UC Berkeley School of Law

Department of Jurisprudence The school that is today known as Berkeley Law originated in 1894 as the Department of Jurisprudence of the University of California. On August 17, 1894, the Regents of the University of California approved a resolution for transmission to President Martin Kellogg which directed that the "branch of study" already under the supervision of Professor William Carey Jones was to be separated from the Department of History and Political Science "and formed into a new department embracing: (1) Constitutional Law of the United States, (2) International Law, (3) Roman Law, and (4) Jurisprudence". According to UCLA political science professor J.A.C. Grant, the law school at Berkeley was euphemistically labeled a department (or later, school) of jurisprudence for decades because it was believed UC could have only one "law department." On January 17, 1911, the department began holding classes in the newly constructed Boalt Memorial Hall of Law at the center of the main UC Berkeley campus (now Durant Hall), and it was formally dedicated on April 28, 1911. School of Jurisprudence As the Department of Jurisprudence at Berkeley began to rise in prestige, and Hastings began to fall, the students, faculty, and alumni of the department became quite vocal about turning the department into a real law school. Drawings dated as early as May 1945 show the law building in its current east–west orientation facing Bancroft Way to the south. "Berkeley Law" to disentangle the confused usage which had grown over time confusing the formal name of the School of Law with the name of the building it occupied, and to more clearly align the school's name with its parent university. The administration hoped that this would improve the law school's national and international name recognition, as many individuals knew UC Berkeley had a law school but were often confused as to whether the name "Boalt Hall" referred to a separate institution. Despite the official name change, "Boalt Hall" continued to be used as the name of the law school's primary building and to refer to the law school informally for another 12 years. By 2009, Berkeley Law was again desperately short of space, because the faculty had increased by about 25 percent over the previous four years. The law school launched a multi-year renovation and expansion project which was eventually completed in 2012. The most important improvement was to relocate and expand the law library into an underground facility under a new South Pavilion. At ground level, they built a glass pavilion housing classrooms, a student lounge, and a cafe, all of which is topped off by a rooftop garden accessible by a second-floor bridge. The de-naming was the outcome of a nearly three-year process launched after a UC Berkeley lecturer discovered writings by John Henry Boalt expressing flagrantly racist views. == Academics ==

Admissions and costs The J.D. program's admissions process is highly selective, with Berkeley Law admitting 22% of all applicants who applied in 2020. For a typical class in the J.D. program, the average age of admitted students is 25 years old, with ages ranging from 21 to 46 years old. The student-faculty ratio is nearly 6:1. Berkeley Law is unique among most law schools for having a class usually composed of 60% women and 40% men. Berkeley Law's tuition has increased in recent years. The total cost of attendance (adding estimated living expenses to the aforementioned tuition and fees) at Berkeley Law for the 2018–2019 academic year is $85,315 for California residents and $89,266 for non-residents. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $282,442 for residents and $296,694 for non-residents. For students working in public interest law who will earn less than $70,000 annually, Berkeley Law offers a ten-year loan repayment assistance program (LRAP). Berkeley Law has a chapter of the Order of the Coif, a national law school honorary society founded for the purposes of encouraging legal scholarship and advancing the ethical standards of the legal profession. The law school has been American Bar Association approved since 1923. It joined the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) in 1912. Berkeley Law offers combined degree programs with other schools within both the UC Berkeley campus and the broader University of California system, as well as joint master's degrees with Tufts University and Harvard University. Clinics and the San Francisco Bay from the law school. Berkeley Law hosts over 21 centers, six primary clinics, and a five-area domestic and international field placement program for experiential learning in specific areas of the law. The competition is named after the school's former A. F. and May T. Morrison Professor of Municipal Law, and it is currently sponsored by the law firm Crowell & Moring. Business and Economics The Berkeley Center for Law and Business was established in 2004 and is the Law School's focal point for experiential learning in corporate law. It focus on issues of corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, financial fraud prosecution, capital markets, cybersecurity, antitrust compliance, and venture capital investments. The program also hosts the joint J.D./M.B.A. degree with Berkeley Law's adjoining Haas School of Business and national competitions for corporate negotiation. Other centers in business law include the Robert D. Burch Center for Tax Policy and Public Finance (established in 1994) and the Law, Economics, and Politics Center. Constitutional, Regulatory, and Policy Constitutional and regulatory law centers at Berkeley include the new Berkeley Center for Consumer Law and Economic Justice that was founded in 2018, the Berkeley Judicial Institute, and the California Constitution Center, which is the only non-profit organization dedicated to the study of the Constitution of California. In addition to housing chapters of the American Constitution Society and The Federalist Society, the Law School enables interested students to spend a semester studying constitutional and regulatory law at the University of California's Washington