Home » Law Schools » Rankings and Profiles »
USC Gould School of Law
Tracing its roots to 1896, the University of Southern California Gould School of Law has been offering one of the finest legal educations on the West Coast for over a century. Each year, thousands of applicants are drawn to USC Law by its national reputation and Los Angeles location. Southern Cal's most attractive features include a small student body, near-perfect weather, and a famously tight-knit alumni network. 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.
Contents
History
USC Gould School of Law has a long history dating back to 1900. The school was Southern California's first law school and enrolled women and students of color. Today, USC Gould maintains a diverse student body and enrolls the most international students of any law school in the country. This creates an environment that is rich with different perspectives and experiences.
Since the school's inception, USC Gould has maintained a diverse student body, with women, ethnic minorities, and international scholars among our earliest graduates. We helped pioneer the concepts of clinical and interdisciplinary legal education. And our accomplished graduates have long served leadership roles in private practice, on the bench, and in public service, business, and teaching.
This distinguished history continues at USC Gould as our students and alumni carry forward the tradition of innovation, equity, and excellence. Today, the school is global in reach, influence, and renown.
View a historical timeline of USC Gould.
Admissions
In the most recent cycle, Gould received 6,203 applications and extended 770 offers, resulting in an acceptance rate of 12.41 %. Of those accepted, around 200 students enrolled, giving a yield rate of about 26 %.
The incoming JD Class of 2025 set a new academic standard, with a median LSAT score of 169 (25th–75th percentile: 165–170) and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.91 (25th–75th percentile: 3.82–3.97).
Statistics
| Admissions Stats | ||
| Class of: | 2023-2024 | 2024-2025 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT | 165 - 169 - 169 | 165 - 169 - 170 |
| 25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA | 3.77 - 3.88 - 3.96 | 3.82 - 3.91 - 3.97 |
| Acceptance rate | 12.7% | 12.4% |
| Applications received | 4850 | 6203 |
| Acceptances | 607 | 770 |
| Matriculants | 177 | 199 |
The USC Gould School of Law JD Class of 2025 is among the most competitive in the school's history. Out of 6,203 applicants, only 770 offers were made, resulting in a low acceptance rate of 12.41%. Approximately 200 students enrolled, reflecting a yield rate of about 26%. Academically, the class set new records with a median LSAT score of 169, ranging from 165 to 170, and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.91, with the middle 50% falling between 3.82 and 3.97. Tuition and fees for the 2024–2025 academic year total $81,940, but financial aid is widely available—about 96% of full-time JD students receive grants or scholarships, with the average award covering roughly 49% of tuition. The application process accepts either the LSAT or GRE, considering all scores from the past five years. Applicants were required to submit a CAS report, transcripts, standardized test scores, a personal statement, résumé, and 2–3 letters of recommendation, along with supplemental documents if applying as an international student. The regular and scholarship priority deadline was April 1, 2025. This class reflects USC Gould’s commitment to academic excellence, access through financial aid, and holistic admissions.
Acceptance Rate
USC Gould School of Law’s JD Class of 2025 saw one of its most selective admissions cycles ever. Out of 6,203 applicants, just 770 received offers—a 12.41% acceptance rate—and nearly 200 enrolled, reflecting a 26% yield. These figures mark the lowest acceptance rate in recent years, closely aligning with historical trends (~12.52% in previous cycles).
Application Fee
The application fee for USC Gould School of Law’s JD program is $80. Applicants may request a fee waiver if they qualify through programs such as Teach for America, Peace Corps, military service, or are USC alumni. All waiver requests must be submitted by the priority scholarship deadline. The fee is non-refundable and must be paid when submitting the application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) online platform.
To read more about how to obtain a fee waiver, click here.
Admissions Process
The admissions process at USC Gould is holistic and rolling, beginning in December and continuing through May. Applicants must apply through LSAC, submitting a Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report that includes all undergraduate transcripts, LSAT or GRE scores (from the past five years), and at least two letters of recommendation. A personal statement, résumé, and LSAT writing sample (if applicable) are also required. Optional materials, such as addenda or diversity statements, may be included to provide context. Applicants may also choose to apply through the Early Decision option, which is binding and requires the LSAT (not GRE), a signed agreement, and submission by mid-November. Early Decision applicants receive an admission decision by mid-December and are considered for scholarship priority. Waitlisted candidates are allowed to submit updates or letters of continued interest to strengthen their application.
