- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Cristina Legaspi
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
699 Exposition Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90089-0074 USA
Last Updated: January 11, 2023
Cristina Legaspi is a principal deputy county counsel for the County of Los Angeles. With 24 years of experience in government, Legaspi represents various county departments and the Board of Supervisors.
Legaspi’s specialty is in child welfare, trying the most complex dependency matters involving child abuse and neglect. Legaspi has expertise in the federal Indian Child Welfare Act in both the ICWA dedicated court and as an imbedded legal advisor to the American Indian Unit. She participates in Indian child welfare conferences as a stakeholder in national Indian welfare associations. She has had a published case in re Santos Y., a case relating to the removal of the Indian Child Welfare Doctrine.
Legaspi has also served as legal advisor to the Civil Grand Jury assisting in the legal capacity, as the Civil Grand Jury investigates the county’s practices and usage of resources. She las also served as legal advisor to the Assessment Appeals Board practicing taxation law.
Legaspi is active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Philippine American Bar Association. She is a member of the Asian Pacific American Women Lawyer’s Association.
Legaspi also serves as a mentor to law students from various schools, and is the first one in her family to become an attorney.
FACULTY IN THE NEWS
Bloomberg Tax
January 18, 2023
Re: Michael Simkovic
Michael Simkovic recently discussed how many crypto firms are working to reorganize after the economic market downturns. “Cryptocurrency firms basically have to answer the question, ‘What is the value that they provide that existing financial institutions cannot provide just as well,’” Simkovic said.
RECENT SCHOLARSHIP
Robin Craig
December, 2022
"Climate Adaptation in the United States," 9 Frontiers in Marine Science, Special Topic: Ocean Governance and Climate Adaptation: Comparing Responses, Charting Future Courses (2022).
Scott Altman
December, 2022
"Why Parents' Interests Matter," 133 Ethics 271 (Forthcoming 2023).
Jonathan Barnett
December, 2022
"The China Innovation Challenge," Center for Strategic & International Studies, Washington, D.C., December 9, 2022.