campus, and hosts civil field placements and externships with the offices of various judges, United States Attorneys, Attorneys General, and other government offices. Other policy centers at the Law School include the Center for the Study of Law and Society (established in 1961), the Kadish Center for Morality, Law and Public Affairs (established in 2000), a center dedicated to data on redistricting and voting rights, and the Institute for Legal Research. Social Justice and Public Interest Berkeley Law has several clinical programs and centers that allow students to gain practical experience advocating for social justice and assisting low-income or marginalized individuals. These opportunities include the Death Penalty Clinic, Policy Advocacy Clinic, Veterans Law Practicum, and Domestic Law Violence Practicum. Many clinics, externships, field placements, and programs are hosted in partnership with the nearby East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC), which provides legal aid for disadvantaged Alameda County residents. Students can work with the EBCLC on issues such as juvenile justice, expungement of minor crimes, housing law, tax assistance, and small business establishment. Berkeley Law also hosts multiple centers, institutes, and initiatives producing research and scholarship on issues such as criminal justice reform, access to civil justice, and more. These centers include the Thelton Henderson Center for Social Justice, Civil Justice Research Initiative, Center on Race, Sexuality & Culture, Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice, and the Public Law and Policy Program. Environmental The Center for Law, Energy & the Environment and the Environmental Law Clinic focus on legal solutions to climate change, sustainable power use, renewable energy, and ocean health. International and Comparative Berkeley Law's international law program encompasses the International Human Rights Law Clinic (established in 1998), the Human Rights Center, the Robbins Collection, and an LL.M. program. These organizations and programs develop policy solutions for human rights causes, promote global human rights and international justice through advocacy, investigate war crimes and serious violations of human rights, and sponsor comparative research and study in the fields of religious and civil law. The Human Rights Center previously won a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. In addition, the centers in this area train students for moot court competitions focused on international law. Other international law centers within Berkeley Law include the Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies and the Korea Law Center, as well as the Sho Sato Program in Japanese and US Law, named after co-founder Professor Sho Sato (1924–1986). Technology '93, former chief legal officer at GoogleX and editor of the Berkeley Technology Law Journal The Berkeley Center for Law and Technology was established in 1996. Issues addressed by this center and its affiliates, such as the Samuelson Law, Technology, and Public Policy Clinic (founded in 2000) and the Miller Institute for Global Challenges and the Law, include intellectual property, privacy, patents, healthcare law, and digital entertainment. Publications California Law Review '95, Deputy Chief Technology Officer of the United States (2013–2014) and co-founder of Berkeley Law's Asian American Law Journal Established in 1912, the California Law Review is the flagship journal of Berkeley Law. The application process consists of an anonymous write-on competition, with grades playing no role in the consideration of membership. A personal statement is also considered. Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law was first established in 2000. The journal publishes work concerning emerging issues of both substantive and procedural criminal law, as well as criminal justice issues unique to California and the Western United States. The journal publishes a fall edition in January and a spring edition in June every year and is completely digital. Berkeley Journal of Employment & Labor Law Berkeley Journal of Employment & Labor Law was first established in 1975 and publishes articles focusing on current developments in labor and employment law. Typical articles in the journal cover legal issues dealing with employment discrimination, "traditional" labor law, public sector employment, international and comparative labor law, employee benefits, and the evolution of the doctrine of wrongful termination. In addition to scholarly articles, the journal includes student-authored comments, book reviews and essays. It is published twice a year. Berkeley Journal of International Law Berkeley Journal of International Law was first established in 1982 and covers public and private international law and comparative law. It also publishes reviews of new books in the field, and is published twice yearly. Berkeley Technology Law Journal Berkeley Technology Law Journal began in 1986 and covers emerging issues of law in the areas of intellectual property, cyber law, information law, biotechnology, antitrust, and telecommunications law. The journal appears quarterly. Ecology Law Quarterly Ecology Law Quarterly began in 1971 and is Berkeley Law's journal focusing on environmental and energy law. Analysis in the journal includes short-form commentary and analysis of court decisions and policies relating to environmental law. Berkeley Business Law Journal Berkeley Business Law Journal was first established in 2004, and is one of the largest journals at the law school with over 100 members. It publishes an annual print journal and blog (called The Network) and connects students to professors and practitioners in the corporate law space through on-campus symposia and events. Other journals Other student-run legal publications include the Asian American Law Journal, Berkeley Journal of African-American Law & Policy, Berkeley Journal of Entertainment & Sports Law, Berkeley Journal of Gender, Law & Justice, Berkeley Journal of Middle Eastern & Islamic Law, and Berkeley La Raza Law Journal. == Reception ==

