GGU Law Admitted Student Guide 2020

Admitted Student Guide

Where Innovation and Justice Meet

At GGU Law, you will learn to integrate
traditional legal knowledge with practical
skills, unparalleled training, real-world
opportunities, and cutting-edge experience.
Join our longstanding tradition, which spans
over a century, of training unrivaled lawyers
and advocates from around the world!

Welcome

I am so pleased to offer you admission to Golden Gate University School of Law! Your proven academic
performance, strong work ethic, and background show that you are ready for the one-of-a-kind learning
experience that our school has to offer. At GGU Law, we have a commitment to fostering a diverse and
inclusive environment which, combined with our small classes and unique programs, will prepare you to enter
the legal profession with the practical skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience that will set you apart from
other attorneys.
We pride ourselves on the exceptional personalized attention we offer students, which begins with me
individually meeting all incoming students to discuss their goals and how I can best support them. You’ll also
be joining a welcoming community, with incredible access to faculty, staff, alumni, and your fellow students.
I look forward to seeing you at our perfectly situated campus in downtown San Francisco, the legal financial,
business, and tech hub of the world! We hope you’ll join us at GGU Law, where innovation and justice meet.
Anthony Niedwiecki
Dean



Location

Established in 1901, GGU Law sits in the heart Studying law in an international city like San
of beautiful downtown San Francisco, the global Francisco will expose you to rich cultures as you
hub for the booming technology and business study at one of the most diverse law schools in
industries. Our campus, which is easily accessible the nation. GGU Law is also the proud university
by rapid public transportation of all kinds, sits partner of the Golden State Warriors, who play a
steps away from law firms, tech companies, short BART ride away from campus!
advocacy organizations, government agencies, and
courthouses. You can walk to some of the country’s At GGU Law, our location gives you unparalleled
most renowned startup incubators or stop by the professional access and opportunity, all the while
offices of tech giants like Google, Twitter, Facebook, immersing you in a thriving, diverse, and exciting
and much much more. cosmopolitan urban experience!

Programs and Services Available Only at GGU Law

Comprehensive Bar Prep Partnership with Themis Office of Career Services

GGU Law has developed a first-of-its-kind Our Office of Career Services (OCS) provides
partnership with Themis Bar Review. This comprehensive support for students and
groundbreaking and innovative partnership is graduates in their transition from law school into
designed to fully support student success from professional life. Our innovative programs and
orientation through the bar exam. It is one of the personalized attention help you become practice
most comprehensive bar preparation and academic ready, and our OCS staff helps you market those
achievement programs in the country. You will skills to get the careers they want. Our OCS
also gain practical skills and training to pass the counselors are attorneys who remain connected
bar through structured learning as well as on- to their professional networks, working in close
campus access to the GGU Bar Services Team and collaboration with the law school’s externship
an on-campus Themis representative. This support program and expert faculty to help you stand out
continues after graduation when every student in the job market. GGU Law’s OCS also partners
receives the Themis Bar Review Course for free! with our business school’s careers services office,
capitalizing on the many relationships with
Center for Student Success businesses and companies in the Bay Area and
around the world.
At Golden Gate University School of Law, we
believe that many of the core skills needed to be
successful in law school and in the practice of law
are the same skills essential for passing the bar.
That’s why our Center for Student Success (CSS)
combines our Academic Achievement Program and
our Bar Exam Services. Your success is about more
than just grades and tests. Your success is achieved
with the skills you master to flourish in school,
on the bar exam, and in your career. The CSS is
staffed with a team of experts with deep experience
in helping students succeed. This team you and
your classmates with extensive support which
in integrated across the curriculum that focuses
heavily on demonstration, practice, and feedback.

