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Golden Gate University School of Law

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Coordinates: 37°47′21″N 122°23′56″W / 37.7892°N 122.3988°W / 37.7892; -122.3988
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Golden Gate University School of Law
Parent schoolGolden Gate University
EstablishedOctober 1, 1901[1]
School typePrivate non-profit
Parent endowment$59.9 million[2]
DeanEric Christiansen (interim)[3]
LocationSan Francisco, California, US
Enrollment198 (2023)[4]
Faculty91 (33 full-time)[4]
USNWR ranking178th–196th (bottom 8% at most) (2024)[5]
Bar pass rate45.38% (2022 1st time takers)[6]
Websitewww.ggu.edu/law/
ABA profileGolden Gate University School of Law

Golden Gate University School of Law (informally referred to as GGU School of Law, GGU Law and Golden Gate Law) is the law school of Golden Gate University. Located in downtown San Francisco, California, Golden Gate Law is a California non-profit corporation and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) .[7][8] On November 30, 2023, the law school announced that it will discontinue its J.D. program at the end of the current academic year, following years of financial hardship and non-compliance with the ABA's two-year bar pass rate requirement.[9]

History

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Mission Street entrance to GGU's campus

Golden Gate Law was founded in the autumn of 1901 as the YMCA Evening Law School, offering the first evening law program in the state of California.[10] Like other YMCA law schools across the nation, it was established to provide full-time workers the opportunity to attend law school at night. The first graduating class in June 1905 had four male students.[11]

As a component of the San Francisco Central YMCA, classes were held in the YMCA's five-story building at the northeast corner of Mason and Ellis Streets in the Tenderloin until it was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. After the earthquake, the school was conducted out of tents and later leased space at 1220 Geary Street, now Geary Boulevard, in the Western Addition.[12]

On June 1, 1910, the school was incorporated as the "YMCA Law College" for the purpose of conferring LL.B degrees under authority of law.[13][14][15] In November 1910, the Law College moved with the YMCA to its purpose-built home at 220 Golden Gate Ave in the Tenderloin. Law College's graduates enjoyed the diploma privilege from 1915 to its abolition in 1917.[16]

In 1923, the Law College and the YMCA's local educational programs incorporated as "Golden Gate College," separating from the San Francisco Central YMCA. The college became fully independent of the YMCA in 1962.[17] In December 1964, the school moved to its present location, a 1924 warehouse known as the "Allyne Building" at 536 Mission Street near 1st Street in the South of Market, with the rest of the college moving there in June 1968.[18] In September 1966, the law school added a full-time three-year day program.[19] Following the national trend, the school replaced the Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) with the Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) on December 1, 1967, effective spring 1968.[20]

The law school held provisional accreditation from the ABA from 1956 until full approval was granted in 1971. In 1972, the college elevated to university status and became "Golden Gate University," with "Golden Gate University School of Law" as its law school. A new "west wing" of the university was completed in 1979, where most of the school's classroom space is now located.

In 2019, Golden Gate Law received notice that it was not in compliance with ABA Standard 316, which requires accredited law schools to have a two-year bar pass rate of at least 75% or lose accreditation.[7][8] On November 30, 2023, the law school announced that it would discontinue its J.D. program at the end of the current academic year, following years of financial hardship and non-compliance with the ABA's two-year bar pass rate requirement.[9] Lawsuits have followed, including demands that the school stay open; but, in mid-September 2024, the San Francisco Superior Court denied a motion for an injunction against closing the program.[21][22] The school’s teachout program involves full-time students transferring to the University of San Francisco School of Law, and part-time students transferring to the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.[22]

Academics

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Admissions

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For the class entering in 2023, Golden Gate Law accepted 22.43% of applicants while only 10.92% of those accepted enrolled with the average enrollee having a 153 LSAT score and 3.28 undergraduate GPA.[4]

Degrees

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The school currently offers the professional degree in law (J.D.) and advanced degrees in law (LL.M. and S.J.D.) programs in intellectual property, environmental law, taxation, U.S. legal studies, and international law. However, the school announced on November 30, 2023, that it will discontinue its J.D. program at the end of the current academic year, following years of financial hardship and non-compliance with the ABA's two-year bar pass rate requirement.[9] [23]

Students also may earn combined degrees: J.D./M.B.A. with Golden Gate University's Ageno School of Business or J.D./Ph.D. with Palo Alto University.

