and staff. Office space for student organizations and clinical programs, a student lounge, and a café are found here as well.

Linked to Kendrick Hall by a soaring glass atrium, the Dorraine Zief Law Library is a modern, technologically advanced study environment. It houses an extensive collection and connects to countless online resources. The library also features individual and group study rooms equipped with audiovisual equipment, computer classrooms, and research rooms.

As part of a larger campus community, USF law students benefit from the amenities and facilities of a major urban university, including the outstanding recreational and fitness facilities of USF’s award-winning Koret Health and Recreation Center. The university’s 55-acre campus also features a main library, bookstore, student center, and dining facilities.

Educating Legal Professionals

The core curriculum in both the full-time and part-time programs includes courses essential to a solid understanding of dominant legal concepts. The core curriculum is complemented by a rich offering of courses and programs providing opportunities for specialized study and practical experience. Elective courses, which full-time students may pursue in their first year, are constantly updated to reflect changes in the law, to meet the pace of technological change, and to match student interest.

JD certificate programs and elective clusters offer concentrated study for students who wish to pursue particular career objectives or develop specialized skills. Notable among these are courses in international and comparative law, employment law, public interest law, advocacy and alternative dispute resolution, business law, and intellectual property and technology law.

There are also vast opportunities to hone practical skills in one of our many externship programs or by handling real cases under the supervision of a professor in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Law Clinic, Data Privacy Law Clinic, Employment Law Clinic, Entrepreneurial Ventures Legal Services Project, Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Law Clinic, Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic, Internet and Intellectual Property Justice Clinic, Investor Justice Clinic, Mediation Clinic, and Racial Justice Law Clinic. Our Civil and Criminal Law Externship Program matches students with private law firms, district attorneys, public defenders, or one of our other over 250 preapproved employers throughout the city and region, while the Judicial Externship Program facilitates student placements in a variety of courthouses.