Cecily Zamora
The University of California, Davis, offers a variety of law degree programs at its School of Law. The school provides a dynamic and collaborative community for its students, with a commitment to excellence, service, and individuality. The law degree qualification requirements include earning a minimum of 68 classroom-based law units and completing six semesters in residence. UC Davis School of Law is ranked 50th out of 195 in Best Law Schools in America. The school offers a range of specializations, including business law, international law, criminal law, and environmental law. The application process for the law program is highly competitive, with various requirements such as transcripts, resumes, and test scores.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| School Name | University of California--Davis |
| School Ranking | 50 out of 195 |
| School Type | Law School |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 9.3:1 |
| Tuition Fees | $57,409 (in-state), $69,654 (out-of-state) |
| Application Deadline | June 1 |
| Application Requirements | Official transcripts, resume, LSAT and GRE scores, undergraduate GPA, etc. |
| Degree Requirements | Earn 68 classroom-based law units, complete six semesters in residence, complete Law 258 Professional Responsibility or 258A Legal Ethics and Organizational Practice |
| Degree Programs | J.D., Combined Degree Programs with Graduate School of Management, Master's Degree Programs |
| Specializations | Business Law, International Law, Criminal Law, Intellectual Property Law, Environmental Law, etc. |
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What You'll Learn
Application process and requirements
The University of California, Davis offers a three-year, full-time law program. The application period opens on September 1, and the application deadline for Early Decision for Fall First-Year admission is November 1. The application deadline for Fall First-Year admission is March 15. The application fee is $0, and students are admitted for the fall semester only.
To apply to the UC Davis School of Law, applicants must submit an online application through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The Admissions Committee seeks law students with demonstrated academic ability, as evidenced by several factors, including LSAT and GRE scores, undergraduate grade point average (GPA), any economic or other disadvantages overcome by the applicant, graduate studies, and extracurricular activities. Applicants must also submit official transcripts from all institutions attended, a résumé, and a personal statement. While not required, applicants are encouraged to submit an updated résumé and personal statement. Additionally, applicants must take the LSAT or GRE, with scores being valid for five years from the date of application.
To graduate with a law degree from UC Davis, students must meet several requirements. They must earn a minimum of 88 semester units and 68 classroom-based law units within six semesters. The first-year required courses include Law 200 Introduction to Law, Law 203 Civil Procedure, Law 205 Constitutional Law I, Law 202 Contracts, Law 206 Criminal Law, Law 207 Legal Research & Writing I, Law 208 Legal Research & Writing II, Law 200S Lawyering Process, Law 201 Property, and Law 204 Torts. Additionally, students must complete Law 258 Professional Responsibility or 258A Legal Ethics and Organizational Practice.
It is important to note that UC Davis School of Law prepares students for California licensure and certification requirements. However, the university has not determined whether its programs meet other states' educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students pursuing licensure or certification in other states are responsible for ensuring they meet their state's requirements.
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Course structure and content
The School of Law at the University of California, Davis, offers a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum designed to provide students with a strong foundation in legal studies. The course structure and content are carefully crafted to ensure that graduates have the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a variety of legal careers.
To earn a law degree from UC Davis, students must complete 88 semester credits, with at least 68 credits earned through classroom-based law units. These units cover a range of topics, including the principles and doctrines of American government, criminal liability, legal research and writing, and specialised areas of law such as human rights, humanitarian law, and business law.
The first year of law school at UC Davis focuses on foundational concepts and skills. Students are introduced to the basic structure and division of powers in American government, including judicial review, jurisdiction, federalism, and individual rights. They also develop essential legal research and writing skills, learning how to analyse and draft legislative measures such as bills, resolutions, and constitutional amendments.
In the second and third years, students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and explore specialised areas of law. They can choose from a range of elective courses, including human rights law, humanitarian law, business law, private and public international law, criminal law, and environmental law. During this time, students are also required to complete a writing project, demonstrating their ability to produce rigorous and independently authored legal scholarship.
In addition to classroom-based learning, UC Davis law students have the opportunity to gain practical experience through externships and clinical fieldwork. These experiences allow students to apply their legal knowledge and skills in real-world settings, such as working with lawyers, judges, and prosecutors. However, it is important to note that externship placement units may not exceed 14 units.
To graduate with a law degree from UC Davis, students must also satisfy several academic requirements. These include completing a course in professional skills, demonstrating proficiency in advanced writing, and fulfilling the Bias, Antiracism, and Cross-cultural Competencies requirement.
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Career prospects
The University of California, Davis, offers a full-time law program with no application fee. The School of Law at the university is ranked No. 50 out of 195 in the best law schools in the US. The rigorous three-year program confers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree upon its graduates. The student-faculty ratio is 9.3:1, and the tuition fees are $57,409 for in-state students and $69,654 for out-of-state students.
UC Davis School of Law's Career Services Office is dedicated to assisting students with their professional development and transition into the legal job market. The office is equipped with six staff members, including four former attorneys, who provide guidance to students and alumni throughout their law careers. The school's 6,400 alumni work across various sectors, including law, business, politics, government, and the nonprofit sector.
