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USC Gould is known for its collegial and supportive learning environment, drawing students from across the country and around the world. Photo credit courtesy of USC Gould.

• J uris Doctor (JD)

Juris Doctor-Dual Degrees

Master’s degree programs.

• C ertificates
• U ndergraduate Courses and Programs
• Courses of Instruction      

The USC Gould School of Law provides an interdisciplinary and innovative legal education, taught by nationally renowned professors and practitioners and energized by a collaborative, collegial student body. One of the most diverse among the nation’s top law schools, USC Gould comprises students from across the country and around the world whose ideas and experiences enrich the learning process and provide new perspectives on the law. Through practice-focused training, hands-on experiential offerings, and exceptional career services and support resources, Gould students acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to excel locally, nationally and globally.

USC Gould alumni are partners in the world’s largest law firms, chairs and top executives of industry-leading companies, and esteemed leaders in government and public service organizations. Since its founding in 1900, the school has produced scores of judges and elected officials at the city, state and federal levels, as well as abroad.

USC Gould School of Law (213) 740-7331 Email: [email protected] gould.usc.edu

Administration

Franita Tolson, JD, Interim Dean *

Thomas D. Lyon, JD, PhD,  Vice Dean*

Donald M. Scotten, JD, LLM, Vice Dean*

Elizabeth A. Carroll, JD, Vice Dean

Robin Apodaca, BA, Associate Dean

Deborah A. Call, MBA, Associate Dean and Chief Programs Officer

Ben Dimapindan, MA, EdD, Associate Dean

Raymond Flores, MBA, EdD, Associate Dean and Chief Information Officer

Diana C. Jaque, MA, MLIS, JD, Associate Dean and Director of the Law Library

David Kirschner, JD, Associate Dean

Robin H. Maness, MS, Associate Dean and Chief Development Officer

Misa Shimotsu-Kim, MEd, Associate Dean

Ian Wood, MBA, Associate Dean and Chief Financial Officer

Nickey Woods, MEd, EdD, Associate Dean

Margaret A. Kean, MFA, Assistant Dean

Akita Mungaray, JD, Assistant Dean

Interim Dean and George T. and Harriet E. Pfleger Chair in Law:  Franita Tolson, JD

Judge Edward J. and Ruey L. Guirado Chair in Law: Thomas D. Lyon, JD, PhD*

Carolyn Craig Franklin Chair in Law: D. Daniel Sokol, MSt, JD, LLM

Edward G. Lewis Chair in Law: Daniel M. Klerman, JD, PhD

J. Thomas McCarthy Trustee Chair in Law: Robert K. Rasmussen, JD

Robert C. Packard Trustee Chair in Law: Robin Kundis Craig, MA, JD, PhD

Robert C. Packard Trustee Chair in Law: Edward J. McCaffery, MA, JD*

The Rader Family Trustee Chair in Law: Rebecca L. Brown, JD*

Nathan and Lilly Shapell Chair in Law: Nomi M. Stolzenberg, JD

UPS Foundation Chair in Law: Martin L. Levine, JD, LLD*

University Professor and Charles L. and Ramona I. Hilliard Distinguished Professor of Law: Lee Epstein, MA, PhD

University Professor of Journalism, Communication and Law: Geoffrey Cowan, LLB (Journalism)

Provost Professor of Public Policy, Political Science and Law:  Jeffery A. Jenkins, MA, MS, AM, PhD  (Political Science)*

Orrin B. Evans Distinguished Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences:  Elyn R. Saks, MLitt, JD, PhD, LLD (Hon.)*

Leon Benwell Professor of Law: Michael Simkovic, JD

Virginia S. and Fred H. Bice Professor of Law: Scott A. Altman, JD*

Roy P. Crocker Professor of Law: Jody David Armour, JD

Richard L. and Maria B. Crutcher Professor of Law: Dan Simon, LLB, MBA, LLM, SJD

William T. Dalessi Professor of Law: Gregory C. Keating, MA, JD, PhD

Sidney M. and Audrey M. Irmas Endowed Clinical Professor of Law: Niels W. Frenzen, JD

Maurice Jones, Jr. – Class of 1925 Professor of Law: Stephen M. Rich, MA, JD*

John B. Milliken Professor of Law and Taxation: Jordan M. Barry, JD

Dorothy W. Nelson Professor of Law: Camille Gear Rich, JD

Newton Professor of Constitutional Law: David B. Cruz, MS, JD*

John Stauffer Law Library Director:  Diana C. Jaque, MA, MLIS, JD

Torrey H. Webb Professor of Law: Jonathan M. Barnett, MA, MPhil, JD

Professors:  Bernadette Atuahene, MPA, JD; Jonathan Choi, JD; Jessica Clarke, JD; Aya Gruber, JD; Sofia Mary Gruskin, JD, MIA (Preventive Medicine) ; Bart A. Kosko, MA, JD, PhD (Electrical and Computer Engineering) ; Sharon A. Lloyd, PhD (Philosophy) ; Jessica Marglin, MA, PhD ( Religion ); John G. Matsusaka, MA, PhD (Business) ; Claudia Moatti, PhD, HDR (Classics) ; Kevin J. Murphy, MA, PhD (Business) ; Jonathan Quong, MA, PhD  (Philosophy) *; Alison Dundes Renteln, MA, JD, PhD (Political Science) ; Emily Ryo, JD, PhD*; Wayne Sandholtz, MA, PhD (International Relations) ; Hilary M. Schor, MA, PhD (English) ; Abby K. Wood, MALD, JD, PhD; Adam Zimmerman, JD

Associate Professors:  Erik Hovenkamp, JD, PhD; Felipe Jimenez, JD, LLM, JSD; Mugambi Jouet, MPA, JD, PhD; Nathan Perl-Rosenthal, MA, MPhil, PhD (History) ; Marcela Prieto Rudolphy, JD, LLM, JSD