Personal Statements and Optional Essays
USC Gould School of Law's statement is your chance to discuss who you are beyond just the basics of your application. They're interested in learning about your background and why you've decided to study law. This isn't the place to simply list everything from your resume–they want to see how well you can write and communicate.
Your statement should be two to three pages long, double-spaced, and in a 12-point font or larger. The Admissions Committee puts a lot of weight on well-written and clear essays. They want to see that you can communicate effectively, so ensure your composition is error-free. The statement must be submitted electronically. For personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.
Letters of Recommendation
The USC Gould School of Law requires two letters of recommendation, with a maximum of three being accepted. The Admissions Committee gives the most weight to recommendations that focus on an applicant's academic potential and are written by people who know the applicant well and can evaluate their academic performance. Although other recommendations can be helpful, academic recommendations are most considered. If an applicant has been out of college for several years, a letter from their employer would be appropriate. We encourage employers to discuss an applicant's written and oral communication skills, leadership abilities, and potential for the study of law. For additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.
Résumé
You must submit a resume that outlines your employment history, volunteer work, extracurricular activities, and any awards or honors you have received. Your resume should not be more than two pages long, and all sections should be listed in chronological order (with the most recent first).
Transfers and Wait Lists
USC Gould School of Law welcomes transfer applicants who have completed one year of full-time study at an ABA-accredited law school. To be eligible, transfer students must be in good academic standing and ideally rank near the top of their class. The transfer application typically opens in early spring, and admission is competitive, with decisions based on first-year law school performance, class rank, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and the applicant’s reasons for transferring. For students placed on the waitlist during the JD admissions process, USC Gould offers an opportunity to remain under consideration throughout the admission cycle. Waitlisted applicants are encouraged to submit additional materials such as updated transcripts, letters of continued interest, or new achievements. While there is no guarantee of admission from the waitlist, selected candidates may be offered a spot if space becomes available later in the cycle. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.
Tuition and Expenses
USC Gould’s tuition and mandatory fees for the 2024–2025 academic year are $81,940, reflecting a 4.99% increase from the previous year. When combined with estimated living expenses—including housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal costs—the total cost of attendance (COA) reaches approximately $109,558, depending on the student’s housing situation.
Financial aid is widely available: over 96% of full-time JD students receive grants or scholarships, with the average award totaling around $40,000, covering roughly 49% of tuition. After applying merit-based aid, the average net cost typically drops to around $69,558 per academic year. All admitted students are automatically considered for three-year renewable scholarships, and additional need-based grants are offered for eligible applicants.
In summary, although the total annual COA exceeds $100,000, strong financial aid support significantly reduces the financial burden for most students, making USC Gould a competitive yet accessible option for legal education.
Cost of Attendance
| Category | Estimated Cost (2024–2025) |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Mandatory Fees | $81,940 |
| Housing and Meals | $18,510 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,500 |
| Transportation | $3,000 |
| Personal Expenses | $4,608 |
| Total Estimated COA | $109,558 |
| Average Scholarship Award | ~$40,000 |
| Average Net Cost (after aid) | ~$69,558 |
| Students Receiving Aid | ~96% |
USC Gould’s tuition and mandatory fees for the 2024–2025 academic year are $81,940, marking a 4.99% increase over the prior year. When combined with estimated living expenses—covering housing, meals, books, transportation, and personal costs—the total cost of attendance (COA) is approximately $109,558. The breakdown of expenses includes roughly $27,618 for living costs on campus, though actual amounts may vary depending on individual housing and lifestyle choices.
Financial aid is generous: about 96% of JD students receive grants or scholarships with an average award around $40,000, reducing the average net cost to about $69,558 per year.
In summary, while the total annual cost exceeds $100,000, most students pay significantly less due to robust financial aid offerings—making USC Gould a competitive yet financially accessible choice for legal education.
