Diversity & Inclusion
USC Gould School of Law

As one of the most diverse law schools in the nation, USC Gould recognizes the inherent value a diverse academic community offers to students, the legal profession and our broader society.

A Message from the Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Dean of Students for the JD Program

In my role as Dean of Students, I am thrilled to be part of the Gould School of Law at this critical juncture in our nation. There is intense focus on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and belonging. Gould is uniquely situated to make positive and meaningful contributions to the discussion, as we are preparing our students to be legal scholars and change agents after they leave the law school. While our students are only with us for a short time, here at Gould is where they are establishing the foundation for the leaders they will become.

During their time at Gould, tending to issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism is vital to ensuring that every member of the Gould community feels a sense of respect and belonging, can take advantage of all USC has to offer, and has an opportunity to maximize their potential. Tending to these critical issues after their time at Gould ensures that our students are entering the legal profession with the cultural competence and ability to analyze issues from multiple perspectives. As the world continues to diversify at a rapid pace, this will serve them well in their careers.

While we may approach issues of DEI, social justice, and anti-racism through different lenses, it is by coming together and tackling these matters that we begin to move from simply being diverse to also being inclusive. I look forward to leading the Gould community on this very important journey.

In solidarity,
Dr. Nickey Woods

By the Numbers

See the full entering JD class profile

Global Perspective

• Take international and comparative law courses, including "International Human Rights," "International Arbitration," "International Business Transactions," "International Criminal Law," and "International Trade Policy and Public International Law."
• Study abroad in Italy, Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong and France (JD only).
• Find your community away from home: Students in USC Gould's JD, graduate and international programs hail from more than 70 countries, spanning six continents. With more than 7,000 international students each year, USC has long attracted one of the largest foreign student populations of any U.S. university.
• Extend your network through the Trojan Family, which comprises more than 10,000 law alumni - including partners in the world's largest law firms, leaders of civil rights movements, and CEOs and presidents of multibillion-dollar companies.
• Benefit from USC's global reach: USC maintains eight international offices around the world and dozens of international alumni clubs.

An Ongoing Commitment

USC Gould's community-building efforts in diversity, equity and inclusion include required diversity training for first-year JD students, regular school-wide conversations — and more.

University-Wide

USC attracts more underrepresented minority graduate students than any public or private university in the Association of American Universities. The university ranked No. 6 most diverse university in the nation, according to data website Priceonomics, and No. 15 U.S. university in a Wall Street Journal survey that looked at student body diversity, resources for student success and graduates' ability to obtain satisfying, high-paying jobs.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

USC is implementing, and improving upon, diversity and inclusion initiatives to reflect the evolving needs of our community. Learn more.

First Generation Plus Success Center

Launched in fall 2020, the First Generation Plus Success Center includes high touch advising and coaching, virtual peer mentorship, assistance to access financial aid and scholarships, and a variety of online student success workshops to help first-generation, transfer, and DACA students succeed at USC. Learn more.

USC Student Equity and Inclusion Programs

USC Student Equity and Inclusion Programs include services and programs that focus on intersectionality, sense of belonging and well-being.

• Asian Pacific American Student Services
• Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs
• Latinx/Chicanx Center for Advocacy and Student Affairs
• LGBT Resource Center
• Trojan Food Pantry
• Veterans Resource Center

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