COURSE CATALOG
2023-2024
December 16, 2023
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
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This Course Catalog is a dynamic document. Schedule changes are regularly made. Please always check the date on the
cover page of this Catalog to be sure you have the most recent draft. Please refer to the Academic Regulations for the
latest regulations, including graduation requirements. The Catalog lists courses that are active; to determine which
courses are offered in a particular semester, please visit the Registrar’s Office’s registration information pages or Self
Service, the online Catalog. If you do not see a course you would like the College to offer, please leave a comment in the
Provost & Academic Dean’s comment box on Sharknet.
The College reserves the right to change Academic Regulations, the Course Catalog, health and safety regulations,
building access policies, or other College operations or academic program elements at any time, with or without notice, in
its sole discretion and for any reason, including as needed during the academic year in order to effectively administer the
academic program or respond to emergencies or economic needs. Such changes include but are not limited to: (1)
requiring masking or vaccines; (2) changes to computer equipment requirements; (3) cancelling or adding classes or
changing the format of instruction (e.g., in-person or online), examination formats, or grading (e.g., from normal grading
scales to CR/NC); (4) changing, modifying, or clarifying Academic Regulations; and (5) elaborating new attendance
policies. Tuition and mandatory fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and the College’s policies and
programs and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part or the entirety of the Academic
Year or in the event of other changes in the College’s policies or programs.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 13
JD STUDENTS ...................................................................................................................................... 13
AN OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................... 13
CHANGING YOUR MIND ...................................................................................................................... 14
NARROWING THE CHOICES .................................................................................................................. 14
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) ........................................................................................... 14
FIRST YEAR CURRICULUM ........................................................................................................... 14
CIVIL PROCEDURE I (4 OR 5 UNITS) – (LAW*105) .................................................................................. 15
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I: ADVANCED SACK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*124) ...................................................... 15
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I (3 UNITS) – (LAW*120) .................................................................................. 15
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I: LAW & .......................................................................................................... 15
PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*122) ......................................................................................................... 15
CONTRACTS I (4 OR 5 UNITS) – (LAW*110) ........................................................................................... 15
CRIMINAL LAW (4 OR 5 UNITS) – (LAW*115) ........................................................................................ 15
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING I (LRW I) (3 UNITS) – (LAW*131) ............................................................. 15
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING II (LWR II) (3 UNITS) – (LAW*970) ........................................................... 15
PROPERTY (4 OR 5 UNITS) – (LAW*125) ............................................................................................... 15
TORTS (4 OR 5 UNITS) – (LAW*130) ..................................................................................................... 15
TRANSITION FROM SCIENTIST TO LAWYER (1 UNIT) – (LAW*145) ......................................................... 15
STATUTORY COURSES (3 UNITS) .......................................................................................................... 15
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EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*180) .......................................................................................... 15
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*181) ......................................................................................................... 15
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*540) ................................................................................................ 15
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*182) ................................................................................................ 15
IMMIGRATION LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*400) ................................................................................................................ 15
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (3 UNITS) – (LAW*178) ..................................................................................................... 16
LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*184) .............................................................. 16
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*187) ............................................................................................................ 16
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES FOR J.D. STUDENTS ......................................................................... 16
HOW 2L AND 3L CLASS STATUS IS DETERMINED ................................................................................... 16
MANAGING ONLINE UNITS .................................................................................................................. 16
REQUIRED UPPER DIVISION COURSES ......................................................................................... 16
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II (4 UNITS) ...................................................................................................... 17
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II: LAW & PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*295) ...................................................... 17
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 OR 4 UNITS) – (LAW*328) ............................................................................ 17
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: LAW & PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*339) .......................................................... 17
EVIDENCE (3 OR 4 UNITS) – (LAW*368) ................................................................................................ 17
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY REQUIREMENT .......................................................................... 17
LEGAL ETHICS & THE PRACTICE OF LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*490) ............................................................ 17
LEGAL ETHICS: LAW & PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*486) ....................................................................... 17
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*529) ....................................................................... 17
ROLES AND ETHICS IN PRACTICE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*550) ....................................................................... 17
WRITING REQUIREMENT ............................................................................................................ 18
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING REQUIREMENT .................................................................................... 19
JD UPPER CLASS CONCENTRATIONS ............................................................................................ 20
BUSINESS LAW .................................................................................................................................... 21
CIVIL LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION ....................................................................................... 22
CRIMINAL LAW ................................................................................................................................... 24
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ....................................................................................................................... 25
GOVERNMENT LAW ............................................................................................................................ 27
HEALTH LAW & POLICY ........................................................................................................................ 29
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW ............................................................................................................ 31
INTERNATIONAL LAW.......................................................................................................................... 33
SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYERING ................................................................................................................ 34
TAX LAW ............................................................................................................................................. 37
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN THE PRACTICE OF LAW ................................................................. 39
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WORK LAW ......................................................................................................................................... 41
GPA LECTURE COURSES .............................................................................................................. 43
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*216) .................................................................................... 43
ADVANCED ADR COLLOQUIUM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*459) ........................................................................ 43
ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW (1 OR 2 UNITS) – (LAW*313) .................................................................. 43
AI LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*557) ............................................................................................................ 43
ANTITRUST (3 UNITS) – (LAW*240) ...................................................................................................... 43
ART & THE LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*243) ............................................................................................... 43
BANKRUPTCY (3 UNITS) – (LAW*244) .................................................................................................. 43
BIODIVERSITY LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*242) .......................................................................................... 43
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS (3 OR 4 UNITS) – (LAW*314) ......................................................................... 43
CALIFORNIA CIVIL PROCEDURE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*246) ........................................................................ 43
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY PROPERTY: LAW AND PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*285) ............................... 43
CANNIBIS LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*405) ................................................................................................ 43
CIVIL PROCEDURE II (3 UNITS) – (LAW*275) ......................................................................................... 43
CIVIL PROCEDURE II: LAW & PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*281) .............................................................. 43
CHILDREN & THE LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*251) ...................................................................................... 43
COMMUNITY PROPERTY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*264) .................................................................................. 43
COMPARATIVE PRIVACY LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*273) .......................................................................... 43
COMPLIANCE: CORPORATE CRIMES (1 TO 2 UNITS) – (LAW*594) .......................................................... 43
COMPLIANCE: PRIVACY (1 UNIT) – (LAW*449) ..................................................................................... 43
COMPLIANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR ATTORNEYS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*250) ................................. 43
CONFLICT OF LAWS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*280) .......................................................................................... 43
CONSERVATION TRANSACTIONS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*801) ...................................................................... 43
CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY: THE FOUNDING (1 UNIT)– (LAW*269) ....................................................... 43
CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY: RACE & CIVIL RIGHTS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*268) .............................................. 43
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II (3-4 UNITS) – (LAW*290) .............................................................................. 43
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN LITIGATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*276) ......................................................... 43
CONTRACTS II (2 UNITS) – (LAW*300) .................................................................................................. 43
COPYRIGHT (3 UNITS) – (LAW*308) ..................................................................................................... 43
CORPORATE FINANCE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*315) ...................................................................................... 44
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 OR 4 UNITS) – (LAW*328) ............................................................................ 44
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE II: THE ADJUDICATIVE PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*331) .................................... 44
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CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: LAW & PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*339) .......................................................... 44
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*350) ....................................................................................... 44
E-DISCOVERY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*301) ................................................................................................... 44
ELDER ABUSE LITIGATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*358) ................................................................................ 44
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*352) ...................................................................... 44
EMPLOYMENT LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*435) ......................................................................................... 44
ENTERTAINMENT LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*355) ..................................................................................... 44
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*304) ............................................................................... 44
EUROPEAN UNION LAW-EXAM COURSE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*470) ........................................................... 44
EVIDENCE (3 OR 4 UNITS) – (LAW*368) ................................................................................................ 44
EVIDENCE: LAW & PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*367) ............................................................................. 44
FAMILY LAW (4 UNITS) – (LAW*336) .................................................................................................... 44
FEDERAL COURTS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*376) ............................................................................................ 44
FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*338) .................................................................................. 44
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*540) ........................................................................... 44
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION OF CORPORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*542) .................. 44
FOUNDATIONS OF PRIVACY LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*279) ..................................................................... 44
FRANCHISE AND DISTRIBUTION LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*466) ............................................................... 44
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, PATIENTS AND THE LAW (4 UNITS) – (LAW*217) .......................................... 44
HOUSING LAW IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST (4 UNITS) – (LAW*306) ........................................................... 44
IMMIGRATION LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*400) ......................................................................................... 44
IN-HOUSE PRODUCT & TECH COUNSEL (3 UNITS) – (LAW*232) ............................................................. 44
INSURANCE LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*408) ............................................................................................. 44
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SURVEY (4 UNITS) – (LAW*412) .................................................................... 44
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY UNDER STATE LAW: TRADE SECRETS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*508) ......................... 44
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*414) ....................... 44
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*416) ...................................................... 44
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS (2 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*417) ............................................................ 44
INTERNATIONAL LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*535) ...................................................................................... 45
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT (2 UNITS) – (LAW*431) ........................................................................... 45
LABOR LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*447) ..................................................................................................... 45
LAW AND ECONOMICS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*450) .................................................................................... 45
LEGAL ETHICS: LAW & PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*486) ....................................................................... 45
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LEGAL ETHICS: PRACTICE OF LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*490) ..................................................................... 45
LEGAL HISTORY: THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON LAW (1 UNIT) – (LAW*267) .................................... 45
LEGISLATION & ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*184) ............................................... 45
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND POLICYMAKING (2 UNITS) – (LAW*478) .................................................. 45
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*480) ..................................................................................... 45
MARITIME LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*224) ............................................................................................... 45
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*440) ......................................................................... 45
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*485) ......................................................................... 45
PATENT LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*505) ................................................................................................... 45
PENSION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*353) ................................................................. 45
PRIVATE EQUITY & HEDGE FUNDS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*296) .................................................................... 45
PRACTICAL CIVIL LITIGATION SKILLS: INTAKE TO TRIAL (2 UNITS) – (LAW*512) ...................................... 45
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*529) ....................................................................... 45
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*525)............................................................................ 45
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*187) ....................................................................................... 45
PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*451) ............................................................................ 45
RACE, RACISM AND AMERICAN LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*203) ................................................................ 45
REFUGEE LAW & POLICY (3 UNITS) – (LAW*428)................................................................................... 45
REGULATION OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (2 UNITS) – (LAW*229) .................................................... 45
REMEDIES (3 UNITS) – (LAW*552) ........................................................................................................ 45
REMEDIES: LAW & PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*282) ............................................................................. 45
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE (3 UNITS)– (LAW*546) .................................................................................... 45
ROLES AND ETHICS IN PRACTICE (3 TO 4 UNITS) – (LAW*550) ............................................................... 45
SECURITIES LITIGATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*208) .................................................................................... 45
SECURITIES REGULATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*568) ................................................................................. 45
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*598) ............................................................ 45
STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*597) ........................................................................... 45
TAX/FAMILY WEALTH TRANSFERS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*543) .................................................................... 46
TAX POLICY COLLOQUIUM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*443) ................................................................................ 46
TAX PROCEDURE: LITIGATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*590) .......................................................................... 46
TORTS II: LAW & PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*564) ................................................................................ 46
TRADEMARKS AND UNFAIR COMPETITION (2 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*582) ............................................... 46
U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM & THE LAW (4 UNITS) – (LAW*317) ............................................................. 46
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U.S. PRIVACY LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*257) ........................................................................................... 46
U.S. TAX/FOREIGN TRANSACTONS & INVESTMENTS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*544) ......................................... 46
VENTURE CAPITAL IN PRACTICE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*261) ....................................................................... 46
WILLS & TRUSTS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*583) .............................................................................................. 46
GPA SEMINARS .......................................................................................................................... 46
ADVANCED COPYRIGHT SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*601) .................................................................... 46
ADVANCED EVIDENCE SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*600) ...................................................................... 46
ADVANCED IMMIGRATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*610) .............................................................................. 46
ADVANCED LEGISLATIVE PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*763).................................................................... 46
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*740) ................................................. 46
AMERICAN INDIAN LAW: ENHANCED TRIBAL STEWARDSHIP (2 UNITS) – (LAW*641) ............................. 46
AMERICAN LEGAL EDUCATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*705) ......................................................................... 46
ANTITRUST AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*700) ....................................................... 46
BIOETHICS LAW & HEATHCARE DECISIONMAKING (3 UNITS) – (LAW*719) ............................................ 46
AI & BUSINESS OF LAW & TECHNOLOGY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*632) ........................................................... 47
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*664) ................................................................. 47
CALIFORNIA PRIVACY LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*685) ............................................................................... 47
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT & THE CONSTITUTION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*770) .................................................. 47
CITIZENSHIP AND EQUALITY: INTERDISCIPINARY PERSPECTIVES (2 UNITS) – (LAW*747) ........................ 47
CIVIL RIGHTS THEORY & PRACTICUM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*764) ............................................................... 47
CHINA & THE INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ORDER (2 UNITS) – (LAW*783) ................................................... 47
CLIMATE CHANGE LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*699) .................................................................................... 47
COMPARATIVE AND INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*644) .................... 47
COMPARATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*787)............................................................. 47
COMPLIANCE: FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (2 UNITS) – (LAW*630) ................................................. 47
CONSTITUTION AND UNSTABLE POLITICS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*614) ......................................................... 47
CONSUMER PROTECTION IN CALIFORNIA (2 UNITS) – (LAW*651) ......................................................... 47
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*678) ............................................................... 47
CREATING TAX LAW (1 UNIT) – (LAW*695) .......................................................................................... 47
CRIMES BY COPS, CRIMES AGAINST COPS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*773) ......................................................... 47
CRITICAL RACE THEORY SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*734) .................................................................... 47
CRIMINAL LAW & THEORY CONCENTRATION SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*757)..................................... 47
CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL CASES (2 UNITS) – (LAW*753)................................................................... 47
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CYBERCRIME SEMINAR (2 UNITS)– (LAW*711) ..................................................................................... 47
DATA PRIVACY RIGHTS SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*722) ..................................................................... 47
DEMOCRACY, TECHNOLOGY & SECURITY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*720) .......................................................... 47
DESIGN THINKING & ACCESS TO JUSTICE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*628) .......................................................... 47
DISABILITY LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*635) ............................................................................................... 47
EDUCATION LAW & POLICY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*793) .............................................................................. 47
ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE IN THE 21
ST
CENTURY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*691) ............................................ 47
EMERGING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*615) ...................................................... 47
ENERGY LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*696) ................................................................................................... 47
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY (3 UNITS) – (LAW*704) ..................................................................... 47
ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*790) ............................................................................ 48
EUROPEAN UNION LAW-SEMINAR COURSE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*769) ...................................................... 48
FOOD AND DRUG LAW SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*677) ..................................................................... 48
HEALTH LAW & POLICY CONCENTRATION SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*750) ......................................... 48
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL TOOLKIT: SKILLS & STRATEGIES (3 UNITS) – (LAW*732) ......................................... 48
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CONCENTRATION SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*731) ...................................... 48
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LICENSING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*707) ................................................ 48
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE HEALTH LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*567) .......................................... 48
INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*786) .................................................. 48
INTERNET LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*751) ................................................................................................ 48
JAPANESE LEGAL SYSTEM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*754) ................................................................................ 48
LAND USE REGULATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*758) .................................................................................... 48
LAW & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*629)........................................................................... 48
ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (1 UNIT) – (LAW*655) ........................................................................... 48
PATENT PROSECUTION SEMINAR 2 UNITS) – (LAW*712) ...................................................................... 48
PROBLEM SOLVING, DECISION MAKING AND PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT (3 UNITS) – (LAW*888) ......... 48
PUBLIC LAW AND POLICY WORK GROUP (3 UNITS) – (LAW*780) ........................................................... 48
REGULATING POLITICAL ACTIVITY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*667) .................................................................... 48
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE SEMINAR (3 UNITS) – (LAW*662) ...................................................................... 48
SEXUALITY, GENDER AND THE LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*725) .................................................................. 48
SOCIOLOGY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*794) ...................................................... 48
STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES AND HEALTH (2 UNITS) – (LAW*645) ............................................................ 48
TAX CONCENTRATION SEMINAR (2 UNITS – YEARLONG – (LAW*714) ................................................... 48
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TERRORISM AND THE LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*746) ............................................................................... 48
THE STORY OF CONSTITUTIONS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*650) ........................................................................ 48
TRADEMARK PROSECUTION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*737) ............................................................................. 48
VOTING RIGHTS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*717) ............................................................................................... 48
WATER LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*617) .................................................................................................... 48
WORK, LAW, AND LIFE SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*654) ...................................................................... 49
NON-GPA COURSES .................................................................................................................... 49
ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH (3 UNITS) – (LAW*835) ........................................................................... 49
ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING & ANALYSIS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*848) .......................................................... 49
ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING: WRITING FOR PRACTICE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*822) ...................................... 49
ADVANCED NEGOTIATION: DEALMAKING (2 UNITS) – (LAW*852) ........................................................ 49
APPELLATE ADVOCACY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*821)..................................................................................... 49
BAR EXAM ESSAY & PERFORMANCE TEST SERIES (1 UNIT) – YEARLONG – (LAW*817) ........................... 49
COLLOQUIUM ON RACE, CITIZENSHIP AND EQUALITY (1 UNIT) – (LAW*853) ......................................... 49
CONTRACT WRITING & ANALYSIS (2 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*877) ............................................................. 49
CORPORATE DEFENSE PRACTICUM (3 UNITS) – (LAW*855) ................................................................... 49
CRITICAL STUDIES I: WRITING (2 UNITS) – (LAW*861) .......................................................................... 49
CRITICAL STUDIES II: MULTISTATE BAR EXAM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*805) ................................................... 50
CRITICAL STUDIES III: EXTENDED BAR REVIEW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*808) .................................................. 50
CROSS-CULTURE NEGOTIATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*865) ........................................................................ 50
DRAFTING LEGISLATION (2 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*818) ........................................................................... 50
EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION IN MEDIATION (1 UNIT) – (LAW*849) ...................................................... 50
ESSENTIAL LAWYERING SKILLS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*850) ........................................................................... 50
FACILITATION FOR ATTORNEYS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*829) .......................................................................... 50
FINANCIAL BASICS FOR LAWYERS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*881) ..................................................................... 50
IN-HOUSE LAWYERING: HEALTH CARE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*847) .............................................................. 50
HEALTH LAW PRACTICE SKILLS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*810) ......................................................................... 50
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF LAW IN HAITI (2 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*874) .................................... 50
JUDICIAL OPINION WRITING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*876) ............................................................. 50
LAW, RACE & ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN THE CITY (1 UNIT) – (LAW*823) ................................................... 50
LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR LAWYERS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*827) .................................................................... 50
LEGAL OPERATIONS FOR LAWYERS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*809) .................................................................. 50
LEGAL TECH: BUILDING A STARTUP (2 UNITS) – (LAW*813) .................................................................. 50
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LIE DETECTION, EMOTIONS, AND MINDFULNESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*882) .............................................. 50
MEDIATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*802) ...................................................................................................... 50
NEGOTIATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*838) ................................................................................................. 50
NEGOTIATION & MEDIATION: PROCESS & PRACTICE (3 TO 4 UNITS) – (LAW*837) ................................. 50
PRETRIAL PRACTICE (CIVIL) (2 UNITS) – (LAW*842)............................................................................... 50
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*875) ........................................................................... 50
REBELLIOUS LAWYERING-TRANSFORMING LEGAL EDUCATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*807) ......................... 50
SCIENTIST TO LAWYER (1 UNIT) – (LAW 145) ........................................................................................ 50
SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYERING CONCENTRATION CORE SEMINAR PART 1 (1 UNIT) – (LAW*830) .............. 50
SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYERING CONCENTRATION CORE SEMINAR PART 2 (1 UNIT) – (LAW*843) .............. 50
TAKING AND DEFENDING DEPOSITIONS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*895) ........................................................... 50
TRIAL ADVOCACY I (2 UNITS) – (LAW*831) ........................................................................................... 50
TRIAL ADVOCACY I: COMP TEAM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*833) ...................................................................... 50
TRIAL ADVOCACY II (CRIMINAL) (3 UNITS) – (LAW*832) ....................................................................... 50
TRIAL ADVOCACY II: COMP TEAM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*834) .................................................................... 50
TRIAL OBJECTIONS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*804) ........................................................................................... 51
CLINICS & EXTERNSHIPS .............................................................................................................. 51
BUSINESS TAX PRACTICUM (1 UNIT) – (LAW*845) ................................................................................ 51
BUSINESS TAX PRACTICUM FIELDWORK (2 UNITS) – (LAW*999) ........................................................... 51
CHILD WELFARE PRACTICUM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*858) ............................................................................ 51
CHILD WELFARE PRACTICUM FIELDWORK (4-5 UNITS) – (LAW*920) ....................................................... 52
COMMUNITY GROUP ADVOCACY AND SOCIAL CHANGE LAWYERING CLINIC (4 UNITS) – (LAW*929) ..... 52
COMMUNITY GROUP ADVOCACY CLINIC FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*930) ....................................... 52
CRIMINAL PRACTICE CLINIC (4 UNITS) – (LAW*910) .............................................................................. 52
CRIMINAL PRACTICE CLINIC FIELDWORK (8 UNITS) – (LAW*911) ........................................................... 52
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLINIC (2 UNITS) – (LAW*913) ......................................................................... 52
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLINIC FIELDWORK (4-5 UNITS) – (LAW*914) ................................................... 52
IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CLINIC (2 UNITS) – (LAW*907) ........................................................................... 52
IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CLINIC FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*908) ........................................................ 52
INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION CLINIC (4 UNITS) – (LAW*902) .............................................................. 52
INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION CLINIC FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*903) ........................................... 52
LAWYERING FOR CHILDREN & OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS PRACTICUM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*986) 52
LAWYERING FOR CHILDREN & OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATIONS FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*987) 52
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
10
LEGISLATION CLINIC FWK (6, 8, OR 10 UNITS) – (LAW*923) .................................................................. 52
GOVERNMENT LAW CLINIC (3-5 UNITS FWK) – (LAW*919) ................................................................... 52
GOVERNMENT LAWYER (2 UNITS) – (LAW*819) ................................................................................... 52
LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC (1 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*960) ............................................................... 52
LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC FIELDW ORK (3 OR 4 UNITS) – (LAW*961) ........................................... 52
MEDIATION CLINIC (4 UNITS) – (LAW*925) .......................................................................................... 52
MEDIATION CLINIC FIELDWORK (2 UNITS) – (LAW*926) ....................................................................... 52
MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SENIORS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*935) ................................................... 52
MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SENIORS FIELDWORK (3 UNITS) – (LAW*936) ................................ 52
REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC (3 UNITS) – (LAW*931) ............................................................. 52
REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS CLINIC FIELDWORK (5 UNITS) – (LAW*932) .......................................... 52
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT CLINIC (3 UNITS) – (LAW*996) .............................. 53
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT CLINIC FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*997) ............ 53
WORKERS' RIGHTS CLINIC (1 UNIT) – (LAW*921) .................................................................................. 53
WORKERS’ RIGHTS CLINIC FIELDWORK (2 UNITS) – (LAW*922) ............................................................. 53
EXTERNSHIPS ............................................................................................................................. 53
CORPORATE COUNSEL EXTERNSHIP CLASS COMPONENT (2 UNITS) – (LAW*904) .................................. 53
CORPORATE COUNSEL EXTERNSHIP FIELDWORK (4-5 UNITS) – (LAW*905)............................................ 53
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP: CLASS COMPONENT (1 UNIT) – (LAW*899) ....................................................... 53
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP FIELDWORK (3-9 UNITS) – (LAW*940) ................................................................ 53
LAW AND LAWYERING IN OUR NATION’S CAPITAL (1 UNIT) – (LAW*924) ............................................. 53
LAW & LAWYERING IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL (3 UNITS) – (LAW*909) ................................................. 53
LAW & LAWYERING IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL FIELDWORK (3-5 or 10 UNITS) – (LAW*937) .................. 53
LEGAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM (1 UNIT) – (LAW*933) ........................................................................... 53
LEGAL EXTERNSHIP FIELDWORK (3-5 UNITS) – (LAW*934) .................................................................... 53
ADVANCED LEGAL EXTERNSHIP FIELDWORK (3-5 UNITS) – (LAW*950) .................................................. 53
OTHER PROGRAMS ..................................................................................................................... 54
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION BOARD (1 UNIT) – (LAW*974) ...................................................... 54
CLIENT COUNSELING TEAM (1 TO 2 UNITS) – (LAW*978) ...................................................................... 54
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE: PATENT (2 UNITS) – (LAW*992) ................................................................... 54
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE: PATENT FIELD WORK (3 UNITS) – YEARLONG – (LAW*993) ........................... 54
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE: CORPORATE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*994) ............................................................ 54
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE: CORPORATE FIELDWORK (2 UNITS) – YEARLONG – (LAW*995) ..................... 54
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
11
LAWYERS FOR AMERICA ...................................................................................................................... 54
LAWYERS FOR AMERICA FWK (6-8 UNITS/SEMESTER) – YEARLONG – (LAW*966) .................................. 54
SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS (UP TO 2 UNITS) ........................................................................................ 54
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION BOARD – MOOT COURT (LAW*971) .................................................. 54
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION ........................................................................................................ 55
INTERCOLLEGIATE ADR COMPETITION (1 OR 2 UNITS) – (LAW*977) ..................................................... 56
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION BOARD – ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION – (LAW*974) ............. 56
INTERCOLLEGIATE TRIAL TEAM COMPETITIONS (2 UNITS PER SEMESTER) – (LAW*979)......................... 56
LAW STUDENT TAX CHALLENGE (1-2 UNITS) – (LAW*951) .................................................................... 57
INDEPENDENT STUDY .......................................................................................................................... 57
STUDY ABROAD/EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES ...................................................................................... 58
PROGRAMS ................................................................................................................................................................. 58
APPLICATION PROCESS ........................................................................................................................ 60
JOINT & CONCURRENT DEGREE PROGRAMS ............................................................................... 60
LL.M. PROGRAM ......................................................................................................................... 60
LEGAL WRITING & RESEARCH FOR MASTERS STUDENTS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*132) ................................... 61
INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*162) .................................................................................. 61
FUNDAMENTALS OF REMEDIES (1 UNIT) – (LAW*258) .......................................................................... 61
FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL PROCEDURE (1 UNIT) – (LAW*262) .............................................................. 61
MASTER OF STUDIES IN LAW (MSL) PROGRAM ........................................................................... 61
INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*162) .................................................................................. 61
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING FOR MASTERS STUDENTS (2 UNITS) –(LAW*132) .................................... 61
LEGAL RESEARCH FOR NON- LAWYERS (1 UNIT) –(LAW*841) ................................................................. 61
INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES LEGAL SYSTEMS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*161) .......................................... 61
MSL WRITING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*604) ................................................................................... 62
FOUNDATIONS OF CONTRACT AND PROPERTY LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*256) ......................................... 62
MSL/CSL ESSENTIALS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*163) ......................................................................................... 62
FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL PROCEDURE (1 UNIT) – (LAW*262) .............................................................. 62
FUNDAMENTALS OF REMEDIES (1 UNIT) – (LAW*258) .......................................................................... 62
FUNDAMENTALS OF TORTS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*259) ............................................................................... 62
CERTIFICATE OF STUDIES IN LAW (CSL) ........................................................................................ 62
INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*162) .................................................................................. 62
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING FOR MASTERS STUDENTS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*132) .................................... 62
LEGAL RESEARCH FOR NON- LAWYERS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*841) ................................................................ 62
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
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INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES LEGAL SYSTEMS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*161) .......................................... 62
MSL WRITING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*604) ................................................................................... 63
FOUNDATIONS OF CONTRACT AND PROPERTY LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*256) ......................................... 63
MSL/CSL ESSENTIALS (1 UNIT) –(LAW*163) .......................................................................................... 63
FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL PROCEDURE (1 UNIT) – (LAW*262) .............................................................. 63
FUNDAMENTALS OF REMEDIES (1 UNIT) – (LAW*258) .......................................................................... 63
FUNDAMENTALS OF TORTS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*259) ............................................................................... 63
HEALTH POLICY AND LAW (HPL) PROGRAM ................................................................................ 64
INTRODUCTION TO U.S. HEALTH POLICYMAKING (2 UNITS) – (HPL*064) ............................................... 64
HOW TO EVALUATE POLICY-RELEVANT RESEARCH (2 UNITS) – (HPL*062) ............................................. 64
U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND THE LAW (4 UNITS) – (HPL*066) ....................................................... 64
HEALTH ECONOMICS (3 UNITS) – (HPL*070) ......................................................................................... 64
HEALTH POLICY & LAW SEMINAR: CAPSTONE PROPOSAL (1 UNIT) –(HPL*068) ..................................... 64
HEALTH POLICY & LAW SEMINAR: CAPSTONE EXECUTION (3 UNITS) – (HPL*076).................................. 64
HEALTH POLICY & LAW RESEARCH AND WRITING (3 UNITS) – (HPL*060) .............................................. 64
HEALTH LAW: INSTITUTIONS, PROVIDERS, AND PATIENTS (4 UNITS) – (HPL*072) ................................. 64
HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP & ADVOCACY (2 UNITS) – (HPL*074) ........................................................... 64
BAR EXAMINATION AND ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................ 65
MULTISTATE BAR EXAMINATION (MBE) ....................................................................................... 65
CALIFORNIA ........................................................................................................................................ 65
California Bar Examination Components .................................................................................................................... 65
MPRE Requirement .................................................................................................................................................... 65
Admission Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 65
HAWAII .............................................................................................................................................. 66
Hawaii Bar Examination Components ........................................................................................................................ 66
MPRE Requirement .................................................................................................................................................... 66
Admission Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 66
NEW YORK .......................................................................................................................................... 66
New York Bar Examination Components .................................................................................................................... 66
Admission Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 66
MPRE Requirement .................................................................................................................................................... 67
Professional Skills and Competency Requirement ...................................................................................................... 67
Uniform Bar Examination ........................................................................................................................................... 67
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
13
THE UC Law SF CURRICULUM
INTRODUCTION
Inclusion of a course in this catalog does not
guarantee it will be offered in the upcoming year,
please see Self-Service
for the most current listing of
the particular courses available each semester, along
with their specific times, rooms and instructors on the
UC Law SF website. Visit the
Registrar’s Office
Intranet site on Sharknet for Course Schedule,
Alphabetical Listing of courses offered, Day/Time
Block Grid, and Registration Resources. For a
calendar view of the courses (listing courses by day
of week and time), please also visit the
Office of
Student Services Academic Planning & Advising
page on Sharknet.
Most of the next several pages are directed at JD
students. LLM, MSL, and CSL students should
consult degree-specific segments of the Catalog and
meet with staff of Global Programs (LLM students)
or the MSL Program (MSL and CSL students) for
advising on course selection and degree/program
requirements. HPL students should meet with HPL
advisors if they have questions about the curriculum
in that degree program, which is jointly offered with
UCSF.
JD STUDENTS
When planning your personal curriculum, keep in
mind that you must complete 86 units and six
semesters in residence (subject to exceptions in the
Academic Regulations), pass or otherwise receive
required minimum grades in all required courses, and
earn a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5
in order to receive a Juris Doctor degree. For students
matriculating in Fall 2022, there is also a new
professional development co-curricular requirement as
described in Academic Regulation 708. The College
reserves the right to modify the specific courses or
minimum grades required for completion of a
student's degree.
Please visit the
Academic Planning & Advising page
on Sharknet. On the site you will find information to
help you plan your remaining semesters. You will
also find detailed information regarding experiential
opportunities, UC Law SF courses that cover subjects
tested on the Bar Exam, and concentrations. The site
is designed as a self-help resource. You may also
wish to take your career ambitions into account when
planning your course schedule. To aid you in that
project, you can consult requirements for
concentrations even if you do not plan to pursue a
concentration,or can visit with faculty members with
relevant subject matter expertise. You may also wish
to consult with career advisors in the Career
Development Office.
Information regarding the number of units a JD student
can be enrolled in each semester can be found in the
Academic Regulations
. Please be sure you are
reviewing the Academic Year 2023-2024 version of
the Academic Regulations.
AN OVERVIEW
The practice of law is virtually unlimited in its breadth
and diversity. The UC Law SF curriculum responds to
that diversity by offering a large number of courses,
including those that are fundamental to all forms of
practice as well as those that reflect increased
specialization. The first-year curriculum incorporates
the fundamental courses best suited for introductory
purposes. Students have the opportunity in the second
and third years to take additional courses, seminars,
and clinics, some of which have prerequisites.
Accordingly, you should plan your schedule carefully
to achieve an appropriate sequence and allow for the
optimum selection of courses.
CHOOSING PARTICULAR COURSES
Your goal in planning a class schedule should be to
select a combination of courses that will provide
insight into several areas of substantive law, advocacy,
and research. No single field of law can be
understood or practiced to the exclusion of all others.
And in practice, seemingly disparate fields of law
intersect in ways that students often find surprising
after they graduate. Thus, even though you may intend
to specialize in a particular field, you should make
additional selections outside that field to acquire the
breadth of knowledge and variety of skills needed for
effective representation of your clients. For example, a
student interested in general private practice may wish
to become familiar with subjects as diverse as
administrative law, federal jurisdiction, family law,
selected aspects of commercial and corporate law,
taxation, criminal procedure, wills and trusts,
consumer protection, and real property security.
Further, nearly all students should plan to take some
courses that provide training in advocacy skills, even
if they do not intend to pursue a litigation career,
because those basic skills apply to many of a lawyer's
functions. Much of the practice of law involves the
important tasks of research and counseling, skills that
are of equal applicability in any type of legal career.
Courses that study those skills therefore are
particularly pertinent.
The perfect combination of substantive courses is not
easily predicted. Students who plan on a particular
career while in law school frequently later find
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
14
themselves deeply involved in fields, they once
considered remote. Thus, criminal law practitioners
are likely to find that their cases involve problems of
tax law and accounting, while corporate lawyers may
find a need for knowledge of fields such as labor,
antitrust, legislation, and administrative law. These
unforeseen changes in career needs and plans reinforce
the benefits of designing a course schedule that spans
many areas and provides a basis on which to practice
in a variety of circumstances.
Bar examination requirements are described in a
separate heading at the back of this book, and on the
Bar Passage Support page on Sharknet. As discussed
there, designation of a course as “bar-tested” does not
necessarily mandate you take it. However, o
ur
analyses suggest that each additional upper division
bar course taken by a student increases the probability
of passing the Bar Exam. Also, many bar-tested
subjects represent core legal competencies for nearly
all lawyers, and others may be desirable on their own
merits. Students contemplating JD-advantage careers
or who are thinking of taking the bar exam in a state
other than California may have special considerations
when selecting classes.
All JD students are required to complete the 1L
curriculum described below, including taking in their
second year either Constitutional Law I or a Statutory
Course – whichever they did not elect to take in the
spring 1L semester.
All JD students are required to take a course in
professional responsibility or legal ethics, which is a
subject tested both on the Essay portion of the bar
examination and responsibility Exam (which, like the
bar exam, is a licensing prerequisite) and to earn at
least a C. In addition, all JD students are required to
take Evidence, Criminal Procedure, and Constitutional
Law II and must earn at least a C in each of these
classes in order to graduate.
CHANGING YOUR MIND
A common experience among law students is that a
significant change in their perceptions of law practice
will occur sometime in the first two years of school.
Students enter law school with varied—and
sometimes inaccurate—impressions of the law, and
later find that their perceptions of the content and
work setting of various fields have been substantially
influenced by course work and faculty members.
Many students discover new areas of interest, which
may displace other areas in which they previously
had expected to be interested. Exposure to types of
practice is affected further by placement interviews,
externships and clinical placements, and part-time
employment. Finally, interest in various types of
work settings also is affected by each student's
relative success in particular types of substantive
courses, research experiences, and advocacy
training. Don’t let this distress you. You should
expect that your career plans may shift, sometimes
dramatically, before graduation. You should try to
maintain considerable breadth among the courses
you choose, both to maximize the opportunity for
change and broader exposure, and to explore
specialized areas as your interests develop.
NARROWING THE CHOICES
Your greatest problem in planning your personal
curriculum will be to reduce the number of courses
to a feasible workload. Information on elective
courses is set out under separate headings.
Looking at those materials as they relate to the
areas of study and practice described in this
Catalog may provide some insights for that
process.
AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
UC Law SF is obligated to comply with Title II of the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and
other federal and state laws and regulations pertaining
to persons with disabilities. The College Disabled
Student Initiated Grievance Procedure may be used to
address disputes concerning the accommodations
process and other forms of discrimination based on
disability, alleged to have occurred in any College
program or activity. To obtain a copy of the grievance
procedure, review the grievance policy appended to
the Student Handbook, or for more information
regarding the procedure, contact the
Disability
Resource Program, (415)565-4802.
FIRST YEAR CURRICULUM
The first-year JD curriculum offers the foundation for
future legal study. Over the first year, students gain the
breadth of knowledge and key lawyering skills
necessary for any type of legal career. This initial
framework of knowledge and analytical skills is
essential groundwork for the well-educated lawyer.
The entering JD class is divided into sections or “Inns”
that remain together throughout the first year. All
students take the first-year curriculum, which includes
the following courses: Civil Procedure I (4 units),
Contracts (4 units), Criminal Law (4 units), Property
(4 units), Torts (4 units), either Constitutional Law I or
a Statutory Course (3 units), Legal Research and
Writing I (3 units), and Legal Research and Writing II
(3 units). In addition, for each section one of the 4-unit
doctrinal courses each semester will also include a unit
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
15
of additional instruction aimed at sharpening students’
legal analysis skills.
Students must take all of the required first-year
curriculum during the first year of law school, unless a
reduced or altered course load is approved or required
by the Dean of Students.
Because students elect to take either Constitutional
Law I or the Statutory Course in their first year,
students must also take, either in the fall or spring
semester of their second year, the course they did not
elect to take in their first year.
There is also a one-unit optional course for 1L
students entering law school after studying/working in
the hard sciences called Scientist to Lawyer.
CIVIL PROCEDURE I (4 OR 5 UNITS) –
(LAW*105)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I:
ADVANCED SACK (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*124)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*120)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW I: LAW &
PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*122)
CONTRACTS I (4 OR 5 UNITS) –
(LAW*110)
CRIMINAL LAW (4 OR 5 UNITS) –
(LAW*115)
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING I
(LRW I) (3 UNITS) – (LAW*131)
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING II
(LWR II) (3 UNITS) – (LAW*970)
PROPERTY (4 OR 5 UNITS) –
(LAW*125)
TORTS (4 OR 5 UNITS) – (LAW*130)
TRANSITION FROM SCIENTIST TO
LAWYER (1 UNIT) – (LAW*145)
STATUTORY COURSES (3 UNITS)
The purpose of the Statutory Course is to introduce
students to an area of law that is dominated by complex
statutes and in which administrative agencies play a
pivotal role. In addition to their focus on the substantive
law in these areas, Statutory Courses are designed to
expose students to important topics of contemporary
law, such as the drafting and enactment of statutes,
agency interpretation and implementation of statutes
and regulations, judicial review of agency actions,
principles of deference, and an introduction to the
separation of powers doctrine and related aspects of
constitutional law.
Students choose between one of the Statutory Courses
and Constitutional Law I in the first year, and must take
the course not elected in 1L year (Constitutional Law I
or one of the Statutory Courses) in the second year of
law school.
Students seeking to satisfy the Statutory Course
requirement in their second year (because they elected
Constitutional Law I as their 1L spring elective), cannot
satisfy the requirement by taking any of the subject-
specific statutory electives if by Spring of the 2L year
they have already taken or are concurrently taking
another core course in the same subject area. For
example, core upper division courses relating to the
Intellectual Property Statutory Course include
Intellectual Property Survey, Copyright, Trademarks
and Unfair Competition, and Patent Law. A 2L who
elected Constitutional Law I in her 1L year and took
any one of those IP courses during their 2L year would
be precluded from taking the Intellectual Property
Statutory Course to satisfy the Statutory Course
requirement in their 2L year, but could take any of the
other Statutory Courses to do so.
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION (3
UNITS) – (LAW*180)
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*181)
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (3
UNITS) – (LAW*540)
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (3
UNITS) – (LAW*182)
IMMIGRATION LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*400)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
16
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (3 UNITS)
– (LAW*178)
LEGISLATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
REGULATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*184)
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*187)
ENROLLMENT PROCEDURES
FOR J.D. STUDENTS
Please see the Academic Calendar on the external
website or the Registrar’s Office’s Sharknet pages for
the current registration calendar. For Fall classes,
registration will occur in July. Except as indicated
below, third year students (3Ls), along with LL.M.
and MSL students, will select their schedules first,
followed by second year (2L) students. For Spring
classes, registration will occur in November, with 3Ls,
LLMs, and MSLs registering first, followed by 2Ls.
First year students will be given an opportunity to
select their statutory elective course or Constitutional
Law I course during registration for Spring semester.
Each student will be given a registration appointment
based on their class status. During your appointment,
you will have the opportunity to log onto Self Service
and register for your classes. Remember, course
enrollment is first-come, first- served, so if you miss
your initial registration appointment, you may be
closed out of some classes.
HOW 2L AND 3L CLASS STATUS IS
DETERMINED
Second- and third-year students are classified
according to the total number of units that will be
earned at the end of the semester in which pre-
registration occurs (including transfer units for
students for whom an official transcript has been
received). Students must earn at least 22 units to be
classified as a 2L and at least 54 units to be classified
as a 3L.
TRANSFER STUDENTS: If you are matriculating at
UC Law SF as a 2L, you are required to take both
Constitutional Law I and the required Statutory Course
during your 2L year.
See Registrar’s Office home page on Sharknet
for
more detailed information and instructions.
MANAGING ONLINE UNITS
Note that the Academic Regulations limit the number
of online units students may take that count toward
certain degree programs, overall and each semester.
JD students should refer to Academic Regulation
1204.
REQUIRED UPPER DIVISION
COURSES
Any portion of the first-year curriculum not taken
during the first year must be completed during a
student’s second year at the College. In addition to
the first-year curriculum, each student must:
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
17
•
Complete a course in professional ethics. A
student must earn a grade of C or better in
the course taken to satisfy this requirement.
•
Write a paper that satisfies the College’s
Academic Regulation 703
writing
requirement. A student must earn a grade of
C or better in the course or independent
study taken to satisfy this requirement and,
in a seminar, must earn an “M” to indicate
the writing requirement standards have
been met.
•
Complete six units of experiential
courses. A student must earn a grade of C
or better in the course(s) taken to satisfy
this requirement, unless the course is
graded CR/NC (in which case a student
must earn a CR).
J.D. students must take the following upper-
division classes:
•
Constitutional Law II (LAW*290) or
Constitutional Law II: Law & Process
(LAW*295)
•
Criminal Procedure (LAW*328) (or
Criminal Procedure: Law & Process
(LAW*339)
•
Evidence (LAW*368)
For students entering the J.D. program in Fall 2018
or later, the students must earn at least a C in each
of these classes. Students who matriculated before
Fall 2018 must pass these classes.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II (4 UNITS)
– (LAW*290)
REQUISITES: Constitutional Law I
(LAW*120) required - Must be completed prior
to taking this course.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II: LAW
& PROCESS (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*295)
REQUISITES: Constitutional Law I (120). -
Must be completed prior to taking this course.
NOTE: Students cannot take both this course and the
traditional Constitutional Law II course.
