- About
About USC Gould
USC Gould is a top-ranked law school with a 120-year history and reputation for academic excellence. We are located on the beautiful 228-acre USC University Park Campus, just south of downtown Los Angeles.
- Academics
Academics
Learn about our interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and specialized areas.
Student Quick Links:
- Admissions
Admissions
USC Gould helps prepare you for a stellar legal career. You can pursue a JD degree, one of our numerous graduate and international offerings, or an online degree or certificate.
- Students
Students
Participate in an unparalleled learning experience with diversity of people and thought. Get involved in the law school community and participate in activities that enhance your studies.
Student Quick Links:
- Careers
Careers
We work closely with students, graduates and employers to support successful career goals and outcomes. Our overall placement rate is consistently strong, with 94 percent of our JD class employed within 10 months after graduation.
- Faculty
Faculty
Our faculty is distinguished for its scholarship, as well as for its commitment to teaching. Our 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio creates an intimate and collegial learning environment.
- Alumni and Giving
- Admissions

Student Orgs Seek 1Ls
USC Gould School of Law
- ABOUT USC GOULD
- A MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN
- + HISTORY OF USC GOULD
- LAW, RACE AND EQUITY
- + NEWS
- + EVENTS
- BOARD OF COUNCILORS
- CONSUMER INFORMATION (ABA REQUIRED DISCLOSURES)
- VISIT US
- SOCIAL MEDIA
- + CONTACT US
Friday, September 10, 2010
Involvement Fair Invites Students to Connect Outside the Classroom
-By Steffi Lau
USC Law’s involvement fair kicked off on Sept. 8, the third week of school, with law students already eager for a respite from class. With tables stocked with free cookies, ice cream and candy during lunch break, student organizations prepared to sell their strong points and sweet-talk hungry students into jotting their names down on sign-up sheets.
Ranging from Legal Aid Alternative Breaks, which takes students to the Gulf to provide legal and community service, to Phi Alpha Delta, a fraternity that annually hosts a beer-pong-for-charity tournament, the 37 organizations offer a plethora of choices.
Joining an organization can bring students many benefits.
“It’s important to be involved,” said Alberto Muñoz ’10, Student Bar Association president. “It adds another dimension to being a law student. And it’s a stress reliever. In addition, a lot of organizations partner with big law firms so there are a lot of networking opportunities. By getting involved, you’re not only doing good for the community, you’re doing good for yourself.”
The organizations can be especially advantageous to first-year students unacquainted with the demands of law school.
“For first year students, these organizations are great resources because they’re unfamiliar with the social aspects and academic aspects of law school,” said Jimmy Chen ’12, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association academic co-chair.
The clubs’ panels and networking events can help 1Ls become familiar with their fields of interest. Clubs’ focuses range from entertainment law to sports law to even art law. And the clubs aren’t all business—the Environmental Law Society organizes a camping trip while the Art Law Society will take its new members to the L.A. Art Walk this week.
“It’s great to be able to check out all the organizations at once,” said Brittany Shugart ’13. “I’m interested in finding about environmental law, sports law and entertainment law. Since I don’t have any experience with these types of law, joining these organizations will help me get a taste.”
The professional clubs offer many students a real-world glimpse at classroom theories. The International Law and Relations Organization (ILRO) enables students to get an international perspective on law by pairing students with LL.M.s and lawyers who deal with international law.
“It’s a good way to see how it happens in practice because you can learn as much as you want in law school, but it’s different to see how it is in the real world,” said ILRO treasurer Paul Moura ’12.
In addition to learning opportunities, many organizations offer mentorship programs pairing first-year students with upper-division students.
The Women’s Law Association is one such organization, pairing female 1Ls with older peers.
“Law school is a totally new endeavor for everyone,” said Amanda Farfel ’12, WLA president. “A mentor can help you navigate whatever you need help with. They become your friends. It’s great to have that interaction with someone isn’t a first-year, who’s been through it before.”
Farfel is a supporter of the WLA mentorship program, having benefited from it. Her mentor helped her pick classes, handle classmates and even pick her summer job.
Ethnic organizations also abounded. The Middle Eastern and South Asian Law Association discusses issues such as religious freedom and racial profiling in the wake of Sept. 11, said Brandon Kennedy ’12, the group’s president. Last year, they also paired up with the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association to host a Harold and Kumar-themed event.
These organizations not only can instill practical skills, but also they foster a sense of belonging.
Christine Capuyan said joining OUTLaw, a LGBTQ organization, helped her immensely. OUTLaw serves to bridge the gap between the straight and non-straight communities and offers volunteer opportunities at the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center, which offers pro-bono clinics.
“I'm a lesbian, so I was seeking out an organization like this. Fortunately, the people were extremely warm and made me feel comfortable and welcomed,” said Capuyan ’11. “I gained lifelong friends, comfort with being a member of the LGBT community, connections within the L.A. gay and lesbian community and a better understanding of legal issues.”
Similarly, the Black Law Students Association serves to guide black USC law students. Co-president Amanda Smith ’12 said the biggest thing she gained from BLSA was comfort.
“When you come in as a 1L, you’re very fragile, so meeting people who want you to succeed, who offer you support and care how you feel really helps you through that first year. It’s what made me want to be co-president and give back.”
And aside from promises of free sweets, mentorship programs and learning opportunities, there’s always the obvious reason to join.
“We’re completely awesome,” said Andrew Quinio ’12, Federalist Society president.
Read More
- Next Article: Earning Her Wings
- Previous Article: Hamburgers with a side of constitutional debate
RECENT NEWS

In the business of shaping entertainment: Adam Glick
January 25, 2023
Adam Glick (JD 1994) is Executive Vice President and Head of Business Affairs Warner Bros. TV

Shaped by education
January 23, 2023
Opportunity for future students motivates John (JD 1979) and Alaine Weiss to include USC Gould in their estate plans

From torts to sports
January 20, 2023
Alums Richard Rosenblatt, Ted Russell team up on Autograph, a new venture bringing Web3 to entertainment and sports