Western wing of GGU's campus

Clinics and programs

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In 1978, the law school developed a graduate legal program in taxation. In the 1990s, the school developed a graduate legal program in environmental law and the International Legal Studies Program. The law school's Public Interest Scholars Program includes the Environmental Law and Justice Clinic, Veteran's Legal Advocacy Center, and the Women's Employment Rights Clinic.

In 1994, the school's Environmental Law and Justice Clinic (ELJC) was founded. The ELJC provides pro bono legal support to low-income and minority communities suffering from pollution and environmental impacts. It has received numerous awards for its collaboration with grassroots, regional, and national groups in effecting change, most notably for bringing attention to the health disparities resulting from pollution concentrated in the Bayview Hunters-Point neighborhood of San Francisco.[24][25] The ELJC's work with other groups and the City of San Francisco resulted in the closure of two power plants and the prevention of other power plants from being built in Bayview-Hunters Point.[26] In its third decade, the ELJC has focused attention on clean drinking water for low-income communities[27] while also continuing its work to reduce air pollution and to support clients who have long made the connection between civil rights and environmental benefits and harms.

In 1998, the school established the Honors Lawyering Program through which students participate in two full-time, semester-long legal apprenticeships.

The school's clinics and programs are as follow:

  • Pro Bono Tax Clinic
  • Environmental Law & Justice Clinic (ELJC)
  • Honors Lawyering Program (apprenticeships) (HLP)
  • Summer Trial and Evidence Program (1st STEP)
  • Veterans Legal Advocacy Clinic (VLAC)
  • Women's Employment Rights Clinic (WERC)

Accreditation

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The school has been provisionally or fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA) since August 1956.[28] Golden Gate graduates qualify to take the bar exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Golden Gate held only provisional accreditation from the ABA longer than any other law school in history, from August 30, 1956 until full approval was granted on July 6, 1971.[29][28][30] In 2019, Golden Gate received notice that it was not in compliance with ABA Standard 316, which requires accredited law schools to have a two-year bar pass rate of at least 75% or lose accreditation.[7][8] For 2020, Golden Gate had a two-year pass rate of 62.71%.[6]

GGU's San Francisco campus at night

The school was approved by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California in 1940. It is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS).[31] On an institution-wide basis, Golden Gate University has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1959. The university has been accredited by what is now the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools since 1950.[citation needed]

Bar passage rates

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45.38% of Golden Gate graduates who took a bar examination for the first time in 2022 passed. That year 49% of Golden Gate first-time takers passed the California bar vs. a statewide first-time average of 66%, an ABA national first-time average of 72.69%, and a 75% first-time average for passage of the California bar by graduates of ABA-approved California law schools. Golden Gate ranked seventeenth and next-to-last (missing last place by one percentage point) among ABA-approved California law schools.[6][32] In 2019, Golden Gate received notice that it was not in compliance with ABA Standard 316, which requires accredited law schools to have a two-year bar pass rate of at least 75% or lose accreditation.[7][8] For 2020, Golden Gate had a two-year bar pass rate of 62.71%.[6]

Cost of attendance

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The total cost of attendance (indicating the cost of tuition, fees, and living expenses) for continuing students at Golden Gate Law for the 2018-2019 academic year was $77,750.[33]

Post-graduation employment

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According to Golden Gate Law's official 2023 ABA-required employment disclosures, within nine months of graduation 39.83% of the Class of 2022 obtained full-time, long-term employment in positions that required bar passage, while 33.05% of the class obtained some other form of employment, and 27.12% of graduates were unemployed and seeking employment.[34]

Rankings

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For 2024, the law school is ranked 180-196 overall out of 196 law schools (the bottom 8% at most) and tied for #60 out of 70 schools in part-time law (the bottom 14%) by U.S. News & World Report.[5]

In 2018, the law school received an "A+" in The National Jurist's rankings in the "Best For Diversity" category.[35]

