USC Gould Undergrad

Welcome back from fall recess, everyone! We hope you had a restful and rejuvenating time 🍂 As you settle back into your routine, read our October newsletter and stay up to date on recent events, upcoming spring courses, and welcome your new student ambassador. Check your email or visit: https://gould.law/UGNewsletter-Oct24 for the latest newsletter edition!

And that's a wrap on Trojan Family Weekend! Thank you to all who were able to join us and hear from USC Gould School of Law's very own Dean Franita Tolson, Professor Rasmussen, and USC Gould Admissions Associate Dean David Kirschner for their insightful sessions. We hope you had a great time, made lasting memories, and felt connected and inspired by our community ✨❤️💛✨

Join us during Trojan Family Weekend next Thursday (9/26) and Friday (9/27) for three exciting sessions featuring USC Gould School of Law leaders and undergraduate law programs staff. Get inspired and connect with fellow Trojan families by registering here: https://web.cvent.com/event/875a0d28-035e-4a56-bc5d-35214ca995c7/summary

Make Your Mark with a Legal Education with Professor Robert Rasmussen (9/26), 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Dean’s Breakfast with Dean Franita Tolson (9/27), 8:30-10:15 a.m.

Inside Law School Admission with Associate Dean David Kirschner (9/27), 12:30-1:20 p.m.

Extra, extra! Read all about it! Our September newsletter is out now. Read about our recent incoming student welcome event, explore interesting law courses for the fall and more! https://gould.law/UGNewsletter-Sept24

UPDATE: This event has been CANCELLED due to excessive heat warning.

Visit our table at Tommy Trojan next Monday, Sept. 9, from 12-2 p.m. to meet the undergraduate law advising team and student ambassadors, ask questions about the B.S. in Legal Studies degree and win some free Gould swag 👀

See you there!

What better way to get hands-on experience with the law than with an internship opportunity as part of your degree? The B.S. in Legal Studies allows students in the major the ability to take on an internship to expose them to the legal landscape in an area of their choosing!

Today, we spotlight Shaudeh Farjami, a rising senior who is taking classes, including LAW 498 (Law Internship) at USC Gould Undergrad. Shaudeh recently served as an intern for a judge at the Airport Courthouse, Superior Court of California in Los Angeles.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of your internship?
A: One of the most rewarding parts of this internship was the opportunity to observe the courtroom proceedings and the interactions between judges and attorneys within and outside a jury trial. Additionally, I enjoyed discussing the cases with the judge and other interns while gaining hands-on experience through research and writing legal memos. Overall, I gained knowledge of the court system with guidance and support from the court staff.
—
Q: How have your undergraduate law courses prepared you for the internship?
A: My undergraduate courses at Gould provided a foundation for understanding the legal tasks assigned by the judge and conducting legal research and writing. The law courses exposed me to relevant cases and helped me understand the court proceedings.
—
Q: Looking ahead, what do you ultimately hope to achieve based on the experience you obtained in your internship?
A: In the short term, I hope this experience will help me through a second internship with the Federal District Court of Los Angeles during my gap year before law school. In the long term, I hope this experience prepares me for the challenges ahead in law school, such as obtaining summer clerkships or associate positions.
—
Q: Any tips for your classmates when it comes to obtaining an internship?
A: My advice is to take advantage of the law courses offered to undergrads at USC. Having a number of law classes under my belt was a key in getting interviews and eventually my dream position. You don’t have to be a [graduate] law student to be considered for an internship at the court and gain legal experience.

Welcome, USC Gould School of Law undergraduate class of 2028! We are so excited to watch you learn and grow over the next four years and support you during your time here. As Dean Tolson said during our welcome event, "This time will go by quickly. Stay connected to your loved ones, enjoy making new friends, and find balance to do the things that make you happy, those core things that make you who you are."

Here's to a great first semester!

📢 There is still room to enroll in undergraduate law courses offered by USC Gould School of Law this fall! This is your chance to learn from law school professors and apply legal concepts to real world issues 🌏.

Courses with Fall 2024 availability:
LAW 355 - Law & Homelessness with Professor Deepika Sharma
LAW 222 - Interdisciplinary Perspective on the Law with Professor Abby Wood
LAW 305 - International Influence: Law & Power with Professor Iryna Zaverukha
LAW 206 - Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence: Ethics & Law with Professor D. Daniel Sokol
LAW 352 - Introduction to Law & Economics with Professor Bob Maniscalco

Explore the full catalogue of undergraduate law courses below.

Undergraduate Courses | USC Gould School of Law USC Gould

Sophomore and Law & Social Justice minor, Radulf Mohika, recently interned with the Organization of American States (OAS) Office of the Permanent Council where he assisted in planning and organizing meetings to support the goal of promoting democracy, peace, and security across member states. Interested in pursuing a legal internship? Legal studies students at USC Gould School of Law have the opportunity to participate in internships as part of their degree requirements.

Q: What was the most rewarding part of your internship?
A:The most rewarding part of my internship at the Organization of American States, Office of the Permanent Council, was assisting in planning and organizing meetings to support the goal of promoting democracy, peace, and security across member states.
--
Q: How have your undergraduate law courses prepared you for the internship?
A: My undergraduate law courses prepared me for the internship by equipping me with skills in legal research, analysis, and writing, essential for supporting all member states and the Committee of Hemispheric Security.
--
Q: Looking ahead, what do you ultimately hope to achieve based on the experience you obtained in your internship?
A: I ultimately hope to leverage the experience from my OAS internship as a building block towards my upcoming internship with the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Mission to International Organizations, where I will manage technical portfolios including arms control and report on multilateral technical affairs concerning weapon proliferation, equipping me with the skills to serve in the future as a Foreign Service Officer and future Ambassador.
--
Q: Any tips for your classmates when it comes to obtaining an internship?
A: My tip for obtaining an internship is to actively network, seek mentorship, and gain relevant experience through coursework and extracurricular activities. Additionally, I encourage my classmates to continue with their major or minor at USC Gould School of Law, as it provides a strong legal foundation that can be highly beneficial in various internship opportunities.

