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Experiential Learning

USC Gould School of Law

USC pioneered the concepts of interdisciplinary and clinical legal education. The first modern legal aid program grew out of a USC Gould clinic established in 1929. Your gifts support the staffing and operational costs of the clinics, which provide invaluable real-world legal experiences for USC Gould students, and vital pro-bono services for our community.

Clinical Programs & Practicums

USC Gould's six clinics and various practicums give students the opportunity to work on actual cases and represent real clients - under the supervision of licensed attorneys - and provide solutions and practical recommendations to resolve their issues. Students gain hands-on experience with clients while exploring substantive legal issues in depth.

These clinics and practicums create a vital link between classroom and practice by enhancing listening and critical thinking skills necessary for success. Your gifts support the staffing and operational costs of the clinics and experiential learning programs.

Immigration Clinic

Through the Immigration Clinic, students represent adults and children from all over the world in their efforts to seek asylum and other forms of humanitarian protection.

Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic

Our Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic supports clients at the leading edge of burgeoning issues in the information age, including copyright and trademark protection, privacy and First Amendment rights.

International Human Rights Clinic
The International Human Rights Clinic offers students the opportunity to handle pro bono, real-life cases and advocacy projects that confront some of the most pressing human rights concerns locally and globally.
Mediation Clinic
As part of the Mediation Clinic students gain firsthand experience using conflict resolution techniques to mediate real cases in Los Angeles County Superior Court as neutrals.
Post-Conviction Justice Project
Students in our Post-Conviction Justice Project represent clients at parole hearings, litigate petitions for writs of habeas corpus and help provide a second chance at justice for life-term inmates.
Small Business Clinic
Students in our Small Business Clinic handle more than 100 transactional legal matters each year for startup companies, entrepreneurs and nonprofits.

Cy Pres Distributions

We welcome your recommendation of USC Gould as a beneficiary of a class action Cy Pres distribution in support of our experiential learning and public interest law programs. A Cy Pres award will support these vital pro-bono services for our community and invaluable real-world legal experiences for USC Gould students.

USC Gould School of Law is an appropriate recipient of Cy Pres awards: unclaimed funds from class action settlements or judgements which can be awarded to a non-profit that engages in work that serves the public interests of the class.

While the court makes the final determination of where a Cy Pres award should be directed, plaintiff and defense attorneys have the opportunity to influence that decision by recommending USC Gould School of Law as a potential beneficiary. For more information, please contact us.