An oral history of Gould’s clinical roots and experiential learning vanguards, with USC law school historian Tom Tomlinson
As the USC Gould School of Law celebrates its 125th anniversary, one of the most defining aspects of its legacy is the pioneering clinical education program that began nearly a century ago. What started as an experiment in bridging legal theory and practice has evolved into one of the most highly regarded experiential learning programs in the nation — helping improve lives, families and communities, locally and globally.
The roots of clinical education at USC Gould trace back to 1927, when Justin Miller became dean of the law school. Miller brought with him a progressive vision and a keen interest in reforming legal education. In 1928, he launched a new course simply titled “A Legal Clinic,” led by John S. Bradway, a visionary in the emerging national legal aid movement.
Bradway had previously been a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and was deeply influenced by his Quaker values and commitment to service. He viewed clinical legal education as an essential way to bring theory and practice together, while also instilling a sense of public responsibility in future lawyers.
“An ABA report, written in the early 1930’s, proclaims our experiment with legal education as the most notable experiment,” says Tom Tomlinson, former USC Gould associate dean and an expert on the history of the law school.
From its inception, the program stood apart. Students didn’t travel to distant agencies to serve clients, they welcomed them directly into the law school building.
“What further distinguished us, the legal clinic, was that students welcomed persons, prospective clients who wanted to take advantage of what the law school offered,” explains Tomlinson, who has dedicated years of research to a book project examining the law school’s history. “They would enter into the northeast corner of the law school… walk up to the second floor, where they would be greeted by two third-year law students and interviewed there to learn the nature of what the person was seeking help for.”
The clinic’s real-world engagement was both groundbreaking and practical. “So what can we say about the first two decades, 25 years of legal education at USC?” Tomlinson reflects. “I think it’s not an overstatement to say that our clinics were, and probably still are, the poster child of legal clinic education attached to law schools. And I think that given the number of clinics now within the larger picture, it’s a vigorous model.”
That vigor remains evident today. USC Gould’s clinical offerings span a wide range of practice areas, providing hands-on training opportunities as well as advanced curriculum options.
These clinics not only provide vital services to the community, but also prepare students with core legal skills: interviewing, counseling, drafting, researching, negotiating, and problem-solving. Students develop a client-centered, strategic approach that bridges classroom theory with the realities of practice.
Reflecting on the full arc of clinical education at USC, Tomlinson notes, “The ABA had it right that it’s a notable experiment. And now that we’re pushing 75-plus years, it continues to work. It’s a model that works and has expanded through my career.”
Timeline of Clinical Education at USC Gould
Previous Article