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 OR 4
UNITS) – (LAW*328)
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: LAW &
PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*339)
EVIDENCE (3 OR 4 UNITS) –
(LAW*368)
PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY
REQUIREMENT
There are four courses that satisfy the
professional responsibility requirement. All
three courses are GPA lecture courses.
LEGAL ETHICS & THE PRACTICE
OF LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*490)
LEGAL ETHICS: LAW & PROCESS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*486)
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*529)
ROLES AND ETHICS IN PRACTICE (3
UNITS) – (LAW*550)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
18
WRITING REQUIREMENT
Pursuant to Academic Regulation 703, all J.D.
students are required to complete a substantial writing
project under faculty supervision prior to graduation.
This requirement may be satisfied either by successful
completion of a qualifying seminar or a 2-unit
independent study project. All topics must be
approved by the faculty member supervising the
project. Additionally, students must submit a draft
prior to turning in the final product, as indicated in
Academic Regulation 703. The professor must certify
that the student's paper fulfills the writing requirement,
and the student must receive a grade of C or better,
using a grading rubric set forth by the Provost &
Academic Dean.
Courses used to satisfy the Writing Requirement may
not be taken CR/NC.
The following are examples of courses that may
satisfy the Writing Requirement. Please check Self-
Service for the most up to date information.
LAW*242 Biodiversity Law (3)
LAW*641American Indian: Stewardship (2)
LAW*691 Electronic Surveillance in the 21
st
Century
(2)
LAW*719 Bioethics, Law & Health Care (3)
LAW*740 Alternative Dispute Resolution Seminar (2)
LAW*746 Terrorism & the Law (2)
LAW*747 Citizenship & Equality (2)
LAW*750 Health Law & Policy Seminar (2)
LAW*770 Capital Punishment Seminar (2)
LAW*780 Public Law & Policy Working Group (3)
LAW*783 China & the International Legal Order (2)
LAW*786 International Commercial Arbitration (2)
LAW*787 Comparative Constitutional Law (2)
LAW*794 Sociology: Criminal Justice System, (2)
LAW*714 Tax Concentration Seminar (spring term
only) (1)
LAW*673 Food Justice (2)
LAW*741 International Environmental Law (3)
LAW*610 Advanced Immigration Seminar (2)
LAW*700 Antitrust & Intellectual Property (2)
LAW*614 Constitution and Unstable Politics (2)
LAW*678 Corporate Governance Seminar (2)
LAW*773 Crimes By/Against Police (2)
LAW*757 Criminal Concentration Seminar (2)
LAW*734 Critical Race Theory Seminar (2)
LAW*753 Current Constitutional Cases
LAW*722 Data Privacy Rights Seminar (2)
LAW*635 Disability Law (2)
LAW*793 Education Law & Policy (2)
LAW*677 Food and Drug Law (2)
LAW*567 International & Comparative Health Law
(3)
LAW*731 IP Concentration Seminar (2)
LAW*629 Law & Behavioral Science (2)
LAW*604 MSL Writing Seminar (2)
LAW*654Work, Law, and Life (2)
LAW*725 Sexuality, Gender and the Law (2)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
19
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
REQUIREMENT
The ABA recognizes what UC Law SF has long
known: gaining practical experience is an essential
component of your legal training. All law students at
ABA-accredited law schools must take at least 6 units
of experiential coursework to graduate. Many of you
will want to take more than six units. Don’t Wait Until
Your Final Semester! And please don't feel that you
need to choose between "bar classes" and experiential
courses; you will need and want to take a healthy mix
of both.
You can earn these units through three different types
of courses: in-house clinics, field placement clinics
and externships, or simulation courses.
An in-house clinic is an on-campus law firm in which
students earn academic credit and take lead
responsibility to work on real world cases, disputes, or
projects under the supervision of full-time UC Law SF
faculty. Our in-house clinics are located on the fourth
floor of the new academic building at 333 Golden
Gate Avenue and practice as a single law firm known
as the Community Justice Clinics.
In field placement clinic and externship courses,
students work on legal matters in an outside law
office, agency, or court and earn credit for the
experience. Your work is supervised by a site
supervisor at the agency or court, and a faculty
supervisor teaches an accompanying seminar.
In a simulation course, you will practice one or more
lawyering skills (e.g., appellate advocacy, contract-
drafting, negotiation, taking depositions, witness
examination) in simulated settings (often based on real
life lawyering settings).
For the most recent list of qualifying courses, visit the
Experiential Course Requirement page on Sharknet.
UC Law SF Experiential Courses
(tables on Sharknet last updated November 16, 2023)
\
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
20
JD UPPER CLASS
CONCENTRATIONS
UC Law SF offers twelve (12) upper class
concentrations. The areas of concentrated study are:
Business Law, Civil Litigation and Dispute
Resolution, Criminal Law, Environmental Law,
Government Law, Intellectual Property, International
Law, Health Law & Policy, Social Justice Lawyering,
Taxation, Technology and Innovation in the Practice
of Law, and Work Law. The purpose of the upper-
class concentration program is to permit students to
focus their studies in an integrated manner. The
faculty designated these concentrations based on
factors such as legal services market needs, student
interest, and faculty resources and expertise.
The courses that comprise each of the areas of
concentration are set forth below. In addition, with the
permission of the advisor for the particular area of
concentration and if consistent with the Academic
Regulations, students may receive unit credit toward
fulfillment of the concentration for relevant classes
taken at another law school or as part of an approved
concurrent degree program. Moreover, with the
approval of the faculty advisor, students may receive
unit credit toward fulfillment of the concentration
requirement for relevant independent studies, law
journal writing, and interscholastic moot court
competitions sponsored by the College.
Note that not all classes listed for the concentrations
are taught every year. Please see the 2023-2024 course
list which is posted on the
Office of Student Services
Academic Advising and Planning page.
The Registrar’s Office maintains a list of the advisors
for each of the fields of concentrated study, as well as
an enrollment form for participation in the program.
You should refer to the Catalog and Self Service for a
definitive list of concentration requirements. Do not
rely on the external website, which is meant for
prospective students and is not complete or regularly
updated. Concentrators must declare their
concentrations by the deadlines listed by the
Registrar’s Office. It is the student’s responsibility to
ensure that the concentration requirements are met and
that the student is marked as eligible to receive a
concentration certificate before the student graduates;
concentration certificates will not be issued after a
student graduates.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
21
BUSINESS LAW
Many of our students pursue careers as business
lawyers in corporate law firms or in-house positions.
“Business law” means overlapping areas of practice
that focus on assisting clients with (1) business
transactions, (2) entity governance, (3) compliance, or
(4) prospective management of legal, litigation, and
other risk. Other terms that are frequently used to
describe this area of legal practice are transactional or
corporate law.
The Business Law Concentration gives students the
opportunity to prepare for a career in business law
through core classes, relevant electives, and a capstone
class. The core courses are Business Associations (the
law governing internal management of business
entities), Bankruptcy or Secured Transactions (the law
governing creditors’ rights), and Securities Regulation
(the law governing investment transactions and
securities markets).
Qualifying electives cover a wide range of topics,
including tax, intellectual property, and regulatory
compliance. A capstone course provides opportunity
for either experiential learning or scholarly writing.
The courses are described in more detail below.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application. After obtaining the
necessary signatures, submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office. To ensure that your concentration
is listed in the commencement program, submit the
application no later than the first week of classes of
the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Advisor: Abe Cable
Total Units Required: 22
Relevant Faculty
John Crawford, Jodi Short, Alina Ball, and Emily
Strauss.
Courses
Concentrators are required to complete 22 units of
qualifying coursework, as follows:
Core Classes (10 to 11 units):
• LAW*244 Bankruptcy (4) or
LAW*565 Secured Transactions (3)
• LAW*314 Business
Associations (3 or 4)
• LAW*568 Securities
Regulation (3)
Capstone classes (choose one; 2 to 8
units):
• LAW*904 & LAW*905 Corporate Counsel
Externship (6 or 7)
• LAW*678 Corporate Governance Seminar (2)
• LAW*553 Deals (2)
• LAW*639 LAW*996 & LAW*997 Social
Enterprise and Economic Empowerment Clinic
(7)
• LAW*994 & LAW*995 Startup Legal Garage
– Corporate Module (6)
• LAW*313 Advanced Corporate Law (2)
Qualifying electives (in amount adequate to
reach 22 total units):
• LAW*853 Advanced Negotiation: Dealmaking
• LAW*242 Antitrust
• LAW*700 Antitrust Intellectual Property
Seminar
• LAW*284 Applied Contracts
• LAW*845 & LAW*999 Business Tax
Practicum
• LAW*685 California Privacy Law
• LAW*743 Chinese Business Law
• LAW*879 Commercial Contract Drafting
• LAW*273 Comparative Privacy Law
• LAW*250 Compliance and Risk Management
• LAW*594 Compliance: Corporate Crimes
• LAW*630 Compliance: Financial Risk
Regulation
• LAW*449 Compliance: Privacy
• LAW*620 Compliance: Health Law
• LAW*801 Conservation Transactions
• LAW*877 Contract Writing & Analysis
• LAW*315 Corporate Finance
• LAW*722 Data Privacy Rights seminar
• LAW*435 Employment Law
• LAW*540 or LAW*182 Federal Income
Taxation (strongly recommended)
• LAW*542 Federal Income Taxation of
Corporations and Partnerships
• LAW*881 Financial Basics for Lawyers
(strongly recommended)
• LAW*386 Financial Regulation
• LAW*466 Franchise and Distribution Law (2)
• LAW*810 Health Law Practice Skills
• LAW*408 Insurance Law
• LAW*178 Stat: Intellectual Property
• LAW*707 Intellectual Property Licensing
Seminar
• LAW*412 Intellectual Property Survey
• LAW*892 International Business Negotiation
• LAW*416 International Business Transactions
(strongly recommended)
• LAW*415 International Trade Law & Policy
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
22
• LAW*431 Investment Management
• LAW*823 Law, Race and Economic Justice in
the City
• LAW*726 Law and Business in Japan
• LAW*813 Legal Tech: Building a Startup
• LAW*440 Mergers & Acquisitions
• LAW*838 Negotiation
• LAW*837 Negotiation & Mediation,
• LAW*882 Lie Detection, Emotion, and
Mindfulness
• LAW*815 Nonprofit Law Experiential Module
• LAW*485 Nonprofit Organizations
• LAW*255 Private Equity Taxation
• LAW*296 Private Equity & Hedge Funds
• LAW*875 Real Estate Transactions
• LAW*229 Regulation of Emerging
Technologies
• LAW*992 & LAW*993 Startup Legal Garage
– Patent Module
• LAW*597 State and Local Taxation
• LAW*317 U.S. Healthcare System
• LAW*257 U.S. Privacy Law (2)
• LAW*544 U.S. Taxation of Foreign
Transactions and Investments
• LAW*318 Venture Capital & The Start-Up
Technology Company
• LAW*261 Venture Capital in Practice
Other Details
A course listed as a core or capstone class may be
used as an elective if not used as a core or capstone
class. The concentration advisor may approve
additional qualifying electives on a case-by-case
basis. In the event any of these classes are not offered
in the future, the concentration advisor may designate
a suitable replacement course. If a student wishes to
double concentrate in tax and business law, the Tax
Concentration Seminar can satisfy the capstone
requirement for the business law concentration,
provided the student’s paper topic is sufficiently
related to business law.
The list of courses within the categories above is up
to date as of the publication of this Catalog. New
courses are sometimes added to the curriculum
subsequent to publication. Therefore, if a student
finds a course in the curriculum not listed above, but
which the student thinks might count toward
concentration requirements, the student should check
with the concentration advisor regarding the
eligibility of the course to satisfy concentration
requirements.
CIVIL LITIGATION AND DISPUTE
RESOLUTION
The depth and breadth of the curriculum and
experiential-learning opportunities in Civil Litigation
and Dispute Resolution (CLDR) make it one of the
nation’s leading programs. Students who choose this
concentration may one day join alumni who rank
among the most successful judges, litigators, and
mediators in the country.
One of UC Law SF Law’s valuable assets is its San
Francisco location, near courts and seats of
government. This is particularly true for the CLDR
students, who are a mere five-minute walk to places
like the Ninth Circuit and the California Supreme
Court. Because of our strong ties to successful alumni
on the bench, you have the chance to learn trial
advocacy from top practicing and retired judges.
Beyond the judiciary, the CLDR Concentration offers
you access to the very thought leaders who are writing
textbooks and the leading treatises for this field.
One of the program’s strengths is student involvement
in experiential-learning opportunities. Along with core
courses, students participate in clinics and judicial
externships and gain exposure to alternative dispute
resolution (ADR). Every year, one-third of the student
body takes one or more dispute-resolution courses at
UC Law SF Law’s Center for Negotiation and Dispute
Resolution—which has been regularly recognized by
U.S. News & World Report as one of the top-ranked
ADR programs in the country.
CLDR students benefit from a winning blend of
location, educational and experiential opportunities,
and leading scholarship. It is a place to build and hone
the general-litigation and dispute-resolution skills that
will give your future practice an edge.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application by your 3L year.
After obtaining the necessary signature(s), submit the
form to the Registrar’s Office. To ensure that your
concentration is listed in the commencement program,
submit the application no later than the first week of
classes of the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Advisor: Professor Scott Dodson
Total Units Required: 22
Required Courses
The concentration has the following six course
requirements, all of which must be fulfilled:
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
23
1. LAW*368 Evidence
2. LAW*275 Civil Procedure II or LAW*376
Federal Courts
3. LAW*831 Trial Advocacy I
4. One course from the following group of
Alternative Dispute Resolution Courses:
• LAW*245 Arbitration
• LAW*740 Alternative Dispute
Resolution Seminar
• LAW*837 Negotiation & Mediation
• LAW*838 Negotiation
5. One course from the following group of
Advanced Advocacy/Clinical Courses:
• LAW*958 & LAW*959 ADR
Externship
• LAW*902 & LAW*903 Individual
Representation Clinic
• LAW*925 & LAW*926 Mediation
Clinic
• LAW*913 & LAW*914
Environmental Law Clinic
• LAW*907 & LAW*908 Immigrant
Rights’ Clinic
• LAW*899 & LAW*940 Judicial
Externship
• LAW*832 Trial Advocacy II
6. Courses from the following group of
Qualifying Electives sufficient to bring the
total credits taken in these six requirements to
at least 22 credits:
• LAW*216 Administrative Law
• LAW*658 ADR Colloquium
• LAW*600 Advanced Evidence Seminar
• LAW*835 Advanced Legal Research
• LAW*822 Advanced Legal Writing:
Writing for Practice
• LAW*852 Advanced Negotiation:
Dealmaking
• LAW*821 Appellate Advocacy
• LAW*244 Bankruptcy
• LAW*246 California Civil Procedure
• LAW*836 Careers in Civil Litigation
• LAW*276 Contemporary American
Litigation
• LAW*280 Conflict of Laws
• LAW*865 Cross-Cultural Negotiation
• LAW*635 Disability Law
• LAW*785 Dispute Systems Design
• LAW*350 Domestic Violence Law
• LAW*301 E-Discovery
• LAW*358 Elder Abuse Litigation
• LAW*849 Effective Representation in
Mediation
• LAW*352 Employment Discrimination
• LAW*829 Facilitation for Attorneys
• LAW*540 or LAW*182 Federal Income
Taxation
• LAW*881 Financial Basics for Lawyers
• LAW*466 Franchise and Distribution Law
• LAW*408 Insurance
• LAW*508 Intellectual Property Under
State Law: Trade Secrets & Employee
Mobility
• LAW*786 International Commercial
Arbitration
• LAW*846 Judicial Settlement Conference
• LAW*490 Legal Ethics: Practice of Law
• LAW*882 Lie Detection, Emotion, and
Mindfulness
• LAW*254 Mass Torts
• LAW*802 Mediation
• LAW*655 Online Dispute Resolution
• LAW*510 Patent Litigation
• LAW*512 Practical Civil Litigation Skills
• LAW*842 Pre-Trial Practice
• LAW*888 Problem Solving &
Professional Judgment in Practice
• LAW*529 Professional Responsibility
• LAW*552 Remedies
• LAW*550 Roles & Ethics in Practice
• LAW*570 Science in Law Seminar
• LAW*895 Taking and Defending
Depositions
• LAW*590 Tax Procedure
• LAW*804 Trial Objections
Additional courses from the other requirements of
this Concentration may count as qualifying electives.
If a student finds a course in the curriculum that is
not listed, but which the student thinks might count
toward concentration requirements, the student
should check with the concentration advisor
regarding the eligibility of the course to satisfy
concentration requirements.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
24
CRIMINAL LAW
The Criminal Law concentration prepares students for
a host of successful careers in the criminal justice
field, including as prosecutors, defense attorneys, and
policymakers.
The concentration offers a practical and theoretical
foundation in the law, along with opportunities to
apply that knowledge in the field. Through a broad
array of externships and clinics, students can work
for judges, federal, state and local government
officials, and in defense advocacy, gaining invaluable
hands-on experience and making useful connections
for the future. For example, as part of the Criminal
Practice Clinic students may work in a district
attorney’s or public defender’s office for a semester
and conduct their own evidentiary hearings in court.
The Criminal Law faculty at UC Law SF is a
dedicated, dynamic group whose members’ interests
and specialties are broad reaching. They include
correctional system reform leaders like Professor
Hadar Aviram, who runs the UC Law SF Institute for
Criminal Justice and is a writer for the influential
California Correctional Crisis blog. For those
looking to learn more about federal criminal law and
ethics in justice, students can study with Professor
Rory Little, a leading authority in the field who was a
former Associate Deputy Attorney General in
Washington D.C. under Attorney General Janet Reno.
Students in this concentration often join the UC Law
SF Criminal Law Society, creating a strong peer
group that they can turn to in work and life after
graduating. Our Criminal Law students can also tap
into a large network of nearby alumni who hold key
positions within the local, state, and federal justice
system. These connections can provide future alums
with the support and mentorship essential to effect
change right from the start.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application. After obtaining the
necessary signature(s), submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office. To ensure that your concentration
is listed in the commencement program, submit the
application no later than the first week of classes of
the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Advisor: Professor Aaron Rappaport
Total Units Required: 22
Required Courses (11-12 units)
• LAW*328 Criminal Procedure (3 or 4)
• LAW*368 Evidence (3 or 4)
• LAW*757 Criminal Law & Theory
Concentration Seminar (2)
• A clinic or the Legal Externship
Program and Fieldwork that provides
work in a criminal law clinical or field
setting (2 or more)
• LAW*910 & LAW*911 Criminal
Practice Clinic
Or
• LAW*933 & LAW*934 Legal Externship
Program
Qualifying Electives (10-11 units, and not fewer
than 4 courses)
• LAW*600 Advanced Evidence Seminar
• LAW*660 LAW*910 Criminal Practice Clinic
(counts as two courses toward the
concentration requirement) (2)
• LAW*770 Capital Punishment Seminar
• LAW*594 Compliance: Corporate Crimes
• LAW*773 Crimes by Cops, Crimes Against
Cops (2)
• LAW*331 Criminal Procedure: Adjudicative
Process (4)
• LAW*602 Criminalization and Social Control
(2)
• LAW*734 Critical Race Theory (2)
• LAW*711 Cybercrime (2)
• LAW*350 Domestic Violence (3)
• LAW*691 Electronic Surveillance in the 21
st
Century (2)
• LAW*708 Environmental Criminology
Seminar (2)
• LAW*338 Federal Criminal Law (3)
• LAW*703 Forensic Evidence Seminar (2)
• LAW*819 & LAW*919 Government Law
Clinic (applicable to the concentration if the
clinic assignment involves criminal issues to a
substantial degree)
• LAW*638 History of Forensic Evidence (2)
• LAW*902 & LAW*903 Individual
Representation Clinic (applicable to the
concentration only if the Clinic experience
focused on clean slate cases) (8)
• LAW*899 & LAW*940 Judicial Externship
(applicable to the concentration if the
externship involves criminal issues to a
substantial degree) (4-10)
• LAW*636 Jurisprudence (2)
• LAW*698 Juvenile Justice Seminar (2)
• LAW*738 LAW*629 Law & Behavioral
Science (2)
• LAW*480 & LAW*923 Legislation Clinic
(applicable to the concentration if the clinic
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
25
involves criminal issues to a substantial
degree) (9-12)
• LAW*838 Negotiation (3)
• LAW*837 Negotiation & Mediation (3 or 4)
• LAW*203 Race, Racism, and American Law
(3)
• Reproductive Justice (3)
• LAW*662 Restorative Justice Seminar
• Roles and Ethics in Practice (3)
• LAW*794 Sociology of Criminal Justice
Seminar (2)
• LAW*624 Stalking and the Law (2)
• LAW*746 Terrorism and the Law Seminar (2)
• LAW*581 Theoretical Criminology (2)
• LAW*831 Trial Advocacy I (2)
• LAW*832 Trial Advocacy II (2 or 3)
• LAW*804 Trial Objections (2)
• LAW*573 War on Drugs (2)
• LAW*755 Wrongful Convictions Seminar (2)
Writing Requirement
Students must successfully complete a paper that
satisfies the writing requirement and that is
substantially related to criminal law, criminal
procedure, or criminal theory. The paper may be
produced for any course or independent project.
The concentration advisor will have the authority
to determine whether the student’s topic satisfies
the requirement. Students are encouraged to seek
the advisor’s approval of their topic prior to
embarking on a writing project.
The list of courses within the categories above is
up to date as of the publication of this Catalog.
New courses are sometimes added to the
curriculum subsequent to publication. Therefore,
if a student finds a course in the curriculum not
listed above, but that the student thinks might
count toward concentration requirements, the
student should check with the concentration
advisor regarding the eligibility of the course to
satisfy concentration requirements.
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Through a combination of rigorous academics and
real-world work experience, UC Law SF
environmental law students address the legal and
public policy issues affecting the future of our planet.
