G&IP Luncheon Welcomes Students

Dean Rasmussen shares about the impact of the graduate programs.

USC Gould’s Office of Graduate and International Programs (G&IP) concluded orientation with a luncheon last week to welcome LL.M., M.C.L. and incoming exchange students to the USC Gould community.

Associate Dean and G&IP director Deborah Call, welcomed the students, who hail from Europe, Asia and South America. The graduate programs are designed for international students who already have law degrees from their home countries and are working as corporate legal counsel, judges, government officials and lawyers.

There are 170 students from 30 countries in the graduate programs this year. Dean Rasmussen praised the program’s 15 years of success and its growth and impact on the rest of the law school.

“Having this program was one of the most transformative decisions we’ve made in the last quarter century,” he said. “Looking at all of you, I know it was one of the best decisions we’ve made.”

Students discussed an array of topics such as life back home, job prospects in Los Angeles, housing concerns, transportation and favorite places to hang out between classes. Faculty members assisted students with concerns about starting classes and suggested attractions for students to take advantage of while in Los Angeles.

Candice Ju, an LL.M. student from China, said she enjoyed the welcoming events.

Candice Ju poses for a picture with fellow LL.M. students.

“I think it is a very special ceremony to welcome us because I had the opportunity to communicate with professors, which was very helpful,” Ju said.

The official orientation events may be over, but the graduate and international program offers resources to help students feel welcome throughout the year. Besides academic help, students have access to career development services, resume writing workshops, bar exam preparation classes, job fairs and interview sessions to ensure professional success, an initiative that Dean Rasmussen says is the best way to evaluate the academic experiences offered by USC Gould.

“The true test of the quality of education is what you do with it when you are done,” he said. “I travel to many countries speaking with alumni and I am continually amazed at how their experiences here have helped them in their professional careers.”