UCLA School of Law

UCLA School of Law. It is one of the professional graduate schools of the University of California, Los Angeles, located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles. Founded in 1949, it is the youngest of the top-ranked law schools in the University of California system. The school is renowned for its strength in entertainment law, critical race theory, and public interest law, consistently ranking among the nation's premier public law schools.

History

The school was established by the Regents of the University of California following World War II, amid rapid growth of the UCLA campus. Its founding dean was L. Dale Coffman. The law school initially operated in temporary structures before moving to its first permanent building in 1951. A significant early development was the 1966 founding of the UCLA Law Review, one of the most cited legal journals in the nation. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the school expanded its faculty and curriculum, becoming a national leader in interdisciplinary legal studies and establishing influential programs like the Williams Institute and the David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, as well as advanced degrees including the Master of Laws and the Doctor of Juridical Science. The first-year curriculum provides a foundation in core subjects like contracts, torts, and civil procedure. Students can pursue numerous specializations, with particular renown in areas such as business law, environmental law, and constitutional law. The school pioneered the "Lawyering Skills" program, integrating practical training with doctrinal education. Joint degree programs are offered with other UCLA graduate schools, including the Anderson School of Management and the Fielding School of Public Health.

Campus and facilities

The law school is situated on the northern edge of the UCLA campus. The main facility is the Law Building, a complex that includes Dodd Hall and the original Schoenberg Hall. A major expansion, completed in 2018, added the Terasaki Life Sciences Building-adjacent wing, which houses the Shapiro Fountain courtyard. Key facilities include the Hugh & Hazel Darling Law Library, one of the largest law libraries in the Western United States, and the Moisan Courtroom, a state-of-the-art trial advocacy space. The school also manages the UCLA Faculty Center for events.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty includes prominent scholars such as constitutional law expert Eugene Volokh, critical race theorist Cheryl I. Harris, and former United States Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. Distinguished past faculty members include the late Kenneth Karst and former California Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reynoso. Alumni have achieved prominence in diverse fields, including United States Senator Alex Padilla, former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler, and California Governor Gavin Newsom. Other notable graduates are Ninth Circuit judge John B. Owens, American Civil Liberties Union director Anthony Romero, and entertainment executive Bob Iger.

Rankings and reputation

Consistently ranked among the top 20 law schools nationally by U.S. News & World Report, it is perennially a top-tier public institution. Its specialty programs are highly regarded, with its environmental law program and clinical training often ranked in the national top 10. The school is a member of the Association of American Law Schools and is known for a student body with a high median Law School Admission Test score and undergraduate grade point average. Its graduates enjoy strong placement rates with major law firms like Latham & Watkins, government agencies such as the United States Department of Justice, and public interest organizations.

Centers and programs

The school houses numerous interdisciplinary research centers. The Williams Institute is a leading research center on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy. The Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment focuses on environmental law and policy. The Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law is a preeminent center for entertainment and technology law. Other significant programs include the Critical Race Studies program, the Native Nations Law and Policy Center, and the Veterans Legal Clinic. The school also hosts the UCLA-RAND Center for Law and Public Policy. Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Law schools in California Category:Educational institutions established in 1949