Our San Francisco location is a hub for environmental
law practice, with top private and public law firms,
state and federal government offices, and NGOs just
steps away from campus. This area of the law is
evolving quickly, creating a strong need for lawyers
with on-the-ground experience to help shape policy
and ensure that governments, businesses, and private
citizens comply with existing environmental laws.
One way that UC Law SF’ students gain this
experience is through the Environmental Law Clinic,
where you could find yourself working with the
California Attorney General’s Natural Resources
Law Section, the San Francisco Bay Conservation &
Development Commission, the Center for Biological
Diversity, or any of dozens of other federal, state, or
non-profit litigation and advocacy organizations with
offices in the Bay Area. Students publish cutting edge
work in the UC Environmental Law Journal,
participate in academic and social adventures with
the UC Environmental Law Association, and some
compete in environmental moot court competitions.
Regardless of the experiential learning component you
choose, this concentration guarantees hands-on work
that challenges you to put classroom knowledge into
action.
Students of environmental law are taught by some of
the most exciting thought leaders in the field. Our
core faculty members have both won the Rutter
Award for Outstanding Teaching.
Professor Dave
Owen is a world expert on water law, environmental
law, and administrative law, offering students state-
of-the-art practical skills in these disciplines.
Professor David Takacs teaches international
environmental law, climate change law, and
Biodiversity Law, and through his writing and
research is helping to create legal frameworks for
carbon and biodiversity offsets, the human right to
water, and rights for nature. His popular Biodiversity
Law class introduces students to an emerging area of
the law dealing with how we can (and should) protect
endangered life forms through extensive fieldwork.
Professors Jodi Short, Naomi Roht-Arriaza, and
Alina Ball offer closely-related courses in regulatory
compliance, food systems, and clinical experience
working with helping farmworker communities
access safe, clean water. We have a corps of Adjunct
Professors who teach their practice specialties, as
well.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
26
Environmental law demands lawyers who can
engage with serious problems such as climate
change, water pollution, and species loss. Students
with a passion for how the law intersects with the
environment will graduate from UC Law SF well
prepared to take on the challenges and
opportunities in this rapidly changing world. Our
alumni have pursued a variety of fulfilling and
lucrative environmental law opportunities within
corporate law firms, for-profit public law firms,
government agencies, and NGOs.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application. After obtaining the
necessary signature(s), submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office. To ensure that your concentration
is listed in the commencement program, submit the
application no later than the first week of classes of
the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Advisor: Professor David Takacs
Total Units Required: 23-27 (depending on the
electives you choose)
Required Courses:
Students will be required to enroll in four
core courses (15 units):
• LAW*181 Stat: Environmental Law or First-
Year LAW*184 Stat: Legislation and
Regulation (3)
• Environmental Law and Policy (3)
• LAW*913 & LAW*914 Environmental Law
Clinic (6-7). This externship program is
offered each Spring. Students work a
minimum of 16 hours at a non-profit or
government Environmental Law placement
and take a two-hour seminar each week that
situates what they are learning at their
placements.
• LAW*216 Administrative Law (3)
A. Qualifying Environmental and
Environmental- related Electives:
Students will be required to take four of the
following courses (substitutions are possible, with
advisor consent) (8-12 units):
• LAW*401 American Indian Law (2)
• LAW*238 Animal Law (3)
• LAW*242 Biodiversity Law (3)
• LAW*699 Climate Change Law (3)
• LAW*801 Conservation Transactions (2)
• LAW*276 Contemporary American
Litigation (3)
• LAW*696 Energy Law (2)
• LAW*708 Environmental Criminology
Seminar (2)
• LAW*304 Environmental Justice and the
Law (2)
• LAW*741 International Environmental Law
(3)
• LAW*758 Land Use Regulation (2)
• LAW*224 Maritime Law (3)
• LAW*617 Water Law (3)
Non-Environmental but Recommended Courses
These courses are not required for the Concentration,
but are recommended for students with particular,
related interests. It may be possible to substitute one
of these courses for one of the “Qualifying
Environmental Electives” in the section above, with
the consent of an advisor.
An appropriate clinic from our in-house clinical
offerings (to be approved by your advisor)
• LAW*314 Business Associations (3 to 4)
• LAW*275 Civil Procedure II (3)
• LAW*290 Constitutional Law II (4)
• LAW*368 Evidence (4)
• LAW*376 Federal Courts (3)
• LAW*881 Financial Basics for Lawyers (2)
• LAW*416 International Business
Transactions (3)
• LAW*417 International Human Rights Law
(2 to 3)
• LAW*535 International Law (3)
• LAW*293 Race, Racism and the Law (3)
• L
AW*598 State and Local Government Law
(3)
The list of courses within the categories above is up
to date as of the publication of this Catalog. New
courses are sometimes added to the curriculum
subsequent to publication. Therefore, if a student
finds a course in the curriculum not listed above, but
which the student thinks might count toward
concentration requirements, the student should check
with the concentration advisor regarding the
eligibility of the course to satisfy concentration
requirements.
Vermont Study Opportunity – The
Vermont Law School, Royalton,
Vermont – Environmental Law
Students may spend the fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at the Vermont Law School
studying environmental law. The law school is
situated in a beautiful, rural New England town, and it
boasts one of the top programs in environmental law
in the United States. Students participating in this
program may transfer up to 16 credits towards their
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
27
UC Law SF degree. Tuition is paid to UC Law SF for
the semester. For more information, see
www.vermontlaw.edu/.
For more information, please
contact Professor David Takacs.
GOVERNMENT LAW
The concentration offers specialized classes and
experiential opportunities that prepare students to
specialize in government law. Comprehensive local
government programs, an optional semester working
elbow-to-elbow with state legislative staff in
Sacramento, and externships with state and federal
agencies are portals to the world of government law.
The concentration fosters a supportive community
among public-service-minded students, and long-
standing partnerships with alumni in government
offices and with professional organizations provide
important networking opportunities. UC Law SF’s
well-earned reputation improves the appeal of our
students to governmental employers and to non-
governmental employers that work regularly with
government agencies.
In short, a Government Law concentration tells
employers that our graduates have expertise in
government law and are ready to hit the ground
running. The concentration is also a good complement
to, and is readily combined with, other concentrations
that focus on public law, including tax, health law, or
environmental law.
Clinical & Externship Opportunities
EXTERNSHIPS: UC Law SF offers externships with
a wide variety of federal, state, and local agencies,
many of which have offices walking distance from our
campus. Externship placements cover a broad range of
subject areas, including, among others, law
enforcement, health law, environmental law, city
governance, and anti-discrimination regulation.
LEGISLATION CLINIC: Students in the
Legislation Clinic learn about the role of lawyers
in the legislative process by spending a semester
in Sacramento working for a legislative
committee, a legislator, or another public entity
involved with the legislative process.
GOVERNMENT LAW CLINIC: Students in the
Government Law Clinic work twelve to twenty
hours a week in Bay Area city attorney and county
counsel offices while simultaneously being
enrolled in the Local Government Law class.
PUBLIC LAW AND POLICY WORKGROUP:
This three-unit seminar connects students with
state and local government agencies and legislative
committees to conduct focused research on a
pressing public policy issue over the course of the
semester. Recent projects include writing a model
body camera policy for a city and writing a
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
28
background paper for a legislative hearing on
pharmacy benefit managers.
UCDC: LAW AND LAWYERING IN THE
NATION’S CAPITOL: The UCDC Law Program is
a collaborative, partial or full-semester externship
program in Washington, DC for 4
th
-6
th
semester law
students from UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, UC
Law SF and UC Irvine. Students who have
participated in the program have externed with White
House Counsel, Office of the Vice President, National
Immigration Law Center, Securities and Exchange
Commission, USDOJ – Consumer Protection Branch,
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), and elsewhere.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application. After obtaining
the necessary signature(s), submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office. To ensure that your concentration
is listed in the commencement program, submit the
application no later than the first week of classes of
the semester in which you plan to graduate.
Learn More
If you have any questions about Government Law
Concentration, would like to attend an information
session, or wish to audit a class to see if the
Government Law concentration could be right for
you, please contact Concentration Advisor Professor
Dave Owen
.
Required Courses: (10 units)
LAW*216 Administrative Law (3)
LAW*598 State and Local Government Law (3)
A substantial clinical or significant supervised work
experience representing a branch or agency of the
federal, state or local government. (minimum of 4
units). Approved clinics include:
• LAW*923 Legislation Clinic (6 - 10)
• LAW*819 & LAW*919 Local Government
Law Clinic (5 to 7)
• LAW*909 & LAW*937 UCDC: Law and
Lawyering in the Nation’s Capital (3-5 or
10)
• LAW*913 & LAW*914 Environmental Law
Clinic (with approval of concentration
advisor). (6 to 7)
An externship or work experience approved by the
concentration advisor
Students must write a scholarly paper on a
government law topic. The concentration advisor will
sign off on the completion of this requirement.
Qualifying electives: (5 units required)
• LAW*763 Advanced Legislative Process
Seminar (3)
• LAW*268 American Constitutional History:
Race (1)
• LAW*269 American Constitutional History:
The Founding (1)
• LAW*401 American Indian Law (2)
• LAW*240 Antitrust (3)
• LAW*664 California Constitutional Law (2)
• LAW*405 Cannabis Law (2)
• LAW*764 Civil Rights Theory & Practicum
(2)
• LAW*699 Climate Change Law (3)
• LAW*723 Community Economic
Development Seminar (2)
• LAW*620 Compliance: Health Law
• LAW*449 Compliance: Privacy (1)
• LAW*250 Compliance and Risk
Management for Attorneys (3)
• LAW*614 Constitutionalism & Unstable
Politics (2)
• LAW*720 Democracy, Technology &
Security (2)
• LAW*668 Drafting Legislation (2)
• LAW*352 & LAW*180 Employment
Discrimination (3)
• LAW*435 Employment Law (3)
• LAW*704 Environmental Law & Policy (3)
• LAW*696 Energy Law (2)
• LAW*304 Environmental Justice & the Law
• LAW*470 European Union Law-Exam
Course (2) or LAW*769-European Union
Law-Seminar Course (2)
• LAW*376 Federal Courts (3)
• LAW*540 & LAW*182 Federal Income Tax
(3)
• LAW*677 Food and Drug Law (3)
• LAW*217 Health Care Providers, Patients
and the Law (4)
• LAW*665 Healthcare System Reform (2)
• LAW*400 Immigration Law (3)
• LAW*535 International Law (3)
• LAW*447 Labor Law (3)
• LAW*758 Land Use Regulation (3)
• LAW*478 Legislative Advocacy and
Policymaking (2)
• LAW*480 Legislative Process (3)
• LAW*444 Public Health Regulation and
Advocacy: Vaccines (2)
• LAW*780 Public Law and Policy
Workgroup (3)
• LAW*428 Refugee Law & Policy (3)
• LAW*667 Regulating Political Activity (2)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
29
• LAW*229 Regulation of Emerging
Technologies (2)
• LAW*597 State and Local Taxation (3)
• LAW*317 U.S. Healthcare System and the
Law (4)
• LAW*717 Voting Rights (2)
• LAW*617 Water Law (3)
The list of courses within the categories above is up to
date as of the publication of this Catalog. New courses
are sometimes added to the curriculum subsequent to
publication. Therefore, if a student finds a course in
the curriculum not listed above, but which the student
thinks might count toward concentration requirements,
the student should check with the concentration
advisor regarding the eligibility of the course to satisfy
concentration requirements.
HEALTH LAW & POLICY
Health care represents 20 percent of the U.S.
economy and is a uniquely regulated industry,
generating significant, consistent demand for
lawyers. Additionally, widening health inequities,
the ongoing debate over healthcare reform, and
advancements in medical technology have only
increased the need for lawyers capable of tackling
the intersecting legal, ethical, and social justice
issues implicated in health care. Whether practicing
in government, health care systems, law firms,
consulting firms, biotech pharmaceutical
companies, non-profits, or academia, lawyers in
this field have the potential to profoundly shape
health and health care for us all.
The Concentration in Health Law & Policy offers
students unique opportunities to explore the field from
a variety of stakeholder perspectives, gain essential
doctrinal and practical knowledge, and develop skills
that are translatable across settings. The Concentration
is supported by the UCSF/UC Law SF Consortium on
Law, Science & Health Policy, which serves as the
hub for student advising, research, events, and service
opportunities related to health. Consortium- affiliated
faculty are national experts in their respective areas of
health law and are committed to supporting students
and alumni in becoming future leaders in the field.
The Consortium alumni network is also robust,
providing ongoing support and mentoring to
Concentrators and health-curious students.
As the only program of its kind in California and a
top-ranked health law program in the country, health
law Concentrators graduate with the knowledge,
skills and experience to be uniquely competitive for a
range of jobs in the field.
Learn More
Visit the Consortium pages on Sharknet, sign up
for Health Law Homeroom in Canvas, and/or
contact the Concentration Advisor, Professor
Sarah Hooper, to learn more about the field of
health law and policy, careers in this area, and the
Concentration.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must
complete a Concentrated Studies Application
and submit to Consortium Projects Coordinator,
Rachel Blanchard. This form is due no later
than the first week of classes of the semester
you plan to graduate.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
30
Required Courses: (10 units)
• LAW*217 Health Care Providers, Patients,
and the Law (4)
• LAW*317 U.S. Healthcare System
& the Law (4)
• LAW*750 Health Law & Policy
Concentration Seminar (2)
Electives: (12 units)
The below list of electives is highly diverse as a
reflection of the breadth of the field of health
law and policy. Students are required to meet
with their Advisor to develop an individual
course of study based on their interests within
health law and their career goals.
Students are not required to choose a track but
may find our description of health law tracks and
practice areas helpful in understanding the field
and exploring relevant electives. These tracks
include:
•
Health Care Business and Regulation
•
Health and Social Justice
•
Law, Medicine and Bioethics
•
Health Policy and Reform
•
Health Sciences and Technology
Please visit the Consortium Sharknet pages for
more information.
Courses:
• LAW*216 Administrative Law (3)
• LAW*657 AI, Data Privacy & the Law (2)
• LAW*240 Antitrust Law (3)
• LAW*700 Antitrust & Intellectual Property
(2)
• LAW*719 Bioethics, Law & Healthcare
Decision Making (2 or 3)
• LAW*314 Business Associations (4)
• LAW*405 Cannabis Law (2)
• LAW*251 Children & the Law (2 or 3)
• LAW*585 Child Welfare Practicum (2)
• LAW*699 Climate Change Law (2 or 3)
• LAW*250 Compliance and Risk
Management for Lawyers (3)
• LAW*620 Compliance: Health Law (1)
• LAW*449 Compliance: Privacy (1)
• LAW635 Disability Law (3)
• LAW*350 & LAW*179 Domestic Violence
Law (3) (1st yr. elective OR upper level)
• LAW*435 Employment Law (3)
• LAW*704 Environmental Law & Policy (3)
• LAW*304
Environmental
Justice & the Law (3)
• LAW*180 Stat: Employment
Discrimination (3)
• LAW*353 ERISA: Pension & Employee
Benefits (2)
• LAW*336 Family Law (3 or 4)
• LAW*677 Food and Drug Law (3)
• LAW*673 Food Justice (2)
• LAW*212 Gender & the Law (3)
• Health Care Moot Court Competition
(1)
• LAW*972 Health Care Transactions
Competition (1)
• LAW*665 Health Care System
Reform: Regulation and Competition
(2)
• LAW*724 Health Equity, Advocacy &
Leadership Seminar (HEAL Lab) (3)
• LAW*847 In-House Lawyering:
Health Care (3)
• LAW*810 Health Law Practice Skills (3)
• LAW*638 History of
Forensic Science (2)
• LAW*408 Insurance
Law (2 or 3)
• LAW*412 Intellectual
Property Survey (3)
• LAW*707 Intellectual Property Licensing
Seminar (2)
• LAW*567 International and Comparative
Health Law (3)
• LAW*741 International Environmental Law
(3)
• LAW*417 International Human Rights (3)
• LAW*629 Law & Behavioral Science (2)
• LAW*631 Law and the Human Body
Seminar (2)
• LAW*802 Mediation (3)
• LAW*555 Mental Health Law & Policy (3)
• LAW*440 Mergers and Acquisitions (3)
• LAW*838 Negotiation (3)
• LAW*485 Nonprofit Organizations (3)
• LAW*187 Stat: Public Health Law (3)
• L
AW*854 Public Health & Homelessness
Seminar (2)
• LAW*780 Public Law & Policy Workgroup
(3)
• LAW*797 Public Policy Advocacy Seminar
(2)
• LAW*820 Race, Sexuality & the Law (1)
• LAW*203 Race, Racism & American Law
(3)
• LAW*428 Refugee Law & Policy (3)
• LAW*546 Reproductive Justice (3)
• LAW*145 Scientist to Lawyer (1)
• LAW*206 Sexuality and the Law (2)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
31
• LAW*598 State & Local Gov’t Law (3)
• LAW*645 Structural Inequities & Health (2)
• LAW*583 Wills and Trusts (3)
Clinics & Externships (Strongly
Recommended):
• LAW*902 & LAW*903 Individual
Representation Clinic – Health
Module
• LAW*935 & LAW*936 Medical-Legal
Partnership for Seniors
The following clinics and externships qualify when the
placement, client, and/or work conducted is
sufficiently health-related and approved by the
Advisor. Lists of available health-related placements
are available through the Consortium and the
Clinic/Externship faculty:
• LAW*904 & LAW*905 Corporate Counsel
Externship (6 to 7*)
• LAW*933 & LAW*934 Legal Externship (4
to 6)
• LAW*899 & LAW*940 Judicial Externship
(4-10)
• LAW*923 Legislation Clinic (6-10)
• LAW 819 & LAW*919 Government Law
Clinic (5-7)
• LAW*992 & LAW*993 Start-Up Legal
Garage (5)
• LAW*909 & LAW*937 UCDC: Law and
Lawyering in the Nation’s Capital (3-5 or 10)
Independent Study or Other Courses:
An Independent Study and other courses or clinics
not listed here may qualify for the Concentration if
completed work is sufficiently health-related and
approved by the Concentration Advisor.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
The Intellectual Property Concentration is designed to
better prepare students who wish to practice in the
intellectual property field. It is also designed to create
a sense of community among committed intellectual
property students and the intellectual property faculty,
facilitating networks for support and encouragement
during students’ time at UC Law SF and beyond, into
their careers. UC Law SF’ connections with Silicon
Valley’s technology conglomeration, California's art
and entertainment industries, and the Bay Area’s
vibrant intellectual property firms uniquely position it
to offer perspectives from all aspects of the practice.
IP concentration students are offered courses taught by
practitioners from boutique and multi-national firms
and in-house counsel, in addition to full-time UC Law
SF faculty.
Students are first required to learn the basics:
Copyright, Trademarks, and Patents. Students may
then take courses from the array of electives and
skills-based offerings. These electives enable students
to gravitate toward one area of intellectual property
law, such as patents, while the required courses
guarantee that they will be competent to practice in
other intellectual property fields, as is likely to occur
during the course of their careers.
The Concentration culminates during a student’s third
year with the IP Concentration Capstone Seminar. The
Concentration Capstone is designed to integrate what
students have learned in the core and elective courses
and invite them to consider what lies ahead. The
seminar explores the challenges posed by globalization
and technological advances that will shape intellectual
property law during the next several decades and
considers how the current intellectual property regime
is likely to change in response.
Advisor: Professor Jeff Lefstin
Total Units Required: 22
A.
Required Courses (10-21 units)
I.
Core regime courses:
(a) LAW*308 Copyright Law (3)
LAW*505 Patent Law (3)
LAW*582 Trademarks & Unfair Competition (3)
- or -
(b) LAW*412 Intellectual Property Survey or
LAW*178 Statutory: Intellectual Property (3), and at
least one of the courses listed under (a)
At least one transactional course:
• LAW*707 Intellectual Property Licensing
Seminar (2)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
32
• LAW*712 Patent Prosecution Seminar (2)
• LAW*737 Trademark Prosecution Seminar (2)
• LAW*994 & LAW*995 Startup Legal Garage
Corp (6) (yearlong)
• LAW*992 & LAW*993 Startup Legal Garage
Patent (8) (yearlong)
• UC Law SF-Bucerius Summer Program in
International IP Transactions (4)
II.
LAW*731 Intellectual Property Capstone
Concentration Seminar (2)
III.
Qualifying IP and IP-related Electives
(1-12 units).
Classes that are taken to meet the concentration core
requirement may not also be counted toward the
elective requirement.
IP Electives:
• LAW*601 Advanced Issues in Copyright
Law Seminar (2)
• LAW*700 Antitrust & Intellectual Property
Seminar (2)
• LAW*449 Compliance: Privacy (1)
• LAW*308 Copyright Law (3)
• LAW*776 Digital Media Law (2)
• LAW*615 Emerging Digital Entertainment
Law (2)
• LAW*355 Entertainment Law (2)
• LAW*707 Intellectual Property Licensing
Seminar (2)
• LAW*412 Intellectual Property Survey
• LAW*508 Intellectual Property Under State
Law: Trade Secrets & Employee Mobility (2)
• LAW*414 International & Comparative IP
(2)
• LAW*627 IP in Design in the Global
Marketplace (1)
• LAW*505 Patent Law (3)
• LAW*510 Patent Litigation (2)
• LAW*712 Patent Prosecution Seminar (2)
• LAW*994 & LAW*995 Startup Legal
Garage Corp (6) (yearlong)
• LAW*992 & LAW*993 Startup Legal
Garage Patent (8) (yearlong)
• LAW*178 Statutory: Intellectual Property (3)
• LAW*737 Trademark Prosecution Seminar
(2)
• LAW*582 Trademarks & Unfair Competition
(3)
• UC Law SF-Bucerius Summer Program in
International IP Transactions (4)
• LAW*318 Venture Capital & the Start-Up
Company (2)
• LAW*653 Video Game Law (2)
Non-IP electives (a maximum of ONE of the
following elective courses may be counted toward
meeting the elective requirement):
• LAW*216 Administrative Law (3)
• LAW*240 Antitrust (3) (a student may not
count both Antitrust and Antitrust & IP
towards electives)
• LAW*242 Biodiversity Law (3)
• LAW*719 Bioethics Law & Society Seminar
(2)
• LAW*314 Business Associations (3 or 4)
• LAW*722 Data Privacy Rights Seminar
• LAW*376 Federal Courts (3)
• LAW*750 Health Law (3)
• LAW*416 International Business
Transactions (3)
• LAW*450 Law and Economics (3)
• LAW*996 & LAW*997 Social
Enterprise & Economic Empowerment
Clinic (3)
The list of courses within the categories above is
up to date as of the publication of this Catalog.