Financial Aid
A University of Southern California J.D. is not cheap, so financial aid informs many prospective students' decisions. Just under half (48%) of students receive scholarships, which are awarded on a combination of merit and financial need. Merit - as measured by GPA and LSAT - seems to be the primary determining factor, as TLS members attest:
Of course, there is no magic equation, but based on my anecdotal evidence [and] LSN [LawSchoolNumbers.com] it seems like if you were over medians you would be offered somewhere in the 30-60k range. Over the 75th percentiles, you would get 75-90K. Based on my sense of the awards, they seem to be almost exclusively awarded on a merit basis, as opposed to need-based, which seems to make sense given that very few people can pay $45k/yr without batting an eye. URM [Under-Represented Minority] status also probably influences the amount offered. They also seem to be somewhat willing to negotiate (they did for me), so it's worth a shot if you have competitive offers from peer schools. Also, note that they tend to be fairly slow in awarding scholarships.(ix)
Public Interest Funding
USC Law offers a limited number of Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) stipends to students pursuing summer public interest fellowships. Per the school's website, PILF distributes about 25 Summer Grants per year through a selective process in which students must have contributed at least 25 hours of pro bono service to be eligible. First-year students receive $5,000 for the summer, while 2L recipients get $6,500.(xii)
Loan Repayment Assistance Program
USC also maintains a Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) to help committed students pursue public interest careers with fewer financial worries. A description of the program (including a downloadable copy of the program description and application) can be found here; a detailed TLS breakdown may also be useful.
Recent USC grads working for qualifying employers - government agencies or tax-exempt non-profit organizations - receive loans to cover all or part of their educational loan repayments. Income levels determine graduates' expected contributions: those making less than $40,000 are not expected to contribute anything; those making between $40,000 and $60,000 contribute one-third of their incomes above $40,000; those making above $60,000 contribute $6,600 plus 70% of income above $60,000. Adjustments are made for spousal income, dependent children, and cities with especially high costs of living. These loans are completely forgiven for graduates who stay in qualifying employment for at least five years, and partially forgiven for those who leave qualifying employment sooner. Southern Cal's LRAP assumes participation in federal Income Based Repayment, and will take into account any other forms of loan repayment assistance when calculating awards. The program is somewhat complicated and exact LRAP loan amounts are contingent upon the availability of funds from year to hear, so interested applicants should explore the above links for themselves.
Law school culture
The famous "Trojan Network" solidifies early, as current students enjoy spending time with their colleagues in class, at bar reviews, and everywhere in between. During 1L year, many students become closest with those in their sections of about 20 people, with whom they take all of their classes. Through larger groupings for doctrinal classes and myriad social events, however, most quickly get to know people from all over the law school, fostering a congenial atmosphere. One student simply says:
The people at the school are fantastic. There is very little competitiveness - so long as you make an effort to be social, you will find that everyone is warm and friendly.(xiii)
Another gushes:
I consider almost everyone in my classes a friend, and everyone is seriously helpful/supportive. I don't know if the "collegial" thing is something USC just tries to sell you on that actually exists at all schools, but I can tell you that here we share everything: people will give you notes without hesitation if you miss class, [and] several people have offered to give me their outlines without me asking just because I mentioned I was a little behind.(xiv)
USC students and administrators often cite the school's relatively small class size as encouraging a welcoming atmosphere: the most recent entering class of 220 students is 90 smaller than rival UCLA's, and less than half the size of entering classes at large schools like NYU or Georgetown. Den Rasmussen highlights the effects of this feature:
Large schools and small schools have different feels to them. I have taught at both a large law school (Michigan) and smaller ones (USC, Chicago and Vanderbilt). Students at small law schools tend to know almost everyone in their class. This common connection supports an ethos of collegiality and cooperation rather than competition. Not only does this make for a healthier learning environment, but it also provides a lesson in teamwork, which is an essential and too often overlooked skill of a successful lawyer. Moreover, small law schools make it easier for students to form professional relationships with their professors. Such a relationship both enriches a student's education and provides a foundation for meaningful faculty career advice and references for the student seeking employment later.
Despite this small and collegial feel, USC is still located in the middle of Los Angeles. Those looking for non-law school friends and niches will most likely be able to find them.
Diversity
USC Law often touts its diversity, and has the numbers to back it up: in the most recent U.S. News and World Report diversity index, USC ranked 7th overall and first among top-tier schools.
