UC Law San Francisco (formerly Hastings)
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings Law) was established in 1878 as the original law department of the University of California. Today, UC Law SF is one of California's largest and most diverse law schools, with an alumni network of over 22,000 graduates practicing in every state in the U.S.
The JD Program
UC Law SF offers a full-time, three-year (six semester) Juris Doctor program. The first-year curriculum focuses on required doctrinal courses including Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Property, Torts, and Contracts, among others. Coursework taken during the second and third years is largely elective. Students can choose to pursue one of twelve concentrations and take advantage of the school's plentiful experiential learning opportunities by enrolling in a clinic, an externship, or both.
Clinics
UC Law San Francisco offers fifteen clinics, through which students work with real clients, helping them solve legal problems with genuine consequences. Some of the College's clinics are based on campus, while others involve an external field placement. UC Law SF's clinics work with low income workers, low-income taxpayers, immigrants, asylum seekers, and residents of the adjoining Tenderloain neighborhood.
Externships
UC Law SF offers four externship programs: Alternative Dispute Resolution, Judicial, Legal, and the UCDC semester for students who would like to spend a semester in Washington, DC. Many UC Law SF graduates credit their externship experiences as being pivotal in terms of their preparedness to begin practicing law immediately after graduating and passing the bar.
Pro Bono
UC Law SF's Pro Bono program offers students the opportunity to meaningfully engage with clients and bring essential legal services to underserved communities. Students who choose to participate Pro Bono activities make meaningful connections with non-profit advocacy organizations and practicing public interest attorneys.
Journals
UC Law SF is home to nine scholarly law journals including the flagship UC Law Review. The College's journals cover subject areas including business and commercial law, communications and entertainment law, Constitutional law, environmental law, international law, racial and economic justice, science and tech law, and gender justice.
Student Life
Student Organizations
UC Law SF is home to approximately 50 to 70 student organizations, journals, and professional skills teams including the College's perennially successful Moot Court team. Student organization interest areas run the gamut from advocacy and volunteer groups to affinity groups to athletic teams. Each year a student organization expo is held early in the Fall semester to introduce first-year students to the many options available.
On-Campus Housing
On-campus housing is available in the Academe at 198 building located at 198 McAllister Street, directly across from the College's academic buildings at 200 McAllister Street and 333 Golden Gate Avenue. The Academe at 198 offers a variety of options including efficiencies, studios, and one-bedroom apartments. Spouse and significant others who are not UC Law SF students are permitted to live in on-campus housing, as are canine companions.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Tuition and Aid
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Tuition |
$47,031.00
|
| Fees |
$7,109.00
|
| Expected Cost of Attendance |
$87,276.00
|
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
Applications are evaluated holistically by three different reviewers before a final decision is rendered. The Admissions Committee reviews all parts of the application including the personal statement, resume, recommendation letters, transcripts, and standardized test scores. The application form for Fall enrollment in the JD program typically goes live on the LSAC website on or around September 1 the year before you plan to enroll. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in October. Applying early in the cycle is strongly encouraged.
Admitted Applicant Profile