Assistant Professors:  Erin Miller, JD, PhD; Jeessoo Nam, JD

Adjunct Professors:  Diana C. Jaque, MA, MLIS, JD; Richard Peterson, MDR, JD, LLM

Adjunct Assistant Professors:  Anitha Cadambi, LLB, LLM; Judy K. Davis, MLIS, JD; Diane Ellis, MLIS, JD; Sarah Gruzas, JD; Amber Kennedy Madole, MLIS, JD; Paul Moorman, MLIS, JD; Brian Peck, JD; Karen Skinner, MS, MLS, JD

Clinical Professors:  Michael Chasalow, MBA, JD*; Hannah R. Garry, MA, JD*; Lisa Klerman, JD; Jean Lantz Reisz, JD; Heidi L. Rummel, JD

Clinical Associate Professor: Michael Parente, JD, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professors:  Jef Pearlman, MEng, JD; Deepika Sharma, JD

Professors of Lawyering Skills:  Sara Berman, JD; Elizabeth A. Carroll, JD; Rebecca S. Lonergan, JD

Associate Professor of Lawyering Skills: Barrett L. Schreiner, MA, JD

Professors of the Practice of Law: Clare Pastore, JD; Donald M. Scotten, JD, LLM*

Emeriti Professors:  Scott H. Bice, JD ( Dean Emeritus, and Robert C. and Nanette T. Packard Professor Emeritus of Law ); Alexander M. Capron, LLB*, MA (Hon.) ( University Professor Emeritus and Scott H. Bice Chair Emeritus in Healthcare Law, Policy and Ethics ); Marshall Cohen, MA, MA (Oxon) ( University Professor Emeritus , Philosophy; Dean Emeritus ); Edward J. Finegan, MA, PhD (Linguistics) ; Ronald R. Garet, MA, MPhil, JD, PhD* (Carolyn Craig Franklin Chair Emeritus in Law and Religion) ; Thomas D. Griffith, MAT, JD ( John B. Milliken Professor Emeritus of Law and Taxation) ; George Lefcoe, LLB ( Ervin and Florine Yoder Chair Emeritus in Real Estate Law ); Michael H. Shapiro, MA, JD (Dorothy W. Nelson Professor Emeritus of Law) ; Larry G. Simon, LLB (Herbert W. Armstrong Professor Emeritus of Constitutional Law) ; W. David Slawson, MA, LLB* (Torrey H. Webb Professor Emeritus of Law)

Clinical Emeriti Professors: Michael J. Brennan, LLB; Lee W. Campbell, JD; Noel M. Ragsdale, JD*

Emeriti Professor of Lawyering Skills: Robert M. Saltzman, JD

Emeriti Law Librarians: Pauline M. Aranas, MLIS, JD ( John Stauffer Charitable Trust Chief Information Officer Emerita and Law Librarian Emerita ); Leonette M. Williams, MSLS ( Law Librarian Emerita )

*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.

USC Gould School of Law School is accredited by the American Bar Association . For information on ABA accreditation, please contact:

The American Bar Association 321 North Clark Street Chicago, IL 60654 (312) 988-5000

Juris Doctor

The Juris Doctor (JD) is the standard degree to practice law in the United States. To obtain the degree, full-time attendance for six semesters is required. During the first year, students are enrolled in a curriculum of basic courses that examine fundamental legal institutions and address legal problems relevant to today’s society and the modern practice of law. During the second and third years, students must complete Constitutional Law: Rights , a writing requirement, and at least 6 units of experiential courses. Beginning with the entering class of 2022, all students must also complete Race, Racism, and the Law. The remainder of the courses taken in years two and three are elective. All students must complete 37 numerically graded law units at USC beyond the first-year curriculum and at least 88 units overall.

Qualified second- and third-year JD students have an opportunity to study international law through an exchange program with leading partner institutions worldwide. For more information, please see the Gould School of Law website.

All applicants are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) or the Graduate Records Examinations (GRE) administered by Educational Testing Service (ETS). Based on current test administration calendars, applicants who take the LSAT must take the test no later than February of the year in which they seek to start law school. Applicants who take the GRE must take the test no later than March 1 (additional information or changes are available in the application instructions) of the year in which they plan to start law school. All students begin their first-year classes in August.

USC Gould School of Law admits a small number of highly qualified transfer students with LLM degrees from USC Gould. These students will have taken a large number of law courses in their LLM course of study and received strong grades in those courses. The LSAT is not required.  

USC Gould School of Law offers several dual degree programs with the graduate schools on campus. These programs enable qualified students to earn a law degree (JD) and a graduate degree in less time than it would take to earn both degrees independently. For more information, please see the  Gould School of Law website.

While students may be accepted for a dual degree program when they are accepted to the law school, most students do not apply until near the end of the first year. All programs require that students successfully complete the required first year of law school before beginning work toward the other degree. Credit for graduate work completed prior to the completion of the first year of law school may not be applied toward the law degree. Students are not eligible for either of their degrees until they complete the requirements for both degrees. 

In all cases, prospective students must seek and gain acceptance to both the law school and the other graduate program, and have the dual degree program approved by both schools. Decisions regarding admission to the law school and the graduate program are made independently. For more information, contact the Law School Admissions Office at  [email protected] .

Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM in ADR) 

The on-campus Master of Laws in Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM in ADR) program is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys interested in building strength as advocates in ADR processes or gaining skills and a prestigious credential for pursuing career opportunities as mediators or arbitrators.

Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), a Juris Doctor (JD) or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.