USC Gould School of Law is committed to a diverse and inclusive student body. The Class of 2025 is 36.8% students of color, which is the most racially diverse class in USC Gould's history. This commitment to diversity ensures that USC Gould students are prepared to enter a legal profession that is increasingly reflective of the society it serves.
USC Gould's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion have been recognized by a number of organizations. The law school is a member of the Consortium for a Diverse Legal Profession and the Association of American Law Schools' Diversity Consortium. USC Gould has also been recognized by preeminent organizations such as the National Jurist, which ranked USC Gould 4th in the nation for racial diversity.
Academics
USC Gould is a small, diverse law school, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. Our atmosphere is supportive and collegial. Our stellar professors know you by your first name, and your fellow students are your colleagues, not your competition.
Curriculum
The first-year curriculum developed at Harvard Law School in the 19th century - based on case studies covering wide doctrinal areas of law - has not changed much since being adopted by essentially all American law schools. USC 1Ls take Torts, [Civil] Procedure, and Contracts in the fall semester; they continue with Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, and Property in the spring. Second-semester 1Ls also take Legal Profession, a three-credit course that considers the societal role of attorneys and explores ethical and career issues. Legal Research, Writing and Advocacy spans both semesters (three credits in the first term; two in the second), and progresses from drafting internal memos in the fall to full briefs in the spring. Though Legal Research and Writing is ungraded or curved differently at many law schools, USC's version is graded on the same numeric curve as other courses.(xvi)
A unique component of USC's 1L curriculum is Law, Language and Values, which introduces theoretical concerns behind legal reasoning. A current 1L describes the two-credit course:
The class covers the statutory interpretation and adjudication theory: basically, how to go about piecing together an answer to "hard" legal questions (e.g., does selling a gun to buy drugs constitute a violation of a statute attaching greater penalties if a drug dealer "uses" a gun during a drug transaction?). The class itself has a fair number of (ungraded) papers, and a lot of reading, most of which is very esoteric. The general feeling about this class is very mixed - some people really dislike it, but others find it valuable. I personally thought the class was a good addition to the core 1L curriculum…[it] does a solid job of introducing you to "general legal theory," and teaching you a solid framework for raising legal arguments (which becomes especially valuable during finals). My professor also really impressed me - it is really hard to corral Socratic discussion when the concepts are so broad, but he managed to get the point across.(xvii)
Upper-division students have almost complete freedom to choose their classes, although the law school recommends taking several foundational courses useful for bar examinations and general legal practice, such as Business Organizations, Criminal Procedure, Community Property, and Evidence. USC's Student Handbook and faculty also provide recommendations on course sequences for those interested in varying legal careers. The most popular electives are offered each semester, while others may be offered once a year or less frequently.(xviii)
A USC J.D. requires 88 total credits over six semesters. Southern Cal students must satisfy both an Upper-Division Writing Requirement and a Practical Skills Course Requirement.(xix)
Grading System
USC's grading system offers plenty of feedback: numerical grades from 1.9 to 4.4 correspond with letter grades from F to A+, with the numbers giving professors latitude to make fine distinctions between students (e.g., teachers can hand out a 3.5, 3.6, or 3.7 instead of just an A-). Like most law schools, Southern Cal strictly curves 1L classes, while some upper-division classes give professors more discretion. First-year classes are curved to a 3.3 (B+), with other grades falling in an approximately normal distribution around this median.
First-year students are not officially ranked - just told whether or not they are in the top 10% of the class. Still, since the median is published, employers can get a general idea of where students fall.
Professors
USC has a strong faculty, typically ranking about on par with its USNWR ranking in scholarly reputation surveys. Edward McCaffery is one of the nation's foremost experts in tax law, ranking as the third-most cited tax professor in a recent Brian Leiter survey. Other oft-cited scholars include Christopher Stone (Environmental Law) and Mary Dudziak (Legal History). (xx) Southern Cal has a student-faculty ratio of about 15:1, which is slightly higher than most top-tier schools.
Clinics and Externships
Law schools are placing increased emphasis on clinical programs to attract students who want flashier and more experiential law school curricula and to make their graduates more marketable to employers demanding more "ready to work" young lawyers. USC offers six clinics: Immigration, Intellectual Property and Technology Law, International Human Rights, Mediation, Small Business, and the Post-Conviction Justice Project. Clinics combine classroom instruction and simulated experiences with real-life advocacy (or third-party counseling, in the case of the Mediation Clinic!) and client interaction. Each of these clinics provides students with the opportunity to learn about an area of interest while providing services to clients who might not otherwise be able to afford legal services.
