Through GGU Law’s extensive Field Placement Externships, students work under the supervision of faculty, judges, and attorneys in government agencies, law offices, and courts.
GGU LLM PRO
The Pro Bono Tax Clinic provides assistance to low-income individuals in tax disputes before the California Board of Equalization. Through the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic, students assist low-income communities and communities of color in protecting their environmental interests and reducing their exposure to environmental hazards. In the Women’s Employment Rights Clinic, students represent immigrant and domestic workers facing unfair labor practices. The law school has three on-site clinics. GGU Law has one of the most extensive externship programs in the country, offering students a broad array of opportunities to earn academic credit while working closely with practicing attorneys and actual clients in the community. GGU Law offers a joint JD/MBA degree through the Ageno School of Business at Golden Gate University and an accelerated JD/LLM degree in Taxation.Ĭertificates of Specialization are offered in six specialty areas of law: Joint Degrees and Certificates of Specialization GGU Law also provides loan repayment assistance for graduates who pursue public interest careers. Numerous student organizations support public interest work for example, the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF) raises funds for students working in unpaid internships. GGU Law offers a Certificate of Specialization in Public Interest Law, and students with prior public and community service experience may apply to the Public Interest Scholars Program, which provides special scholarships and a summer-employment stipend. GGU Law also supports a formidable externship program, which provides myriad opportunities to engage in public interest work. The law school owes its reputation to several factors, including the law school’s curriculum, which extends to all areas of public interest law. GGU Law is consistently recognized as one of the best public interest law schools in the country. Classroom space has also been recently converted into state-of-the-art teaching courtrooms that provide a dynamic and modern training ground for 1st STEP students. 1st STEP students hone their skills through practical exercises and receive valuable feedback throughout the program. The program is designed to improve advocacy skills through both experiential training and traditional doctrinal coursework.
GGU LLM TRIAL
GGU Law’s innovative Summer Trial and Evidence Program, or 1st STEP, is an integrated, nine-week summer litigation program for aspiring courtroom advocates.
Before graduating, HLP students complete a second apprenticeship and have the option to enroll in additional practice-based courses. In the spring of their second year, participants return to full-time classes with a new appreciation for the practice of law. HLP students may apprentice in private law firms, courts, government agencies, or public interest organizations in the Bay Area or anywhere in the world. Participants then transition into a full-time apprenticeship in the fall semester of their second year. These students attend a regular first-year curriculum, then participate in an intensive skills-focused summer session during which they assist real clients with real problems. Honors Lawyering ProgramĮach year, GGU Law selects a small group of highly qualified students for the Honors Lawyering Program (HLP). Students focusing on courtroom advocacy may participate in the Summer Trial and Evidence Program (1st STEP), an intensive litigation “boot camp,” the summer after their first year. The law school also offers an enhanced curriculum through its prestigious Honors Lawyering Program. First-year students enhance their practical lawyering skills through a practice-based elective in the spring. GGU Law’s JD program includes both a three-year, full-time day program and a four-year, part-time evening program. The law school is fully ABA-accredited and is a member in good standing of the AALS. The law school’s distinguished faculty share a strong commitment to both excellence in teaching and accessibility to students. GGU Law is noted for its long tradition of integrating the study of legal theory with practical skills training. Law firms, government agencies, and grassroots advocacy organizations surround the law school’s downtown campus. Founded in 1901, Golden Gate University School of Law is located in the heart of San Francisco’s emerging entrepreneurial and hi-tech district.