Master of Laws in International Business and Economic Law (LLM in IBEL) 

The on-campus Master of Laws in International Business and Economic Law degree is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys interested in developing a global perspective and interdisciplinary skills that will enable them to understand and integrate relevant laws, policies and business best practices that shape international commerce and trade.

Master of Laws in International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE)

The on-campus Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE) degree is offered by USC Gould School of Law jointly with USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences Department of Economics. This degree provides students with an interdisciplinary, global perspective and the knowledge and skills relevant to the laws, policies, and business practices that shape international trade and economics.

The Master of International Trade Law and Economics is a one-year, 32-unit degree program offered on campus on a full-time basis. This degree is open to anyone with a bachelor’s degree in any field, however, students are recommended to have a strong foundation in economics and/or mathematics or another quantitative background. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.

Master of Laws in Privacy Law and Cybersecurity (LLM in PLCS)

The on-campus Master of Laws in Privacy Law and Cybersecurity degree is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for law graduates and attorneys who wish to develop skills that will enable them to understand and integrate relevant laws, policies and best practices that shape privacy law and cybersecurity.

Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the  Gould School of Law website  for more information.

Master of Laws (LLM) (On-campus and Online)

The on-campus Master of Laws (LLM) program is a master’s degree program for foreign graduate students trained in law. This two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time program introduces foreign lawyers to American law and the U.S. legal system and prepares them for leadership roles in the global market. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in Alternate Dispute Resolution, Business Law, Entertainment Law, Transnational Law and Business, or Technology and Entrepreneurship Law.

The online Master of Laws (LLM) program is a master’s degree program for foreign graduate students trained in law. This program is offered on a part-time basis in a completely online modality and introduces foreign lawyers to American law and the U.S. legal system and prepares them for leadership roles in the global market. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in Business Law, Compliance, Entertainment Law and Industry, Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Compliance, Privacy Law and Cybersecurity or Social Work Administration.

Students submitting an application to either LLM program must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website  for more information.

Two-Year Extended Master of Laws (LLM)

The on-campus Two-Year Extended Master of Laws (LLM) program combines a one-year certificate program with a one-year master’s degree for foreign graduate students trained in law. During the first year, students complete mandatory law and English courses to prepare them for the master’s program and further their English fluency. After successful completion of the first year, students earn a Certificate in U.S. Legal Studies   . In the second year, students matriculate into our on-campus Master of Laws program.

Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.

Master of Comparative Law (MCL) 

The on-campus Master of Comparative Law (MCL) program is a master’s degree program for foreign graduate students trained in law who have already earned an LLM degree. This two-semester, full-time program is focused on the study of comparative law.

Students submitting an application must have earned a basic law degree, a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree or the foreign equivalent and have previously earned an LLM degree. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.

Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) 

The on-campus Master of Dispute Resolution (MDR) program is a two- to four-semester, full-time and part-time master’s degree program for graduates from varying fields of study, who are interested in building strength as advocates in alternative dispute resolution processes.

Students submitting an application must have earned an undergraduate degree by the time they begin the MDR program. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.

Master of Studies in Law (MSL) (On-campus and Online)

The on-campus Master of Studies in Law (MSL) is a full-time and part-time master’s degree program designed for new graduates and seasoned professionals from varying fields of studies and careers, who seek an understanding of how the U.S. legal system functions. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in Business Law; Compliance; Human Resources Law and Compliance; Law, Social Justice and Diversity; and Media and Entertainment Law.

The online Master of Studies in Law (MSL) is designed for new graduates as well as seasoned professionals from varying fields of studies and careers. This program is offered on a part-time basis in a completely online modality for students who seek an understanding of how the U.S. legal system functions. Students may enroll in an optional certificate track in in Business Law, Compliance, Entertainment Law and Industry, Financial Compliance, Health Care Compliance, Human Resources Law and Compliance, Privacy Law and Cybersecurity, or Social Work Administration.

Students submitting an application must have earned an undergraduate degree by the time they begin the MSL degree. Please visit the Gould School of Law website for more information.

A progressive degree is an option for current USC undergraduate students. For more information, please visit the Gould School of Law website . You may also contact  USC Gould Undergraduate  for more details.)

Certificates

USC Gould School of Law offers a variety of certificates to which students may apply some of their existing course work. Certificate requirements for JD and Graduate students differ and are detailed at the USC Gould School of Law website . 

USC Gould also offers stand-alone certificates to those with a bachelor’s degree to gain further knowledge of a particular area of law. 

• Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate    (On-campus)
• Business Law Certificate    (Online)  
• Compliance Certificate    (Online)
• Entertainment Law and Industry Certificate    (Online)
• Financial Compliance Certificate    (Online)                
• Health Care Compliance Certificate    (Online)            
• Human Resources Law and Compliance Certificate    (Online) 
• Law, Social Justice and Diversity Certificate    (On-campus)
• Privacy Law and Cybersecurity Certificate    (Online)
• Social Work Administration Graduate Certificate    (Online)

Registration

Registration for JD students is handled by the USC Gould School of Law Office of Student Affairs. First-year students are automatically registered in their fall and spring semester courses. 

Registration for master’s students is handled by the Graduate and International Programs Office. Master’s students will receive registration information with detailed instructions on how to register for fall, spring, and summer classes prior to the start of classes. 

Grading and Attendance Policies

The grading system uses both numbers and letters in a range from 1.9 to 4.3 with letter-grade equivalents ranging from F to A+. The grade equivalents are: A+ (4.1–4.3); A (3.8–4.0); A- (3.5–3.7); B+ (3.3–3.4); B (3.0–3.2); B- (2.7–2.9); C+ (2.5–2.6); C (2.4); C- (2.1–2.3); D (2.0); and F (1.9). JD students receiving a grade of 1.9 will not receive 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 grade point average. Other courses may not be repeated except on petition to the associate dean. A student with a weighted cumulative average of less than 3.10 at the end of the year is subject to additional graduation requirements. A JD student with a weighted cumulative average of less than 2.9 at the end of any year is not permitted to continue.

