The office of Alumni Relations caught up with Dean Andrew Guzman to learn more about his plans for the coming year at USC Gould along with his continued commitment to building on the law school’s strengths.
AR: 2017 was an exciting year for USC Gould. What do you see as some of the law school’s most significant accomplishments?
AG: When I arrived at USC Gould two and a half years ago, I was extremely motivated by the opportunity to build upon a remarkable program. During my time here, we have worked to enhance several program areas and raise the school’s profile here in the U.S. and abroad. Last year, we were delighted to welcome three new additions to our faculty. Orin Kerr, Michael Simkovic and Franita Tolson have brought their expertise in cybersecurity, corporate finance, and voting rights, respectively, to our classrooms.
In 2017, we saw an increase of 7% in applications from 2016 and the fall classes of JDs and LLMs were the most diverse in our history. Forty percent of our JDs are persons of color and our LLM students hail from 42 countries around the world with a broad range of professional backgrounds. Gould continues to recruit the country’s top students; our fall JDs had a median GPA of 3.76 and median LSAT scores of 165.
AR: What are some of your goals for the law school this year?
AG: Looking at 2018, there are numerous opportunities for innovation and impact at the law school. Launched in 2016, the First Generation Professionals (FGP) program supports students who are the first in their families to earn a college degree, as well as students who are from working-class or lower-income backgrounds, and has been an important initiative at Gould. Of our fall JD class, 12 percent of students self-identified as first generation students, so clearly this will be an important area of focus moving forward.
We are also growing our Honors Scholars Program, launched through the generosity of USC Trustee and alumnus Stanley Gold JD 1967, which combines financial support with mentoring and networking opportunities for selected, highly ranked incoming Gould JD students. Programs like the Honors Scholars Program provide important opportunities to exceptional candidates who might otherwise have been restricted financially.
Additionally, Cox, Castle & Nicholson has established a scholarship to support top Gould students with an interest in real estate law. The Phillip R. Nicholson Memorial Scholarship Fund for Real Estate Excellence, which honors the firm’s founding partner and USC Gould alumnus, is the largest named scholarship established by a law firm at USC Gould.
AR: How is Gould addressing change in the way legal education is being taught?
Ongoing innovation is imperative for USC Gould to remain one of the top law schools in the country. We must address the changing learning landscape and online learning is a vital part of our academic program. Our new online program in Entertainment Law & Industry is an exciting example of ways that we will address increasing our reach and engaging students around the world. Currently, USC Gould is the only top 20 law school in the U.S. to offer an online entertainment certificate.
Gould’s clinical training programs provide essential opportunities for real-world application, helping students to develop practical lawyering skills of the highest caliber. Gould’s six clinics are built upon more than 85 years of clinical education leadership. Over 1,000 Gould students have represented over 5,000 real clients in actual cases under the supervision of seasoned practitioners serving as clinical professors.
Through programs and opportunities like these, we look forward to another exciting and successful year at USC Gould. We invite you to join us to help to make a difference, both on campus and in the ‘real world.’
AR: How can alumni become involved in supporting the work of the law school?
AG: Alumni are one of the most important aspects of the Trojan Family. Our graduates’ ongoing dedication to the law school is demonstrated through sharing of expertise and insight, mentorship, financial generosity and a commitment to the next generation of exceptional legal scholars.
We invite our alumni to stay actively engaged and return to campus throughout the year. Our annual Mentor Lunch on February 28 is a beloved tradition where alumni introduce our 1Ls and 2L transfers to the Trojan Family. On April 10, we will host our second Graduating Student Reception to induct graduating students into the USC Gould Alumni Association. And in March and April, alumni are invited to attend our Admitted Student Receptions in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
For more ways to become involved with the law school, please contact us at [email protected].
