University of San Diego School of Law

Coordinates: 32°46′19″N 117°11′16″W / 32.77194°N 117.18778°W / 32.77194; -117.18778
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from San Diego Law Review)
University of San Diego School of Law
Warren Hall
Parent schoolUniversity of San Diego
Established1954[1]
School typePrivate law school
DeanRobert Schapiro
LocationSan Diego, California, United States
Enrollment1,007 (Full- and part-time)
Faculty94 (Full- and part-time)
USNWR ranking78th (2024)[2]
Bar pass rate79% (July 2023 1st time takers)[3]
Websitehttp://www.sandiego.edu/law/
ABA profileUSD School of Law

The University of San Diego School of Law (USD Law) is the law school of the University of San Diego, a private Roman Catholic research university in San Diego, California. Founded in 1954, the law school has held ABA approval since 1961.[4] It joined the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1966.[5]

Academics[edit]

USD Law offers Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees in either a three-year full-time or a four-year part-time program. Advanced law degree programs offered include Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees in Taxation, International Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law, Business and Corporate Law, Environmental and Energy Law, Employment and Labor law, and in Comparative Law for graduates of international law schools. Concurrent degree programs are offered to achieve a J.D. degree with either a Masters in Business Administration, International Master of Business Administration, or Master of Arts in International Relations.

Rankings[edit]

USD Law placed 64th among the nation's "Top 150" law schools in 2022 according to the U.S. News & World Report.[6] It previously was ranked 71st in the 2016 rankings,[1] and 86th in the 2020 rankings.[7] In April 2010, USD was ranked 6th in the nation in tax law and first in the Western United States among law schools with graduate tax programs.[citation needed] In January 2011, USD Law was given a "B+" in the "Best Public Interest Law Schools" listing by The National Jurist: The Magazine for Law Students.[8]

The school is a member of the Order of the Coif, a national law school honorary society.[9]

Dean[edit]

The dean of the law school is Robert Schapiro.[10] Prior to his tenure as dean, Robert A. Schapiro was the Dean of Emory University School of Law. Dean Schapiro is Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law and Co-Director of Emory School of Law’s Center on Federalism and Intersystemic Governance. From 2012 to 2017 he served as Dean of Emory University School of Law. Schapiro, an internationally recognized scholar of federalism, is the author of Polyphonic Federalism: Toward the Protection of Fundamental Rights (University of Chicago Press, 2009). A graduate of Yale Law School, he served as editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. He clerked for Judge Pierre N. Leval of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and for Justice John Paul Stevens of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Faculty[edit]

In a 2003–2004 survey based exclusively on academic criteria, Brian Leiter of the University of Chicago Law School ranked USD Law 22nd in the nation for faculty scholarly reputation.[11] Leiter rated USD Law as "Also Strong" in Criminal Law & Procedure, Jurisprudence/Legal Philosophy, Law & Religion, and Legal Ethics.[12]

Six faculty members are members of the American Law Institute, a legal research organization.[13]

Notable guest professors[edit]

On numerous occasions, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia judged the final round of intramural moot court competitions on campus prior to his death in 2016. Along with this, he was a guest lecturer of Constitutional Law classes as well as classes on Oral Advocacy.

Media appearances[edit]

Faculty member Junichi P. Semitsu appeared on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire[14] and faculty member Frank Partnoy appeared on an episode of The Daily Show discussing his book The Match King: Ivar Kreuger, The Financial Genius Behind a Century of Wall Street Scandals.[15]

Students[edit]

In 2023, the 75th percentile of Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores was 163 and the 25th percentile of LSAT scores was 157 for admitted full-time students.[16]

Bar passage rates[edit]

79% of USD Law graduates who took the California Bar in July 2023 for the first time, passed, compared to 64.8% for all first time applicants who completed the July 2018 California Bar Examination.[17]

Post-graduation employment[edit]

Of the 245 students who graduated USD Law in 2022, 235 (95.9%) were employed in some capacity 9 months after graduation.[18]


Advocacy programs[edit]

Appellate Moot Court[edit]

The law school's Appellate Moot Court team is composed of two boards, the Executive Board and the Associate Board.[19] The Appellate Moot Court Board hosts two intramural competitions each year, the Alumni Torts Moot Court Tournament and the Constitutional law focused Paul A. McLennon Sr., Honors Moot Court Competition. Both competitions are open to all students after completion of their first year. Additionally, the Board hosts the National Criminal Procedure Competition each fall open to national moot court teams from law schools across the country.[20]

National Trial Team (Mock Trial)[edit]

USD Law's National Trial Team trains students for regional and national trial competitions, competing in five major tournaments each year.[21]

Transactional Law Team (TLT)[edit]

The Transactional Law Team competes in the National Transactional Law Meet.[22]

Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM)[edit]