An overall grade point average of at least 2.6 is required for graduation for students who are enrolled in the LLM, LLM in ADR, LLM in IBEL, LLM in PLCS, MCL, MDR, MITLE, MSL, or Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate (on-campus), Business Law Certificate (online), Compliance Certificate (online), and Entertainment Law and Industry Certificate (online), Financial Compliance Certificate (online), Health Care Compliance Certificate (online), Human Resources Law and Compliance Certificate (online) and Privacy Law and Cybersecurity Certificate (online) programs.

In addition to courses regularly offered on a CR/D/F basis, after the first year, a Juris Doctor student may elect to take up to 8 units of courses, that are otherwise numerically graded, on a CR/D/F basis. No more than 4 such units may be taken in any semester. As stated above, to earn the JD, all students (including dual degree students) must complete 37 numerically graded law units at USC beyond the first-year curriculum.

Master’s students may take up to 5 units of CR/D/F grading during the length of their program. The student must elect to take a course CR/D/F during the first two weeks of the semester. Courses or seminars may, at the instructor’s option, be designated prior to registration as not available for CR/D/F grading. 

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 associate dean and the instructor.

Class attendance is an important part of a student’s law school education. It assists both the individual and their fellow students in making the most of the educational opportunity offered. Students should, therefore, attend class regularly and participate in the discussion. Some professors may require attendance and may take attendance into account in evaluating student performance.

For tuition, fee, and financial aid information, please visit the Gould School of Law website .

Standard Unit Rule

The Standard Unit Rule (also called “credit hour”) is an amount of work that reasonably approximates:

(1)  not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and two hours of out-of-class student work per week for 15 weeks, or the equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time; or

(2)  at least an equivalent amount of work as required in subparagraph (1) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including simulation, field placement, clinical, co-curricular, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours. (ABA Standard 310)

Depending on the course type, the law school awards credit for varying periods of time. In all cases, however, the course work entails no less than the minimum total amount of in-class and out-of-class time required by the ABA (per Interpretation 310-1):

• 50 minutes of in-class time and two 60-minute periods of out-of-class time for 15 weeks for each unit of credit (a 15-week period may include one week for a final examination)

In exceptional cases, at the discretion of the Vice Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs (upon the request of the faculty member), a specific course may carry 1 unit of credit greater than the time the course meets each week. Those cases are limited to courses in which the instructor certifies to the Vice Dean that the course requires substantial written work. If the written work is optional, students may enroll in these types of courses for different unit values. Students performing the written work will receive additional credit.  

Full policies and procedures for USC Gould School of Law students are published in the Student Handbook and are available on the Law Portal.

Undergraduate Courses and Programs

USC Gould School of Law, one of the nation’s premier law schools, offers undergraduate courses and programs in its curriculum, which are taught by its internationally distinguished faculty and lecturers. The mission is to provide a broad-based academic foundation in law to undergraduate students who have an interest in law and legal-related fields. Law affects everyone in our society and students will deepen their education by exploring the role law plays in the world, its impact on society, and the way in which it intersects and impacts almost every facet of life.

USC Gould courses meet a variety of graduation requirements. Some courses satisfy USC General Education (GE) requirements, and others are either required or are electives in several USC majors and minors. For more information about the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, the minor in Legal Studies, the minor in Law and Social Justice, the minor in Law and Migration Studies, the minor in Law and Technology, undergraduate course offerings, and those that satisfy USC General Education requirements, please visit the USC Gould School of Law website  or email: [email protected] .

Undergraduate Courses 

LAW 101w   ,  LAW 200w   , LAW 201   ,  LAW 202   , LAW 205   , LAW 206     LAW 207   ,  LAW 210p   , LAW 211   ,  LAW 212   ,  LAW 220   ,  LAW 225   ,  LAW 250w   , LAW 275p   ,  LAW 300   , LAW 305   ,  LAW 310w   ,  LAW 320p   , LAW 324   , LAW 352   , LAW 355   , LAW 401   ,  LAW 402   ,  LAW 403   ,  LAW 404   , LAW 406   ,  LAW 444   , LAW 492   ,  LAW 493   , LAW 497    and LAW 498   .

Bachelor’s Degree

Legal Studies (BS)

The Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies provides students with an in-depth understanding of the legal system including the infrastructure, the reasoning process and the substantive commitments that the legal system has made. As future leaders, students in this major will become critical thinkers able to apply and understand various legal concepts in their interaction with real-world issues locally, nationally and globally. Students in the major are required to complete a total of 48 units, consisting of 24 units of required core courses, 20 elective units, plus 2 units of internship and 2 units of a capstone project.

Minor Programs

Legal studies minor.

The Legal Studies Minor enables students to deepen their understanding of the U.S. legal system and provides them with the fundamentals of law. The Legal Studies Minor totals 22 units, consisting of 6 required units, and 16 elective units.

Law and Social Justice Minor

The Law and Social Justice Minor provides foundational knowledge of current legal systems of justice and encourages critical-analysis skills to recognize where and how change can be made. The Law and Social Justice Minor totals 20 units; 12 required units, and 8 elective units.

Law and Migration Studies Minor

The Law and Migration Studies Minor introduces students to the U.S. legal system as it relates to various aspects of immigration law, its impact on our communities, and consequences on our society nationally and globally. The Law and Migration Studies Minor totals 20 units; 12 required units, and 8 elective units.

Law and Technology Minor

The Law and Technology Minor studies the intersection of technological developments and the legal system through examining contemporary issues raised by developing technology, including internet privacy, patent law and cybercrime. The Law and Technology Minor totals 18 units; 4 required core units, 8 Law elective units, and 6 ITP elective units.

