Loyola Law School, Loyola Marymount University

Law School and Campus

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, founded in 1920, has had a profound impact on the legal profession in California and beyond. Members of its 17,000-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 21 clinics in a setting mirroring that of a law firm, with shared client space and resources. Loyola’s William M. Rains Law 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.

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 Staples Center, Microsoft Theater, Grammy Museum, a movie theater, and restaurants.

Juris Doctor (JD)

The JD program prepares students to be effective 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, four-year evening division.

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 only open 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.
• MT: The Master of Tax Law program makes the same Tax LLM curriculum and training available to non-lawyers, in a format intended to assist students in meeting the California “fifth year” CPA licensure requirements and training.
• MLS: The Master of Science in Legal Studies (MLS) is designed for the professional that 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.

Faculty

The Loyola faculty are exceptional teachers who maintain an open-door policy to encourage free and continuous interaction with their students. They are scholars who publish innovative theories, influencing the development and direction of the legal profession. Loyola professors regularly testify before the US Senate and other high-level committees in their areas of expertise. They also draft hundreds of scholarly articles and books, advise law firms and agencies on recent developments, and lecture at universities around the world. Our faculty include seasoned attorneys with extensive and varied practice experience as US Supreme Court clerks, public interest lawyers, agency chiefs, and law firm partners.

Curriculum

The Law School’s Concentration Programs combine rigorous intellectual training with clinical and experiential programs and are guided by our faculty and alumni advisors. Concentrations are available in Civil Litigation and Advocacy, Corporate Law, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity and Data Privacy, Entertainment/Media Law, Immigrant Advocacy, Intellectual Property, International and Comparative Law, Law and Entrepreneurship, Public Interest, and Tax Law. Students can earn recognition on their transcript for completing these intensive programs. This program signals to employers that Loyola students will provide immediate value and perform effectively as soon as they enter the legal profession. Similarly, the Law School’s Courses of Study provide an academic framework in several subject areas: Environmental Law, Family Law, Health Care Law, and Law of the Political Process.

Innovative Programs, Centers, and Clinics

Loyola demonstrates its commitment to public service by requiring all students to donate 40 hours to working in the public interest sector. The Public Interest Law Department coordinates public interest activities, counsels students about law practice and fellowships, and administers five public service programs. A student-run Public Interest Law Foundation holds an annual fund-raiser to support students who pursue summertime public interest positions. The Law School also boasts the Center for Conflict Resolution, in which students help clients with issues ranging from consumer debt to divorce to landlord-tenant issues. Students also work on behalf of real clients in the Center for Juvenile Law and Policy, Capital Habeas Litigation Clinic, Immigrant Justice Clinic, and many other clinics. Students in Loyola’s Project for the Innocent have worked to free multiple clients serving life terms on wrongful murder convictions. Elsewhere, students work with faculty as research assistants or participate in our faculty-led conferences and symposia. Students have many opportunities through these programs to work with clients, practice their skills, and receive individualized feedback from faculty members and directors.

Our excellent trial advocacy programs also allow upper-division students to compete in noted trial competitions. Loyola students have won numerous awards at international and national trial advocacy and moot court competitions in recent years. Loyola’s Byrne Trial Advocacy Team won the prestigious National Civil Trial Competition in 2014, 2015, and 2018.

Other opportunities include the Entertainment Law Practicum, which allows students to get hands-on experience through field placements at television networks, major movie studios, record companies, talent agencies, and entertainment law firms. Loyola’s Business Law Practicum offers an innovative approach to educating business lawyers with practical, real-world training. Through the Immigrant Justice Practicum students cover substantive immigration law issues in a fall semester class and work in the spring semester for an organization that handles immigration issues. The Fashion Law Project, the first of its kind on the West Coast, is a unique academic center dedicated to advancing the practice of fashion law through innovative curricular offerings, practical-training opportunities, and topical symposia. Finally, our externship program exposes students to many other areas of practice as they work for government offices, public interest organizations, or private corporations.

Admission and Financial Aid/Scholarships

Admission to the law school is based on a comprehensive evaluation that includes LSAT 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.

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 16 for the evening program. Early applicants have greater prospects for gaining admission and receiving scholarship awards.

All admitted students are considered for our scholarship programs. The committee uses the merits of the 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 for students interested in having a career in public service. For graduates working at public interest organizations or with government agencies, a Loan Repayment Assistance Program is also available.

Career Development

The Career Development Center offers a wealth of services, programs, and resources to students and alumni. Recently launched initiatives include the Resident Associate Program, a one-year program that allows legal employers to hire recent graduates and expose new attorneys to critical legal skills. A large professional staff counsels and assists students and graduates in the job-development process. Hundreds of national, international, and regional employers recruit from Loyola annually. Graduates are employed by the nation’s most prestigious private and public legal organizations. Our alumni are a critical source of support through participation in recruitment and hiring and their involvement with campus programs.