Juris Doctor Dual Degrees Courses of Instruction

The University of Southern California Law School was the first law school in the Southwest. It was established in 1896 by a determined group of students. After deciding that the prevailing training system of apprenticeships in lawyers' offices was unsatisfactory, they formed the Los Angeles Law Students Association. In 1900, the law school originally formed by the students became part of the University of Southern California.

The Law School provides education and training to diverse groups within the legal profession. Of course, the primary goal of the USC Law School is the education of future lawyers, and the Juris Doctor program is the core of the enterprise. Although the school has a strong regional base, it has always been a national law school, attracting students and faculty from around the nation.

Administration

Scott H. Bice, J.D., Dean

Scott A. Altman, H.D., Associate Dean

Albert O. Brecht, J.D., ML.L., Associate Dean, Law Library and Information Technology

Karen A. Lash, J.D., Associate Dean

Robert M. Saltzman, J.D., Associate Dean

John G. "Tom" Tomlinson, Ph.D., Associate Dean

Lisa M. Mead, J.D., Assistant Dean

Vicki Brown, Assistant Dean

The Law School 104
(213) 740-7331
E-mail: Admissions@law.usc.edu

Faculty

Carl Mason Franklin Dean's Chair in Law: Scott H. Bice, J.D.

Carolyn Craig Franklin Chair in Law and Religion: Ronald R. Garet, Ph.D., J.D.*

Henry W. Bruce Professor of Law and University Professor of Law and Medicine: Alexander M. Capron, LL.B.

UPS Professorship in Law and Gerontology: Martin L. Levine, J.D., LL.D.

Florine and Ervin Yoder Professorship in Real Estate Law: George Lefcoe, LL.B.

Herbert W. Armstrong Professorship in Constitutional Law: Larry G. Simon, LL.B.

Leon Benwell Professorship in Law and International Relations: Edwin M. Smith, J.D.*

Roy P. Crocker Professorship in Law: Christopher D. Stone, J.D.

William T. Dallesi Professorship in Law: Matthew L. Spitzer, J.D., Ph.D.

Robert Kingsley Professorship in Law and Political Science: Susan Estrich, J.D.

Legion Lex Professorship in Law: Erwin Chemerinsky, J.D.*

Dorothy W. Nelson Professorship in Law: Michael H. Shapiro, M.A., J.D.

George T. and Harriet E. Pfleger Professorship in Law: Charles H. Whitebread, LL.B.

Torrey H. Webb Professorship in Law: W. David Slawson, M.A., LL.B.*

Professors: Scott Altman, J.D.; Jennifer Arlen, J.D., Ph.D.; Jody Armour, J.D.; Albert O. Brecht, J.D., ML.L. (Director of the Law Library); Howard F. Chang, J.D., Ph.D.; Marshall Cohen, M.A. (Oxon.) (Philosophy); Geoffrey Cowan, J.D.; Thomas D. Griffith, J.D.; Deborah Hensler, Ph.D. (Social Science); Gregory C. Keating, J.D.; Michael S. Knoll, Ph.D., J.D.; Edward J. McCaffery, J.D.; John E. Rolph, Ph.D. (Business Administration); Elyn R. Saks, J.D. (Psychiatry, Behavioral Sciences); Nomi M. Stolzenberg, J.D.

Associate Professors: Thomas D. Lyon, J.D., Ph.D.; Nancy Marder, M.Phil., J.D.; Eric L. Talley, J.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professors: David B. Cruz, J.D.; Ariela J. Gross, J.D., Ph.D.

Adjunct Professor: Robert M. Saltzman, J.D.*

Adjunct Assistant Professors: Laura Cadra, J.D., M.L.I.S., Denise Meyer, J.D.; Brian Raphael, J.D., M.L.S., Denise Russell, J.D., M.L.I.S.

Clinical Professors: Michael J. Brennan, J.D.; Lee W. Campbell, J.D.; Noel M. Ragsdale, J.D.; Charles D. Weisselberg, J.D.

Clinical Associate Professor: Carrie Hemple, J.D.

Emeritus Professors: David W. Carroll, LL.B.*; Carl M. Franklin, M.B.A., J.D., J.S.D.; Francis E. Jones, Jr., J.D., LL.M.*; Robert S. Thompson, LL.B. (Legion Lex Professor of Law)

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

Degree Programs

Juris Doctor

The Juris Doctor (J.D.) is the basic law degree. To obtain the degree, full-time attendance for six semesters is required. During the first year, the student takes a required curriculum of basic courses that examines fundamental legal institutions and addresses legal problems relevant to today's society and the modern practice of law. The second and third years of law study are primarily elective. The student has discretion in course selection, except for writing requirements.

Dual Degrees

The Law School maintains dual degree programs with the graduate programs in accounting, business administration, economics, gerontology, philosophy, public administration, social work, international relations, religion, real estate development and communications. These programs enable qualified students to earn a law degree (J.D.) and the appropriate master's degree. If the master's degree normally requires one year of study, a student in a dual degree program earns both degrees in only three years. If the master's normally requires two years of post-baccalaureate courses, a total of four years is required.