For more details on the major and minors, please visit USC Gould School of Law website . Undergraduate students wishing to declare one of the Law minors, should email: [email protected]  or submit an application form .  

Undergraduate Majors, that include LAW courses:

Law, History, and Culture (BA)    

Philosophy, Politics and Law (BA)    

Public Policy (BS)    

Undergraduate Minors, that include LAW courses:

Business Law Minor    

Forensics and Criminality Minor       

Justice, Voice, and Advocacy Minor        

Health Policy Minor       

Law and Public Policy Minor      

Law and Society Minor      

Philosophy of Law, Politics and Economics Minor     

Psychology and Law Minor       

Resistance to Genocide Interdisciplinary Minor       

Progressive Degree Programs

USC’s Progressive Degree program enables USC undergraduate students to begin work on a USC master’s degree while completing the requirements for their USC bachelor’s degree. Students complete their undergraduate degree and the Master of Studies in Law (MSL)    or the Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE)    degree programs in no more than five years.

Undergraduate students may submit an application to the Master of Studies in Law (MSL) or the Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE) degree programs as a junior for enrollment beginning in the fall or spring. Students must have completed at least 64 total units of undergraduate course work, excluding AP, IB or transfer units earned prior to graduation from high school. Students may apply in their junior (recommended) or senior year but no later than the semester prior to beginning graduate course work.

Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 both at the time an application is submitted and at enrollment.

For more information, please visit the USC Gould School of Law website  or email  [email protected] (MSL) or [email protected] (MITLE).

Progressive Degree Program - Master of Studies in Law (MSL)

The  Master of Studies in Law (MSL)    teaches students fundamental U.S. law as well as various areas of legal specialization. This program is designed for individuals who want to gain an understanding of legal and compliance issues that will impact their future careers as entrepreneurs, business owners, administrators, scientists, engineers, educators, advocates, activists and more. USC Gould Progressive Degree Program Masters Studies in Law offers the option of earning a certificate in business law, compliance, human resources law and compliance, media and entertainment, and law, social justice, and diversity concurrent with the MSL.

Progressive Degree Program - Master of International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE)

The Master of International Trade Law and Economics degree provides an interdisciplinary, global perspective for students with an economic or other quantitative background who wish to develop knowledge and skills related to relevant laws, policies and business practices that shape international trade and economics.

The Master of International Trade Law and Economics students are required to complete 32 or 24* units of study. Students are required to enroll in 12 core units from Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and 12 core units from Gould School of Law, with an additional 8 units of electives chosen from a list of approved course offerings.

*Students with a GPA of 3.3 and above may qualify to have 8 elective units waived, thus completing 24 units of study.

Accelerated Bachelor/JD Program (3+3)

Undergraduate students at USC, who have completed their required bachelor’s major course work by the end of their junior year (or have minimal units of upper-division elective courses remaining), may apply to our accelerated JD program. Students will complete their undergraduate and law school studies in a total of six years.  

Students must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.80 both at the time an application is submitted and at enrollment. Under current ABA guidelines, the LSAT is not required; however, this is subject to change. The program is open to all participating majors. Please visit the Gould School of Law website  for more information.

• •  Legal Studies (BS)
• •  Law and Migration Studies Minor
• •  Law and Social Justice Minor
• •  Law and Technology Minor
• •  Legal Studies Minor

Master’s Degree

• •  Alternative Dispute Resolution (LLM)
• •  Comparative Law (MCL)
• •  Dispute Resolution (MDR)
• •  International Business and Economic Law (LLM)
• •  International Trade Law and Economics (MITLE)
• •  Master of Laws (LLM)
• •  Master of Studies in Law (MSL)
• •  Privacy Law and Cybersecurity (LLM)

Dual Degree

• •  Juris Doctor/Doctor of Pharmacy (JD/PharmD)
• •  Juris Doctor/Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and International Relations (JD/PhD)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Arts, Philosophy (JD/MA)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Communication Management (JD/MCG)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Public Administration (JD/MPA)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Public Policy (JD/MPP)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Real Estate Development (JD/MRED)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Science in Gerontology (JD/MS)
• •  Juris Doctor/Master of Social Work (JD/MSW)

Graduate Certificate

• •  Alternative Dispute Resolution Certificate
• •  Business Law Certificate (On-Campus)
• •  Business Law Certificate (Online)
• •  Certificate in U.S. Legal Studies
• •  Compliance Certificate
• •  Dispute Resolution Graduate Certificate
• •  Entertainment Law and Industry Certificate
• •  Financial Compliance Certificate
• •  Health Care Compliance Certificate
• •  Human Resources Law and Compliance Certificate
• •  Law and Government Graduate Certificate
• •  Law, Social Justice and Diversity Certificate
• •  Media and Entertainment Law Certificate
• •  Privacy Law and Cybersecurity Certificate
• •  Public Interest Certificate
• •  Social Work Administration Graduate Certificate
• •  Technology and Entrepreneurship Law Certificate
• •  Transnational Law and Business Certificate

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USC Law: Elevating Legal Expertise with the Launch of New Master of Laws Specializations in Business Law, Media and Entertainment Law

Leading the market trend for focused legal training in business and entertainment law, the University of Southern California Gould School of Law will launch in Fall 2024 two cutting-edge Master of Laws (LLM) degrees: the LLM in Business Law and the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law.

USC Gould will equip graduates from these two new programs with essential knowledge of complex business-driven regulations and critical legal parameters tied to new and emerging media. The LLM degrees will be supported by coursework in U.S. common law and topics such as antitrust, artificial intelligence (AI), corporate governance, intellectual property (IP), mergers and acquisitions, and music law.