New courses are sometimes added to the
curriculum subsequent to publication. Therefore,
if a student finds a course in the curriculum not
listed above, but which the student thinks might
count toward concentration requirements, the
student should check with the concentration
advisor regarding the eligibility of the course to
satisfy concentration requirements.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
33
INTERNATIONAL LAW
Almost every area of legal practice crosses borders in
the 21st century. The International Law Concentration
gives you the opportunity to hone your legal skills and
gain exposure to varied aspects of multi-jurisdictional
practice.
For students who are interested in a career involving
international law, foreign law, or transactions and
activities that cross borders, completing the
International Law Concentration will help to
distinguish you from other job applicants and give you
the confidence and skills to practice in a global setting.
The depth of our course offerings allows the flexibility
of taking courses in international trade and business,
public international law and human rights, and foreign
legal systems, among other subjects. UC Law SF also
partners with a select group of foreign law schools,
giving students remarkable opportunities to study
abroad.
Most importantly, the experience you gain as a student
of international law will help you cultivate and grow
the kind of strategic, integrated thinking that gives you
the confidence and skills to practice in a global setting.
The program’s faculty is comprised of international
law leaders including Professor Karen Musalo, an
expert in refugee law; Professor Joel Paul, an expert in
international trade and economic law; Professor David
Takacs, an expert in international environmental law;
and Professor Keith Hand, an expert on the Chinese
legal system. From advising the U.S. government on
international law and litigation, to changing
conversations about transitional justice, to breaking
new ground in transnational business cases, our
faculty is helping to shape the future of international
law.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application. After obtaining the
necessary signature(s), submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office.
Advisor: Professor Binyamin Blum
Total Units Required: 14
Students are required to take a minimum of 14 units of
international law courses, which must include at least
one Foundational International Law course. We also
recommend taking at least one course in foreign and
comparative law, and in private, economic, and
transactional international law. An equivalent course
taken as part of a study abroad program may satisfy
the Foundational International Law requirement, and
relevant courses taken as part of a faculty-approved
foreign exchange program may count for up to 8
credits of the total credits required (or up to 10 credits
for relevant courses taken as part of the full-year
concurrent degree programs at Paris II or SOAS), with
the approval of the Concentration Advisor.
Students must also write a substantial research paper
or other comparable written work that demonstrates
professional and scholarly proficiency in research,
analysis, and writing on some aspect of international
or comparative law, either through enrollment in a
seminar taught by a regular faculty member or through
a 2-unit independent study under the supervision of a
regular faculty member.
The courses listed here encompass those typically
offered in a 2-year curriculum cycle. Different
qualifying courses may be offered in a particular year.
If a student seeks concentration credit for a course not
listed below, the student should check with the
Concentration Advisor to determine whether the
course will count towards the concentration
requirement.
A.
Foundational International Law Courses – Take
at least 1
• LAW*535 International Law (3)
• LAW*416 International Business Transactions
(3)
• LAW*741 International Environmental Law
(3)
• LAW*417 International Human Rights (3)
Complete remaining units from the following
categories:
B.
Comparative and Foreign Law
Courses
• LAW*248 Chinese Law and Legal Institutions
(2)
• LAW*787 Comparative Constitutional Law
Seminar (2)
• LAW*272 Comparative Law (3)
• LAW*470 European Union Law-Exam Course
(2) or LAW*769-European Union Law-
Seminar Course (2)
• LAW*874 Human Rights and Rule of Law in
Haiti (2-3)
• LAW*414 International & Comparative
Intellectual Property Law (2)
• LAW*567 International and Comparative
Perspectives on Health Law (3)
C.
Private, Economic, and
Transactional International Law
Courses
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
34
• LAW*699 Climate Change Law (2)
• LAW*892 International Business Negotiations
(3)
• LAW*786 International Commercial
Arbitration Seminar (2)
• LAW*415 International Trade Law and Policy
(3)
• LAW*726 Law and Business in Japan Seminar
(2)
• LAW*671 Transnational Labor Regulation (2)
• LAW*544 U.S. Taxation of Foreign
Transactions and Investments (3)
Other Qualifying Electives
• LAW*610 Advanced Immigration Seminar
(2)
• LAW*401 American Indian Law (2)
• LAW*735 Asian Pacific Americans and the
Law (2)
• LAW*242 Biodiversity Law (3)
• LAW*865 Cross-Cultural Negotiation (2)
• LAW*720 Democracy, Technology, and
Security Seminar (2)
• LAW*907 & LAW*908 Immigrants’ Rights
Clinic (4)
• LAW*400 Immigration Law (3)
• LAW*880 International & Foreign Legal
Research (2)
• Interscholastic Competition – Moot Court (1
unit, Stetson only)
• LAW*738 Latinx & the Law
• LAW*224 Maritime Law (2 or 3)
• LAW*931 & LAW*932 Refugee and Human
Rights Clinic (8)
• LAW*428 Refugee Law and Policy (3)
• LAW*748 Social Movements & Global
Legal Change (2)
• LAW*746 Terrorism and the Law Seminar
(2)
SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYERING
The Social Justice Lawyering concentration prepares
students to make a positive impact on the world by
serving underrepresented clients and communities.
Students attracted to this concentration come from
diverse communities and perspectives, but all share a
strong desire for a career that aligns with their values.
This shared sense of calling to address issues of social
justice builds a strong, supportive, enduring
community that helps sustain concentrators through
law school and as they enter and pursue this work.
A year-long seminar in the second year brings students
and faculty together to explore what it means to be a
social justice lawyer. The seminar connects like-
minded peers with each other and with faculty and
alumni, forging relationships that will support students
as they move forward as alums to change the world.
Hands-on work is an important component of this
concentration: Every student in the concentration must
take a clinical course or externship—and many take
more than one. And they must also take at least one
class on negotiation and one on the impact of race in
our society.
The concentration offers an array of more than 100
classes that are taught by over thirty full-time UC Law
SF faculty, as well as adjunct faculty who include
some of the nation’s preeminent social justice lawyers.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Social Justice Lawyering
Concentration, students must before the start of
second year complete a Concentrated Studies
Application, get Professor Piomelli's signature on it,
piomelli@uchastings.edu,
and enroll in the two-part
year-long concentration seminar for 2L students.
Advisor: Professor Ascanio Piomelli
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
35
Minimum Total Units Required: 18
A.
Required Course [2 units]
• LAW*830 Social Justice Lawyering
Concentration Core Seminar Part I (1)
• LAW*843 Social Justice Lawyering
Concentration Core Seminar Part II
(1)
B.
Distributional Requirements
At least 1 class in each of the three following
categories:
Substantial clinical or guided lawyering experience
[5-12 units]
• LAW*858 & LAW*920 Child Welfare
Practicum (6-7)
• LAW*929 & LAW*930 Community Group
Advocacy & Social Change Lawyering Clinic
(8)
• LAW*910 & LAW*911 Criminal Practice
Clinic (12)
• LAW*913 & LAW*914 Environmental Law
Clinic (8)
• LAW*907 & LAW*908 Immigrants’ Rights
Clinic (6)
• LAW*902 & LAW*903 Individual
Representation Clinic (8)
• LAW*986 & LAW*987 Lawyering for
Children & Other Vulnerable Populations: A
Practicum at Legal Services for Children (6)
• LAW*933 & LAW*934 Legal Externship
Program (5-6)
• LAW*923 Legislation Clinic (7, 8 or 13)
• LAW*819 & LAW*919 Government Law
Clinic and The Government Lawyer (6-7)
• LAW*960 & LAW*961 Low-Income
Taxpayer Clinic (7)
• LAW*925 & LAW*926 Mediation Clinic (6)
• LAW*935 & LAW*936 Medical-Legal
Partnership for Seniors (7)
• LAW*931 & LAW*932 Refugee & Human
Rights Clinic (8)
• LAW*996 & LAW*997 Social Enterprise &
Economic Empowerment Clinic (7)
Negotiation/Dispute Resolution [3-4 units]
• LAW*837 Negotiation & Mediation:
Process & Practice (3-4)
• LAW*838 Negotiation (3)
Exploration of Race [2-3 units]
• LAW*735 Asian Pacific Americans and the
Law (2)
• LAW*401 American Indian Law (2)
• LAW*747 Citizenship & Equality (2)
• LAW*734 Critical Race Theory Seminar (2)
• LAW*203 Race, Racism & American Law
(3)
C.
Qualifying Electives [not less than 2 courses
and not less than 6 units, except for students who
complete a 12-unit clinic, who must only complete
1 qualifying elective of not less than 2 units]
Note: Classes cannot be counted as a qualifying
elective if they are being used to fulfill a distributional
requirement.
I.
Courses and GPA Seminars
• LAW*216 Administrative Law (3)
• LAW*607 Advanced Employment Law (2)
• LAW*610 Advanced Immigration Law (2)
• LAW*763 Advanced Legislative Process (2)
• LAW*852 Advanced Negotiation: (3)
• LAW*641 American Indian Law: Enhanced
Tribal Stewardship (2)
• LAW*705 American Legal Education (2)
• LAW*238 Animal Law (2)
• LAW*240 Antitrust (3)
• LAW*244 Bankruptcy (4)
• LAW*242 Biodiversity Law (3)
• LAW*719 Bioethics, Law, and Healthcare
Decisionmaking (3)
• LAW*685 California Privacy Law (2)
• LAW*405 Cannabis Law (2)
• LAW*770 Capital Punishment and the
Constitution (2)
• LAW*251 Children and the Law (3)
• LAW*764 Civil Rights Seminar (2)
• LAW*699 Climate Change Law (2)
• LAW*723 Community Economic
Development Seminar (2)
• LAW*787 Comparative Constitutional Law
Seminar (2)
• LAW*273 Comparative Privacy Law (3)
• LAW*620 Compliance: Health Law (1)
• LAW*449 Compliance: Privacy (1)
• LAW*801 Conservation Transactions (2)
• LAW*268 Constitutional History: Race and
Civil Rights (1)
• LAW*269 Constitutional History: The
Founding
• LAW*537 Consumer Law (3)
• LAW*276 Contemporary American Litigation
(3)
• LAW*744 Courts as a Political Actor Seminar
(2)
• LAW*328 Criminal Procedure (3 or 4)
• LAW*331 Criminal Procedure II: The
Adjudicative Process (4)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
36
• LAW*865 Cross-Cultural Negotiation &
Dispute Resolution (2)
• LAW*722 Data Privacy (2)
• LAW*720 Democracy, Technology & Security
(2)
• LAW*635 Disability Law (2)
• LAW*350 Domestic Violence (3)
• LAW*793 Education Law & Policy
• LAW*358 Elder Abuse Litigation (2)
• LAW*180 Employment Discrimination (3)
• Law*435 Employment Law (3)
• Law*708 Environmental Criminology Seminar
(2)
• Law*304 Environmental Justice (2)
• Law*181 Stat: Environmental Law (3)
• LAW*704 Environmental Law and Policy (3)
• LAW*336 Family Law (4)
• LAW*376 Federal Courts (3)
• LAW*677 Food & Drug Law (3)
• LAW*212 Gender and the Law (3)
• LAW*217 Healthcare Providers, Patients, and
the Law (4)
• LAW*665 Health Care System Reform:
Regulation and Competition (2)
• LAW*306 Housing Law in the Public Interest
(4)
• LAW*874 Human Rights and the Rule of Law
in Haiti (3)
• LAW*400 Immigration Law (3)
• LAW*741 International Environmental Law
(3)
• LAW*417 International Human Rights (2 or 3)
• LAW*698 Juvenile Justice Seminar (2)
• LAW*447 Labor Law (3)
• LAW*823 Law, Race and Economic Justice in
the City
• LAW*450 Law and Economics (2)
• LAW*758 Land Use Regulation (2)
• LAW*478 Legislative Advocacy &
Policymaking (2)
• LAW*480 Legislative Process (3)
• LAW*485 Non-Profit Organizations (3)
• LAW*815 Non-Profit Organizations
Experiential Module (2)
• LAW*771 Post-Convictions Remedies
Seminar (2)
• LAW*854 Public Health & Homelessness (2)
• LAW*444 Public Health Regulation and
Advocacy: Vaccines (2)
• LAW*780 Public Law and Policy Working
Group (3)
• LAW*797 Public Policy Advocacy Seminar
(2)
• LAW*451 Public Sector Labor Law
• LAW*428 Refugee Law & Policy (3)
• LAW*552 Remedies (3)
• LAW*546 Reproductive Justice (3)
• LAW*662 Restorative Justice Seminar
• LAW*206 Sexuality and the Law (2)
• LAW*725 Sexuality, Gender & Law
• LAW*794 Sociology of the Criminal Justice
System Seminar (2)
• LAW*624 Stalking and the Law (2)
• LAW*598 State and Local
Government Law (3)
• LAW*597 State and Local
Taxation (3)
• LAW*443 Tax Policy
Colloquium (2)
• LAW*746 Terrorism
and the Law (2)
• LAW*581
Theoretical
Criminology (2)
• LAW*317 U.S. Healthcare
System and the Law (4)
• LAW*257 U.S. Privacy Law (2)
• LAW*617 Water Law (3)
• LAW*755 Wrongful
Conviction Seminar (2)
II.
Clinics and Externships
• LAW*959 & LAW*958 ADR Externship (4 to
5)
• LAW*929 & LAW*930 Community
Group Advocacy & Social Change
Lawyering Clinic (8)
• LAW*910 & LAW*991 Criminal Practice
Clinic (12)
• LAW*913 & LAW*914 Environmental Law
Clinic (8)
• LAW*907 & LAW*908 Immigrants’ Rights
Clinic (6)
• LAW*902 & LAW*903 Individual
Representation Clinic (8)
• LAW*986 & LAW*987 Lawyering for
Children & Other Vulnerable
Populations: A Practicum at Legal
Services for Children (6)
• LAW*986 & LAW*987 Legal Externship
Program (4-6)
• LAW*923 & LAW*763 Legislation Clinic (8)
• LAW*919 & LAW*819 Government Law
Clinic (6)
• LAW*960 & LAW*961 Low-Income
Taxpayer Clinic (7)
• LAW*925 & LAW*926 Mediation Clinic (6)
• LAW*935 & LAW*941 Medical-Legal
Partnership for Seniors Clinic (7)
• LAW*931 & LAW*932 Refugee & Human
Rights Clinic (8)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
37
• LAW*996 & LAW*997 Social Enterprise &
Economic Empowerment Clinic (7)
• LAW*921 & LAW*922 Workers' Rights
Clinic (3)
The list of courses within the categories above is up
to date as of the publication of this Catalog. New
courses are sometimes added to the curriculum
subsequent to publication. Therefore, if a student
finds a course in the curriculum not listed above, but
which the student thinks might count toward
concentration requirements, the student should check
with the concentration advisor regarding the
eligibility of the course to satisfy concentration
requirements.
TAX LAW
The Tax Law Concentration is intended to provide
students with an opportunity to pursue a focused and
integrated course of study regarding taxation. The
required concentration courses, Federal Income
Taxation, Corporate & Partnership Tax, and Taxation
of Family Wealth Transfers are designed to ensure that
students develop a broad understanding of key aspects
of the United States system of taxation. The
concentration electives enable students to deepen their
understanding of specific tax disciplines, such as tax
controversy, international taxation, and taxation of
non-profit organizations. Each concentrator is
encouraged to consult with the Tax Concentration
Advisor to assist the student in selecting a set of
electives that best advances his/her professional
objectives.
The concentration culminates with the year-long Tax
Concentration Seminar, in which all the members of
the tax faculty participate. Students enroll in the Tax
Concentration Seminar during their third year of law
school. The seminar is intended to enable students to
gain perspective on the overall tax system, provide
students with an opportunity to write a significant
paper on a tax-related topic of their choice, and foster
a sense of community among students and faculty
interested in taxation.
In extraordinary circumstances, the concentration
adviser may waive one of the required courses (other
than the Tax Concentration Seminar) for a student who
has completed equivalent graduate-level coursework.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete
a Concentrated Studies Application. After
obtaining the necessary signature(s), submit the
form to the Registrar’s Office. To ensure that you
can enroll in the Tax Concentration Seminar,
submit the application no later than the first week
of classes of the fall semester of the academic year
in which you plan to graduate.
Advisor: Professor Heather Field
Total Units Required: 22
A.
Required Courses (12 units)
• LAW*540 or LAW*182 Federal
Income Taxation (first-year
statutory or upper-class course) (3)
• LAW*542 Federal Income Taxation of
Corporations & Partnerships (4)
• LAW*714 Tax Concentration Seminar (2)
• LAW*544 Taxation of Family Wealth
Transfers (3)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
38
B.
Qualifying Tax and Tax-Related Electives
(10 units, including up to 3 units from courses
listed in “C. Non-Tax Electives”)
• LAW*845 & LAW*999 Business Tax
Practicum (1 unit coursework, 2 units
fieldwork)
• LAW*801 Conservation Transactions (2)
• LAW*695 Creating Tax Law (1)
• LAW*904 & LAW*905 Corporate Counsel
Externship (in a tax placement) (3 units count
toward the 10 elective units required)
1
• LAW*790 Estate Planning Seminar (2)
• LAW*960 & LAW*961 Low-Income
Taxpayer Clinic (7 units total, but only 3 units
count toward the 10 elective units required)
1
• LAW*485 Nonprofit Organizations (2)
• LAW*353 Pension and
Employee Benefits (2)
• LAW*255 Private Equity
Taxation (2)
• LAW*597 State and
Local Taxation (2 or 3)
• LAW*443 Tax Policy
Colloquium (2)
• LAW*590 Tax Procedure
(2 or 3)
• LAW*544 U.S. Taxation of Foreign
Transactions & Investments (2 or 3)
• Independent Study (1 or 2) (with permission of
the Tax Concentration Advisor)
• Tax and Tax-Related Experiential Electives (a
maximum of 3 units from each experiential
elective can count toward the minimum of 10
elective units required)
1
• Teaching Assistant (1 or 2) (with permission
of Tax Concentration Advisor)
C.
Non-Tax Electives (maximum of 3 units toward
minimum units required)
• LAW*763 Advanced Legislative Process
Seminar (2)
• LAW*852 Advanced Negotiation: Dealmaking
(2)
• LAW*700 Antitrust & Intellectual Property
(2)
• LAW*821 Appellate Advocacy (2)
• LAW*244 Bankruptcy (3 or 4)
• LAW*743 Chinese Business Law & Economic
Rights (2)
• LAW*879 Commercial Contract Drafting (2)
• LAW*877 Contract Writing & Analysis (2 or
3)
• LAW*723 Community Economic
Development Seminar (2)
• LAW*250 Compliance and Risk Management
(3)
• LAW*801 Conservation Transactions (2)
• LAW*904 & LAW*905 Corporate Counsel
Externship Program (in a non-tax placement)
• LAW*315 Corporate Finance (3)
• LAW*553 Deals (3)
• LAW*682 Elder Law and Policy (2)
• LAW*276 Federal Courts (3)
• LAW*386 Financial Regulation (3)
• LAW*892 International Business Negotiation
(3)
• LAW*416 International Business Transactions
(3)
• LAW*415 International Trade Law & Policy
(3)
• LAW*431 Investment Management (2)
• LAW*940 & LAW*899 Judicial Externship
• LAW*726 Law & Business in Japan Seminar
(2)
• LAW*450 Law & Economics Seminar (2)
• LAW*923 Legislation Clinic (with LAW*763
Advanced Legislative Process)
• LAW*819 & LAW*919 The Government
Lawyer
• LAW*935 & LAW*936 Medical-Legal
Partnership for Seniors Clinic
• LAW*440 Mergers & Acquisitions (3)
• LAW*875 Real Estate Transactions (2)
• LAW*565 Secured Transactions (3)
• LAW*568 Securities Regulation (3)
• LAW*996 & LAW*997 Social Enterprise &
Economic Empowerment Clinic
• LAW*748 Social Movement and Global Legal
Change
• LAW*994 & LAW*995 Startup Legal Garage:
Corporate
• LAW*992 & LAW*993 Startup Legal Garage:
Patent
• LAW*596 State & Local Government Law (3)
• LAW*318 Venture Capital & the Startup (2)
• LAW*261 Venture Capital in Practice (2)
1
A maximum of 3 units from each tax experiential elective can
count toward the minimum of 10 elective units required for the
Tax Concentration. Tax and Tax-Related Experiential Electives
include (i) the Corporate Counsel Externship if the student is in
a tax placement approved by the Tax Concentration Advisor,
(ii) the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at UC Law SF, (iii) Legal
Externships where the placement is with the IRS Office of
Chief Counsel, the California Franchise Tax Board, or, if
approved by the Tax Concentration Advisor, another
governmental tax agency or nonprofit tax organization, (iv) the
Government Law Clinic if the student is in a tax placement
approved by the Tax Concentration Advisor, (v) a Judicial
Externship if the student is externing for the Tax Court, and
(vi) participation in the Interscholastic Competition—Tax
Challenge. Other tax legal externships, tax clinics, and tax
competitions can count as “Tax and Tax-Related Experiential
Electives” with the permission of the Tax Concentration
Advisor. Students wishing such other electives to count must
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
39
consult with the Tax Concentration Advisor before enrolling in
such electives.
TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN
THE PRACTICE OF LAW
The legal profession is changing rapidly.