The goal of these programs is to encourage law students to gain a recognized competence in another discipline which has a direct relevance to the roles lawyers play in society. The dual degree programs are based on the premise that some topics covered in the Law School are also covered in the programs of the cooperating departments, so that some credit toward the law degree may appropriately be given for specified graduate work taken in the cooperating department. Similarly, the cooperating departments have recognized that some credit toward the master's degree may appropriately be awarded for certain work completed in the Law School.

Continuing Legal Education

The Law School's Continuing Legal Education Program provides the legal community with the greatest variety of offerings of any law school in the West. The Law School has been approved as a provider of Minimum Continuing Legal Education by the State Bar of California.

The institutes and conferences division presents eight annual programs: the Probate and Trust Conference, the Institute on Federal Taxation, the Financial Services Institute, the Institute for Corporate Counsel, the Entertainment Law Institute, the Computer Law Institute, the Health Care Industry Real Estate Institute, and the Family Law Institute. In addition, the Advanced Professional Program offers classes and seminars for lawyers and other professionals who wish to enhance their skills and practical knowledge in specialized areas.

For information on institutes, conferences and classes, contact the Law School's Continuing Legal Education Program office at (213) 740-2582.

Tuition and Fees (Estimated)

Students in the Law School's professional programs pay tuition of $11,665 per semester (13-17 units); for less than 13 units, the tuition is $902 per unit, and tuition is an additional $902 for each unit over 17. The university reserves the right to assess new fees or charges as it may determine. The rates listed are subject to change without notice by action of the Board of Trustees.

These fees are based upon current information available at the time of publication and are subject to possible later change.

In addition to the mandatory fees charged to all USC students, law students must also join the Student Bar Association. In 1996-97, this membership fee was $10 per semester.

Admission Requirements

First-year students must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college by the beginning of their Law School classes. The Law School does not require applicants to take any specific college courses, and discourages pre-law students from enrolling in college courses which duplicate the law school curriculum. The faculty recommends college courses that are intellectually challenging and require disciplined study. Training in careful reading and skilled writing is most valuable, as are courses involving seminar discussion and sustained research. The student will find that a broad exposure to such fields as economics, philosophy, history, political science, anthropology, mathematics, and psychology is more useful than narrow exposure to vocationally oriented courses.

All applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) administered by the Law School Admissions Service. Applicants are urged to take the test in October or December if they seek to start law school the following August.

Like most law schools, the USC Law School requires students to use the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The LSDAS assembles an applicant's transcripts and LSAT scores and forwards copies of them to law schools of the applicant's choosing. An applicant who has previously registered with the LSDAS need only request on the appropriate form that the name of the University of Southern California Law School be added to the list of schools to which the student is applying. Further information about the LSAT and the LSDAS may be obtained from the Law School Admissions Service, Box 2000, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940.

Detailed information regarding admission application procedures is available from the Director of Admissions, USC Law School, University Park, Los Angeles, California 90089-0071.

Transfer Students and Visiting Students

A student in good standing at a law school which is a member of the Association of American Law Schools may apply for admission with advanced standing either as a transfer student or as a visiting student. Transfer students enter the USC Law School after one year at another law school; they then spend two years at the Law School and earn the J.D. degree from USC. Visiting students spend one or two semesters at the Law School; most enroll for their third year of law school; they are not eligible for a USC degree. For further information, please request Transfer/Visitor Information from the Admissions Office at the Law School.

Registration

Details of the registration procedure are handled through the Registrar's Office of the Law School. Registration information will be mailed to accepted applicants approximately two to three weeks prior to the registration date indicated on the Law School calendar.

Grading and Attendance Policies

Grading

Numerical grades are given in most courses. A grade of 90 is equivalent to highest honors and is very rare; from 85 to 89, high honors; from 80 to 84, honors. Grades from 70 to 79 indicate satisfactory work, and the median grade in first year courses is usually 76; grades from 66 to 69 are unsatisfactory; and a 65 is failing. Students receiving a grade of 65 will not be given credit for the course toward graduation. A student who fails a first-year course must repeat the course, but both grades will be included in computing that student's general average. Other courses may not be repeated except on petition to the Board of Review. A student with a weighted cumulative average of less than 70 at the end of any year will not be permitted to continue.

Credit/69/65

After the first year, a student may take up to a total of eight units on a CR/69/65 basis, chosen from among courses otherwise graded in a normal manner. No more than four such units may be taken in a semester. The student must elect to take a course CR/69/65 during the first two weeks of the semester. Students on academic probation may not elect this option. Courses or seminars may, at the instructor's option, be designated prior to registration as not available for CR/69/65 grading.

Students may also take such courses regularly offered on a CR/69/65 basis, in addition to courses taken under this rule.

Withdrawals from Courses

A student may not withdraw from a course later than two weeks after the first day of classes of any semester without permission of both the Board of Review and the instructor.

Attendance

Class attendance is an important part of law school education. It assists both the individual and fellow students in making the most of the educational opportunity offered. Students should, therefore, attend class regularly and participate in the discussion. Professors may take attendance into account in evaluating student performance. Professors will announce before the end of the first week of classes the extent to which attendance will be taken into account in evaluation.

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