USD Law's Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM) team competes in the area of international commercial law and arbitration, also known as alternative dispute resolution.[23] Members of VICAM compete in the Willem C. Vis Moot in Vienna, Austria and the Vis East in Hong Kong.[24]

USD VICAM hosts the Michael Thorsnes International Commercial Arbitration Competition each year.[25] The competition serves as preparation for the Willem C. Vis Moot. It is an international competition, and in 2017 twenty-two teams from ten schools participated, including schools from Japan and Russia.[25]

Student publications[edit]

Employment[edit]

According to the University of San Diego's official 2018 ABA-required disclosures, 67% of the Class of 2018 obtained full-time, long-term, JD required employment nine months after graduation.[29] The University of San Diego's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 24.6%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2018 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.[30]

Costs[edit]

The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) at the University of San Diego School of Law for the 2017-2018 academic year is $74,086.[31] The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $270,135.[32]

Notable alumni[edit]

Theo Epstein
Ron Mix

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "U.S. News & World Report, "Best Law Schools: University of San Diego"". Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  2. ^ "University of San Diego". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  3. ^ 2023 CBX Statistics calbar.ca.gov
  4. ^ "ABA-Approved Law Schools by Year". ABA website. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  5. ^ "Member Schools - Association of American Law Schools".
  6. ^ "University of San Diego - Best Law Schools - US News". U.S. News & World Report. Archived from the original on 2023-03-15.
  7. ^ "University of San Diego #86 in Best Law Schools". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
  8. ^ Weyenberg, Michelle (January 2011), "Best Law Schools for Public Interest", The National Jurist, 20 (4), San Diego, California: Cypress Magazines: 24–28
  9. ^ Smith, Anesha. "member chart". www.orderofthecoif.org.
  10. ^ "Introducing Stephen Ferruolo, USD School of Law's Incoming Dean". www.motionsonline.org.
  11. ^ "Brian Leiter Appendix D: Summary Faculty Quality Rankings for the Top 25 Schools, 2003-04". www.leiterrankings.com.
  12. ^ "Brian Leiter Top Law Schools by Specialty Area, 2002-03". www.leiterrankings.com.
  13. ^ "Members".
  14. ^ "Academics: Faculty Biography: Junichi P. Semitsu". University of San Diego School of Law. Archived from the original on 2012-03-18.
  15. ^ "USD Law faculty bio, Frank Partnoy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2011-06-02.
  16. ^ "University of San Diego School of Law, Enrollment Statistics (2023)". www.leiterrankings.com.
  17. ^ "California Bar Results: July 2023" (PDF). Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  18. ^ "American Bar Association: Employment Summary for 2022 Graduates" (PDF). Retrieved February 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Moot Court Boards - USD Law Moot Court".
  20. ^ "Appellate Moot Court - School of Law - University of San Diego". www.sandiego.edu.
  21. ^ "National Trial Team - School of Law - University of San Diego". www.sandiego.edu.
  22. ^ "Transactional Law Team (TLT) School of Law - University of San Diego". www.sandiego.edu.
  23. ^ "Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM) - School of Law - University of San Diego". www.sandiego.edu.
  24. ^ "About USD VICAM". USD VICAM.
  25. ^ a b "USD Pre-Moot". USD VICAM.
  26. ^ San Diego Law Review, Journal Homepage (Accessed August 22, 2015)
  27. ^ San Diego International Law Journal, Journal Homepage (Accessed August 22, 2015)
  28. ^ San Diego Journal of Climate and Energy Law, Journal Homepage (Accessed August 22, 2015)
  29. ^ "Employment Statistics 2018" (PDF).
  30. ^ "University of San Diego Profile".
  31. ^ "Tuition and Expenses".
  32. ^ "USD SOL Summary".
  33. ^ California, The State Bar of. "Attorney Search : The State Bar of California". members.calbar.ca.gov.
  34. ^ "Colony Inc. Company Executives".
  35. ^ "Mark Brnovich's Biography".
  36. ^ "CAMP, David Lee, (1953 - )". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  37. ^ "Nomination of Joseph Ghougassian To Be United States Ambassador to Qatar". www.reagan.utexas.edu.
  38. ^ "The long trial of Charger Hall of Famer Ron Mix | San Diego Reader".
  39. ^ DeArmond, Michelle, Kimberly Trone and Jose Arballo, Jr., "Timeline of Pacheco's political and legal career", The Press Enterprise, January 5, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  40. ^ "Supreme Court of Nevada "Justice Parraguirre Will Be New Chief Justice at Nevada Supreme Court" December 30, 2009".
  41. ^ http://scholarship.law.berkeley.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1267&context=bjil

External links[edit]

32°46′19″N 117°11′16″W / 32.77194°N 117.18778°W / 32.77194; -117.18778