The McCarthy Institute 1st STEP: Summer Trial and Evidence Program

The McCarthy Institute, located jointly in both GGU Law’s nationally recognized Summer Trial
the law and business schools, is the world’s and Evidence Program (1st STEP) lets top-tier
preeminent IP law and business innovation students train as litigators in the summer after their
institute with work that ranges from intellectual first year in law school. 1st STEP rigorously hones
property and trademarks to branding and the students’ courtroom techniques and provides
advertising. The McCarthy Institute is under an early advantage in today’s competitive job
the leadership of Professor David Franklyn, a market. During the nine-week, eleven-unit
prominent law professor considered one of the program, students take Evidence, Motion Practice,
nation’s most renowned experts on intellectual Trial Evidence & Advocacy, and a unique Litigation
property and technology law. The McCarthy Center course called “Evidence in the Courtroom.”
Institute employs a number of student fellows This offers the experience and skills needed to give
who assist with the Institute’s research projects them the confidence to appear in court on behalf of
and are afforded opportunities to serve as named clients, as they spend their 2L fall semester working
co-authors on published research papers. It offers in law firms, government internships, legal clinics,
students enriching opportunities to work together and other legal settings.
with business, government, industry, and legal
professionals in this vibrant and growing sector of Honors Lawyering Program
the global economy.
Golden Gate University School of Law is
exceptionally proud of our Honors Lawyering
Program (HLP), which takes a unique approach
to legal education. Our innovative HLP track
integrates the theory, skills, and values learned
in the classroom with actual hands-on work in
the legal community-- a modern version of the
traditional apprenticeship. Students who apply
and are selected for this highly competitive and
rigorous program complete the regular first-
year curriculum, followed by an eight-week
intensive summer program. HLP students then
spend their fall semester participating in full-time
apprenticeships in law firms, courts, government
agencies, and grassroots advocacy organizations
in the San Francisco Bay Area and around the
world. The combination of legal scholarship and
practical training provides HLP participants with a
level of knowledge and legal skills unmatched in a
traditional legal studies program.



Student Profiles

Holly Graves (JD 19)

Undergraduate Institution: Ohio Northern University
Degree(s): Chemistry, B.S.
Law Activities: President, Student Bar Association; Member, Intellec-
tual Property Law Society; Member, Pride Law; Member, Asian Pacific
American Law Student Association; Externship, The United States At-
torney’s Office, Civil Division; Externship, Peretz & Associates; Intern,
Marin County Office of the Public Administrator
Why GGU Law? I was blown away by all the services GGU Law offers
students during school, in bar exam preparation, and in job searches
before and after graduation.

Bacilio Mendez II (JD/MBA Honors Lawyering Program 20)

Undergraduate Institution: Undergrad, Oberlin College; Grad School,
Pratt Institute
Degree(s): Ballet & Modern Dance, B.A; Library & Information
Science, M.A.
Law Activities: Honors Lawyering Program; Pro Bono Honors
Society; Chair, Pride Law; GGU Law Representative, American
Bar Association; Summer Law and Policy Fellow, California
Reinvestment Coalition; Summer Law Clerk, AIDS Legal Referral Panel;
Certified Law Clerk, Gang Homicide Unit of the San Francisco District
Attorney’s Office
Why GGU Law? I like the unique ability to pursue a JD/MBA, as well
as the Honors Lawyering Program with the option of earning credits
toward an LLM while I’m still a JD student.

Cesilia Fernandez (JD 16)

Undergraduate Institution: California State University Chico
Degree(s): International Relations, B.A.; Spanish, B.A.
Law Activities: Vice President, Student Bar Association; Community
Outreach Chair, LA RAZA Law Student Association; 2016 Participant,
Summer Trial & Evidence Program (1ST STEP); Law Clerk, San Francis-
co Public Defender’s Office; Law Clerk, Alameda County Public De-
fender’s Office
Why GGU Law? I chose GGU Law because of the small classroom sizes
and accessibility to professors. GGU Law made me feel safe and part of
a community from day one.

Housing

Welcome to San Francisco! Our city is one of the
fastest growing and most desirable places to live, so
you should begin your search as soon as possible
to find the unique neighborhood that is right for
you! Although Golden Gate University does not
provide student housing, you can find information
and resources on housing accommodations in our
Housing Resource Guide, which each student will
receive. In addition, the staff in the Admissions
Office can offer advice on moving to the Bay Area
or you can find more information on our Admitted
Student page:
http://law.ggu.edu/admissions/admitted-students

Making the Offer

Every admitted student is required to pay two Pay by check or money order, payable to “Golden
seat deposits totaling $1,000 as an expression of Gate University School of Law” and mail to:
intent to enroll at GGU Law. For those admitted Golden Gate University, Office of Law Admissions,
students who enroll, seat deposits will be credited 536 Mission Street,
toward first semester tuition costs. Please note that San Francisco, CA 94105
payment deadline extensions cannot be granted.
Your first seat deposit of $500 is non-refundable
You may pay your seat deposits by credit, debit, and due no later than April 15, 2020. If you’re
check or money order. Instructions for each option admitted after April 15, 2020, your first deposit is
are below: due within two weeks from the date of your offer
of admission, and the due date will be noted in
Pay online with a credit or debit card at your offer letter of admission.
http://law.ggu.edu/admissions/admitted-students
Your second seat deposit of $500 is due no later
than June 1, 2020.

