Making History

The University of California, Irvine School of Law is the first new law school at a member institution of the Association of American Universities—the organization of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada—and the first new law school at a public university in California in half a century. The new school is being developed at the opportune time, and the opportune place, to address the needs of the legal profession in the 21st century.

The University of California, Irvine School of Law delivers an innovative—and much-needed—new way of approaching legal education. Emphasis is placed on experiential learning—ensuring meaningful opportunities for students to gain hands-on, real-world experience—and interdisciplinary learning. UC Irvine already had some of the top faculty in the country in law-related fields, such as law and humanities, law and society, law and business, criminology, law and psychology, law and economics, and other disciplines. Part of what will make the new law school distinctive is its use of these outstanding faculty members in creating a truly interdisciplinary law school.

The school also builds upon UC Irvine’s existing strengths in emerging technology, social policy, international business and health care, and will produce 21st century leaders in law, business and public service.

From the earliest planning stages for the University of California, Irvine campus, a law school was envisioned as an integral part of the academic mission of the campus. A generous gift from the Donald Bren Foundation in 2007 enabled UC Irvine to bring the plans for the new School of Law to fruition.

> Origins of the school
> Call for change in legal education
> Press release archive