First-year students are not eligible for clinics, but many apply to work a (paid) clinical position that begins the summer after 1L year and continues through the school year. Academic-year-only clinics for upper-division students are easier to get into because of decreased competition. USC Law students tend to enjoy clinics, says one TLS poster:
They are supposed to be amazing experiences -- a lot of really good hands-on experience…. Everyone I have talked to who has been a part of a clinic has said it was one of their favorite things they did during their time in law school. My one piece of advice…is to figure out who the managing faculty is for that clinic, and go talk and make yourself known to them during your 1L year.(xxi)
USC Law students can also get course credit by "externing" with a judge or non-profit organization. The school's website lists agencies at which students have earned credit in the past.
Certificates
Southern Cal offers certificates in two of the most popular career interests of USC students: Business Law and Entertainment Law. The Business Law certificate for J.D. students entails six mandatory courses as well as a choice of approved electives, totaling 27 credits. A few of these courses are offered through the Marshall School of Business. The Entertainment Law certificate requires just 21 credits, including four mandatory courses. Several eligible electives are taught at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
For obvious reasons, USC is one of the most popular schools for people looking to break into the entertainment industry on the legal side. John Schulman, who left private practice in the early 1980s to begin a multi-decade stint as Warner Bros. Entertainment's Vice President and General Counsel, brings his considerable experience to the entertainment law program. USC's proximity to Hollywood and the range of prominent speakers brought in by the school confer significant insider advantages to interested students.
Interdisciplinary Focus and Dual Degrees
"Interdisciplinary" is one of the hottest buzz words in legal education: more and more law schools are emphasizing classes that integrate unique perspectives and allowing students to take courses at other graduate departments; increasing numbers of newly hired law professors hold advanced degrees in non-legal fields. USC has embraced this movement with several interdisciplinary centers that combine the law with areas such as communications, economics, health policy, and philosophy.
For those that want to maximize their exposure to another discipline, USC offers several dual degree programs. For Masters degrees, USC students are typically able to shave a year of coursework: for example, a J.D. candidate can earn a Master of Arts in Economics, which usually takes one year of post-college study, and still graduate law school in the usual three years. A combined J.D./M.B.A., on the other hand, takes four years of study. More time-consuming J.D./Ph.D. programs are also available in conjunction with Cal Tech's social sciences departments, the USC School of Pharmacy, and occasionally on an ad-hoc basis.
Study Abroad
Upper-division students can satisfy their wanderlust with one of five study abroad programs. Trojans can also spend a semester taking English-language classes in Hong Kong (University of Hong Kong), Milan, France (Bocconi University), Lyon, Italy (University Jean Moulin Lyon 3), or Queensland, Australia (Bond University).
Graduate Programs
USC offers a Master of Laws (LL.M.) program for internationally trained lawyers interested in learning about the American common law system. Applicants must have earned a first law degree in another country. Although the LSAT is not required, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is, along with traditional application materials like transcripts and letters of recommendation. It is difficult for foreign-trained lawyers to actually find work or gain bar admission in most states; however, LL.M. graduates have a relatively easy time sitting for the bar in California and New York. Foreign lawyers who have already earned an LL.M. can study for a Master of Comparative Law, which also takes two semesters. Tuition, fees, and expenses for both graduate programs are roughly the same as those for J.D. students.
Student Activities
USC students share common interests and affinities through over 30 student organizations, which range from the Federalist Society to an a cappella group. In addition, many students vie for spots on the Honors programs detailed below.
Journals
Membership on legal journals - which involves editing and cite-checking scholarly articles and occasionally writing student notes for publication - is valued by employers as a noteworthy credential and valuable experience. USC publishes three journals: the flagship Southern California Law Review, the Southern California Review of Law and Social Justice, and the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal. Members are generally selected on the basis of first-year grades or performance in a writing competition held at the end of 1L year. A student cannot participate in both a journal and the Hale Moot Court Honors Program in the same year.
