Academics
In addition to the J.D., the law school offers the LL.M. U.S. law and for foreign lawyers, intellectual property, international and comparative law. Students may take relevant courses in other programs and apply credit toward the J.D.; a maximum of 12 credits may be applied. The following joint degrees may be earned: J.D./M.B.A. (Juris Doctor/Master of Business Administration).
The School of Law offers concentrations in corporate law, criminal law, environmental law, intellectual property law, international law, litigation, tax law, high tech law, and public interest law. In addition, through the on-campus Law Clinic Office, upper-division students practice law under the supervision of faculty. Students participate in all phases of a case, from the initial client interview through trial and may receive 3 to 6 units. The focus of the Criminal Law Clinic is the Northern California Innocence Project. Fifteen to 20 seminars are offered each year in areas such as social justice and public interest law, sports law, drug abuse law, high technology and intellectual property, and international law. Internships are in high-tech, civil practice and the criminal justice system. Judicial externships are offered with the California Supreme Court and other state and federal courts. Faculty members engage students as research assistants for a variety of projects. During the academic year, students have access to the courts and legal community of the San Francisco Bay Area. The voluntary Pro Bono Project matches students and alumni for work on pro bono cases. The school hosts lectures on topics ranging from intellectual property issues to current events in international law. The Institute of International and Comparative Law sponsors Summer Law study-abroad programs in Strasbourg, France; Geneva, Switzerland; Oxford, England; Hong Kong; Singapore; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo, Japan; Munich, Germany; Istanbul, Turkey; Sydney, Australia; The Hague, Netherlands; San Jose, Costa Rica; Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest. In addition, students have an opportunity to spend a semester abroad at 1 of 14 universities in 5 countries. The Academic Success Program offers personal and tutorial support to students identified through the admission process as needing academic support, and students recommended by their first-year instructors. Tutorial support emphasizes legal analysis and uses the writing of briefs, outlines, and exams to develop this skill. The Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid acts as a mentor to students of color. The minority alumni network actively supports current students. Students may earn a certificate in public interest law by taking 14 units, plus a unit of Public Interest Seminar, and completing a practicum. Certificates are also offered in international law and high-technology law with varying requirements. The most widely taken electives are Wills and Trusts, Patents, and International Law.
To earn the J.D., candidates must complete 86 total credits, of which 42 are for required courses. They must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.33 in the required courses. The following first-year courses are required of all students: Constitutional Law I, Contracts, Criminal Law, Legal Research and Writing, Pleading and Civil Procedure, Property, and Torts. Required upper-level courses consist of Advocacy, Constitutional Law II, Evidence, and The Legal Profession. The required orientation program for first-year students is a 3-day introduction to the study of law.
In order to graduate, candidates must have a GPA of 2.33, have completed the upper-division writing requirement, and have completed 86 semester units and the required course of study.