USC Gould formal logo, gold on cardinal

University of Southern California, Gould School of Law

The information on this page was provided by the law school.

Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs


The JD Program

USC Gould is an elite law school committed to academic excellence. Our success is comprised of a world-class faculty, a close-knit and diverse student body, a well-situated campus, an interdisciplinary curriculum and a supportive alumni network.

The faculty is nationally recognized for its scholarship in many fields, its interdisciplinary focus, public service and leadership in the profession. Our small class size and low professor-to-student ratio create an intimate and collegial learning environment.

Founded in 1900, USC Gould was Southern California's first law school. From the school's earliest days, we enrolled women and students of color. Today we maintain one of the nation's most diverse law student populations and enroll the most international students. This creates an environment that fosters a wide range of perspectives and experiences.

Our location in Los Angeles provides students with vast opportunities in one of the top legal markets and busiest courts in the nation. From Silicon Beach to downtown L.A., USC Gould offers access to clerkships, externships and career options with law and business firms, public interest agencies, and entertainment, media and technology firms. The law school's location on USC's University Park Campus supports numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary education and research among the multitude of renowned schools.

USC pioneered the concepts of interdisciplinary and clinical legal education. The first modern legal aid program grew out of a USC Gould clinic established in 1929. And, in 1965, we became one of the first schools to bring an interdisciplinary focus to the study of law. Today, our curriculum is infused with courses at the intersection of a variety of key disciplines, and we offer over a dozen dual-degree programs. Through our numerous clinics, practicums and externships, students gain hands-on training in the practice of law, working with real clients.

The law school boasts a supportive and tight-knit alumni population of more than 10,000 professionals around the globe. The Trojan Family is a fiercely loyal and powerful network deeply committed to the success of USC graduates. Our alumni are partners in the world's largest law firms, head major international companies, and serve leadership roles in government and public service organizations. More than 500 USC Gould alumni have served as state or federal judges.

Learn more about the JD program at USC Gould

Career Placement and Bar Passage

Our USC Gould JD Career Services Office is dedicated to providing students and graduates with the information and tools necessary for successful career development and advancement.

We believe in a proactive approach to helping you find not only a job practicing law but a job that fits your particular area of interest. Our counselors don't wait for you to come to them, they reach out to you, and they reach out to potential employers on your behalf.

We assist you in your pursuit of careers in a wide variety of settings — including large and small law firms, public interest organizations, government agencies, corporate and business environments, academia, judicial clerkships and JD Advantage careers.

From the beginning of your legal studies, the Career Services Office works with you to tailor an individualized plan in preparation for your transition to the practice of law. In October of your first year, a career service counselor will sit down with you, begin a conversation focused on your individual career path and help you build an action plan. Your counselor will work with you to build a résumé, refine your interviewing skills and define what type of law and in what environment you may want to practice. Then together, you will begin the process of building a target employer list.

Through an extensive array of services such as individual counseling, informational and skill-building workshops, mock interviews, mentor lunches, written and online resources, job-posting databases, numerous on- and off-campus employment fairs, and a substantial alumni network, the Career Services Office helps educate you for a lifetime of successful career management.

Learn more about career placement at USC Gould

Tuition and Aid

Expense Cost
Tuition
$72,798.00
Fees
$1,200.00
Expected Cost of Attendance
$88,178.00

Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers

The primary goal of the admissions process is to enroll students who demonstrate outstanding academic and professional promise and whose background and experience will enhance the diversity of the student body or the profession, or will enrich the educational environment of the USC Gould School of Law. USC Gould's admissions process is guided by the view that a student body which reflects the broad and rich diversity of our society provides a superior educational environment for all students.

Learn more about admission at USC Gould

Admitted Applicant Profile

25-75% UGPA Range at Southern California:

3.77 to 3.96

25-75% LSAT Score Range at Southern California:

165 to 169

25-75% UGPA Range at Southern California:

3.77 to 3.96

25-75% LSAT Score Range at Southern California:

165 to 169

25-75% UGPA Range at Southern California:

3.77 to 3.96

25-75% LSAT Score Range at Southern California:

165 to 169

Contact Information

699 Exposition Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0074,
United States