Moot Court
As part of Legal Research, Writing and Advocacy, all first-years draft appellate briefs and present oral arguments. The top performers are invited to participate in the intramural Hale Moot Court Honors Program during their second years. Out of these participants, the best performers can continue with moot court in 3L year by competing on USC's national moot court team or sitting on the Executive Board of the Hale competition. (xxii)
Facilities
The Gould School of Law sits near the South border of USC's main University Park campus in South Los Angeles. Southern Cal's campus is self-contained (no through traffic is allowed) and heavily patrolled by campus security. Many consider it one of the prettiest urban campuses in America. Consensus holds that the Musick Law Building - which houses essentially all law school facilities, including classrooms, offices, and a café - is not the most breathtaking building on campus, but current students seem fine with the interior:
The building isn't pretty to look at on the outside, though the rest of the USC campus is gorgeous (if not a bit bourgeois). But inside it is more than adequate with huge rooms, plenty of study space, and a great library that never really has space issues….There is also free Westlaw and LexisNexis printing for cases which is great because they can be really long.(xxiii)
Another TLS user offers a defense of the law school area:
The law school is actually in my favorite part of campus. The building itself is kind of plain, but a lot of the buildings around there are some of the oldest ones on campus….Also, the law library is actually kind of nice if you want the stereotypical green lamp, academic feel.(xxiv)
The Asa V. Call Law Library has over 380,000 volumes as well as extensive access to electronic resources. In addition to stacks and reading areas, the library includes multiple computer labs and a Lexis/Westlaw lab.
Employment Prospects
Graduates from the Class of 2025 at USC Gould continue to enjoy exceptional employment outcomes. The employment rate ten months after graduation stands at approximately 97.4%, with 188 out of 193 graduates securing full-time positions—mostly long-term roles requiring bar passage or positions offering a JD advantage. A significant majority (about 92–93%) obtained full-time, bar-passage-required jobs, while around 5% accepted JD-advantage roles in fields where a law degree is beneficial but not mandatory.
Law firm employment remains the most common first destination, encompassing roughly 77% of graduates; over half of these secured positions at large firms with 251 or more lawyers. Other graduates entered business and industry roles (about 9%), joined government agencies (3%), pursued public interest work (5%), or performed judicial clerkships (3%).
USC Gould’s Career Services team supports this strong placement through comprehensive recruitment initiatives—virtual interviews held multiple times annually, participation in major on- and off-campus job fairs, access to job postings, and personalized career advising. Most employment placements occur in California (over 84%), followed by New York (around 7%).
In summary, USC Gould’s Class of 2025 achieved outstanding career outcomes: nearly 97% were employed full-time within ten months of graduation, primarily in bar-required legal roles, especially in large law firms. This underscores the law school’s strong market reputation and highly effective career support services.
Geographic Placement
For the USC Gould School of Law JD Class of 2025, geographic placement trends continued to reflect the school’s strong regional influence, particularly in California. Over 84% of graduates accepted full-time, long-term positions within the state, with the majority working in the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas. This aligns with USC Gould’s longstanding reputation and deep alumni network throughout California’s legal markets. Outside of California, the next most common destination was New York, where approximately 7% of graduates secured employment, followed by smaller percentages placed in states like Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia. While the school maintains a national presence, the vast majority of its graduates begin their legal careers on the West Coast, often in large law firms, corporate legal departments, public interest organizations, or government roles within California. This regional focus is further supported by the school’s recruiting partnerships and targeted job placement efforts across the state.
| Region | Percentage of Graduates Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 84% |
| New York | 7% |
| Washington, D.C. | 3% |
| Texas | 2% |
| Washington State | 1% |
| Other States/International | 3% |
Career Services Office
USC's Career Services Office helps Trojans research and find employment from their 1L years to graduation and beyond. Three career counselors help students explore legal jobs, perfect résumés and cover letters, and hone interview skills. Still, finding a good job requires legwork, especially in today's economy. Says one student:
Our CSO is quite good, and they are always willing to help you out, but they tend to be more formalized in their help - they will critique your résumés, hold mock interviews, notify you of job postings in your target interests, and speak generally about the process [of finding a job]. A better resource for "insider" information is your fellow students. I have grabbed lunch and talked with everyone who goes here that has worked at or will be working at my summer employer, and they were all very helpful. Upperclassmen here are very friendly, and seem willing to help out in any way they can.(xxx)
The CSO also organizes an on-campus interview program, the traditional path to a summer associate position with a large firm. OCI interviews are assigned by a pure lottery system, meaning that employers cannot "pre-screen" candidates based on GPA, journal membership, or other criteria. A lottery system also means that highly qualified students may sometimes have to contact firms directly after getting shut out of a lottery interview with that firm. In order to help students decide at which firms they are competitive, USC provides the GPAs of past students that have been hired by each employer.
