- 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

Centers and Initiatives
USC Gould School of Law
- FACULTY DIRECTORY
- LECTURERS IN LAW DIRECTORY
- EXPERTS DIRECTORY
- FACULTY IN THE NEWS
- SCHOLARSHIP AND PUBLICATIONS
- DISTINCTIONS AND AWARDS
- + CENTERS AND INITIATIVES
- CENTER FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION
- CENTER FOR LAW AND PHILOSOPHY (CLP)
- CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL SCIENCE (CLASS)
- CENTER FOR LAW, HISTORY AND CULTURE (CLHC)
- CENTER FOR TRANSNATIONAL LAW AND BUSINESS (CTLB)
- INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM INSTITUTE (IRI)
- PACIFIC CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY AND ETHICS
- SAKS INSTITUTE FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW, POLICY, AND ETHICS
- + WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES
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Center for Dispute Resolution
Led by award-winning faculty experts, the Center for Dispute Resolution at USC Gould School of Law offers thorough preparation in arbitration, mediation and negotiation through its distinct degree and certificate programs.
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Center for Law and Philosophy (CLP)
Devoted to advancing interdisciplinary scholarship in legal, moral and political philosophy, the center is a partner in the peer-reviewed, online Journal of Ethics & Social Philosophy. A joint project of USC Gould and the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, the center also holds conferences, workshops and other activities that enhance the study of law and philosophy.
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Center for Law and Social Science (CLASS)
The center leverages USC's excellence in legal scholarship and across the social sciences — spanning economics, political science, psychology, sociology and other fields — to develop sound policies for a fairer society and more productive economy. The center coordinates a wide variety of scholarly work and events promoting cross-disciplinary communication of ideas and practices to achieve these goals.
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Center for Law, History and Culture (CLHC)
The center brings together faculty from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and USC Gould to encourage the study of law as an historical and cultural institution. In addition to supporting emerging scholars, the center sponsors activities including faculty workshops, book talks, seminars and conferences.
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Center for Transnational Law and Business (CTLB)
The center provides a scholarly home for debate on what can and should be demanded of global businesses, which face regulation by numerous and varied legal regimes. It facilitates expanded interdisciplinary collaboration, teaching and research, and brings together leading academics, practitioners and policymakers from across the country and around the world. The center produces scholarly research and policy proposals on transnational business activity and regulation; facilitates discussion among thought leaders by convening conferences and policy forums; and trains a new generation of attorneys and policymakers for leadership in the field.
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Initiative and Referendum Institute (IRI)
The nonpartisan institute focuses on the two most important processes of direct democracy: initiatives and referenda. The institute is a preeminent resource for information about these procedures, producing updated guides of how they function in each state. Continually working to educate the public about direct democracy, the institute is frequently relied on by media outlets from ABC News and NPR to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
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Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics
The Pacific Center examines diverse perspectives concerning the ethical dimensions of healthcare, biomedical research and medical education to advance better health for everyone. The center's research informs policymakers at all levels, builds consensus and coalitions, and serves as a vital educational resource on such issues as control over dying, use of biotechnology and access to care.
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Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics
The Saks Institute fosters interdisciplinary, collaborative research among scholars and policymakers into issues of mental illness and mental health. Studies explore the intersections of law, mental health and ethics to influence public policy and advocate for improved treatment of people with mental illness.
FACULTY IN THE NEWS
LLM Guide
June 5, 2023
Re: USC Gould School of Law
Law schools have been adapting to the increase in technological advancements, especially with the increased need for attorneys with the creation of AI. “Attorneys work on the front end, conducting threat assessments to ensure that their clients’ systems and data are protected, and on the back end, to navigate any legal issues that may arise as a result of the attacks," Gruzas said.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIP
Robin Craig
April, 2023
"Fish, Whales, and a Blue Ethics for the Anthropocene: How Do We Think About the Last Wild Food in the Twenty-First Century?," 95:6 Southern California Law Review 1307-1343 (April 2023).
Robin Craig
April, 2023
"California Exceptionalism in the Colorado River: A Brief History and Implications for the Future."
Robin Craig
April, 2023
"Toward a Global Sustainable Development Agenda Built on Resilience" (with Murray W. Scown, Craig R. Allen, Lance Gunderson, David G. Angeler, Jorge H. Garcia, & Ahjond Garmestani), Global Sustainability (online publication April 2023).