Save the Date

February 21

Honors Lawyering Program Luncheon

March - Exact date TBD

1st Step Information Session and lunch

April 6

Admitted Student Preview Day

May TBD

New Student and Faculty Mixer

Additional Regional Events TBD

Chicago
Los Angeles
New York City
Sacramento
San Diego
Silicon Valley

Check your email, law.ggu.edu/admissions/admitted-
students, or our Admitted Students Facebook page for
exact dates, times, and locations.

Campus Visit

Admitted students are encouraged to tour the
campus and observe a law school class. Campus
visits are offered weekly and by appointment.
You may schedule a campus visit that is
convenient for you at law.ggu.edu/admissions/
admitted-students. Alternatively, you may
schedule a visit with us by calling us
(415) 442-6630.

Please note that class visits are unavailable during
the week of Spring Break, March 2-6, 2020. Fewer
classes are available during the summer session,
but you are welcome to tour the campus and
speak with a member of the Admissions Office.

SaSmapmle SpchleeduSlechedule

First Year, 1st Semester – Full-time Daily Schedule

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Break &
Relaxation 8:45am -10:00am 8:45am -10:00am Break &
Break & Civil Procedure Civil Procedure Relaxation
Relaxation
Break & Study & 10:15am - 11:30am Study & 10:15am - 11:30am 10:15am - 11:30am Break &
Relaxation Reading Torts Reading Torts Torts Relaxation

Study & Lunch Lunch Lunch 12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch
Reading IP Panel
Study & 1:15pm - 2:30pm
Reading Criminal Law 1:15pm - 2:30pm Study &
Criminal Law Reading
Study &
Reading Study & Study & Study & 1:30pm - 3:30pm Study &
Reading Reading Reading Legal Writing & Reading

3:00pm - 4:15pm Research Study &
Contracts Reading
3:00pm - 4:15pm 3:00pm - 4:00pm

Contracts SORG Meeting

Study & Study & Study & Study & Study & Break &
Reading Reading Reading Reading Reading Relaxation

First Year, 1st Semester – Part-time Evening Daily Schedule

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Study & Employment or Employment or Employment or Employment or Employment or Break &
Reading other obligations other obligations other obligations other obligations other obligations Relaxation
Study &
Reading Study &
Study & Reading
Reading
Break & Study & 6:30pm - 9:10pm 6:30pm - 9:10pm 6:30pm - 9:10pm Study & Study &
Relaxation Reading Contracts Legal Writing & Torts Reading Reading

Research Study &
Reading

Break &
Relaxation

* These are not actual first year schedules but simply an idea of what one might look like for you.
Your actual schedule will be assigned to you in late July.

Break & Relaxation and enjoy the fresh agriculture from own backyard.
You can supplement classroom study and clinical For those who prefer to pack a brown bag lunch,
experience with cable car rides and day trips to the the GGU Student Café offers a place to eat, study,
Pacific Ocean and Redwood forests. They can enjoy and socialize with classmates. Students may also
the nearby historic, cultural, and culinary centers enjoy eating in the plaza level of the courtyard.
of Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Mission Student Organizations usually hold their meetings
District, and North Beach. World-class shopping during lunchtime so students are able to get
at Union Square and San Francisco Giants baseball involved without missing lecture.
games at AT&T Park are within short walks of
campus. World-renowned fine arts venues and the Studying & Reading
magnificent Golden Gate Park are all accessible The Law Library, the largest law collection in the
from campus by public transportation. San Francisco financial district, offers a quiet space
to study. Several law library study rooms are
Lunch available exclusively for law students. For others,
Our campus is within steps of cuisine from all the lobbies on each floor of the campus may be
over the world, from Thai and Chinese to Italian better suited for their study environment. Students
and Greek, to our homegrown California Fusion. may also reserve classrooms, if available, to read
In addition, students can check out our weekly and study, either individually or in groups.
farmers markets just blocks from the law school

