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At A Glance

University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall)

The UC Davis School of Law offers a comprehensive three-year curriculum for the JD degree in all major areas of the law. Specialized work is available in business law, criminal law, environmental and natural resources law, human rights and social justice law, intellectual property law, international law, and public interest law. In addition to the traditional Juris Doctor program, UC Davis also offers a combined degree program and an LL.M. and Summer International Commercial Law LL.M. program. The Juris Doctor program is designed for full-time students. The School of Law does not offer part-time or evening programs. The law school admits students at the beginning of the fall semester only. To earn a JD degree, a student must complete six semesters of study in residence, earn 88 semester credits, pass all required courses, and earn a 2.0 grade point average or above. The Law School offers academic credit for participation in a variety of programs, including clinicals, public service law, pro bono, moot court, trial advocacy, and academic journals. The school uses an A-F letter grading system with plus and minus grades; some classes are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Regular class attendance and preparation are expected.

GPA:  LSAT: 

Contact

Directions Link
Phone
(530) 752-6477
Website
www.law.ucdavis.edu
Email
admissions@law.ucdavis.edu

University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall)'s Full Profile

Program At a Glance

Total Program Enrollment 569
Incoming LSAT Scores (25th-75th Percentile) 160 - 165
Incoming GPA (25th-75th Percentile) 3.38 - 3.71
Bar Exam First Time Pass Rate 75.0%
Percent Employed (9 Months After Graduation) 88.0%
In State Tuition $49,564
Out of State Tuition $58,815

Overview

Overview

About University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall)

The UC Davis School of Law offers a comprehensive three-year curriculum for the JD degree in all major areas of the law. Specialized work is available in business law, criminal law, environmental and natural resources law, human rights and social justice law, intellectual property law, international law, and public interest law. In addition to the traditional Juris Doctor program, UC Davis also offers a combined degree program and an LL.M. and Summer International Commercial Law LL.M. program. The Juris Doctor program is designed for full-time students. The School of Law does not offer part-time or evening programs. The law school admits students at the beginning of the fall semester only. To earn a JD degree, a student must complete six semesters of study in residence, earn 88 semester credits, pass all required courses, and earn a 2.0 grade point average or above. The Law School offers academic credit for participation in a variety of programs, including clinicals, public service law, pro bono, moot court, trial advocacy, and academic journals. The school uses an A-F letter grading system with plus and minus grades; some classes are graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Regular class attendance and preparation are expected.

Reviews

The “cozy” University of California—Davis, School of Law is “one of the smallest law schools in California.” The “dynamic” professors here “know what they’re talking about” and are “passionate about teaching.” Sure, some teachers are less student-oriented but overall, “The faculty is the best part of King Hall.” “Most use some form or other of the Socratic Method.” “My professors have at least added humor to my life, ranging from role play (like arresting people in class) and poking fun at our being stumped over relatively simple questions just because it’s sometimes terrifying to be called on,” relates a 2L. These “incredibly approachable” professors are also “willing to help in anyway they can to enhance your education or career goals.” Tutors in the highly praised teaching assistant program “hold office hours and review sessions to solidify big-picture concepts” for 1Ls. The UCD administration is good at “seeking stu­dent involvement in decision-making.”The whopping twelve clinics at UCD “are a great way to really understand how to practice law.” The prison law clinic in particular “has enjoyed a great deal of success and acclaim.” There are certificate programs in public service law and environmental law, and students say they are “truly are committed to public interest work.” “We take the fact that we are named after Martin Luther King Jr. very seriously,” asserts a 2L. “It’s great to be in an environment where people truly care about cause lawyering.” However, many students pine for more of a course selection. “About one-fourth of a class has the opportunity to take Pre-Trial Skills, but there are so many classes like Latinos and the Law and Disability Rights with classrooms that sit half empty.” As for employment, alumni are “supportive,” and with San Francisco and Sacramento nearby, “Davis is conveniently connected to two powerful cities that are full of federal, state, and local agencies as well as important judicial offices.” The school has responded to students’ complaints that Career Services “needs to get its act together” by hiring new staff, including a new Assistant Dean. “‘Big-law’ possibilities are fairly good,” and “approximately 25 percent of the student body will work in a large law firm after gradu­ation.” There is “an awesome loan forgiveness program” for graduates who pursue public interest careers.The King Law building recently underwent a massive expansion and renovation, which included the construction of new classrooms and offices, as well as a new appel­late courtroom. The library is an “exceptional” research facility, but it’s “grungy,” “with a little bit of a 1960s industrial feel.” “Fortunately the school is about to undergo a dra­matic facelift.” “Future classes should have newer and more spacious facilities.” The library rennovations are scheduled for completion at the end of 2012.

- The Princeton Review

Academics

Academics

Degree Programs Offered

Graduates Last Year: 33

Description: A program that prepares lawyers educated outside the United States to understand U. S. or Canadian law and jurisprudence.

Job Opportunities:

Lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.

