3 minute read
GRADUATE WITH EXPERIENCE
GAINING MEANINGFUL PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE WHILE YOU’RE IN SCHOOL GIVES YOU A COMPETITIVE EDGE.
At USF, you’ll learn by doing: participating in legal clinics, exploring externships, joining the advocacy program, excelling in moot court, learning abroad… you’ll have access to it all, and it will build your skills and confidence.
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KIRAN BELUR ’07 Head of trademarks and copyrights at Salesforce.com, who has hired many USF law grads and students
HAVING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON SOMEONE’S LIFE THROUGH YOUR WORK IS ONE OF THE MOST GRATIFYING ASPECTS OF PRACTICING LAW.
Under the supervision of professors, our law clinics let you practice real lawyering by representing defendants, advocating for children in immigration proceedings, tracking racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and working with startups to secure trademarks.
AND THAT’S ONLY SCRATCHING THE SURFACE.
At USF, you'll discover where your passion lies as you gain valuable hands-on experience that prepares you to hit the ground running.
Usf Law Clinics
Criminal and Juvenile Justice Law Clinic
Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Law Clinic
Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic
Immigration Policy Clinic
Internet and Intellectual Property Justice Clinic
Racial Justice Law Clinic
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HOURS OF HANDS-ON LEGAL SERVICE PROVIDED TO CLIENTS BY STUDENTS IN SIX USF LAW CLINICS IN 2022–2023
“Having practical experience to understand the nuances of a courtroom and its proceedings gives me the confidence to pursue a career as a trial attorney. The legal system can be daunting to those outside of it, and I want to advocate for those people.”
“The clinics give our students the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with clients who otherwise would have no one to help them, to hone their research and writing skills, and to become effective advocates who are able to think and react in the moment when they appear in court.”
“Not only did I gain practical skills and make a difference in my clients’ lives, I developed relationships with fellow clinic students that I can count on as I grow professionally.”
WHEN YOU PARTICIPATE IN THE USF SCHOOL OF LAW EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM, YOU GRADUATE WITH VALUABLE SKILLS AND CONTACTS.
You can earn academic credit and be paid for the hours you spend working at government agencies, corporate legal departments, law firms, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal courts.
But you’re not just thrown into the deep end and expected to swim. Alongside experienced professors who teach the externships’ course components, you gain insight into legal and professional issues that arise in your fieldwork.
"USF helped set me up for a successful career. I focused on improving my oral and written advocacy and spent significant time in externships — including one in the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office — which gave me experience advocating for clients in the courtroom."
20,295
STUDENT HOURS IN CIVIL, CRIMINAL, OR JUDICIAL EXTERNSHIPS IN 2022–2023
Moot Court
In the Moot Court Program you’ll get hands-on experience researching and writing legal briefs before arguing a case in front of a judge and jury. That experience can pave the way to a spot on one of our award-winning advocacy teams.
During the Moot Court Program, our students build invaluable skills that prepare them for practice, including learning to work as a team to create top-notch work together. At one competition in particular, they argued in front of intellectual property lawyers from Apple, Oracle, and top IP firms, making strong connections to professionals who can help them get their first job.
AMY FLYNN ’04 Associate dean for academic affairs and director of the Moot Court Program
Intensive Advocacy Program
In this two-week course, you’ll learn the art of trial advocacy, including crafting opening statements and closing arguments and conducting direct and cross examinations. Workshops, demonstrations, individualized feedback, and lectures given by renowned litigators and judges sharpen your skills.
"The goal of the Intensive Advocacy Program is learning by doing, not learning by sitting. Students who finish the program come out as strong communicators and strong advocates, no matter who they’re representing.”
International Experiences
An international perspective is critical to being a modern lawyer. Go global and gain valuable work experience on a summer externship in China, the Czech Republic, Europe, Mexico, or Vietnam.
ALAMEDA COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE
SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF ALAMEDA
CONTRA COSTA DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
The Law And Everything Else Happens Here
CHOOSING TO ATTEND USF SCHOOL OF LAW IN THE MIDDLE OF SAN FRANCISCO SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.
You’re comfortable blazing your own trail. You’re inspired by the law and the countless ways it impacts our world, and you want to be a part of that impact. In the center of one of the world’s most active legal landscapes, you’ll have access to opportunities to work in firms from San Francisco to Silicon Valley, in state and federal courts, in district attorneys’ and public defenders’ offices, and more.
WHEN YOU’RE HERE, YOU HAVE ACCESS TO IT ALL.
SELECT EMPLOYMENT AND EXTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
ACLU of Northern California
Alameda County
District Attorney's Office
Alameda County Family Justice Center
Alameda County Public Defender’s Office
Andersen Tax
AppDynamics
Apple
Arns Law Firm
Blue Shield of California
Burke, Williams & Sorensen LLP
California Court of Appeal, First District
Catholic Charities of the East Bay
Cisco Systems Inc.
Contra Costa County Public Defender’s Office
Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP
Delagnes, Mitchell & Linder LLP
DeVito Law Group
Dhillon Law Group
DLA Piper
Dolby Laboratories Inc.
Duane Morris LLP
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Eviction Defense Collaborative
Family & Children's Law Center
Gagnier Margossian LLP
Gap Inc.
Genentech Google
GoPro
Hanson Bridgett LLP
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Intel Corporation
Jones Day
Kaiser Permanente
Levi Strauss & Co.
Liuzzi Murphy Solomon
Churton & Hale LLP
Lucasfilm Ltd.
Lyft
