University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
United States
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The Program
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USF offers three LLM programs and a Masters Program to help attorneys advance in their careers.
The admissions committee reviews files in the order they are completed, on a rolling basis. Therefore, it is to the applicant’s advantage to submit the complete application with supporting materials as early as possible. Applications will be reviewed once all required documents and the application fee have been received. Applications will still be accepted after the priority deadline subject to the availability of space remaining in the entering class.
LLM IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY LAW The LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology Program, which is open to U.S. students with law degrees and foreign students, focuses on American and international law in the intellectual property field. Skills training and career development are key features of the program, and networking opportunities with alumni practitioners abound.
LLM IN INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS AND COMPARATIVE LAW The LLM in International Transactions and Comparative Program, which is open only to foreign students who are fluent in English, equips students with a strong grounding in legal theory and practical skills to move their career forward in the United States and abroad. Students focus on either international commercial and business transactions law, international human rights law, or an in-depth study of a particular area of U.S. law.
LLM IN TAXATION and MASTERS IN LEGAL STUDIES IN TAXATION These programs provide a firm grounding in the major areas of taxation and prepares graduates for successful careers in tax. The program is conveniently located in the heart of San Francisco’s financial district, so that working professionals can easily participate in the program. Online courses are also offered, allowing students the ultimate flexibility to earn their degree in a way that works for them.
The University
In the U.S. News & World Report 2022 USF remains in the top 100 for most international students and for best value as well as placing No. 1 in the nation for ethnic diversity and No. 103 overall. In the new Princeton Review college survey, USF rates as a top university in the United States.
The University of San Francisco, the city's first university, was established by the Jesuits in October 1855. Around the original site of USF, a dynamic, diverse, distinctive city has grown and thrives. And at each step of that city’s development, USF has provided leadership and service.
The core mission of the university is to promote learning in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as persons and professionals, and the values and sensitivity necessary to be men and women for others.
Our students graduate ready for anything and curious about everything. At USF they gain comprehensive expertise, communication skills, and hands-on experience. But more importantly, they learn how to lead and inspire change, as professionals and partners, academics and neighbors.
The Law School
The University of San Francisco School of Law, founded in 1912 and accredited by the American Bar Association, offers a rigorous education with a global perspective within a diverse, supportive community. Our professors bring to the classroom the highest educational credentials, substantial practical experience, and an underlying dedication to teaching, scholarship, and service. Studying at USF, located in the center of one of the world's most dynamic cities, offers vast opportunities for career growth.
The law school is housed in the Koret Law Center, one of the most modern law school facilities in America. The center includes the technologically advanced Dorraine Zief Law Library and Kendrick Hall, which is home to classrooms, offices, and student lounges.
The Faculty
Professor Connie de le Vega
Ranked the 10th most diverse law faculty in the nation by the Princeton Review.
An accomplished faculty of dedicated teachers and noted scholars is the foundation of the USF School of Law's academic program. The full-time faculty is complemented by a large group of adjunct, visiting, and emeriti professors. They include federal and state judges, attorneys from public agencies, partners in leading international law firms, and in-house counsel for multi-national corporations.
Academic Director of the International Programs - Professor Connie de la Vega
Professor Connie de la Vega writes extensively on international human rights law and participates in United Nations human rights meetings. She has submitted amicus briefs detailing international law standards to U.S. courts for juvenile death penalty and affirmative action cases, including Roper v. Simmons and Graham and Sullivan v. Florida, and has been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court. De la Vega is the co–author of The American Legal System for Foreign Lawyers (Wolters Kluwer, 2011) and International Human Rights Law: An Introduction (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007). Her latest publication The Guide to International Human Rights Procedures is forthcoming, July 2019. She established the Frank C. Newman International Human Rights Law Clinic at USF and is a founding member of Human Rights Advocates.
Academic Director of the IPT LLM Program - Professor Michael Dergosits
Since 1993, Mr. Dergosits has taught patent law as an adjunct professor of patent law at the University of San Francisco School of Law. In 2005, he was honored as the Distinguished Adjunct Professor of the Year. He frequently speaks and authors publications on intellectual property topics. Mr. Dergosits possesses more than 25 years of legal experience and focuses on handling trials, trial preparation, and counseling (including litigation avoidance) regarding patent matters. He founded Dergosits & Noah LLP in 1993 with Todd A. Noah. Mr. Dergosits represents clients in connection with a wide range of technologies, and has extensive experience in counseling clients concerning potential claims of willful patent infringement. Mr. Dergosits is a former president of the San Francisco Intellectual Property Law Association and the Federal Circuit Bar Association, where he also served as a member of the board of governors for five years. He was a member of the Cyberspace Law Committee of the California State Bar and the American Intellectual Property Law Association, a board member of the Federal Circuit Historical Society, and a former member of the San Francisco Bay Area Intellectual Property Inns of Court.
Professor Daniel Lathrope's teaching and research focus is taxation. He is the co–author of several casebooks on individual, corporate, and partnership taxation, including Fundamentals of Federal Income Taxation, Fundamentals of Corporate Taxation, and Fundamentals of Partnership Taxation. He is the author of The Alternative Minimum Tax—Compliance and Planning with Analysis, a treatise on the alternative minimum tax, and a book on comparative income taxation titled Global Issues in Income...
Alumni
Our accomplished alumni are spread across the globe and in various fields. Here are some highlights of our alumni:
- NEW DAY, NEW CHALLENGES IN IP LAW - Profile of Sophia Mangold, LLM 17
- LLM Grad makes a Global Leap - Profile on Margarita Zakian, LLM 07
Programs at USF Law
Full-Time
- Students take two required LL.M.-only courses and are otherwise fully integrated into the JD program.
- Listed tuition is based on the current per credit cost for 24 credit hours.
- Program includes full-time and part-time enrollment options, with most courses offered online.
- Listed tuition is based on the current per credit cost for 24 credit hours.
Part-Time
- Students take two required LL.M.-only courses and are otherwise fully integrated into the JD program.
- Listed tuition is based on the current per credit cost for 24 credit hours for part-time students.
- Listed tuition is based on the current per credit cost for 24 credit hours.
- Program includes full-time and part-time enrollment options, with most courses offered online.
- Listed tuition is based on the current per credit cost for 24 credit hours.
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University of San Francisco (USF) School of Law
2130 Fulton Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-1080
United States
School Profile Nov 13, 2024
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