- 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

Stephan Ray
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

Lecturer in Law
Email: sray@law.usc.eduTelephone: (213) 740-2547
699 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90089-0074 USA
Last Updated: July 3, 2018
Stephan M. Ray is of counsel to the law firm of Owens & Gach Ray in Los Angeles. He was admitted to the Bar in California in 1979.
Ray attended UC Berkeley and UCLA where he received his BA in 1976. Ray graduated summa cum laude and was elected a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Ray then attended Stanford Law School, where he received his JD in 1979. While at Stanford Law School, Ray was a member and associate editor of the Stanford Law Review (1977-1979) and served as an extern to the Honorable Stanley Mosk, Associate Justice of the California Supreme Court (1978).
Ray is a Lecturer at both USC Gould School of Law (1989 – present) and at Stanford Law School (2002-2003 and 2006 – present). At USC Gould School of Law, Ray currently teaches Negotiation Skills (2016 – present), and he previously taught Corporate Reorganization (1989-2015). Ray currently teaches Corporate Reorganization at Stanford Law School.
Ray has served in several local and state Bar positions, including on the Executive Committee of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of California. He has also been listed in “The Best Lawyers in America,” “Best Bankruptcy Lawyers in America,” and “California Super Lawyers.” Ray has been selected as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy.
FACULTY IN THE NEWS
The New York Times
January 28, 2023
Re: Jody David Armour
Professor Jody Armour was interviewed by the New York Times about the recent policy brutality incident that led to the death of Tyre Nichols. “It’s not just a Black and white issue, but a Black and blue one. And when you put on that blue uniform, it often becomes the primary identity that drowns out any other identities that might compete with it," Armour said.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIP
Robin Craig
December, 2022
"Climate Adaptation in the United States." Frontiers in Marine Science 9 (2022) December. Special Topic: Ocean Governance and Climate Adaptation: Comparing Responses, Charting Future Courses.
Scott Altman
December, 2022
"Why Parents' Interests Matter." Ethics 133 (forthcoming 2023): 271.
Jonathan Barnett
December, 2022
"The China Innovation Challenge." Center for Strategic & International Studies interview, Washington, D.C.