For three consecutive years between 2016 and 2018, Golden Gate University was ranked #1 in the nation for "adult learners" by Washington Monthly.[36]

Notable people

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Diana Becton (JD 1985)
Phillip Burton (LL.B 1952) (deceased)
Carol Ruth Silver former Golden Gate faculty member
Caspar Weinberger (deceased)
former Golden Gate instructor (pre-1966)
Main article: List of Golden Gate University people

Alumni

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Faculty

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References

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  1. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (October 1, 1901). "The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, October 01, 1901, Image 12" – via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
  2. ^ As of June 30, 2011."Statement of Financial Position". GGU Magazine, Fall 2011. p. 40. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  3. ^ Bazeley, Michael (August 13, 2020). "Professor Eric Christiansen Named Interim Law Dean at Golden Gate University School of Law". newsroom.ggu.edu. San Francisco: Golden Gate University. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Golden Gate University - 2022 Standard 509 Information Report". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Golden Gate University". U.S. News & World Report – Best Law Schools. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "First Time Bar Passage Golden Gate University". abarequireddisclosures.org. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Moran, Lyle (December 20, 2021). "2 law schools found to be out of compliance with ABA's bar passage standard". ABA Journal. American Bar Association. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d Frakt, David (May 17, 2022). "Law Schools Miss the Mark on Bar Passage - Will the ABA Act?". The Faculty Lounge. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Sloan, Karen (November 30, 2023). "Law degree program axed at California's Golden Gate University amid accreditation woes". Reuters. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  10. ^ "Golden Gate University Master Institutional Plan" (PDF). sfplanning.org. City of San Francisco Planning Department. 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  11. ^ "Law Students Get Coveted Diplomas" (PDF). San Francisco Call. June 7, 1905.
  12. ^ "Educational Section of Y.M.C.A. To Open" (PDF). San Francisco Call. September 9, 1909.
  13. ^ "Y.M.C.A. Incorporates Evening Law School" (PDF). San Francisco Call. June 8, 1905.
  14. ^ but cf. Office of the Secretary of State, California (June 1, 1910). Corporation Reg. No. C0061552.
  15. ^ Cal. Civ. Code § 650(10). Deering. 1909.
  16. ^ Cal. Code Civ.P. § 280b, as amended by 1915 Cal. Stat. pp. 660 (repealed 1917).
  17. ^ "MOST OF A CENTURY: LAW AND PUBLIC SERVICE, 1930s TO 1990s". Transcript of Oral HistoCry by Louis H. Heilbron. October 28, 1992.
  18. ^ "Golden Gate University's place in San Francisco history" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  19. ^ "Golden Gate College School of Law Bulletin 1966–1967". Law School Bulletins & Prospectus. January 1966. Retrieved May 5, 2011.
  20. ^ "The Caveat, January 1968" (1968). Caveat. Paper 14". Caveat. January 1968. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  21. ^ "Court rejects injunction to reopen Golden Gate Law's JD program". ABA Journal, September 19, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Golden Gate Law students and alums race to court to keep school open". ABA Journal, August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  23. ^ "ABA Legal Ed council rejects Golden Gate University's plan to end its JD program". www.abajournal.com. American Bar Association. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  24. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved May 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  25. ^ "Clinical Legal Education Association - CLEA Award for Excellence in a Public Interest Case or Project".
  26. ^ Helen H. Kang, "Fighting for Environmental Justice Takes Long-Lasting Coalitions," 45 CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEW: J. POVERTY L. & POL’Y 158 (July–Aug. 2011), reprinted in 3 CLIMATE CHANGE L. & POL’Y (December 12, 2011)
  27. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2015. Retrieved May 8, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. ^ a b ABA Journal November 1956. p. 1061.
  29. ^ Butz, Otto W.; Velia Butz; Nisa Donnelly (January 2008). Voyage of Discovery: The History of Golden gate University Vol. III. Golden Gate University Press. p. 176.
  30. ^ ABA Journal September 1971. p. 899.
  31. ^ "Judy McKelvey: Celebrating Her Contributions to Golden Gate University School of Law and the Legal Profession". Archived from the original on June 10, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.