In the LLM in Business Law , students will explore a broad range of relevant business law issues, including negotiating and facilitating transactions, trending issues relevant to business advising of startup companies and venture capital firms, and understanding core issues such as taxation and bankruptcy.

In the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law , students will gain the knowledge necessary to be a competitive candidate in the entertainment field, with coursework designed to build negotiation and contract drafting skills, as well as a deeper understanding of niche industries, including music, sports and video game law.

“We have found that employers place considerable value on staffing talent with a blend of interdisciplinary skills and focused expertise,” Franita Tolson, USC Gould School of Law Dean and the Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, explains. “Our new programs in entertainment and business law reflect our commitment to providing innovative education that prepares our graduates to tackle the complex challenges of tomorrow's legal world with confidence."

USC Gould’s on-campus and online LLM degrees offer an immersive, flexible curriculum that prepares both international and U.S. students for leadership roles in law. Students may obtain general or specialized degrees that include mandatory courses in law alongside electives that address specific areas of interest. Students in USC Gould LLM degree programs will also benefit from academic advising, professional development and networking opportunities available from the University of Southern California.

The LLM in Business Law and the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law are one-year, 24-unit degree programs offered on campus on a full-time basis, open to anyone with a law degree (JD, LLB or equivalent). Pending American Bar Association (ABA) acquiescence, these LLM degrees are open for enrollment in the fall or spring semester. For more information, email [email protected] .

About the USC Gould School of Law

The USC Gould School of Law is a top private law school with a reputation for academic excellence and a world-class faculty. USC Gould is known for its diverse and collegial student body, its leadership in clinical education, and its supportive and global alumni network. Located in Los Angeles, one of the nation’s top legal markets and a hub for major law and entertainment firms, the Gould School offers a dynamic laboratory for legal training. For more information, visit gould.usc.edu .

Melissa Masatani, [email protected] , direct: 213-821-3578

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521370787/en/

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Usc law: elevating legal expertise with the launch of new master of laws specializations in business law, media and entertainment law.

LOS ANGELES, May 21, 2024 --( BUSINESS WIRE )--Leading the market trend for focused legal training in business and entertainment law, the University of Southern California Gould School of Law will launch in Fall 2024 two cutting-edge Master of Laws (LLM) degrees: the LLM in Business Law and the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law.

USC Gould will equip graduates from these two new programs with essential knowledge of complex business-driven regulations and critical legal parameters tied to new and emerging media. The LLM degrees will be supported by coursework in U.S. common law and topics such as antitrust, artificial intelligence (AI), corporate governance, intellectual property (IP), mergers and acquisitions, and music law.

In the LLM in Business Law , students will explore a broad range of relevant business law issues, including negotiating and facilitating transactions, trending issues relevant to business advising of startup companies and venture capital firms, and understanding core issues such as taxation and bankruptcy.

In the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law , students will gain the knowledge necessary to be a competitive candidate in the entertainment field, with coursework designed to build negotiation and contract drafting skills, as well as a deeper understanding of niche industries, including music, sports and video game law.

"We have found that employers place considerable value on staffing talent with a blend of interdisciplinary skills and focused expertise," Franita Tolson, USC Gould School of Law Dean and the Carl Mason Franklin Chair in Law, explains. "Our new programs in entertainment and business law reflect our commitment to providing innovative education that prepares our graduates to tackle the complex challenges of tomorrow's legal world with confidence."

USC Gould’s on-campus and online LLM degrees offer an immersive, flexible curriculum that prepares both international and U.S. students for leadership roles in law. Students may obtain general or specialized degrees that include mandatory courses in law alongside electives that address specific areas of interest. Students in USC Gould LLM degree programs will also benefit from academic advising, professional development and networking opportunities available from the University of Southern California.

The LLM in Business Law and the LLM in Media and Entertainment Law are one-year, 24-unit degree programs offered on campus on a full-time basis, open to anyone with a law degree (JD, LLB or equivalent). Pending American Bar Association (ABA) acquiescence, these LLM degrees are open for enrollment in the fall or spring semester. For more information, email [email protected] .

About the USC Gould School of Law

The USC Gould School of Law is a top private law school with a reputation for academic excellence and a world-class faculty. USC Gould is known for its diverse and collegial student body, its leadership in clinical education, and its supportive and global alumni network. Located in Los Angeles, one of the nation’s top legal markets and a hub for major law and entertainment firms, the Gould School offers a dynamic laboratory for legal training. For more information, visit gould.usc.edu .

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240521370787/en/

Melissa Masatani, [email protected] , direct: 213-821-3578

U.S. Code: Table Of Contents

• TITLE 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
• TITLE 2 - THE CONGRESS
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• TITLE 50a - WAR AND NATIONAL DEFENSE [ELIMINATED] Current through 114–86u1
• TITLE 51 - NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS
• TITLE 52 - VOTING AND ELECTIONS
• TITLE 53 - [RESERVED]
• TITLE 54 - NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND RELATED PROGRAMS

Biden expected to take executive action to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens

WASHINGTON —President Biden is expected to announce a new executive action as early as this Tuesday that would shield about 500,000 undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. from deportation. 

The action, according to these sources, is expected to protect undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens from deportation and to allow them to work legally in the country. It would apply specifically to undocumented spouses who have lived in the U.S. for more than 10 years, which these sources estimate as being about a half-million individuals.

The program, known as “parole in place,” would also make it easier for some undocumented immigrants to get a green card and a path to U.S. citizenship. One of the sources said lawmakers on Capitol Hill had been briefed on the proposal.

A White House spokesperson declined to comment on details.

“As we have said before, the administration continues to explore a series of policy options and we remain committed to taking action to address our broken immigration system,” the spokesperson said.