Graduates of the law program at UC Davis can pursue diverse career paths in the legal field, such as becoming attorneys, judges, legal consultants, or legal scholars. They can work in private practice, join a law firm, or pursue public interest law through nonprofit organizations. The degree also opens doors to careers in business, politics, and government, where legal knowledge is valuable.
Additionally, UC Davis law graduates can explore international opportunities, as the degree is recognized globally. The university also offers an LL.M. program that attracts students from around the world, expanding the alumni network and creating connections that can lead to international career prospects.
Pursuing a law degree from UC Davis can lead to lucrative careers, with the potential for six-figure salaries. The strong academic reputation of the university, coupled with its alumni network, enhances the employability of its law graduates. The dedicated Career Services Office ensures that students receive the necessary support and resources to succeed in their chosen career paths.
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Student experience
The UC Davis School of Law offers a superior educational experience for foreign lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and other legal professionals. The curriculum is designed around individual student needs, with the option to either gain basic knowledge of the U.S. legal system or focus on a specific area of legal scholarship. Students can choose from a broad curriculum, with pre-planned specializations in areas such as business law, private and public international law, immigration law, criminal law, intellectual property, and human rights and social justice law, among others.
The full-time law program at UC Davis is rigorous and typically requires three years of study beyond undergraduate education. The student-faculty ratio is 9.3:1, and the tuition fee for the full-time program is $57,409 for in-state students and $69,654 for out-of-state students.
To graduate with a law degree from UC Davis, students must complete 88 semester units, including at least 68 classroom-based law units. This typically involves completing six semesters in residence, with each semester consisting of at least 10 units. Students are also allowed to participate in exchange programs or semester-long visits to other ABA-accredited law schools, which count as a semester in residence.
Additionally, students must complete specific course requirements, such as Law 258 Professional Responsibility or 258A Legal Ethics and Organizational Practice. They must also satisfy skill and writing requirements, including taking courses that provide instruction in professional skills and completing an individually authored work of at least 20 typewritten, double-spaced pages.
Overall, the UC Davis School of Law provides a comprehensive and personalized educational experience for its students, offering a range of specializations and the opportunity to engage in exchange programs while also ensuring a solid foundation in legal knowledge and skills.
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School ranking
UC Davis School of Law has been ranked among the top law schools in the United States. In 2023, the QS World University Rankings placed UC Davis Law in the top 20 US law schools. The school has also been recognised for its diversity, ranking as the second-most diverse law school in the five-school UC system by U.S. News & World Report. Notably, UC Davis Law was ranked No. 1 for "Greatest Resources for Women" and No. 10 for "Best Quality of Life" by Princeton Review's "Best Law Schools 2023".
In terms of faculty quality, UC Davis Law has been rated highly in national assessments. Brian Leiter, a University of Chicago law professor, ranked the faculty at UC Davis Law as 18th in the nation in his comprehensive quality assessment. Leiter's periodic "top 50 law faculties in scholarly impact" list rates law schools based on productivity and influence and is considered a systematic evaluation of American law school quality.
UC Davis Law has also been recognised for its commitment to racial justice. In 2022, preLaw Magazine ranked the school 3rd in the United States and 1st in California for top schools for racial justice. The school has been acknowledged for its financial aid offerings, ranking 1st for providing the most financial aid and 2nd for granting the most financial aid in the country.
As of March 7, 2025, UC Davis is ranked No. 50 (tie) out of 195 in Best Law Schools by U.S. News. The ranking assessed schools based on their performance across widely accepted indicators of excellence. It is worth noting that UC Davis Law withdrew from the U.S. News & World Report rankings in 2022 and no longer provides data for those rankings.
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Frequently asked questions
UC Davis School of Law seeks students with demonstrated academic ability, as evidenced by LSAT and GRE scores, undergraduate GPA, any economic or other disadvantages overcome by the applicant, graduate studies, and extracurricular activities. The School of Law also has a commitment to diversity and an important goal of the admission process is a student body with diverse backgrounds, interests, experiences, and skills.
To graduate with a law degree from UC Davis School of Law, students must earn at least 68 classroom-based law units, complete six semesters in residence, and complete Law 258 Professional Responsibility or 258A Legal Ethics and Organizational Practice.
The most common end goal for law students is becoming a licensed attorney. Attorneys work all over the country, in a wide range of fields, including criminal defense, environmental law, tax law, intellectual property law, and immigration law. Beyond the world of lawyers, people with law degrees may also go into politics, journalism, academia, or financial planning.
UC Davis School of Law offers a superior educational experience for foreign lawyers, judges, prosecutors, and other legal professionals. Classes are taught by outstanding faculty scholars and are designed around individual student needs. The curriculum for the general course of study is designed to either gain basic knowledge of the U.S. legal system or to focus on any area of legal scholarship supported by King Hall’s world-class curricula. Pre-planned specializations include business law, private and public international law, international business and dispute resolution, immigration law, criminal law and procedure, intellectual property, human rights and social justice law, environmental and natural resources law, health law and bioethics, and many others.