Knowledge of the way that technology impacts the
law, the delivery of legal services, the ethical
implications of its design and use, and the
economics of the legal industry are crucial to the
success of 21st century attorneys. By concentrating
in technology and innovation in the practice of
law, you will be prepared for the future of the legal
profession, whichever career path you choose.
The courses in the Concentration are designed to
teach you how technology is impacting substantive
law as well as the delivery of legal services. After
you have acquired an understanding of the
doctrinal, ethical, economic and technological
forces impacting the legal industry, you will
explore in more depth the specific legal
technologies designed to increase the efficiency,
productivity and accessibility of the law. You will
also have the opportunity for hands-on work in a
tech-oriented workplace in the legal industry.
Students graduating with a Concentration in
Technology and Innovation in the Practice of Law
will be able to:
● Understand the economic and technological
forces currently impacting the legal
profession.
● Understand the policy and application of
technology offering new methods to deliver
legal services.
● Understand how technology may impact a
specific area of the law.
● Apply real world experience on how
technology may improve the delivery of
legal services.
● Understand the role technology may play in
changes in the regulation of the practice of
law.
● Understand ethical constraints on the
design and use of technology.
● Understand how to participate in a digital
transformation of the legal industry similar
to what other industries have undergone.
● Use legal problem-solving skills to
collaborate with experts from other
disciplines to solve complex problems
● Develop the mindset needed for success in
modern law practice.
How to Enroll
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentrated Studies Application. After obtaining the
necessary signature(s), submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office. To ensure that you can enroll in the
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
40
Capstone Experiential Course, submit the application no
later than the first week of classes of the fall semester of
the academic year in which you plan to graduate.
Advisor: Professor Alice Armitage
Required Courses: (a total of 20 units)
The foundational courses focus on learning in depth
about the new technologies transforming the practice of
law. No prior technical knowledge is required. The
courses in the Qualifying Electives category offer
opportunities to dive more deeply into the uses and
impact of technology in specific areas of practice. Other
Electives are drawn from courses in substantive areas of
tech law as well as in the skills considered essential in
the modern practice of law in the tech industry.
Foundational
Students must take:
• LAW*632 AI & Business of Law (2)
• LAW*809 Legal Operations for Lawyers (2
or 3) or Law*732 In-House Counsel Toolkit:
Skills & Strategies (3)
• LAW*881 Financial Basics for Lawyers (2)
(students not eligible to take the course
should speak with the Concentration Advisor
to fulfill the unit requirements)
Qualifying Electives
Students must take at least six units among these
courses:
• LAW*628 Design Thinking & Access
to Justice (2)
• LAW*813 Legal Tech: How to Build a
Legal Tech Startup (2)
• LAW*229 Regulation of Emerging
Technologies (2)
• LAW*751 Internet Law (2)
• LAW*301 E-Discovery (2)
• LAW*257 U.S. Privacy Law (2)
• LAW*722 Data Privacy Rights seminar
(2)
• LAW*685 CA Privacy Law (2)
• LAW*657 AI, Data Privacy & the Law
(2)
• LAW*273 Comparative Privacy Law
(3)
• Law*232 In-house Product and Tech
Counsel (3)
Capstone: (4 to 8 units)
A tech-focused experiential opportunity will be
created and approved by the Concentration Advisor
and the Academic Dean, taking into account a
student’s area of interest. Otherwise existing programs
that may be able to provide qualifying experiential
opportunities include:
• LAW*904 and LAW*905 Corporate Counsel
Externship Program
• LAW*933 and LAW*934 Legal Externship
Program
Recommended Courses
For students who still require units to fulfill the
concentration requirements or for students who have
specific interests, please choose from the list below.
Other courses may be substituted with permission
from the Concentration Advisor.
•
LAW*250 Compliance and Risk
Management (3)
•
LAW*449 Compliance: Privacy (2)
•
LAW*630 Compliance: Financial Risk
Module (1)
•
LAW*720 Democracy, Tech & Security (2)
•
LAW*691 Electronic Surveillance in
the 21
st
Century (2)
•
LAW*615 Emerging Digital Entertainment
Law (2)
•
LAW*696 Energy Law (3)
•
Intellectual Property course:
• LAW*412 IP Survey (2)
• LAW*178 1L Statutory Intellectual
Property (3)
• LAW*505 Patent Law (3)
• LAW*508 IP Under State Law:
Trade Secrets (2)
• LAW*308 Copyright (3)
•
LAW*827 Leadership Skills for Lawyers (2)
•
LAW*837 Negotiation Practice and Process
(4)
•
LAW*994 or LAW*992 Startup Legal
Garage (coursework component)
•
LAW*653 Video Game Law (2)
Other Details
In consultation with the Provost & Academic Dean,
the concentration advisor may approve additional
qualifying electives on a case-by-case basis. In the
event any of these classes are not offered in the future,
the concentration advisor may designate a suitable
replacement course. The list of courses within the
categories above is up to date as of the publication of
this Catalog. New courses are sometimes added to the
curriculum subsequent to publication. Therefore, if a
student finds a course in the curriculum not listed
above, but which the student thinks might count
toward concentration requirements, the student should
check with the concentration advisor regarding the
eligibility of the course to satisfy concentration
requirements.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
41
If you are interested in satisfying the requirements of
another concentration in addition to this one, please
contact the concentration advisor.
WORK LAW
Work law is an exciting and fascinating practice area
because of the evolving nature of the employment
relation and its social and economic significance for
everyday life. The Work Law Concentration provides
UC Law SF students with the opportunity to pursue a
critical, integrated study of the laws and policies
governing the workplace, the labor market, and the
legal relationships between businesses and workers.
Through core, elected, and clinical courses, students
learn to analyze not only the law, but also how
different stakeholders think about the regulation of
work and the problems of inequality, insecurity, and
discrimination that arise in and through the workplace.
Equipped with legal, political, and historical
knowledge of employment regulation, our students
pursue careers across the non-profit, law firm,
corporate, government, and union sectors.
Concentrators are required to take five core courses:
Employment Law, Employment Discrimination Law,
Labor Law, one of two Capstone Seminars, and either
the Workers’ Rights Clinic or the Individual
Representation Clinic. Concentrators must also take
several electives. Qualifying electives cover a wide
range of relevant topics, including arbitration,
bankruptcy, and critical race theory. For real world
experience, students are also required to enroll in
either the Workers’ Rights Clinic or Individual
Representation Clinic.
Course descriptions are listed in detail below. In
extraordinary circumstances, and in consultation with
the Provost & Academic Dean, the concentration
advisor may allow substitution of the one of the
elective courses for one not listed. Courses taken on a
Credit/No Credit basis will not count towards the work
law concentration.
Advisor: Professor Reuel Schiller
Relevant Faculty: Joan Williams
Total Units Required: 22 units
How to Enroll:
To enroll in the Concentration, you must complete a
Concentration Studies Application. After obtaining the
necessary signature(s), submit the form to the
Registrar’s Office no later than the first week of
classes of the fall semester of the academic year in
which you plan to graduate.
Courses:
Concentrators will be required to complete at least 22
units of qualifying coursework, as follows:
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
42
Required classes: (14+ units)
• LAW*180 First Year Elective Employment
Discrimination Law (3) or LAW*253 Upper
Division Employment Discrimination Law (3)
• LAW*435 Employment Law (3)
• LAW*447 Labor Law (3 units)
• LAW*921 Workers’ Rights Clinic (3 units) or
LAW*902 Individual Representation Clinic--
Employment Module (4+ units)
• LAW*654 Capstone Seminar: Work, Law, and
Life (2 units) or LAW*607 Advanced
Employment Law (2 units)
Qualifying Electives (in amount adequate to reach
22 total units):
• LAW*216 Administrative Law (3)
• LAW*245 Arbitration (3)
• LAW*244 Bankruptcy Law (3 or 4)
• LAW*276 Contemporary American Litigation
(3)
• LAW*268 Constitutional History--Race (1)
• LAW*734 Critical Race Theory (2)
• LAW*212 Gender and the Law (3)
• LAW*267 Legal History: Common Law (1)
• LAW*353 Pension and Employee Benefits (2)
• LAW*451 Public Sector Labor Law (2)
• LAW*203 Race, Racism, and the Law (3)
Recommended Courses
These courses are not required for this concentration,
but they are recommended for students who may
have specific interests. The concentration advisor may
approve substitution of one of these courses for a
Qualifying Elective from the section above.
An appropriate clinic from our in-house clinical
offerings (to be approved by your advisor).
• LAW*740 Alternative Dispute Resolution
Seminar
• LAW*240 Antitrust (3)
• LAW*314 Business Associations (3 to 4)
• LAW*275 Civil Procedure II (3)
• LAW*290 Constitutional Law II (4)
• LAW*849 Effective Representation in
Mediation (1)
• LAW*355 Entertainment Law (2)
• LAW*368 Evidence (4)
• LAW*376 Federal Courts (3)
• LAW*881 Financial Basics for Lawyers (2)
• LAW*416 International Business Transactions
(3)
• LAW*417 International Human Rights Law (2
or 3)
• LAW*535 International Law (3)
• LAW*535 Leadership Skills for Lawyers (3)
• LAW*838 Negotiation (3)
• LAW*485 Non-profit Organizations (2)
• LAW*552 Remedies (3)
• LAW*525 Professional Sports Law (2)
• LAW*598 State and Local Government Law
(3)
• LAW*597 State and Local Taxation (3)
• LAW*695 Creating Tax Law (1)
• LAW*831 Trial Advocacy (2)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
43
GPA LECTURE COURSES
GPA lecture courses provide the foundation for a
student’s education at UC Law SF, and all California
Bar Examination subjects not covered in the first-year
curriculum are taught as lecture courses. More than
50% of the grade a student earns in a GPA lecture
course must normally be based on an anonymously
graded exam; some lecture courses are graded
entirely on an exam while others are graded on the
basis of an exam and some combination of a paper or
other project assigned by the professor. Grades
earned in GPA lecture courses are considered in
calculating a JD student’s GPA. Unlike seminars and
non-GPA courses, GPA lecture courses tend to be
larger classes.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*216)
ADVANCED ADR COLLOQUIUM (2
UNITS) – (LAW*459)
ADVANCED CORPORATE LAW
(1 OR 2 UNITS) – (LAW*313)
AI LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*557)
ANTITRUST (3 UNITS) – (LAW*240)
ART & THE LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*243)
BANKRUPTCY (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*244)
BIODIVERSITY LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*242)
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS (3 OR 4
UNITS) – (LAW*314)
CALIFORNIA CIVIL PROCEDURE (3
UNITS) – (LAW*246)
CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY
PROPERTY: LAW AND PROCESS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*285)
CANNIBIS LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*405)
CIVIL PROCEDURE II (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*275)
CIVIL PROCEDURE II: LAW &
PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*281)
CHILDREN & THE LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*251)
COMMUNITY PROPERTY (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*264)
COMPARATIVE PRIVACY LAW (3
UNITS) – (LAW*273)
COMPLIANCE: CORPORATE CRIMES
(1 TO 2 UNITS) – (LAW*594)
COMPLIANCE: PRIVACY (1 UNIT)
– (LAW*449)
COMPLIANCE AND RISK
MANAGEMENT FOR ATTORNEYS
(3 UNITS) – (LAW*250)
CONFLICT OF LAWS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*280)
CONSERVATION TRANSACTIONS
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*801)
CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY: THE
FOUNDING (1 UNIT)– (LAW*269)
CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY: RACE
& CIVIL RIGHTS (1 UNIT) – (LAW*268)
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW II (3-4
UNITS) – (LAW*290)
CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN
LITIGATION (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*276)
CONTRACTS II (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*300)
COPYRIGHT (3 UNITS) – (LAW*308)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
44
CORPORATE FINANCE (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*315)
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (3 OR 4
UNITS) – (LAW*328)
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE II: THE
ADJUDICATIVE PROCESS (4
UNITS) – (LAW*331)
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE: LAW &
PROCESS (4 UNITS) – (LAW*339)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (3
UNITS) – (LAW*350)
E-DISCOVERY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*301)
ELDER ABUSE LITIGATION (2 UNITS)
– (LAW*358)
EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION (3
UNITS) – (LAW*352)
EMPLOYMENT LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*435)
ENTERTAINMENT LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*355)
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE (2 UNITS)
– (LAW*304)
EUROPEAN UNION LAW-EXAM
COURSE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*470)
EVIDENCE (3 OR 4 UNITS) –
(LAW*368)
EVIDENCE: LAW & PROCESS (4
UNITS) – (LAW*367)
FAMILY LAW (4 UNITS) – (LAW*336)
FEDERAL COURTS (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*376)
FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW (3 UNITS)
– (LAW*338)
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION (3
UNITS) – (LAW*540)
FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION OF
CORPORATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS
(4 UNITS) – (LAW*542)
FOUNDATIONS OF PRIVACY LAW
(3 UNITS) – (LAW*279)
FRANCHISE AND
DISTRIBUTION LAW (2
UNITS) – (LAW*466)
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS,
PATIENTS AND THE LAW (4
UNITS) – (LAW*217)
HOUSING LAW IN THE PUBLIC
INTEREST (4 UNITS) – (LAW*306)
IMMIGRATION LAW (3
UNITS) – (LAW*400)
IN-HOUSE PRODUCT & TECH
COUNSEL (3 UNITS) – (LAW*232)
INSURANCE LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*408)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SURVEY
(4 UNITS) – (LAW*412)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY UNDER
STATE LAW: TRADE SECRETS (2
UNITS) – (LAW*508)
INTERNATIONAL AND
COMPARATIVE INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*414)
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
TRANSACTIONS (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*416)
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS (2
OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*417)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
45
INTERNATIONAL LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*535)
INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*431)
LABOR LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*447)
LAW AND ECONOMICS (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*450)
LEGAL ETHICS: LAW & PROCESS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*486)
LEGAL ETHICS: PRACTICE OF
LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*490)
LEGAL HISTORY: THE
DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON LAW
(1 UNIT) – (LAW*267)
LEGISLATION & ADMINISTRATIVE
REGULATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*184)
LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY AND
POLICYMAKING (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*478)
LEGISLATIVE PROCESS (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*480)
MARITIME LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*224)
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*440)
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS (2
UNITS) – (LAW*485)
PATENT LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*505)
PENSION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*353)
PRIVATE EQUITY & HEDGE FUNDS (2
UNITS) – (LAW*296)
PRACTICAL CIVIL LITIGATION
SKILLS: INTAKE TO TRIAL (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*512)
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2
UNITS) – (LAW*529)
PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LAW (2
UNITS) – (LAW*525)
PUBLIC HEALTH LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*187)
PUBLIC SECTOR LABOR LAW (2
UNITS) – (LAW*451)
RACE, RACISM AND AMERICAN LAW
(3 UNITS) – (LAW*203)
REFUGEE LAW & POLICY (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*428)
REGULATION OF EMERGING
TECHNOLOGIES (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*229)
REMEDIES (3 UNITS) – (LAW*552)
REMEDIES: LAW & PROCESS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*282)
REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE (3 UNITS)–
(LAW*546)
ROLES AND ETHICS IN PRACTICE (3
TO 4 UNITS) – (LAW*550)
SECURITIES LITIGATION (2 UNITS)
– (LAW*208)
SECURITIES REGULATION (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*568)
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*598)
STATE AND LOCAL TAXATION (3
UNITS) – (LAW*597)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
46
TAX/FAMILY WEALTH TRANSFERS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*543)
TAX POLICY COLLOQUIUM (2 UNITS)
– (LAW*443)
TAX PROCEDURE: LITIGATION (2
UNITS) – (LAW*590)
TORTS II: LAW & PROCESS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*564)
TRADEMARKS AND UNFAIR
COMPETITION (2 OR 3 UNITS) –
(LAW*582)
U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM & THE
LAW (4 UNITS) – (LAW*317)
U.S. PRIVACY LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*257)
U.S. TAX/FOREIGN TRANSACTONS
& INVESTMENTS (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*544)
VENTURE CAPITAL IN PRACTICE (2
UNITS) – (LAW*261)
WILLS & TRUSTS (3 UNITS)
– (LAW*583)
GPA SEMINARS
Seminars provide an opportunity for intensive
analysis of legal and policy issues in a specialized
area of study, culminating in a major research paper
or a series of shorter papers. They require a
considerable investment of time by students and
faculty, and a corresponding responsibility for
thorough preparation and participation by all
members of the seminar. A few seminars also
include a final examination. Please note that only
seminars that require a substantial research paper
qualify for the purpose of the College’s writing
requirements.
Seminars are strictly limited in enrollment. Because
intensive discussion and directed research are not
appropriate for anonymous grading, letter grades are
awarded for seminars based upon class participation
and completion of substantial writing projects.
Seminar grades are included in calculating a
JD student’s grade point average.
ADVANCED COPYRIGHT
SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*601)
ADVANCED EVIDENCE SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*600)
ADVANCED IMMIGRATION (2
UNITS) – (LAW*610)
ADVANCED LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*763)
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION SEMINAR (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*740)
AMERICAN INDIAN LAW:
ENHANCED TRIBAL STEWARDSHIP
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*641)
AMERICAN LEGAL EDUCATION (2
UNITS) – (LAW*705)
ANTITRUST AND INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*700)
BIOETHICS LAW & HEATHCARE
DECISIONMAKING (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*719)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
47
AI & BUSINESS OF LAW &
TECHNOLOGY (2 UNITS) – (LAW*632)
CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTIONAL
LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*664)
CALIFORNIA PRIVACY LAW (2
UNITS) – (LAW*685)
CAPITAL PUNISHMENT & THE
CONSTITUTION (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*770)
CITIZENSHIP AND EQUALITY:
INTERDISCIPINARY PERSPECTIVES
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*747)
CIVIL RIGHTS THEORY &
PRACTICUM (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*764)
CHINA & THE INTERNATIONAL
LEGAL ORDER (2 UNITS) – (LAW*783)
CLIMATE CHANGE LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*699)
COMPARATIVE AND
INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*644)
COMPARATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL
LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*787)
COMPLIANCE: FINANCIAL RISK
MANAGEMENT (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*630)
CONSTITUTION AND UNSTABLE
POLITICS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*614)
CONSUMER PROTECTION IN
CALIFORNIA (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*651)
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
SEMINAR (2 UNITS) – (LAW*678)
CREATING TAX LAW (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*695)
CRIMES BY COPS, CRIMES AGAINST
COPS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*773)
CRITICAL RACE THEORY SEMINAR
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*734)
CRIMINAL LAW & THEORY
CONCENTRATION SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*757)
CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL CASES
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*753)
CYBERCRIME SEMINAR (2 UNITS)–
(LAW*711)
DATA PRIVACY RIGHTS
SEMINAR (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*722)
DEMOCRACY, TECHNOLOGY
& SECURITY (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*720)
DESIGN THINKING & ACCESS TO
JUSTICE (2 UNITS) – (LAW*628)
DISABILITY LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*635)
EDUCATION LAW & POLICY (2
UNITS) – (LAW*793)
ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE IN
THE 21
ST
CENTURY (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*691)
EMERGING DIGITAL
ENTERTAINMENT LAW (2
UNITS) – (LAW*615)
ENERGY LAW (2 UNITS) – (LAW*696)
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW & POLICY
(3 UNITS) – (LAW*704)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
48
ESTATE PLANNING SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*790)
EUROPEAN UNION LAW-
SEMINAR COURSE (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*769)
FOOD AND DRUG LAW SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*677)
HEALTH LAW & POLICY
CONCENTRATION SEMINAR
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*750)
IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
TOOLKIT: SKILLS &
STRATEGIES (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*732)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
CONCENTRATION SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*731)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
LICENSING SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*707)
INTERNATIONAL AND
COMPARATIVE HEALTH LAW (3
UNITS) – (LAW*567)
INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*786)
INTERNET LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*751)
JAPANESE LEGAL SYSTEM (2 UNITS)
– (LAW*754)
LAND USE REGULATION (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*758)
LAW & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE (2
UNITS) – (LAW*629)
MASS MEDIA LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*713)
ONLINE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (1
UNIT) – (LAW*655)
PATENT PROSECUTION SEMINAR 2
UNITS) – (LAW*712)
PROBLEM SOLVING, DECISION
MAKING AND PROFESSIONAL
JUDGMENT (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*888)
PUBLIC LAW AND POLICY
WORK GROUP (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*780)
REGULATING POLITICAL ACTIVITY
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*667)
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
SEMINAR (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*662)
SEXUALITY, GENDER AND
THE LAW (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*725)
SOCIOLOGY OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*794)
STRUCTURAL INEQUITIES AND
HEALTH (2 UNITS) – (LAW*645)
TAX CONCENTRATION SEMINAR
(2 UNITS – YEARLONG – (LAW*714)
TERRORISM AND THE LAW
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*746)
THE STORY OF CONSTITUTIONS (2
UNITS) – (LAW*650)
TRADEMARK PROSECUTION
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*737)
VOTING RIGHTS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*717)
WATER LAW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*617)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
49
WORK, LAW, AND LIFE SEMINAR (2
UNITS) – (LAW*654)
NON-GPA COURSES
Non-GPA courses emphasize skills, training, practice
and evaluation. They provide students an opportunity
to learn and develop practical skills in a variety of
areas. Grades assigned in non-GPA courses are not
calculated in students' grade point averages.
Non-GPA courses are limited in enrollment. Some are
designated mini courses. Mini courses are given one
unit of credit and meet in varying configurations
during the semester (e.g., every other week or for only
seven weeks). Check the course schedule for the exact
times and dates these courses meet.
ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH (3
UNITS) – (LAW*835)
ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING
& ANALYSIS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*848)
ADVANCED LEGAL WRITING:
WRITING FOR PRACTICE (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*822)
ADVANCED NEGOTIATION:
DEALMAKING (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*852)
APPELLATE ADVOCACY (2
UNITS) – (LAW*821)
BAR EXAM ESSAY &
PERFORMANCE TEST SERIES (1
UNIT) – YEARLONG – (LAW*817)
COLLOQUIUM ON RACE,
CITIZENSHIP AND EQUALITY (1
UNIT) – (LAW*853)
CONTRACT WRITING & ANALYSIS (2
OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*877)
CORPORATE DEFENSE PRACTICUM
(3 UNITS) – (LAW*855)
CRITICAL STUDIES I: WRITING (2
UNITS) – (LAW*861)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
50
CRITICAL STUDIES II: MULTISTATE
BAR EXAM (2 UNITS) – (LAW*805)
CRITICAL STUDIES III: EXTENDED
BAR REVIEW (3 UNITS) – (LAW*808)
CROSS-CULTURE NEGOTIATION (2
UNITS) – (LAW*865)
DRAFTING LEGISLATION (2 OR 3
UNITS) – (LAW*818)
EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION IN
MEDIATION (1 UNIT) – (LAW*849)
ESSENTIAL LAWYERING SKILLS
(1 UNIT) – (LAW*850)
FACILITATION FOR ATTORNEYS (1
UNIT) – (LAW*829)
FINANCIAL BASICS FOR
LAWYERS (2 UNITS) – (LAW*881)
IN-HOUSE LAWYERING: HEALTH
CARE (3 UNITS) – (LAW*847)
HEALTH LAW PRACTICE SKILLS (3
UNITS) – (LAW*810)
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE RULE OF
LAW IN HAITI (2 OR 3 UNITS) –
(LAW*874)
JUDICIAL OPINION WRITING
SEMINAR (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*876)
LAW, RACE & ECONOMIC JUSTICE
IN THE CITY (1 UNIT) – (LAW*823)
LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR LAWYERS
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*827)
LEGAL OPERATIONS FOR LAWYERS
(3 UNITS) – (LAW*809)
LEGAL TECH: BUILDING A STARTUP
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*813)
LIE DETECTION, EMOTIONS, AND
MINDFULNESS (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*882)
MEDIATION (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*802)
NEGOTIATION (3 UNITS) – (LAW*838)
NEGOTIATION & MEDIATION:
PROCESS & PRACTICE (3 TO 4
UNITS) – (LAW*837)
PRETRIAL PRACTICE (CIVIL) (2
UNITS) – (LAW*842)
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS (2
UNITS) – (LAW*875)
REBELLIOUS LAWYERING-
TRANSFORMING LEGAL
EDUCATION (2 UNITS) – (LAW*807)
SCIENTIST TO LAWYER (1 UNIT) –
(LAW 145)
SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYERING
CONCENTRATION CORE SEMINAR
PART 1 (1 UNIT) – (LAW*830)
SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYERING
CONCENTRATION CORE SEMINAR
PART 2 (1 UNIT) – (LAW*843)
TAKING AND DEFENDING
DEPOSITIONS (3 UNITS) – (LAW*895)
TRIAL ADVOCACY I (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*831)
TRIAL ADVOCACY I: COMP TEAM (2
UNITS) – (LAW*833)
TRIAL ADVOCACY II (CRIMINAL) (3
UNITS) – (LAW*832)
TRIAL ADVOCACY II: COMP TEAM (2
UNITS) – (LAW*834)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
51
TRIAL OBJECTIONS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*804)
CLINICS & EXTERNSHIPS
Students must be in good academic standing (2.5
GPA) to enroll in a clinic or externship. All clinical
and externship courses consist of a classroom
component and a fieldwork component. The
fieldwork units count against the 20-unit cap for
“non-classroom” work. See Academic Regulation
1203 for JD students and the analogous provision for
MSL students. Classroom components of clinics are
letter-graded, but do not count toward GPA.
The most complete and up-to-d
ate information for
students about clinics and externship courses is
available at the Clinical Programs Sharknet page.
Each clinic has a page listing its instructor(s),
describing its classroom and fieldwork components,
pre-/co-requisites, eligible students, number of units,
how to apply, and whom to contact for questions.
Many of our clinics participate in an online Common
Clinic Application process. For Spring clinics, the
application process runs in October; for Fall Clinics it
runs in April.
Students in their fourth, fifth or sixth semesters who
are interested in a legal or judicial externship must
obtain prior approval to enroll from Professor Nira
Geevargis in the Externships Programs Office, 333
Golden Gate Avenue, Rooms 401 & 402,
geevargis@uchastings.edu.
Enrolling in a clinic or externship program from
abroad is possible but can be more complicated than
enrolling in a regular course. Students who will study
abroad during the fall semester and are planning on
enrolling in an externship program for the succeeding
spring semester should meet with Professor Nira
Geevargis to discuss the pre-requisites and the details
about enrolling.
Students who will study abroad during the fall
semester and are planning on enrolling in a clinic for
the succeeding spring semester should email or visit
Associate Dean Gail Silverstein, 333 Golden Gate
Avenue, Room 417, silverst@uchastings.edu,
to
discuss the details about enrolling.
BUSINESS TAX PRACTICUM (1 UNIT)
– (LAW*845)
BUSINESS TAX PRACTICUM
FIELDWORK (2 UNITS) – (LAW*999)
CHILD WELFARE PRACTICUM (2
UNITS) – (LAW*858)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
52
CHILD WELFARE PRACTICUM
FIELDWORK (4-5 UNITS) –
(LAW*920)
COMMUNITY GROUP ADVOCACY
AND SOCIAL CHANGE LAWYERING
CLINIC (4 UNITS) – (LAW*929)
COMMUNITY GROUP
ADVOCACY CLINIC
FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*930)
CRIMINAL PRACTICE CLINIC (4
UNITS) – (LAW*910)
CRIMINAL PRACTICE CLINIC
FIELDWORK (8 UNITS) – (LAW*911)
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLINIC (2
UNITS) – (LAW*913)
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CLINIC
FIELDWORK (4-5 UNITS) –
(LAW*914)
IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CLINIC (2
UNITS) – (LAW*907)
IMMIGRANTS' RIGHTS CLINIC
FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*908)
INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION
CLINIC (4 UNITS) – (LAW*902)
INDIVIDUAL REPRESENTATION
CLINIC FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*903)
LAWYERING FOR CHILDREN &
OTHER VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS PRACTICUM (2
UNITS) – (LAW*986)
LAWYERING FOR CHILDREN
& OTHER VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS FIELDWORK
(4 UNITS) – (LAW*987)
LEGISLATION CLINIC FWK (6, 8,
OR 10 UNITS) – (LAW*923)
GOVERNMENT LAW CLINIC (3-5
UNITS FWK) – (LAW*919)
GOVERNMENT LAWYER (2 UNITS)
– (LAW*819)
LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER CLINIC
(1 OR 3 UNITS) – (LAW*960)
LOW-INCOME TAXPAYER
CLINIC FIELDW ORK (3 OR 4
UNITS) – (LAW*961)
MEDIATION CLINIC (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*925)
MEDIATION CLINIC FIELDWORK (2
UNITS) – (LAW*926)
MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP
FOR SENIORS (4 UNITS) –
(LAW*935)
MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIP
FOR SENIORS FIELDWORK (3
UNITS) – (LAW*936)
REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
CLINIC (3 UNITS) – (LAW*931)
REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
CLINIC FIELDWORK (5 UNITS) –
(LAW*932)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
53
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT CLINIC (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*996)
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE & ECONOMIC
EMPOWERMENT CLINIC
FIELDWORK (4 UNITS) – (LAW*997)
WORKERS' RIGHTS CLINIC (1 UNIT)
– (LAW*921)
WORKERS’ RIGHTS CLINIC
FIELDWORK (2 UNITS) – (LAW*922)
EXTERNSHIPS
CORPORATE COUNSEL EXTERNSHIP
CLASS COMPONENT (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*904)
CORPORATE COUNSEL
EXTERNSHIP FIELDWORK (4-5
UNITS) – (LAW*905)
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP:
CLASS COMPONENT (1 UNIT)
– (LAW*899)
JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIP
FIELDWORK (3-9 UNITS) –
(LAW*940)
There are no pre/co-requisites for a judicial externship.
Students can find a list of recommended courses on
Sharknet.
LAW AND LAWYERING IN OUR
NATION’S CAPITAL (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*924)
LAW & LAWYERING IN THE
NATION’S CAPITAL (3
UNITS) – (LAW*909)
LAW & LAWYERING IN THE
NATION'S CAPITAL
FIELDWORK (3-5 or 10
UNITS) – (LAW*937)
LEGAL EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM
(1 UNIT) – (LAW*933)
LEGAL EXTERNSHIP FIELDWORK
(3-5 UNITS) – (LAW*934)
ADVANCED LEGAL EXTERNSHIP
FIELDWORK (3-5 UNITS) –
(LAW*950)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
54
OTHER PROGRAMS
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION BOARD (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*974)
CLIENT COUNSELING TEAM (1 TO 2
UNITS) – (LAW*978)
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE: PATENT
(2 UNITS) – (LAW*992)
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE: PATENT
FIELD WORK (3 UNITS) – YEARLONG
– (LAW*993)
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE:
CORPORATE (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*994)
STARTUP LEGAL GARAGE:
CORPORATE FIELDWORK
(2 UNITS) – YEARLONG –
(LAW*995)
LAWYERS FOR AMERICA
Lawyers for America (“LfA”) is a two-year fellowship
program, designed to meet the growing demand for
study that integrates doctrinal and practical
knowledge, improve employment prospects for law
graduates, and close the justice gap. The training (3L)
year of LfA is comprised of both a fieldwork
component and a classroom component. The fieldwork
component consists of a closely supervised full-
academic-year externship for which fellows receive a
total of 12-16 units. The classroom component
consists of 4 units of relevant course work taken
during the year and selected in consultation with the
LfA Academic Director. After completing their 3L
year, fellows take the summer off to study for and take
the California Bar. They then return to the same LfA
placement sites for a post-graduate service year, where
they continue to work, earning a stipend. Placements
are in a variety of civil and criminal, non-profit and
government, law offices. Students apply to LfA during
their 4
th
semester and are selected by individual
placements before registration for 5th semester
classes.
LAWYERS FOR AMERICA FWK
(6-8 UNITS/SEMESTER) –
YEARLONG – (LAW*966)
Satisfies Experiential Learning requirement.
Open to 5th and 6th semester students selected
for enrollment during their 2L year.
This course includes carefully supervised practice
experience in the specific law office for which the
student was selected. Students will work an average
minimum of 24-32 hours per week, depending on
number of academic units. Fellows will be immersed
in the work of their placement offices, perform a
variety of lawyering tasks, and will be afforded both
training and observation opportunities.
SCHOLARLY PUBLICATIONS (UP TO
2 UNITS)
A number of second- and third-year students are
selected to participate for credit on one of the
following student-edited scholarly publications at UC
Law SF:
UC Law Business Journal
UC Law SF Communications and Entertainment
Journal
UC Law Constitutional Quarterly
UC Law Environmental Journal
UC Law SF Journal on Gender and Justice
UC Law SF International Law Review
UC Law Journal
UC Law Journal of Race and Economic Poverty
UC Law Science and Technology Journal
Each publication's board of editors selects solicited
and unsolicited articles. Second- year members work
on source pulls and citation checks and write student
notes, usually under the guidance of third-year student
mentors.
First-year students who are interested in becoming a
member of a journal during their second year must
enter the Inter-Journal Writing Competition, which
begins immediately after spring semester finals and
ends about 12 days later. The competition is
administered by the college’s O’Brien Center for
Scholarly Publications, which provides all materials
necessary for completion of the competition. Each of
the journals’ editors use base guidelines for the
evaluation of writing competition entries as well as
other criteria particular to each journal.
For sample copies of the journals and more
information about the journals themselves, visit the
UC Law SF Scholarship Repository at
https://repository.uchastings.edu/journals.html or
contact the O’Brien Center for Scholarly
publications at scholarp@uchastings.edu.
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
BOARD – MOOT COURT (LAW*971)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
55
(1-unit fall; 1-unit spring)
Third-year students who successfully complete
Appellate Advocacy are invited to apply for
membership on the Interscholastic Competition Board
- Moot Court. Board Members serve as student
coaches for interscholastic competition teams,
organize and supervise competitions, and offer
individual assistance to moot court team
members. Board Members conduct oral arguments
and videotape practices for students, proofread and
edit Moot Court briefs, and provide guidance to their
teams on the competition topic and relative to the
law. Board Members give advice on citation format,
persuasive writing, and the development of student
work. Board Members attend regular meetings with
Faculty or Alumni Coaches and the Moot Court
Director to improve their teaching skills, editing and
conference techniques. Board Members may earn a
total of two units during their third year. Credit
earned under this section is distinct from credit
earned for service as a Teaching Assistant under
section 2875-2880.
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
– MOOT COURT (2 UNITS UPON
COMPLETION OF
COMPETITION) – (LAW*973)
UC Law SF has one of the most successful Moot
Court Competition programs in the United States. UC
Law SF students win National Championship awards,
Best Brief awards, Best Oral Advocate awards, and
many other honors each year in competitions held
throughout the nation on a variety of topics.
Competition students participate on a team as oral
advocates and/or brief editors. The students write an
appellate brief and prepare to argue both sides of the
case during oral arguments. They participate in 20-
25 formal oral argument practices that are judged by
students, faculty, and practitioner panels.
Competitors prepare for tournaments which are
sponsored by law schools, bar associations,
courts, and institutes.
Tryouts for the competition teams are held in
April and are open to all UC Law SF students.
Each applicant prepares a five-minute oral
argument from a brief utilized in a competition
that year, submits a résumé and a short writing
sample, and participates in an informational
interview with the competition selection
committee. The teams for the upcoming year are
announced at the Moot Court Awards Ceremony
held in April of each year.
Competition students receive two units of
academic credit for each competition as well as
personalized, individual support and guidance to
maximize their learning and performance in the
competition subject area and in written and oral
appellate argument. All team members are
required to successfully complete Appellate
Advocacy.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
56
INTERCOLLEGIATE ADR
COMPETITION (1 OR 2 UNITS) –
(LAW*977)
Only if 2 units are received in the same term.
Since its formation in 2000, the UC Law SF
Negotiation Team has successfully competed in
national and international negotiation and
mediation competitions. Students participate in
two-member teams negotiating deals and settling
disputes arising in a variety of factual and legal
contexts. The competitions are held in-person or
online using specialized web-based technology. In
participating on the Team, students receive
individual support, coaching and mentoring
designed to maximize competitive performance, to
increase understanding of legal problems and their
practical implications, and to develop problem-
solving skills.
UC Law SF pays for the travel costs (including
meals and lodging) to in-person competitions.
Students who win regional events also compete at
national final rounds.
The tryout for the Team is an In-School
Competition held in late September or early
October. The In- School Competition is open to
all UC Law SF students and consists of two
rounds of negotiation and mediation. It is judged
by panels of mediators, local practitioners,
coaches and experienced team members using
competition standards. To prepare interested
students for the In-School Competition, a month
of weekly coached practices is offered during
September.
Team members receive one unit of credit for each
semester in which they participate in an outside
competition.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 required for
enrollment.
INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
BOARD – ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
RESOLUTION – (LAW*974)
ADR Board members work as Teaching Assistants
for the ADR Competition Team throughout the
school year. Board members assist with the
development of new and prospective Team members
by helping then prepare for negotiation and mediation
practice sessions, and conducting instructional
sessions in Problem Analysis, Making Opening
Statements, Listening, Questioning & Reframing, ad
Self-Evaluation. They judge practice sessions,
proofread and edit negotiation planning documents,
provide written and oral guidance to their advisees on
the topic of practice negotiations and the law
pertaining to these simulations, conduct video
practice sessions, lead debriefing sessions and
provide individual feedback deigned to develop their
negotiation skills, problem-solving ability and
experience in then competition environment. Board
Members also attend regular meetings with the Team
coaches and the Director of the Center for
Negotiation & Dispute Resolution to improve their
teaching skills, and feedback and mentoring
techniques. Board members recruit new Team
members. They organize and manage the logistics
for practice and teaching sessions. They maintain the
Teams’ website to provide participants with the
Team’s calendar, assigned roles for practice sessions
competition links, reading materials, and other
information. They assist in the organization of the
annual In-School Competition, the qualifying event
for membership on the Team.
INTERCOLLEGIATE TRIAL
TEAM COMPETITIONS (2 UNITS
PER SEMESTER) – (LAW*979)
UC Law SF has a nationally recognized Trial Team,
which competes against other law schools around the
country in various mock trial competitions sponsored
by law schools, bar associations, and legal
organizations. The competitions involve both civil and
criminal topics, and members of the team compete in
at least one tournament a semester.
A tournament team usually is composed of four
students, two of whom represent the plaintiff or
prosecution side of the topic and two of whom
represent the defense. Students will give either an
opening or closing statement, and will be responsible
for conducting at least one direct and one cross
examination. In addition, students will present and
argue motions in limine before the trial begins. When
one side is acting as lawyers, the other two students
act as witnesses for their colleagues. A competition
usually entails two or three preliminary rounds, which
average about three hours in length. Most tournaments
then have a semi-final and final round to determine the
champion.
Fact patterns and trial materials for a given
competition are distributed about seven weeks before
the competition. Students work with the coaches,
alumni, their individual team members and the Trial
Team as a whole to prepare for the competition, and
will participate in numerous practice trials in the
weeks leading up to the competition.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
57
Hastings pays for the travel costs (including meals and
lodging) for the students participating in the
tournaments. Tryouts for the team are held in April,
and are open to all UC Law SF students. A student
trying out for the team is given a fact pattern from a
past tournament and is asked to give a closing
statement and conduct a short cross examination of
one of the witnesses. The student also participates in a
short informational interview with the selection
committee.
Trial Team members receive two units of academic
credit each semester, and receive intense training in
evidence, trial advocacy and trial ethics. Students can
expect to leave the Trial Team with a complete
command of the nature and nuances of trial
preparation and courtroom advocacy.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 required for
enrollment.
LAW STUDENT TAX CHALLENGE
(1-2 UNITS) – (LAW*951)
The ABA Section of Taxation Law Student Tax
Challenge (the "LSTC") is an annual inter-law school
transactional tax planning and client counseling
competition. The LSTC is designed to focus on the
tax consequences of a complex business-planning
problem and is intended to provide law students with
the opportunity to research "real-life" tax planning
issues and to demonstrate their acquired tax
knowledge, through their writing and oratory skills.
Students earn one unit for participating in the written
portion of the competition, which occurs in the Fall
semester and requires the preparation and submission
of a longer partner memo and a shorter client memo.
Student teams that advance to the semi-final round
provide an oral defense of their work product at the
ABA Section of Taxation Midyear Meeting, which
occurs in January; for participating in the oral portion
of the competition, students earn one additional unit,
which is awarded in the Spring semester. Student
teams are selected by the tax faculty. Interested
students should contact the advisor for the tax
concentration for more information about the
selection process. Only if 2 units are received.
Minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8 required for
enrollment.
INDEPENDENT STUDY
Second and third year JD students, LL.M students,
and MSL students may earn a maximum of two units
of credit for a single independent study project. No
student may enroll in more than two independent
study projects during his or her law school career. To
enroll in an independent study, the student should
develop a topic under the supervision of a full-time
faculty member and then submit a petition to the
Registrar’s Office describing the proposed project.
Grades received for independent study are not
considered in calculating the JD student's cumulative
GPA. With the supervising faculty member’s
approval, a 2-unit independent study may satisfy the
College’s writing requirement. No independent study
credit will be awarded if the student receives monetary
compensation or other academic credit for the project.
Students who wish to be supervised by an adjunct
faculty member need to obtain permission of the Dean
of Students in order to participate in an independent
study project.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
58
STUDY ABROAD/EXCHANGE
OPPORTUNITIES
Educational Objectives
Our objective in sending students for foreign
study is to increase their understanding of foreign
law and to provide them with the information,
skills, and experience to work more effectively as
attorneys in a global legal environment. Many of
our foreign study programs offer a concentration
in a specialized field of law. A student may
receive up to 12 credits towards the UC Law SF
J.D. degree for courses completed as a part of one
of these semester-long programs. Minimum GPA
requirements for one semester programs are
posted on the Study Abroad page on Sharknet
.
Dual J.D./LL.M. Degree Programs
With approval of the Dean of Students and Global
Programs Committee, a student who earns an
LL.M. degree from a foreign law school as a result
of participation in an official UC Law SF dual
degree program may transfer to UC Law SF a
maximum of 24 credits from that LL.M. program
(see Academic Regs. 2208). Minimum GPA
requirements for the dual degree programs are
posted on the Study Abroad Intranet page.
UC Law SF has two official dual degree programs
with foreign partners: SOAS and Paris II. A
student must indicate an intention to enroll in the
full-year LL.M. degree at the time of application to
the exchange program and must have completed
62 credits and four full semesters in residency at
UC Law SF by the start of the LL.M program. If
for any reason a student is unable to complete the
full-year LL.M. curriculum, the student may apply
to the Associate Dean of Global Programs for
permission to receive up to a maximum of 12
credits for completing a half- year of the program.
However, a student who does not complete the
joint degree program is not guaranteed any credits.
Students participating in a dual degree program
should be aware that due to differences in the
academic calendar for the LL.M. programs, the
UC Law SF graduation may be delayed by one
semester. This can also delay eligibility for taking
the bar examination.
PROGRAMS
Argentina – Austral University, Buenos Aires –
Latin American Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at Austral. Spanish fluency
is required. Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for
the semester. For more information, see
http://www.austral.edu.ar/international.
Australia – University of New South Wales,
Sydney – Law
Students may spend the spring semester during their
2L or 3L years at UNSW. Tuition is paid directly to
UC Law SF for the semester. For more information,
see https://www.international.unsw.edu.au/study-
abroad-at-unsw.
China – Peking University Law School, Beijing –
Chinese Law
Students may spend fall or spring semesters during
their second or third years at Peking University.
Courses are taught in English. However, some
Mandarin proficiency is recommended. Tuition is
paid directly to UC Law SF for the semester. For
more information, see
http://www.isd.pku.edu.cn/HOME.htm.
