First Online Class Graduates From USC Gould School of Law

First Online Class Graduates From USC Gould School of Law

One-of-a-kind online program is designed for foreign attorneys and law graduates

USC Gould graduated its first online Master of Laws (LL.M.) class at its 2016 commencement ceremony.

The inaugural graduating class included 20 legal professionals who serve as law partners, professors and business executives from prestigious companies and law firms around the world. The students hail from Brazil, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Italy, Kuwait, New Zealand, Nigeria and the Philippines.

“USC Gould’s online LLM was exceptional,” said Rodney Lawrence, a New Zealand national and global head of International tax at KPMG in Chicago. “The online instruction was stellar, and I know the degree will benefit me greatly in my career.”

The online degree program — the first of its kind — is designed specifically for foreign attorneys and law graduates who want to earn a LL.M. degree and an optional graduate certificate in business law.

“When people think of online education, the common perception is that professors are simply videotaped teaching in their classroom,” said Donald Scotten, associate academic director of graduate and international programs and professor of the practice. “That’s the farthest thing from the case. The big difference is that our online learning is interactive. We are actively engaging with students through live sessions as well as one-on-one sessions.”

Online classes are taught by the same world-class law faculty who teach on campus. Students meet online in small weekly classes, engaging in discussions and instruction by faculty. Courses range from Introduction to the U.S. Legal System to Contract Drafting & Strategy and Business Organizations. said Deborah Call, associate dean of USC Gould’s graduate and international programs.

“International  lawyers who are practicing overseas – or are even based here in the United States – know that earning a Master of Laws degree will enhance their career trajectory,” Call said. “Many cannot leave to study in the United States or spend a year here in Los Angeles. We are proud to offer another alternative — an elite legal education strictly online.”

In fall 2016, USC Gould is launching another online program – this one for nonlawyers.  The new Online Master of Studies in Law (M.S.L.) provides a foundational knowledge of U.S. law, and offers a platform to better understand the intersection of law and policy, the legal environment of business, as well as the application of law in their respective industries.  It is intended for students who do not want to practice law.

For more information on USC Gould’s online programs, please visit https://gould.usc.edu/admissions/online-programs; or email: [email protected] or call 213-821-5916.