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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.
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Learn about our interdisciplinary curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and specialized areas.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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News
USC Gould School of Law
- SAKS INSTITUTE FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW, POLICY, AND ETHICS
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Press
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Expanding Career Horizons for People with Disabilities:
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Chads' Chats: Episode 2: Involuntary Treatment with Professor Elyn Saks:
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"What's My Ailment?" Professor of law, psychology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at USC's Gould School of Law, Elyn Saks sits down with Maria Bamford to share her personal experiences with schizophrenia
March 6, 2020 -
Author Esme Weijun Wang shares hope at Saks Institute Distinguished Fall Lecture
November 27, 2019 ...more -
Supported Decision-Making and People with Psychiatric Disabilities: Pioneering Research at California's Saks Institute
September 17, 2019 ...more -
The Power of Making Decisions
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Saks Institute Student Scholars Program Celebrates 10 Years
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Saks Institute Explores Living and Working with Mental Illness
April 10, 2019 ...more -
Finding Her Center
September 27, 2018 ...more -
How to handle the dark days of depression
May 28, 2018 ...more -
Gift supports USC Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy and Ethics
March 27, 2018 ...more -
Elyn Saks Among USC Distinguished Professors
February 26, 2018 ...more -
When a person is committed against their will: A legal and mental health labyrinth
November 28, 2017 ...more -
Podcast - Dr. Elyn Saks: Psychiatric Law, Criminal Justice, and Mental Health Reform
November 6, 2017 ...more -
Brooklyn Supreme Court hosts lecture on mental illness
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Elyn Saks and Andrew Solomon: Book Talk on Mental Health
October 24, 2017 ...more -
The consent dilemma
August 9, 2017 ...more -
Elyn Saks fights mental-health stigma: 'We are not different from you'
June 9, 2017 ...more -
The Center Cannot Hold: Medicine, Music, and the Mind
May 9, 2017 ...more -
Why Freud Still Isn't Dead
March 10, 2017 ...more -
Noted professor to address Brain Week Rhode Island
March 5, 2017 ...more -
Why schizophrenia need not rob us of a life in academia
February 1, 2017 ...more -
The Next Big Thing?
January 29, 2017 ...more -
How people with schizophrenia stay productive and manage symptoms
January 24, 2017 ...more -
Elyn Saks given the ACNP Media Award
December 6, 2016 ...more -
Turning madness into music: A former psychiatric patient's life is now an opera
September 16, 2016 ...more -
USC's Saks Institute Awarded Battery Powered Grant
July 27, 2016 ...more -
Professor's life story proves opera-worthy
July 25, 2016Elyn Saks' revealing memoir of her lifelong struggle and journey with mental illness is translated into music ...more
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Video: Saks Institute video showpiece/overview
February 18, 2016 ...more -
MISC & Saks Talk Mental Health
November 6, 2015On October 30, the School of Cinematic Arts' Media Institute for Social Change and the Gould School of Law's Saks Institute joined forces to host USC's first ever Mental Health Awareness Festival. ...more
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Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast: Elyn Saks on Schizophrenia & Mental Health Law
September 11, 2015
The USC professor of law, psychiatry and psychology (in addition to a PhD in Psychoanalysis) talks about her history of schizophrenia, her multiple hospitalizations and how she has learned to manage it. ...more
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Video: Elyn Saks talk before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
September 9, 2015
The Experience of Mental Illness and Its Impact on the Law ...more
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"Surviving Schizophrenia" Attitude TV episode (New Zealand)
September 3, 2015
Elyn Saks, Debra Lampshire and Paris Williams are all world experts on mental health. They're using their personal experiences and working in their respective fields to debunk the myths and stigma surrounding schizophrenia. ...more
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Sacramento Bee: Mentally ill need to be treated with compassion, not as criminals
May 25, 2015 ...more -