Private Practice
Most law school grads take first jobs at firms; before the recent recession, almost four-fifths of USC grads landed in private practice. In good years, students with solid grades stood good chances of securing Biglaw employment through OCI, and many found jobs with small or midsized firms.
While the majority of Trojans (three-fifths of employed graduates) still go to work for firms, the outlook for private practice hiring is not as rosy as in yesteryear. Each year, the National Legal Journal publishes the percentage of graduates from top-tier schools hired by the country's 250 biggest law firms. This list is not a perfect indicator of law firm employment opportunities: it does not account for self-selection into smaller firms or other careers, and does not include federal judicial clerks who will likely move to large firms after their clerkships. Nevertheless, it is a useful metric. The table below lists USC's NLJ250 placement over the last four years, with the percentage of graduates placed by the #1 ranking school given as a reference point.
Prior to the economic downturn, USC performed admirably, keeping pace with some traditional "top-14" schools and out-placing regional rival UCLA (a study by Brian Leiter suggests that UCLA places more graduates with the most elite firms). Southern Cal's location in a large legal market helps, as scores of NLJ 250 firms have LA offices. The recession has hurt schools across the board, and while USC has slipped slightly relative to similar schools (see the above table's National Rank row), its placement is still in line with traditional peers.
The decline in Biglaw hiring makes taking out large loans to attend USC Law a riskier proposition than in years past, and those considering law school as a ticket to financial security should reconsider. Though the legal hiring market has stabilized and shown some signs of recovery this year, a new reality calls for prospective students to carefully evaluate career goals and likely outcomes, and for current students to utilize nontraditional resources to find job opportunities.
Clerkships
Judges of many types hire clerks to assist with research, proofreading, and organizational tasks. Responsibilities vary widely with the type of court and judge's personality, but many clerks write bench memos and even first drafts of opinions. Most clerkships offer valuable learning experiences, and some carry significant cachet. Clerkships have always been competitive, but have become increasingly so as lucrative private sector jobs dry up and greater numbers of experienced lawyers apply.
In the past few years, about 5% of USC graduates have gone on to clerkships, with nearly all of these grads working for federal Article III judges.
Government and Public Interest
A small but steady fraction of Trojans eschews firm life to work for public interest organizations. No matter what area of the law you are interested in, USC Gould provides a strong foundation for legal practice while also giving back to those in need. Each year, our students contribute 2,500 hours of pro bono service to various causes. This commitment to public interest law is something that has been instilled in USC Gould students for many years and continues today. By getting involved in public interest law at USC Gould, you can have a positive impact on your community while developing essential skills for your future career.
Housing
Living in Los Angeles has its upsides and downsides, and expensive housing and long commutes are decidedly among the latter. The area around the West Adams campus has a less-than-stellar reputation, and many want to live relatively far from school to take advantage of some of LA's most exciting neighborhoods.