China – Shanghai Jiaotong University KoGuan
Law School -- Chinese Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at Shanghai Jiaotong
University. Courses are taught in English. However,
some Mandarin proficiency is recommended. Tuition
is paid directly to UC Law SF for the semester. For
more information, see
http://law.sjtu.edu.cn/International/Article120501.asp
x.
Denmark – University of Copenhagen – European
Union Law
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at the University of
Copenhagen studying the law of the European Union.
The program is taught entirely in English and includes
students from all the European Union countries.
Tuition is paid to UC Law SF for the semester. For
more information, see jura.ku.dk/english/.
France—University of Paris, II (Université
Panthéon-Assas Paris II) – Joint J.D./LL.M. –
European Law
Students may complete a one-year LL.M. degree
European Law in their third year of study. Courses
are taught in English. Tuition is paid directly to
UC Law SF for the year. For more information, see
http://college-europeen-paris.u-
paris2.fr/13549312/1/fichepagelibre.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
59
Germany – Bucerius Law School, Hamburg –
International Business Law
Students may spend fall semester during their
second or third years at Bucerius. Courses are
taught in English. Law courses taught in German
also are available to those fluent in German.
Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for the
semester. For more information, see
https://www.law- school.de/international/.
Germany – Freie University, Berlin –
E.U. Business Law
Students may spend spring semester during their
second or third years at Freie University. Courses
are taught in German, and German fluency is
required.
Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for the
semester. For more information, see
https://www.fu-
berlin.de/en/studium/international/studium_fu/ausla
n dssemester/direktaustausch_in/index.html.
Israel – Tel Aviv University– Law
Students may spend the fall or spring semester
during their second or third years at Tel Aviv
University.
Courses are taught in English. Tuition is paid
directly to UC Law SF for the semester. For more
information, see https://en-
law.tau.ac.il/TAU_Law_Exchange_Program.
Italy – Bocconi University, Milan –
International Business Law
Students may spend the fall or spring semester
during their second or third years at Bocconi.
Courses are taught in English. Tuition is paid
directly to UC Law SF for the semester. For more
information, see
https://
www.unibocconi.eu/wps/wcm/connect/Boc
co
ni/SitoPubblico_EN/Navigation+Tree/Home/Cam
pus
+and+Services/Services/International+Relations/E
xc hange+Program_Bracco+2010+07+28+03+31.
Italy – The International University College
of Turin – Political Economy and Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at IUC Turin studying
Law and Globalization. Courses are offered in
English.
Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for the
semester. For more information, see
http://www.iuctorino.it/studies/.
Japan – Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo –
Graduate School of International
Corporate Strategy
Students may spend fall semester during their
second or third years studying business law at
Hitotsubashi University- Graduate School of
International Corporate Strategy. Courses are
taught in English.
Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for the
semester. For more information, see:
http://international.hit-
u.ac.jp/en/index.html
Japan – Waseda University, Tokyo – Law
Students may spend the fall semester during their
second or third years at Waseda. Courses are taught
in English. Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for
the semester. For more information, see
https://www.waseda.jp/folaw/gwls/en/.
Korea –Yonsei University, Seoul – Law
Students may spend fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at Yonsei University Law
School. Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for the
semester. For more information, see
https://oia.yonsei.ac.kr/intstd/exOver.asp
The Netherlands – Leiden University –
International or E.U. Law
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at Leiden studying the law
of the European Union. Leiden, the Netherlands’
oldest and most famous university, is located in the
heart of Europe and only a short train ride from
Amsterdam and The Hague, where the International
Criminal Court and the World Court sit. The program
is in English and includes students from other E.U.
member countries. Tuition is paid to UC Law SF for
the semester. Currently, students may not use federal
loans to finance a semester abroad at Leiden. For
more information, see
https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/other-
modes-of-study/exchange.
Spain – IE (Instituto de Empresa) Law School,
Madrid – International Business Law
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during
their second or third years at IE studying international
business law. Courses may be taken in English or in
Spanish at the law school and the business faculty.
Students should have a demonstrated interest in
international business law.
Tuition is paid directly to UC Law SF for
the semester. For more information, see
https://www.ie.edu/law-school/.
Taiwan, Taipei – College of Law at National
Taiwan University
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
60
Students may spend a fall or spring semester during
their second or third years studying at the NTU
College of Law. Tuition is paid directly to UC Law
SF. For more information, see
http://www.law.ntu.edu.tw/index.php/eng
United Kingdom – The School of Oriental and
African Studies Law Faculty at the University of
London – LL.M in Law and Development
Students may complete a one-year LL.M. degree
in Law and Development in their third year of
study. Courses are taught in English. Tuition is
paid directly to UC Law SF. Students may be
responsible for SOAS tuition costs that exceed
their UC Law SF tuition. For more information,
see https://www.soas.ac.uk/law/.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Students who are interested in any of the
programs must apply during February of their
first or second year at UC Law SF. The Global
Programs Committee considers a variety of
factors in reviewing study abroad applications,
including academic performance, relevant
experience, demonstrated interests that align with
the program, the student’s personal statement, the
extent to which study abroad would advance the
student’s academic and professional goals,
whether study abroad would contribute to or
detract from the student’s academic progress and
bar preparation, the Committee’s level of
confidence that the student will represent UC
Law SF professionally, professionalism of the
application and, if requested by the Committee,
an interview.
The deadline for applying is the first week of
February for programs the following academic
year. Upon acceptance, participants will be asked
to sign a Study Abroad Participation Agreement
and a release and make a non-refundable deposit
of $500.
JOINT & CONCURRENT
DEGREE PROGRAMS
Students may participate in a joint degree program
between UC Law SF and another graduate school
in a law-related discipline. To be eligible for the
joint degree program, students must successfully
complete the first-year UC Law SF curriculum
before beginning course work at another
institution. Students who wish to pursue the joint
degree program must submit a request for
approval form (available in the Registrar’s Office),
a written statement of objectives, and a proposed
curriculum to the Dean of Students. A maximum
of 12 units may be transferred to UC Law SF from
a joint degree program.
LL.M. PROGRAM
The LL.M. (Master of Laws) Program in U.S. Legal
Studies is a one-year program open to students who
hold a law degree from a faculty of law located outside
the United States. The purpose of the program is to
give foreign law students and legal professionals an
opportunity to expand their knowledge of the U.S.
legal system, build practice skills, and undertake an
innovative and interdisciplinary approach to the study
of law in one of the most vibrant business and
technology centers in the United States.
LL.M. candidates will be required to complete 24
credit hours of classes, including Introduction to
United States Legal Systems, Legal Writing &
Research for Masters Students, Introduction to Law
for Masters Students, and one first-year course. Most
classes will be held with J.D. candidates and Master
of Studies in Law candidates.
Interested persons holding a law degree from a
foreign law faculty should contact Global Programs
directly. This program is not open to J.D. candidates
or to anyone holding a J.D. from a law school in the
United States.
LL.M. SPECIALIZATIONS AND PRACTICE
TRAINING TRACK
LL.M. students may choose to specialize in one of
eight fields, including Criminal Law, Dispute
Resolution and Legal Process, Environmental Law,
Health Law and Policy, International Business and
Trade, International Law and Human Rights, Science,
Technology & Intellectual Property, or Taxation.
LL.M. students who pursue a specialization must earn
at least 12 credits of qualifying courses in their
chosen specialization and will receive a Certificate of
Specialization at graduation.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
61
LLM. students may also choose to complete a
Practice Training Track to develop basic lawyering
skills in a field of interest to them. LL.M. students
who pursue this track must earn a minimum of six
credits in experiential learning courses. The six
credits of experiential learning courses must include
at least one legal clinic or the Start-up Legal Garage.
LL.M. students who complete these requirements will
receive a Practice Training Certificate at graduation.
Students interested in pursuing a specialization or
the Practice Training Track should consult with the
Associate Dean for Global Programs for a list of
qualifying courses.
LL.M students must take the following required
courses:
INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES
LEGAL SYSTEMS (LL.M.
ORIENTATION) (1 UNIT) – (LAW*161)
LEGAL WRITING & RESEARCH FOR
MASTERS STUDENTS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*132)
INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*162)
FUNDAMENTALS OF REMEDIES (1
UNIT) – (LAW*258)
FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE (1 UNIT) – (LAW*262)
MASTER OF STUDIES IN LAW
(MSL) PROGRAM
The Master of Studies in Law (MSL) program is a
program for individuals who do not seek to practice
law but who instead want to gain a fundamental
understanding of the law and the legal system. The
MSL is designed to help non-lawyers be more
effective and successful in their chosen fields,
equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills to
evaluate issues from a legal perspective and work with
lawyers and legal concepts. The program is designed
to allow students flexibility in choosing coursework
that meets their individual interests and professional
needs. MSL candidates are required to complete a total
of 24 units, which includes both required and elective
coursework.
The MSL program is not open to individuals who have
completed a JD program. In addition, under American
Bar Association rules, MSL candidates may not apply
units taken in the MSL program toward a JD degree.
MSL students must take the following required
courses:
•
Introduction to Law (3 units)
•
Legal Research & Writing for
Masters Students (2 units)
•
Legal Research for Non-Lawyers (1 unit)
•
One foundational course (agreed with
MSL Associate Dean/faculty advisor) in
their area of interest
•
Writing requirement (via a seminar
or independent study)
INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*162)
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING FOR
MASTERS STUDENTS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*132)
LEGAL RESEARCH FOR
NON- LAWYERS (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*841)
In addition, MSL students are strongly encouraged to
enroll in the one-unit Introduction to US Legal
Systems course offered for masters students during the
August orientation period before classes begin.
INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES
LEGAL SYSTEMS (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*161)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
62
Two other electives are only available to MSL and
CSL students:
MSL WRITING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*604)
FOUNDATIONS OF CONTRACT AND
PROPERTY LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*256)
Four asynchronous electives are only available to
MSL, CSL, and LLM students.
MSL/CSL ESSENTIALS (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*163)
FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE (1 UNIT) – (LAW*262)
FUNDAMENTALS OF REMEDIES (1
UNIT) – (LAW*258)
FUNDAMENTALS OF TORTS (1 UNIT)
– (LAW*259)
CERTIFICATE OF STUDIES IN
LAW (CSL)
The Certificate of Studies in Law (CSL) is designed
for individuals who find themselves interacting with
the law and want a quick yet intensive introduction to
legal reasoning and understanding. Through this
certificate program, students gain an understanding of
legal issues and doctrines that affect their work. CSL
candidates are required to complete a total of 12 units,
which includes both required and elective coursework.
The CSL program is not open to individuals who
have completed a JD program. In addition, CSL
students may not apply units taken in the CSL
program toward a JD degree.
Students who wish to continue their studies after
completing the CSL may be eligible to transfer to
the MSL program and apply credits earned toward
the CSL.
CSL students must take the following required
courses:
•
Introduction to Law (3 units)
•
Legal Research & Writing for
Masters Students (2 units)
•
Legal Research for Non-Lawyers (1 unit)
INTRODUCTION TO LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*162)
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING FOR
MASTERS STUDENTS (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*132)
LEGAL RESEARCH FOR
NON- LAWYERS (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*841)
CSL students are also strongly encouraged to enroll in
the one-unit Introduction to US Legal Systems course
offered for masters students during the August
orientation period before classes begin:
INTRODUCTION TO UNITED STATES
LEGAL SYSTEMS (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*161)
Two other electives are only available to MSL and
CSL students:
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
63
MSL WRITING SEMINAR (2 UNITS) –
(LAW*604)
FOUNDATIONS OF CONTRACT AND
PROPERTY LAW (3 UNITS) –
(LAW*256)
Four asynchronous electives are only available to
MSL, CSL, and LLM students.
MSL/CSL ESSENTIALS (1 UNIT) –
(LAW*163)
FUNDAMENTALS OF CIVIL
PROCEDURE (1 UNIT) – (LAW*262)
FUNDAMENTALS OF REMEDIES (1
UNIT) – (LAW*258)
FUNDAMENTALS OF TORTS (1 UNIT)
– (LAW*259)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
64
HEALTH POLICY AND LAW
(HPL) PROGRAM
The Master of Science in Health Policy and Law
(HPL) degree is jointly conferred by UCSF and UC
Law SF Law and provides students with the
knowledge, skills, and network needed to effect
positive change in health care.
Designed for working professionals with part and full-
time enrollment options, this program introduces
students to health care policymaking, health law,
health economics, leadership and advocacy and more.
The HPL program was designed and is taught by
faculty from both UCSF and UC Law SF, bringing the
brightest minds in the health and legal fields to the
curriculum.
The 24-unit program is taught in an online and
asynchronous format, with three mandatory in-person
convenings each year. The coursework consists of all
required courses (no electives). The courses have been
carefully selected and integrated to give students broad
and deep exposure to key multidisciplinary knowledge
and skills required for leadership in the field.
HPL courses are only open to admitted and enrolled
HPL students.
HPL students must take all of the following required
courses and will be automatically enrolled each
semester:
INTRODUCTION TO U.S. HEALTH
POLICYMAKING (2 UNITS) –
(HPL*064)
HOW TO EVALUATE POLICY-
RELEVANT RESEARCH (2 UNITS) –
(HPL*062)
U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND
THE LAW (4 UNITS) – (HPL*066)
HEALTH ECONOMICS (3 UNITS) –
(HPL*070)
HEALTH POLICY & LAW SEMINAR:
CAPSTONE PROPOSAL (1 UNIT) –
(HPL*068)
HEALTH POLICY & LAW SEMINAR:
CAPSTONE EXECUTION (3 UNITS) –
(HPL*076)
HEALTH POLICY & LAW RESEARCH
AND WRITING (3 UNITS) – (HPL*060)
HEALTH LAW: INSTITUTIONS,
PROVIDERS, AND PATIENTS (4
UNITS) – (HPL*072)
HEALTH CARE LEADERSHIP &
ADVOCACY (2 UNITS) – (HPL*074)
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
65
BAR EXAMINATION AND
ADMISSION
REQUIREMENTS
For information regarding the California Bar
Examination and the College’s bar exam prep
resources, please visit the UC Law SF Bar Passage
Support page on Sharknet. For information on UC
Law SF courses that cover bar tested subjects,
please review the list of
Courses that Cover Bar
Tested Subjects and Skills.
The following information provides an overview
of the Multistate Bar Examination and the bar
examination and state bar admission requirements
for California, Hawaii, and New York.
Information on the Uniform Bar Examination is
also included below.
MULTISTATE BAR
EXAMINATION (MBE)
The majority of states include the Multistate Bar
Examination (MBE) as a component of their
examination. The MBE is a six-hour test and consists
of 200 multiple choice questions from the following
subjects:
Constitutional Law
Contracts/Sales
Criminal Law and Procedure
Evidence
Federal Civil Procedure
Real Property
Torts
Each of these subjects is presently offered at UC Law
SF. As used by the National Conference of Bar
Examiners, however, Criminal Law includes
Criminal Procedure, Real Property includes Future
Interests, and Contracts includes Article 2, Revised
Article 1, and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial
Code (general coverage of those articles is available
in the first year Contracts course and the Sales and
Leases of Goods course).
CALIFORNIA
California Bar Examination Components
The California Bar Examination is a two-day exam
and includes five essay questions, one 90-minute PT,
and the MBE. The California Bar Examination is
administered twice a year, in February and July. The
bar exam application is made available to first time
examinees approximately five months prior to the
exam.
1)
Multistate Bar Examination
2)
Essay Subjects
•
Business Associations (Corporations,
partnerships, limited liability entities, related
agency principles and uniform acts)
•
Civil Procedure (Federal and California)
•
Community Property
•
Contracts/Sales
•
Constitutional Law
•
Criminal Law/Procedure
•
Evidence (Federal and California)
•
Professional Responsibility
•
Real Property
•
Remedies
•
Torts
•
Wills and Trusts
3)
Performance Test
The PT is a “closed universe” exam and is
designed to evaluate the examinee’s ability to
handle a select number of legal authorities in the
context of a factual problem.
MPRE Requirement
A scaled score of 86 on the Multistate Professional
Responsibility Exam is required for admission.
Visit www.ncbex.org for information on MPRE
dates, filing deadlines, and application fees. The
MPRE is administered three times each year; in
March, August, and November. Students are
eligible to take this test during their second or
third year. The UC Law SF courses entitled
Professional Responsibility, Legal Ethics, Legal
Ethics: Law & Process, and Roles & Ethics
approximate the subject matter of the MPRE.
Successful completion of a Professional
Responsibility or Ethics course is required for
graduation. Students are encouraged to take the
MPRE in their second year if they have taken a
Professional Responsibility or an Ethics course
and have time to study.
Admission Requirements
For a summary of all admission requirements,
information on the moral character application,
and information on filing deadlines and fees,
please visit http://admissions.calbar.ca.gov/
or
contact the Office of Admissions in San Francisco
at (415) 538-2300.
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
66
HAWAII
Hawaii Bar Examination Components
The Hawaii Bar Examination is a two-day exam
that consists of the Multistate Bar Examination, the
Multistate Essay Examination, which includes six
30- minute questions, the Multistate Performance
Test, and the Hawaii Legal Ethics Examination.
1)
Multistate Bar Examination
2)
Multistate Essay Examination Subjects
•
Business Associations (Agency and
Partnership; Corporations and
Limited Liability Companies)
•
Civil Procedure
•
Conflict of Laws
•
Constitutional Law
•
Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the
Uniform Commercial Code)
•
Criminal Law and Procedure
•
Evidence
•
Family Law
•
Real Property
•
Torts
•
Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates;
Trusts and Future Interests)
•
Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the
Uniform Commercial Code.
Special note, unless an essay question expressly asks
for Hawaii Law, the question should be answered
according to legal theories and principles of general
application.
3)
Multistate Performance Test
The MPT consists of two 90 minute “closed
universe” practical problems. To answer the
problems, examinees use the instructions, factual
data, cases, statutes and other reference material
supplied by examiners.
4)
Hawaii Legal Ethics Examination
The Hawaii Legal Ethics Examination consists of 15
multiple-choice questions and is based on the Hawaii
Rules of Professional Conduct (HRPC).
MPRE Requirement
The MPRE must be taken and passed not earlier than
two years before or officially reported to the Board
no later than one year after the date of notification of
passing the Hawaii Bar Examination. A scaled score
of 85 on the MPRE is required.
Admission Requirements
For complete information on admission requirements
and important filing and fee information, please visit
http://www.courts.state.hi.us/legal
_references/bar_application or contact the Board of
Examiners Office at (808) 539-4977
NEW YORK
New York Bar Examination Components
The New York State Board of Law Examiners now
uses the Uniform Bar Examination (UBE).
1)
Multistate Bar Examination
2)
Multistate Essay Examination Subjects:
•
Business Associations (Agency and
Partnership; Corporations and Limited
Liability Companies)
•
Civil Procedure
•
Conflict of Laws
•
Constitutional Law
•
Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the
Uniform Commercial Code)
•
Criminal Law and Procedure
•
Evidence
•
Family Law
•
Real Property
•
Torts
•
Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates;
Trusts and Future Interests)
•
Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the
Uniform Commercial Code.
3)
Multistate Performance Test
The MPT consists of two 90 minute “closed
universe” practical problems. To answer the
problems, examinees use the instructions, factual
data, cases, statutes and other reference material
supplied by examiners.
4)
Multistate Performance Test
The MPT consists of two 90 minute “closed
universe” practical problems. To answer the
problems, examinees use the instructions, factual
data, cases, statutes and other reference material
supplied by examiners.
Admission Requirements
For a complete summary of admission
requirements, including information on the New
York Law Course and the New York Law Exam,
and important filing and fee information, please
UC Law SF - Course Catalog 2023-2024
67
visit www.nybarexam.org
or contact the State
Board of Law Examiners at (518) 453-5990.
MPRE Requirement
The applicant must pass the MPRE within 3 years
before or after passing the New York Bar Exam as
measured from the date the applicant sat for each
examination. A minimum scaled score of 85 is
required.
Professional Skills and Competency
Requirement
If you plan on taking the bar exam in New York, you
must comply with the new Skills Competency
Requirement set forth in Section 520.18 of the Rules
of the Court of Appeals. JD students are advised to
consider using “Pathway 2” suggested in that rule as a
way to fulfill the requirement. This option requires
that the applicant complete 15 units of experiential
coursework, six units of which may be based on full-
time legal summer employment. The “Pathway 2”
employment form is posted on the Sharknet Bar
Passage Support page.
You are responsible for obtaining necessary
certifications regarding summer experiences. A
“Pathway 1” option vis also posted on the Sharknet
Bar Passage Support page.
Uniform Bar Examination
The Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) is a
standardized exam that has been adopted, or soon
will be adopted, by 41 jurisdictions —and the list
is growing every year. Administration of the
UBE is coordinated by the National Conference
of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Much like the
California Bar Exam, it is a two-day exam that
includes essays (in the UBE’s case,
the Multistate Essay Examination (MEE),
performance tests (two Multistate Performance
Test (MPT) tasks), and the Multistate Bar
Examination (MBE). It is uniformly
administered, graded, and scored by user
jurisdictions and results in a portable score that
can be transferred to other UBE jurisdictions. For
more information on the MEE, MPT, and MBE,
click on the links above.
The MBE section of the UBE is identical to what
you would get in California or any other non-UBE
state’s bar exam, and the MPT tasks test the same
range of skills tested on the Performance Test
portion of the California bar exam. The
1L and
upper division bar subject courses offered at
UC Law SF also prepare you for the MEE,
which closely mirrors the subjects tested on the
essay portion of the California bar exam.
Unlike in California, examinees who take the UBE
earn a “portable” score that can be transferred to seek
admission in other UBE jurisdictions. UBE
jurisdictions will accept transferred scores that meet
their own passing standards whether or not the
score met the passing standard in the testing
jurisdiction, assuming all other admission
requirements of the jurisdiction are met. In other
words, if you receive a passing score for an UBE
jurisdiction and meet the additional admission.
