School of Law

University of California-Davis, School of Law History

University of California Davis School of Law was established in 1965 and is a public institution. The 5200-acre campus is in a small town 15 miles west of Sacramento. The primary mission of the law school is to be a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the development and dissemination of legal knowledge, as well as the training of students to become socially responsible lawyers committed to professional excellence and high ethical standards, and to provide significant public service through law reform and professional activities. Students have access to federal, state, county, city, and local agencies, courts, correctional facilities, law firms, and legal aid organizations in the Davis area. include the state capital 15 miles away. Facilities of special interest to law students include the instructional computer laboratory; the library, which allows 24-hour access; a day care co-op where care is provided by parents for children 12 months and younger; and wireless Internet access through-out the law school building and in the courtyard. Housing for students is available on campus and off campus through the ASUCD Community Housing Listing Service and a variety of community resource listings (e.g., newspapers); rental rates are reasonable and consistently lower than those in San Francisco and Los Angeles. All law school facilities are accessible to the physically disabled.

University of California-Davis, School of Law Academics

In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. and Masters in International Commercial Law (MICL) (summer program. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 10 semester units credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Arts in most programs offered by UC) and J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Masters in Business Administration).

Students must take 15 credits in their area of concentration. The School of Law offers concentrations in environmental law, international law, and a certificate program in public interest law; the law school provides for a number of specialized studies including intellectual property and business law. In addition, clinics are open to upper-level students. Placements are available with selected public agencies, judges, and some private attorneys through such formal clinical programs as Administration of Criminal Justice (2 to 6 or 12 units), Civil Rights (2 to 6 units), and Employment Relations (2 to 6 units). Seminars for 2 or 3 credits, open to upper-level students, include areas of constitutional law, criminal law, and estate planning. An extensive array of seminars for 2 to 3 credits are open to upper-level students. Internships are available through clinics; additional opportunities are available in tax and public interest. In the second or third year, all students must complete a writing project (an individually authored work of rigorous intellectual effort). Special lecture series include Bodenheimer Lecture on the Family and Barrett Lecture on Constitutional Law. Study abroad is available with the Dean’s permission; credit is given for participation in programs offered at other ABA law schools. There is an Academic Assistance Program whereby a second- or third-year student is assigned to each first-year class. The tutors are available for assistance with substantive course work as well as note taking, briefing, and outlining skills. There are no minority programs, but there is an active minority student body and organizations. Special interest group programs include the King Hall Pro Bono Program and the Public Interest Law Program. The most widely taken electives are Evidence, Business Association, and Trust Wills.

To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 88 total credits, of which 33 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Introduction to Law, Legal Research and Legal Writing, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of an advanced legal writing project and Professional Responsibility. The required orientation program for first-year students is an introductory week that includes meeting the Academic Assistance Program tutors, a tour of the law library, a photo session, class registration, a financial aid information session, dean’s orientation, and social activities. The primary focus is a 1-unit course, Introduction to Law.

In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.0, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and the required course Professional Responsibility.

University of California-Davis, School of Law Unique Programs

Library

The law library contains 287,968 hard-copy volumes and 733,271 microform volume equivalents, and subscribes to 4208 serial publications. Such on-line databases and networks as CALI, CIS Universe, DIALOG, Legal-Trac, LEXIS, LOIS, Mathew Bender, NEXIS, OCLC First Search, RLIN, WESTLAW, California Digital Libraries, RIA Checkpoint, SSRN, Hein OnLine, TRAC, MELVYL, and CA Continuing Education of the Bar Online Publication are available to law students for research. Special library collections include federal and California documents depositories. Special emphasis is in intellectual property environmental law, international law, immigration and civil rights. Recently, the library conducted virtual reference transactions via e-mail and installed a wireless network throughout the library. The ratio of library volumes to faculty is 8228 to 1 and to students is 504 to 1. The ratio of seats in the library to students is 1 to 1.

Special Consideration

The law school recruits minority and disadvantaged students by means of visits to undergraduate campuses, the Candidate Referral Service, graduate/professional information days, and the LSAC forums and various outreach events. Requirements are different for out-of-state students in that they pay tuition not required of California residents. All admission requirements are the same; however, international applicants must provide TOEFL and Foreign Credential Evaluation Report. Transfer students must have one year of credit, have attended an ABA-approved law school, and admitted students must be in the top 5% to 10% of their first-year class.

University of California-Davis, School of Law Admissions

In the fall 2007 first-year class, 3768 applied, 877 were accepted, and 194 enrolled. Figures in the above capsule and in this profile are approximate. Seven transfers enrolled in a recent year. The median LSAT percentile of the most recent first-year class was 84; the median GPA was 3.63 on a scale of 4.0. The lowest LSAT percentile accepted was 27; the highest was 99.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and take the LSAT. The most important admission factors include LSAT results and personal statement. No specific undergraduate courses are required. Candidates are not interviewed.

Applicants should submit an application form, LSAT results, TOEFL for foreign applicants, Foreign Credential Evaluation Report, a nonrefundable application fee, 2 letters of recommendation, and a personal statement; applicants should directly submit supplementary transcripts covering the fall semester, and successful applicants must submit a final transcript showing the receipt of a bachelor degree. Notification of the admissions decision is from January to April (wait list June to August). The law school uses the LSDAS. Check with the school for current application deadlines.

University of California-Davis, School of Law Financial Aid

In a recent year, about 90% of current law students receive some form of aid. The average annual amount of aid from all sources combined, including scholarships, loans, and work contracts, was $26,700; maximum, $49,077. Awards are based on need. Required financial statements are the FAFSA and Need Access. Check with the school for current application deadlines. First-year students are notified about their financial aid application once they have been admitted.

University of California-Davis, School of Law Students

About 60% of the student body are women; 37%, minorities; 2%, African American; 21%, Asian American; 11%, Hispanic; and 1%, Native American. The majority of students come from California (94%). The average age of entering students is 25; age range is 21 to 49. About 37% of students enter directly from undergraduate school and 7% have a graduate degree. About 5% drop out after the first year for academic or personal reasons; 90% remain to receive a law degree.

Students edit the UC Davis Law Review; the newspaper, Advocate; the Environs, a publication of the Environmental Law Society; the Journal of International Law and Policy, a publication of the International Law Society; the Journal of Juvenile Law and Policy; and The Business Law Journal, an electronic publication. Moot court competitions held annually include the Moot Court Trial Competition, Client Counseling, and National Moot Court. Other competitions include the Frances Newall Carr Competition-Intra School Mock Trial. Student organizations, local chapters of national associations, and campus organizations include the ABA-Law Student Division, American Civil Liberties Union, Phi Alpha Delta, Phi Delta Phi, Tax Law Society, Alumni Association, Advocates for the Rights of Children, Criminal Law Association, King Hall Legal Foundation, and National Lawyers Guild.

The law school operates on a traditional semester basis. Courses for full-time students are offered days only and must be completed within 3 years. There is no part-time program. New students are admitted in the fall. There is no summer session. Transferable summer courses are not offered.