USC offers some graduate housing. The most popular option for law students is the Terrace, which reserves two floors for Gould students and is located off the north side of campus. Rent is $995 per person to split a two-bedroom apartment. One Trojan shares his opinion of the facility:
You get a spacious bedroom, which you can have to yourself, and your own bathroom. You share a kitchen and a living room. It's not the best deal you can find, but you can do a lot worse. People who live there do it for the built-in social network, because they're surrounded (for better or worse) by people going through the same things you are. The crowd is also younger: I'd say most of Terrace went straight through from undergrad. They take care of everything for you, so it's convenient, and it's located close to school.(xxxii)
Most students live off-campus, which can get pricey. USC's website advises that "studio, one bedroom, and two bedroom apartments average $800, $1000 and $1300, respectively," though especially nice accommodations or desirable neighborhoods can run much higher.(xxxiii) A TLS member who went to USC for college breaks down the local housing market:
If you want to live really close to campus, you'll have to pay for the privilege. Studios are basically non-existent, and one-bedrooms tend to run somewhere in the $1000-$2000 range, minimum. If you can find a roommate or two and split a larger, multi-room apartment or rent a house, you can get by more cheaply, but the minimum you'll pay for your own room is in the $700 range. Rates are slightly cheaper to the west of campus (past Vermont Street), which is also a more dangerous area, but as long as you don't act like an idiot, you'll be fine. Lots of students live on Ellendale, Menlo, and 30th, which are convenient, but also expensive. The cheapest place around is City Park Apartments, on 30th, but be warned: it's nicknamed Shitty Park for a reason. Some people never have a problem, but I'm in the middle of suing them, and everyone complains about the crappy plumbing and just overall shoddy work. The management is also a nightmare. If you're willing to commute a short way to campus (and pay through the nose for on-campus parking or deal with metered parking around the school), you can get much cheaper rents to the North, especially around Alvarado Place. If you're willing to live as far away as Los Feliz or Silverlake (15-20min commute) or other east Hollywood neighborhoods, you can get a lot more for your money.(xxxiv)
Students warn that apartments closest to campus tend to be overpriced and shabbily maintained. They also recommend that apartment hunters look at newspaper classified ads and Craigslist, or consider going through a rental agency like Westside Rentals.
Quality of Life
Southern California has much to recommend it, including fantastic year-round weather for sunshine lovers: average monthly high temperatures do not dip below the mid-sixties, even in January. Los Angeles is the country's second-biggest city, and a diversity of neighborhoods gives law students more than enough to do in their limited free time. A car is a near-necessity, and it may take some time for those new to the area to find their niche. Still, LA offers options few areas can boast, as one TLS member attests:
It's like NY, but with miles of sandy beaches that stay warm year round. And if you get tired of those sandy beaches, Mexico is a couple of hours away. And if you get tired of sandy beaches in general, just drive into the mountains and go snowboarding.(xxxv)
Other accessible entertainment destinations include Las Vegas (a few hours by car), the Bay Area (to which inexpensive shuttle flights run regularly), and Yosemite National Park. Closer to home, USC students enjoy a robust bar scene and one of America's best cities for foodies. One Trojan writes with some gratitude, "Real estate in SoCal is very expensive - good food, however, is not."(xxxvi) Though the Staples Center and Koreatown are nearby, many of LA's best entertainment and nightlife options are significant drives from USC. The Southern Cal campus itself is extremely safe due to constant security patrols, but students and other LA locals caution those new to the area to be careful when walking around the surrounding area at night.
Although the university has raised its profile as a whole in recent years, Trojan athletics have garnered the school much of its fame. USC has won the third-most NCAA national titles of any Division I university, trailing only California rivals UCLA and Stanford. Many sporting events are free and even high-profile sports like football and basketball are relatively cheap for students. While recent scandals have put a damper on Southern Cal's legendary athletics program, more than a few law students will welcome the chance to put off studying on a sunny California afternoon while catching a glimpse of the next Marcus Allen or Randy Johnson.
Synopsis
The University of Southern California School of Law offers a quality education and solid career prospects in an exciting and popular area. Although rising costs and sluggish legal hiring make choosing a law school a more difficult decision than ever, those who want to learn the law while living in a large city and enjoying a tight-knit university community should give USC Law a serious look.
Contact Information
USC Gould School of Law
Admissions Office
699 Exposition Boulevard
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0074
Phone: 213.740.2523
E-mail: admissions@law.usc.edu
Summary
| Established | 1990 |
| Location | Los Angeles, Ca |
| Dean | Franita Tolson |
| 2025 US News Ranking | 26th |
| LSAT Median Score | 169 |
| GPA Median Score | 3.91 |
| Bar Passage Rate | 82.4% (2025) |
| Employment Rate | 88.5% (2025) |
| Cost | $80,184 |
| Average Debt | $140,691 |
| Application Deadline | April 1, 2025 |
Forum and Discussion
USC Gould School of Law Discussions
Law School Admissions Forums
Law Student Forums
Law School Class Forums
Reference
https://gould.usc.edu/
Rank #26
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
Interview: Former Dean Robert Rasmussen of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law