  32. ^ "Admissions Examinations California July 2022" (PDF). calbar.ca.gov. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  33. ^ "Cost of Attendance". Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  34. ^ "Employment Summary for 2022 Graduates - Golden Gate University". abarequireddisclosures.org. American Bar Association. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  35. ^ "Law School Rankings | the National Jurist".[permanent dead link‍]
  36. ^ "Golden Gate University Ranked #1 in the US for Adult Learners for Third Consecutive Year". ggu.edu. Golden Gate University. August 27, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  37. ^ "Golden Gate University School of Law Commencement Featured Contra Costa County District Attorney And Alumna Diana Becton (JD, 1985)". prnewswire.com. PR Newswire Association LLC. May 22, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  38. ^ "PROFILES: JOAN BLADES JD 80". ggu.edu. Golden Gate University. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  39. ^ "C. David Briley". Bone McCallester Norton PLLC. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  40. ^ Turner, Wallace (April 11, 1983). "REP. PHILLIP BURTON, DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL, DIES ON VISIT TO CALIFORNIA". The New York Times. Retrieved December 5, 2019. He earned a law degree from Golden Gate Law School
  41. ^ a b c d e Jordan, Paul. "Golden Gate Law School – Travail to Triumph". GGU Law Digital Commons.
  42. ^ Christen, Morgan at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  43. ^ "Peter Maitland Corroon #178191". calbar.ca.gov. State Bar of California. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  44. ^ "Gary Wolff Goldstein #83504". calbar.ca.gov. State Bar of California. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  45. ^ Kaner, Cem. "Cem Kaner, J.D., Ph.D. Software Engineering Professor and Consumer Advocate". kaner.com. Cem Kaner. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  46. ^ "Gregory Randolph Kasten - #113158". Attorney Search. The State Bar of California. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  47. ^ "Full Biography for Linda J. Lezotte". smartvoter.org. June 2, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  48. ^ "George Malek-Yonan". January 18, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  49. ^ "Top Attorney- Bruce W. Nickerson". whoswhopr.com. Top Attorneys of North America. May 18, 2017. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  50. ^ "Cindy Alayne Ossias #111121". calbar.ca.gov. State Bar of California. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  51. ^ Pro, Philip Martin at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  52. ^ Rothken, Ira P. (1992). "Preface". Golden Gate University Law Review. 22. Golden Gate U. L. Rev.
  53. ^ "Mike Terrizzi". ptlegal.com. Plastiras & Terrizzi Attorneys at Law. Retrieved December 5, 2019. A graduate of ... Golden Gate University School of Law[permanent dead link‍]
  54. ^ "HANNA M. THOMPSON". foleymansfield.com. Foley & Mansfield. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  55. ^ Golden Gate Lawyer (December 2011). "Golden Gate Lawyer, Fall/Winter 2012". digitalcommons.law.ggu.edu. GGU Law Digital Commons. Retrieved December 5, 2019. Paul R. Traub (JD 77)
  56. ^ "Biography: Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan". asmdc.org. California State Assembly Democratic Caucus. June 7, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  57. ^ "Colin Crawford Named Dean of Golden Gate University School of Law". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo News / PRNewswire. February 24, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.[dead link‍]
  58. ^ Henderson, Thelton Eugene at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  59. ^ Andrew McClurg Archived December 6, 2008, at the Wayback Machine.
  60. ^ Lowery, George (November 29, 2005). "Unfair and unequal: Attorney Minter champions rights of sexual minorities". Cornell University Chronicle. Retrieved December 28, 2019.
  61. ^ "Associate Dean Anthony Niedwiecki to Become Dean of Golden Gate University School of Law". The John Marshall Law School. May 9, 2017.
  62. ^ Poole, Cecil F. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  63. ^ "Carol Ruth Silver". independent.org. Independent Institute. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  64. ^ "Top Attorney- Carol Ruth Silver". whoswhopr.com. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  65. ^ "Justice Lidia S. Stiglich". nvcourts.gov. Supreme Court of Nevada. Retrieved December 5, 2019. She has served as an adjunct law professor at ... Golden Gate University School of Law
  66. ^ Wingate, Henry Travillion at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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37°47′21″N 122°23′56″W / 37.7892°N 122.3988°W / 37.7892; -122.3988

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