Graduates Last Year: 196

Description: A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of law, for taking state and national bar examinations, and for advanced research in jurisprudence. Includes instruction in the theory and practice of the legal system, including the statutory, administrative, and judicial components of civil and criminal law.

Job Opportunities:

Lawyers
Represent clients in criminal and civil litigation and other legal proceedings, draw up legal documents, or manage or advise clients on legal transactions. May specialize in a single area or may practice broadly in many areas of law.
Judicial Law Clerks
Assist judges in court or by conducting research or preparing legal documents.
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers
Conduct hearings to recommend or make decisions on claims concerning government programs or other government-related matters. Determine liability, sanctions, or penalties, or recommend the acceptance or rejection of claims or settlements.
Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators
Facilitate negotiation and conflict resolution through dialogue. Resolve conflicts outside of the court system by mutual consent of parties involved.
Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates
Arbitrate, advise, adjudicate, or administer justice in a court of law. May sentence defendant in criminal cases according to government statutes or sentencing guidelines. May determine liability of defendant in civil cases. May perform wedding ceremonies.
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Teach courses in law. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Joint Degree Programs Offered

JD/MBA-4 years; JD/MA or JD/MS - 4 years

Specialty Law Programs

  • Criminal
  • Environmental
  • Human Rights
  • International
  • Taxation
  • Intellectual Property

Faculty Information

Total Faculty 74
Full-Time Faculty 46
Deans, Librarians, and Others Who Teach 9
Part-Time Faculty 19
Faculty Gender 59% Male
40% Female
Student Teacher Ratio 10 : 1

Accreditation

Accredited by American Bar Association

Student Body

Student Body
Gender Breakdown 53% Male
47% Female
Student Diversity
Percentage
White 48%
Multi-racial 4%
International 3%
Hispanic/Latino 9%
Ethnicity Unknown 10%
Black or African American 2%
Asian 25%

Finance

Finance

Sticker Price

In-State

On-Campus Off-Campus
Stated Tuition $49,564 Same as On-Campus
Housing N/A N/A
Books N/A N/A
Total (before financial aid) $49,564 $49,564

Out-of-State

On-Campus Off-Campus
Stated Tuition $58,815 Same as On-Campus
Housing N/A N/A
Books N/A N/A
Total (before financial aid) $58,815 $58,815

Financial Aid

85% Graduate students receiving financial aid (loans and grants)

$60,920 Average financial aid amount

Admissions

Admissions

Application Information

Deadline for Regular Decision: February 1

Average Age Admitted: 24

Application Fee: $75

Incoming Class

University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall)'s entering class of 2012 enrolled having these exam grades:

Exam Enrollment Type 25th - 75th Percentile
LSAT Full-Time 160 - 165
LSAT Total 160 - 165

University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall)'s entering class of 2012 enrolled having these college GPA's:

Enrollment Type 25th - 75th Percentile
Full-Time 3.38 - 3.71
Total 3.38 - 3.71

Admission Considerations

Very Important: Recommendations, Undergraduate GPA, Personal Essay

Admission Requirements

Required: Personal Essay, Recommendations, Undergraduate GPA, Standardized Test Scores

Optional: Work Experience, Extracurricular Activities, Interview, State Residency

Rankings

Rankings

The Princeton Review

#6 Best Environment for Minority Students

Outcomes

Outcomes

Bar Exam Results

Percent Reporting 90%
First Time Pass Rate 75%
Avg. Pass Rate In This State 72%

Campus Recruitment

Number of Employers Recruiting on Campus 150
First Year Recruitment Time Summer
Second Year Recruitment Time Summer

Employment

Percent Employed (9 Months After Graduation) 88%
Average Starting Salary $69,000
Job Sector Number of Graduates Percent of Graduates
Firm Sized 2-10 32 18%
Firm Sized 11-25 15 8%
Firm Sized 26-50 4 8%
Firm Sized 51-100 6 3%
Firm Sized 101-250 5 3%
Firm Sized 251-500 2 1%
Firm Sized 501+ 17 10%
Business Industry 20 11%
Government 22 12%
Public Interest 13 7%
Federal Clerkship 3 2%
State Clerkship 2 1%
Academia 30 17%
Unknown Employer Type 1 1%
Unemployed Number of Graduates Percent of Graduates
Unemployed, Not Seeking 3 1%
Unemployed, Seeking 12 6%
Pursuing Graduate Degree 5 2%

Top Employment Locations

State Percent Employed
NV 2%
DC 2%
CA 91%
International 1%

Famous Alumni

Well known alumni of University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall) include:

  • Hon. Dean D. Pregerson - US District Court Judge
  • Monika Kalra Varma - Director Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, Washington, DC
  • George Miller - Member, US House of Representatives, CA 7th district
  • Darrell Steinberg - President Pro Tem, California State Senate
  • Tani Cantil-Sakauye - Chief Justice, California Supreme Court

Associations & Memberships

American Bar Association

Questions about University of California, Davis School of Law (king Hall)

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