Student Organizations

• American Constitution Society • National Lawyers Guild
• Asian Pacific American Law Student Association • Pilipino American Law Society
• Black Law Student Association • Phi Alpha Delta
• Business Law Association • Pride Law
• Criminal Law Society • Public Interest Law Foundation
• Environmental Law Society • Society of Litigators
• Estate Planning Society • Sports and Entertainment Law Club
• Immigration Coalition Group • Student Animal Legal Defense Fund
• Intellectual Property Law Association • Student Bar Association
• International Law Society • Students for Sensible Drug Policy
• Jewish Law Student Association • Veteran Law Student Association
• Labor & Employment Law Association • Women’s Law Association
• L a Raza Law Student Association • Young and Family Law Society
• Law Wellness Club

Clinics and Centers

• Center for Urban Environmental Law Specialization Certificates
• Environmental Law and Justice Clinic • Business Law
• Pro Bono Tax Clinic • Environmental Law
• Center for Intellectual Property and Privacy Law • Family Law
• Litigation Center • Intellectual Property Law
• Veterans Legal Advocacy Center • Litigation
• Women’s Employment Rights Clinic • Public Interest Law

Alumni Profiles

Honorable Nancy O’Malley (JD ’83, LLD ’12)

District Attorney of Alameda County

Notable Achievements:
Instructor of the Year award from CA District Attorney’s Association;
Governor’s Victims’ Service Award for Exceptional Dedication and
Outstanding Leadership; Women’s Hall of Fame inductee, Alameda
County; The Liz Figueroa Domestic Violence Prevention Award; State
Leader Award; and many more.

Jen Lam (JD ’08)

Product Counsel, AirBnB

Notable Achievements:
Former IP and Product Counsel at Zynga; completed internships at
Yahoo!, deCarta, San Francisco District Attorney’s Office; Public Policy
Intern at the Office of the Mayor, San Francisco; Intellectual Property
scholar; Union Bank Scholarship recipient

Honorable Alan Jaroslovsky (JD ’77)

Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District
of California

Notable Achievements:
Combat veteran; GGU Law Review; Legal White House Intern for
the Ford Administration; Served as Chief Bankruptcy Judge for
Northern District of California; former President of the Sonoma
County Bar Association; Author of Practical Bankruptcy Procedure
(Shepard’s/McGraw Hill 1993)

Careers

• AIDS Legal Referral Panel • Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
• Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps • Levin Simes LLP
• Alameda County, Office of the District Attorney • Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers
• Alameda County, Office of the Public Defender • Miller Law Group
• Andersen Tax • Novak Druce Connolly Bove + Quigg LLP
• Ari Law, P.C. • Phillips, Spallas, & Angstadt LLP
• Audet & Partners LLP • Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley PC
• Bayview/Hunters Point Community Legal • San Francisco Housing Authority
• Bledsoe, Diestel, Treppa & Crane LLP • Santa Barbara County, Office of the
• Block & Leviton LLP
• Brayton Purcell LLP District Attorney
• Butte County, Office of the District Attorney
• California Office of the Attorney General, • Santa Clara County, Office of the Public Defender
• Social Justice Collaborative
Department of Justice • S olano County, Office of the Alternate

• California Rural Assistance Program Public Defender
• City and County of San Francisco
• Consumer Law Center • Solano County, Office of the District Attorney
• Dickson Geesman LLP • Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners PC
• DLA Piper • Surowitz Immigration PC
• Donahue Fitzgerald LLP • T acoma Pierce County Bar Association
• Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc.
• Hanson Bridgett LLP Volunteer Legal Services
• Humboldt County, Office of the District Attorney
• Jacobs Engineering Group • Thomas, Quinn & Krieger LLP
• Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP • Thomson Reuters
• Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP • U .S. Department of Homeland Security,
• Laughlin, Falbo, Levy & Moresi LLP
• Law Foundation of Silicon Valley Citizenship and Immigration Services

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement

• U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development

• U.S. Department of Labor
• Veterans Legal Advocacy Center at

Golden Gate University School of Law

536 Mission Street
San Francisco CA 94105
415-442-6630
[email protected]
Web law.ggu.edu
Twitter @GGULaw
Facebook /ggulaw
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