The discussions come after immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers  urged the administration  to prioritize long-term undocumented immigrants and also as President Joe Biden tries to court Latino voters in crucial battleground states such as Nevada and Arizona. 

Last week, during remarks at the White House, Biden announced  an executive action  to tighten asylum restrictions outside legal ports of entry. Under the new policy, anytime the seven-day average of illegal border crossings tops 2,500, migrants entering the U.S. between legal ports of entry — with some exceptions — will be banned from claiming asylum and deported, though there are  mounting questions  about how the action will work without new congressional funding.

Biden also teased more immigration-related moves. 

“In the weeks ahead, I’ll speak to how we can make our immigration system more fair and more just,” he said. “Let’s fix the problem and stop fighting about it.”

If adopted, protections for undocumented spouses of U.S. citizens could be the federal government’s largest immigration-related relief program since 2012, when then-President Barack Obama announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. It allowed immigrants who illegally came to the U.S. as children to stay in the country. 

The Biden administration has been facing criticism from all sides over immigration. Republicans have argued his asylum restrictions are too little, too late. Some Democrats have blasted the move as a betrayal of Biden’s 2020 campaign promise to enact more humane policies at the border.

The number of undocumented migrants crossing the southern border reached nearly 10 million during the Biden administration. Earlier this year, congressional Republicans — at Donald Trump’s urging — blocked a sweeping bipartisan border security bill that the White House said would have eased the crisis. GOP House members, including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the bill didn’t go far enough.

“Our colleagues across the aisle have failed to act,” Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., said last week while visiting the White House. “We would have liked to have seen a lot of other things that I believe the president is going to be acting on in the near future.”

Gabe Gutierrez is a senior White House correspondent for NBC News.

Monica Alba is a White House correspondent for NBC News.

Julie Tsirkin is a correspondent covering Capitol Hill.

Peter Alexander is chief White House correspondent for NBC News.

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Biden Gives Legal Protections to Undocumented Spouses of U.S. Citizens

The new policy is one of the most significant actions to protect immigrants in years. It affects about 500,000 people who have been living in the United States for more than a decade.

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Biden Announces New Protections for Undocumented Immigrants

President biden announced an executive action to protect about 500,000 undocumented spouses of u.s. citizens from being deported and provide them with a pathway to citizenship..

A few days ago, we marked the 12th anniversary taking care of dreamers that President Obama and I put in place. There were a few of these immigrant — these immigration areas that have had most positive impact and gotten more support from the American people across the board. These young people known as Dreamers, Hispanics, South Asians and more who came to America as children only know America as their home have been able to live and learn out of the shadows. So today I’m announcing new measures to clarify and speed up work visas to help people, including Dreamers, who have graduated from U.S. colleges and universities, landed jobs in high-demand, high-skilled professions that we need to have grow — to see our economy grow. It’s the right thing to do. I’m announcing a common-sense fix to streamline the process for obtaining legal status for immigrants, married, excuse me, to American citizens who live, lived here and lived here for a long time. Let’s be clear. This action still requires undocumented spouses to file all required legal paperwork to remain in the United States. It requires them to pass a criminal background check. And it doesn’t apply to anyone trying to come here today.

By Zolan Kanno-Youngs ,  Miriam Jordan ,  Jazmine Ulloa and Hamed Aleaziz

The reporters have covered immigration policy and politics during both the Trump and Biden administrations.

President Biden on Tuesday granted far-reaching new protections for hundreds of thousands of immigrants who have been living in the United States illegally for years but are married to American citizens.

Under the new policy, some 500,000 undocumented spouses will be shielded from deportation and given a pathway to citizenship and the ability to work legally in the United States. It is one of the most expansive actions to protect immigrants since Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, was enacted 12 years ago to protect those who came to the United States as children.

“These couples have been raising families, sending their kids to church and school, paying taxes, contributing to our country,” Mr. Biden said at the White House, where he was joined by members of Congress and DACA recipients, known as Dreamers. “They’re living in the United States all this time with fear and uncertainty. We can fix that.”

Mr. Biden also said he would make it easier for young immigrants, including Dreamers, to gain access to work visas, a significant move that could help them eventually get a green card. That would protect their legal status even if DACA, which is already tied up in litigation, disappears.

“We’re a much better and stronger nation because of Dreamers,” Mr. Biden said, as he marked the anniversary of the Obama-era DACA program.

The new policy allows Mr. Biden to balance his recent crackdown on asylum with a sweeping pro-immigrant measure at a moment of political peril. With five months until the presidential election, Mr. Biden has been trying to curtail record numbers of illegal border crossings without alienating longtime supporters who have called for a more humane immigration system after the Trump years.

The policy aims to help people who have been living in the United States for more than a decade, building lives and families here. Even though marrying an American citizen generally provides a pathway to U.S. citizenship, people who crossed the southern border illegally — rather than arriving in the country with a visa — are required to return to their home countries to complete the process for a green card.

The new program allows them to remain in the country while they pursue legal status.

There are roughly 1.1 million undocumented immigrants married to American citizens in the United States, according to FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group, but not all of them are eligible for the program.

To be eligible, the spouses must have lived in the United States for 10 years and been married to an American citizen as of June 17. They cannot have a criminal record. The benefits would also extend to the roughly 50,000 children of undocumented spouses who became stepchildren to American citizens.

The new benefits for undocumented spouses will not take effect right away; senior Biden administration officials said they expected the program to begin by the end of the summer. Those eligible will then be able to apply for the benefits.

“The president is sending a message that immigration is not just about the border,” said Marielena Hincapié, an immigration fellow at the Cornell Immigration Law and Policy Program. “He’s focusing on long-term immigrants, not recent arrivals.”