Brianna Sanchez, USC Undergraduate Student Government's new Vice President and legal studies major spoke with us about exploring different majors, why she ultimately landed on the B.S. in Legal Studies and how the coursework inspired her to run for student government!

New Undergraduate Student Government leader builds foundation at Gould | USC Gould School of Law After switching her major for the third time, Brianna Sanchez felt lost at the beginning of her time at USC. Sanchez switched her major three times before discovering the Legal Studies program at USC Gould School of Law. One of her first classes through USC Gould was LAW 210, the Fundamentals of the...

Continuing our student org spotlight, meet the USC Society of Women in the Law — USC’s first and only women’s pre-law society! They offer professional development workshops, insightful speaker events, and bonding activities to foster a supportive community.

Q: Can you share more about your organization's mission?
A: The Society of Women in Law is USC's first and only women's pre-law society. We hold professional development workshops, plan speaker events/panels that spotlight different areas of the law, and organize bonding events to help create a supportive community.
--
Q: Who can join?
A: Any undergraduate students looking for pre-law resources or to surround themselves with a community of women interested in law!

Did you know that undergraduates majoring in legal studies have the opportunity to participate in an internship as part of their degree requirements? Check out rising senior Susanna Andryan's story — she interned with Los Angeles JusticeCorps at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse, helping people navigate their legal challenges. Stay tuned for more student spotlights and get inspired by what you can achieve!

Q: What did you consider the most rewarding part of your internship?
A: As a JusticeCorps intern, I assisted litigants in understanding and completing their legal paperwork for cases such as divorce, evictions, and restraining orders. Many litigants arrive at the Self-Help Center feeling anxious, confused, and stressed. It is incredibly rewarding to help them with their paperwork at no cost and witness their relief as they become more informed and prepared.
--
Q: Any tips for your classmates when it comes to internship?
A: I strongly encourage students to research opportunities with legal non-profits and public interest organizations since they are often looking for new recruits. I also recommend that students participate in law-related clubs on campus. Recruiters often contact these clubs with new information about hiring new interns. Additionally, you can connect with fellow students who have completed legal internships and learn from their experience.
--
Q: How has your undergraduate law courses prepared you for the internship?
A: My undergraduate law courses have provided a solid foundation of legal principles and practical skills that I carried throughout my internship. Through legal research and problem-solving assignments, I have been able to effectively address the concerns of litigants.
--
Q: Looking ahead, what do you ultimately hope to achieve?
A: My internship has inspired me to practice public interest law and continue helping underrepresented communities navigate through our complicated legal system.

Explore ways to get involved at USC Gould School of Law with our student organization spotlight series! We're kicking things off with the Blackstonian Pre-Law Honor Society, a prestigious group founded at the University of Southern California in 1923. This honor society is dedicated to recognizing academic excellence and preparing undergrads for law school.

Q: Can you share more about your organization's mission?
A: The Blackstonians is a pre-law honor society for undergraduate students designed to give recognition for academic excellence and to help students prepare for law school. Founded at the University of Southern California in 1923, the organization is a group of distinguished individuals committed to furthering the ideals of Sir William Blackstone.
--
Q: How do students qualify to join?
A: All students with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and 32 completed units who have an interest in the legal field are welcome to join.

🚨Attention incoming freshmen🚨 It is almost orientation season which means it's time to meet with your academic advisor to plan your fall semester courses! Follow these important steps to meet with your undergraduate law advisor and lift your registration hold. http://www.usc.edu/advise

Join us in congratulating Professor and Nathan and Lilly Shapell Chair in Law, Nomi Stolzenberg, on her USC Associates Award for Creativity in Research and Scholarship. Stolzenberg is being recognized for her distinguished intellectual and artistic achievements as well as for outstanding teaching.

Professor Stolzenberg's research spans a range of interdisciplinary interests, including law and religion, liberalism, psychoanalysis, and literature. She currently teaches the undergraduate law course LAW 300 - Concepts in American Law.

A big congratulations to Vice Dean for Administration and Professor of the Practice of Law, Donald Scotten, who has been recognized with the General Education Teaching Award from the University of Southern California for his contributions to the General Education Program during the 2022-23 academic year.

Professor Scotten specializes in business organizational law and business entity governance, and teaches the undergraduate law course LAW 210 - Introduction to the U.S. Legal System.

Let's show some love and support for our inaugural B.S. in Legal Studies graduating class ❤💛. You did it, and we couldn't be prouder. Fight On! ✌🎓

Congratulations to our inaugural B.S. in Legal Studies graduating class! As you prepare for your next journey, Director of Undergraduate Programs, Maddy Zamany and Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Alma Gonzalez, share their words of encouragement. Fight On! 🎓✌️❤️

Meet Allea Nojadera, our commencement speaker representing Gould’s inaugural legal studies graduating class!

Q: What are your plans after graduation? Plan as it relates to graduate school, your career, travel, or volunteer opportunities.
A: I will be applying to law school this fall! During this next year, however, I plan on getting my Master of Dispute Resolution here at USC Gould School of Law and continuing to work with the LA County Public Defender.
--
Q: Which class, professor, or experience at USC Gould stands out as the most memorable or influential during your time here?
A: Law and Homelessness (LAW 355) with Professor Sharma!
--
Q: How is your legal studies degree going to help you with your career/future plans?
A: Currently, this degree has allowed me to assist the LA County Public Defender. Overall, this degree has helped prepare me for law school!