The USC Gould School of Law celebrated the Class of 2026 on May 15, conferring Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Science degrees during its commencement ceremony at the USC Village Great Lawn.
The ceremony recognized 205 JD graduates and 48 graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies program.
In her remarks, USC Gould Dean Franita Tolson congratulated graduates and reflected on the opportunities that lie ahead and urging them to learn from the challenges.
“Keep trying, keep failing, keep getting up and keep learning from it,” Tolson said. “Our future will be better because you do.”
Tolson highlighted accomplishments of the graduating class, including the JD Class of 2026’s record-setting academic credentials, public service work, journal participation and post-graduate placements. She also recognized achievements of the undergraduate Class of 2026, including university honors recipients, first-generation college students and transfer students.
Sister Helen Prejean, best-selling author and award-winning advocate, delivered the keynote address. Drawing on her decades of work with individuals on death row, she discussed the impact lawyers can have on the lives of their clients and communities, and encouraged graduates to use their legal training in service of justice and human dignity.
“As I began to first write to people on death row and then visit them, the difference a lawyer makes… it’s as big as the difference in an oncologist if you get a bad cancer. It is the difference between life and death,” said Prejean, who was the inspiration behind the Academy Award-winning movie, Dead Man Walking.
Student speakers reflected on their experiences at USC Gould and the relationships, opportunities and lessons that shaped their time at the law school. Undergraduate class speaker Lori Gaboudian discussed the influence of faculty mentors and challenged graduates to apply the values and skills they developed at USC Gould throughout their careers.
3L Class President Sophia Encinas spoke about the sense of community that developed among members of the Class of 2026 and the importance of supporting one another both during law school and in the legal profession.
Student Bar Association President Caitlin Cummings reflected on the transition from the uncertainty many students experienced during their first year of law school to the confidence and perspective gained through their academic and professional experiences at USC Gould.
The ceremony included the presentation of candidates and conferral of degrees for graduates from both programs.
To see more photos from the day, click here. To watch the ceremony livestream, click here. To read about the Graduate and International Programs ceremony, click here.
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