Immediately after the announcement, however, allies of former President Donald J. Trump accused Mr. Biden of being weak on the border. Speaker Mike Johnson said the president was “granting amnesty to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens.”

America First Legal, a conservative organization run by Stephen Miller, the architect of Mr. Trump’s anti-immigration policies, indicated on social media that the group would challenge the program.

Mr. Biden has said he has had to use executive action to address immigration because Republicans in Congress refuse to act. Republicans blocked a bipartisan immigration bill in February , saying it was not strong enough even though it included some of the most significant restrictions Congress had contemplated in years.

Many of the Republicans, encouraged by Mr. Trump, were not inclined to give Mr. Biden a legislative victory in an election year.

“So much for Republicans caring about the border,” Mr. Biden said on Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, Mr. Biden bypassed Congress and issued an executive order that prevents migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border when crossings surge. It was the most restrictive border policy instituted by Mr. Biden, or any other modern Democrat.

Almost immediately after the president issued that order, White House officials began privately reassuring progressives that he would also help undocumented immigrants who had been in the nation for years, according to people familiar with the conversations. On Tuesday, Mr. Biden did just that.

The new policy could help Mr. Biden in battleground swing states like Nevada, Arizona and Georgia, which each have more than 100,000 voters who live in “mixed status” households, according to the American Business Immigration Coalition, a group that supports the proposed policy change.

“The road to the White House runs through Nevada, and people in my state are paying attention,” Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat of Nevada, wrote in an opinion essay for Univision this week. She said protecting undocumented spouses would bolster the economy in her state.

Mr. Biden is relying on a program known as “parole in place,” which has been used for other populations like families of military members. The status gives noncitizens the ability to temporarily live and work in the United States without fear of deportation.

One of the people who could be directly affected by the change is Ashley DeAzevedo, the president of American Families United, whose husband is undocumented. Her group supports mixed-status families like hers . The couple has been married for more than a decade and has an 11-year-old child.

“It would be an absolute game changer to not have to worry about being separated, because right now he could technically be removed,” Ms. DeAzevedo said. “There’s always a concern if he gets pulled over or anything like that. It could be, you know, just catastrophic for our family.”

While some Democrats applauded Mr. Biden’s new policy for undocumented spouses, many immigration advocates remained concerned about the life span of the original program the White House celebrated on Tuesday.

In the years since President Barack Obama created DACA in 2012, it has allowed hundreds of thousands of young adults to get jobs and live without fear of deportation.

But DACA has been closed to new applicants since 2017, when Mr. Trump tried to end the program. It remains ensnared in litigation, and its long-term survival remains in question, even though it was revived for existing beneficiaries. Participants are now, on average, in their mid-30s.

Recipients who were once children fearful of having their parents deported “are now the parents afraid of getting deported,” said Bruna Bouhid-Sollod, a senior political director at United We Dream Action, an advocacy group for DACA recipients.

Mr. Biden appeared intent on addressing those fears with his announcement on Tuesday that the administration would make it easier for Dreamers to be sponsored for a work visa by their employer.

“It’s been a big fear for me that DACA could end,” said Monica Sandoval, 32, an emergency room nurse in Columbus, Ind., who enrolled in the program immediately after it was unveiled.

Ms. Sandoval has renewed every two years, enabling her to keep her job and her nursing license.

She hoped the new process would allow her employer, a regional hospital, to sponsor her for a work visa and then a green card.

“This would be life-changing for me,” said Ms. Sandoval, who was brought to the United States when she was 12 and is the mother of two young children. “It would bring security to me and my kids, and I’d know for sure that I could keep doing the work I love to do.”

Zolan Kanno-Youngs is a White House correspondent, covering President Biden and his administration. More about Zolan Kanno-Youngs

Miriam Jordan reports from a grass roots perspective on immigrants and their impact on the demographics, society and economy of the United States. More about Miriam Jordan

Jazmine Ulloa is a national politics reporter for The Times, covering the 2024 presidential campaign. She is based in Washington. More about Jazmine Ulloa

Hamed Aleaziz covers the Department of Homeland Security and immigration policy. More about Hamed Aleaziz

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2 Killed in 2 Shootings With Police Officers in South Carolina Over the Weekend

Authorities in South Carolina say two armed men were shot and killed in separate episodes with law enforcement over the weekend

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) — Two armed men were shot and killed in separate episodes with law enforcement over the weekend in South Carolina after officers responded to reported gunfire, authorities said.

In Spartanburg County, deputies heard and saw shots being fired as they arrived to a fight in a pool between intoxicated people at a home Sunday evening, Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Johnathan McGill said.

Deputies and other officers negotiated for two hours with the man who had been shooting, but he fired several more shots then came out of the house with a loaded gun and moved quickly toward officers, McGill said in a news release.

“Unfortunately, the deputies on the scene were forced to discharge their weapons in response to the actions of the suspect,” McGill said. “At this time, the suspect is deceased.”

Jason Chad Prosser, 43, died a short time after the shooting, the Spartanburg County Coroner's Office said.

McGill didn't say how many deputies fired shots or whether investigators have determined who shot Prosser. No deputies were hurt.

In neighboring Greenville County, a deputy shot and killed a man who was firing shots into a home, Sheriff Hobart Lewis said.

Someone called 911 Saturday evening and an operator could hear gunshots and arguments in the background, Lewis told reporters at the scene.

When deputies arrived, the man was shooting into the home and refused to drop his rifle, the sheriff said.

“Deputies challenged him- tried to kind of start to figure out what was going on. At some point, that suspect turned around toward deputies. One deputy did fire,” Lewis said.

Ronald Dean Beheler, 55, died outside the home, the Greenville County Coroner's Office said.

No deputies were hurt, Lewis said.

The State Law Enforcement Division is investigating both shootings.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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