Employment In 2018, the school's bar passage rate was 90.9%. According to Berkeley's official ABA-required disclosures, over 90 percent of 2018 graduates obtained full-time, long-term, bar admission-required employment nine months after graduation. Rankings in raised lettering. In 2025, USNWR ranked Berkeley Law as the 13th best law school in the United States. In addition, USNWR ranked Berkeley Law tied for 2nd in Environmental Law, tied for 4th in Clinical Training and 22nd in Law Schools With the Most Graduates in Federal Clerkships. In 2020, QS World Rankings ranked Berkeley Law as the seventh-best law school in the world. Berkeley Law's flagship journal, the California Law Review, is ranked third and fifth in the United States in studies conducted by researchers at Washington & Lee University and the University of Oregon, respectively. According to Brian Leiter's 2012 scholarly impact study, Berkeley Law ranks seventh in terms of scholarly impact as measured by the percentage of tenured faculty represented in specific specialty areas. == People ==

Alumni File:Earl Warren.jpg|Earl Warren '14, 14th chief justice of the United States and 30th governor of California File:FOMC 00478 (13896606200).jpg|G. William Miller '52, 65th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and 11th chair of the Federal Reserve File:Edwin Meese publicity shot.jpg| Edwin Meese '58, 75th U.S. Attorney General File:Pete Wilson meeting with Les Aspin, Feb 3, 1993 - cropped to Wilson.JPEG|Pete Wilson '61, 36th governor of California and former United States Senator from California File:Theodore Olson.jpg|Theodore Olson '65, 42nd Solicitor General of the United States File:Philip Alston by David Shankbone.jpg| Philip Alston LL.M. '76, former United Nations Special Rapporteur and prominent international law professor File:Mitchell Baker.jpg| Mitchell Baker '87, CEO and Executive Chair of the Mozilla Corporation File:Melinda Haag US Attorney.jpg | Melinda Haag '87, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California File:Perú- pueblos indígenas (13385894445).jpg| James Cavallaro '92, former president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights File:MirandaDu2014.jpg|Miranda Du '94, former chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada File:Amul Thapar.jpg| Amul Thapar '94, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit File:Colin Allred, official portrait, 116th Congress.jpg| Colin Allred '14, U.S. Representative from Texas Berkeley Law has produced a substantial number of prominent alumni at all levels of government, jurisprudence, business, legal practice, academia, and society. For a full register of all notable Berkeley Law graduates, see this list of Berkeley Law alumni. In domestic government and politics, the law school has produced numerous influential individuals from both the Democratic Party and Republican Party. Several state governors and United States senators, including Earl Warren and Pete Wilson of California, Neil Goldschmidt of Oregon, and Peter Welch of Vermont are graduates of Berkeley Law. The law school has also graduated a substantial number of officials who have served at the U.S. Cabinet level. Included are U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk, who served in the Kennedy administration and Johnson administration, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and Chairman of the Federal Reserve G. William Miller, who served in the Carter administration, and U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese III, who served in the Reagan administration. Beyond these individuals, many Berkeley graduates have had the opportunity to work in the U.S. federal government in various prominent roles, including as Assistant U.S. Attorney General, Solicitor General of the United States, Assistant secretary of state, U.S. ambassador, United States Attorney, Chief Technology Officer of the United States, cabinet undersecretaries, Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and members of the United States Congress. Moreover, Berkeley Law has also produced a substantial number of graduates who have served as state attorneys general, including Earl Warren, Edwin Meese III, David Frohnmayer, Paul Bardacke, David M. Louie, Jahna Lindemuth, and Sean Reyes, state cabinet officers, members of state legislatures, mayors, and city attorneys across the United States. Berkeley Law has also produced various international leaders, including Nuremberg Trials prosecutor Whitney Robson Harris and Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand Wissanu Krea-ngam. On the judicial bench, Berkeley Law has produced a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Earl Warren, and scores of federal appellate and district judges, state supreme court justices, and international arbitrators. These graduates encompass current influential federal judges Miranda Du, Amul Thapar, Vince Chhabria, Marsha Berzon, and Evan Wallach. In international courts, alumni include High Court judge Sir Rabinder Singh, the highest-ranking judge of Asian descent in British history, and Reynato S. Puno, the former chief justice of the Philippines. Among dozens of prominent Berkeley Law graduates in academia are international arbitrator David Caron, William and Mary Law School professor Nancy Combs, and Upendra Baxi, who has served as a dean or professor at over nine law schools in India, the United Kingdom and the United States. And within the business, journalism and nonprofit sectors, Berkeley Law has taught significant numbers of students who have gone on to become CEOs and general counsels for Fortune 500 companies and other businesses, executives and founders of NGOs, and award-winning journalists. Included are Paula Boggs, Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Starbucks Corporation, Jess Bravin of The Wall Street Journal, Mitchell Baker, current CEO and Executive Chair of the Mozilla Corporation, Larry Hillblom, co-founder of DHL], and James Cavallaro, who served as President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Notable faculty , associate justice of the California Supreme Court and Berkeley Law professor ==References==