Former CA Senator Darrell Steinberg and USC Professor Elyn Saks to Speak at the Sacramento Press Club
May 1, 2015 ...more -
Elyn Saks Delivers Powerful Talk About Making Peace with Her Mental Illness
January 12, 2015 ...more -
Panel discusses mental health education
October 1, 2014 ...more -
Video: Living with Schizophrenia
August 27, 2014 ...more -
Video: Ask Elyn Saks Anything: The Stigma Of Mental Illness
May 12, 2014 ...more -
Video: Elyn Saks discusses her lifelong illness of schizophrenia for the mental health campaign of Vice President Joe Biden's office
April 25, 2014 ...more -
Elyn Saks interview by NPR's "Talk of the Nation" on Balancing Work, Medication and Mental Illness
January 30, 2014 ...more -
Mysteries of the Mind: Frederick Frese, Elyn Saks discuss the stigma of their schizophrenia
January 28, 2014 ...more -
NY Times Publishes Op-Ed by Elyn Saks, "Successful and Schizophrenic"
January 25, 2014 ...more -
Patrick Kennedy advocates for end to stigma of mental illness
September 23, 2013 ...more -
My Life with Schizophrenia By Elyn Saks, Special to CNN
August 12, 2013 ...more -
On-the job and living with mental health disorders
November 14, 2018Prof. Elyn Saks leads discussion on reducing stigma in the workplace... more
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USC Saks Institute receives $3 million gift
May 10, 2016Doris Bry Trust recognizes the significant achievements of Saks Institute... more
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Making Campus Mental Health a Priority
June 4, 2015Saks Institute holds fifth annual symposium... more
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Campus Mental Health Highlighted
March 25, 2014Saks Institute brings together university officials and students from 50 campuse... more
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Glenn Close Joins Saks Institute Board
August 23, 2013Close's mission is to destigmatize mental illness... more
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Saks Institute Examines Criminalization of Mental Illness
June 10, 2013Experts evaluate best practices, solutions... more
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Prof. Elyn Saks Joins National Advisory Council
May 31, 2013Saks will also attend Mental Health Conference at the White House... more
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Former Washington Post Journalist Speaks About 'Crazy' Mental Health System
December 10, 2012Pete Earley discusses search to help his son at Saks Institute for Mental Health... Click here to view a video of the lecture.
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Elyn Saks Speaks at TEDGlobal
June 19, 2012Addresses life with schizophrenia - video available online... more
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Kitty Dukakis Speaks at Saks Institute Symposium
April 27, 2012Two-day conference looks at psychotropic medication and the law... more
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LA Times Columnist Discusses Journey with the Soloist
December 16, 2011Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy, and Ethics sponsors event... more
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Law professor, mental health patient and advocate
September 27, 2011Elyn Saks gives “Spirit of the Law” talk... more
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Saks Institute Receives $225,000 Grant from Baer Foundation
August 22, 2011Baer Foundation devoted to funding research on schizophrenia... more
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Saks Institute holds inaugural symposium on restraints
May 31, 2011Mental health experts discuss ethical, legal implications... more
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Mental Health Experts Speak at Saks Institute Symposium
November 18, 2010Ethics, Mental Illness, and Mechanical Restraints discussed... more
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USC Law professor underwrites new Institute
August 25, 2010“Genius Grant” recipient founds Saks Institute... more
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Elyn Saks Wins MacArthur Foundation Award
September 22, 2009Elyn Saks published a memoir about her struggles with schizophrenia.... more
USC Gould News
RECENT NEWS

Dan Klerman awarded Fulbright Senior Scholar grant to conduct research in Israel
June 7, 2023
At Hebrew University in Jerusalem, USC Gould professor will compare immigration policies

Trailblazer Elyn Saks sees ‘gender-inspired mental health activism happening all the time now’
June 6, 2023
USC Gould professor is founder, faculty director of Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy and Ethics

USC Gould Law Library showcases ‘rejuvenating power of music’
June 2, 2023
Performances feature LA Philharmonic concertmaster, saxophone quartet