Golden Gate University School of Law
Encyclopedia
Golden Gate University School of Law (informally referred to as GGU School of Law, GGU Law and Golden Gate Law) is one of the professional graduate school
s of Golden Gate University
. Located in downtown San Francisco, California, GGU is a California non-profit corporation and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). In February 2010, the National Jurist ranked the law school
's public interest program 39th in the country.
GGU Law was founded in the autumn of 1901 as the YMCA
Evening Law School, a component of the San Francisco Central YMCA Evening College. Classes were held in the YMCA's building at Mason and Ellis Streets in the Tenderloin
, which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
. Like other YMCA Law Schools across the nation, it was established to provide people who worked full-time the opportunity to attend law school at night. The first graduating class in June 1905 had four students (all men). After the earthquake, the school was conducted out of tents, and later leased space at 1220 Geary St. (now Geary Boulevard
) near Franklin Street in the Western Addition
neighborhood. For the purpose of conferring the LL.B degree under authority of law the school was incorporated as the Young Men's Christian Association Law College on June 1, 1910. With the rest of the YMCA the law college moved to its purpose-built home at 220 Golden Gate Ave, near Leavenworth Street, again in the Tenderloin in November 1910. The Law College's graduates enjoyed the diploma privilege
from 1915 to its abolition in 1917.
The YMCA Golden Gate School of Law along with the rest of the local "Y"'s educational programs was formally incorporated separately from the San Francisco Central YMCA in April 1923, as Golden Gate College. The school left the YMCA's Golden Gate Ave. quarters and moved to its present location, a 1926 warehouse known as the "Alleyne Building" at 536 Mission Street
, near 1st Street in the South of Market
district in December 1964 with the rest of the college joining it two years later. The law school added a full-time three year day program in September
1966. Following the national trend, the school replaced the Bachelor of Laws
with the Doctor of Jurisprudence
in 1967. The college elevated to university status and became Golden Gate University
in 1972, with Golden Gate University School of Law as its law school.
Golden Gate University School of Law has a history of developing programs to meet the demands of law students, the community, and the legal profession. The Public Interest Scholars Program encourages students to use their legal education to serve their communities. In addition, the law school's on-site Women's Employment Rights Clinic and Environmental Law & Justice Clinic provide opportunities for students to work with real clients who may not otherwise have access to legal counsel.
In 1978, the law school developed a graduate legal program in taxation and in the 1990s graduate programs in environmental law
, an International Legal Studies Program, and U.S. legal studies. In 1998, the school continued its tradition of providing a practical legal education by establishing the Honors Lawyering Program through which students participate in two full-time, semester-long legal apprenticeships.
It was listed with a "B+" in the March 2011 "Diversity Honor Roll" by The National Jurist: The Magazine for Law Students.
The school offers offers a first degree in law (J.D.
) and first graduate degrees in law (L.L.M., and doctoral S.J.D.) programs in intellectual property
, environmental law
, taxation, U.S. legal studies and international law
.
Certificates of specialization are available in:
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.
The school has been accredited by the American Bar Association
since 1956. Additionally it has been accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
since 1940. It is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools
(AALS). Graduates qualify to take the bar exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. On an institution-wide basis, Golden Gate University
has been fully accredited on an institution-wide basis by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
(WASC) since 1959. (It had been accredited by what is now the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
from 1950.)
In response, the school's dean, Drucilla Stender Ramey, said, "Of course some students are disappointed. I thought I'd be 5-foot-10, and I'm 4-11." She declined to say how many students would lose their scholarships in 2011, suggesting that doing so would violate the privacy rights of the students.
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
s of Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
. Located in downtown San Francisco, California, GGU is a California non-profit corporation and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). In February 2010, the National Jurist ranked the law school
Law school in the United States
In the United States, a law school is an institution where students obtain a professional education in law after first obtaining an undergraduate degree.Law schools in the U.S...
's public interest program 39th in the country.
History
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
Evening Law School, a component of the San Francisco Central YMCA Evening College. Classes were held in the YMCA's building at Mason and Ellis Streets in the Tenderloin
Tenderloin, San Francisco, California
The Tenderloin is a neighborhood in downtown San Francisco, California, in the flatlands on the southern slope of Nob Hill, nestled between the Union Square shopping district to the northeast and the Civic Center office district to the southwest...
, which was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
. Like other YMCA Law Schools across the nation, it was established to provide people who worked full-time the opportunity to attend law school at night. The first graduating class in June 1905 had four students (all men). After the earthquake, the school was conducted out of tents, and later leased space at 1220 Geary St. (now Geary Boulevard
Geary Boulevard
Geary Boulevard is a major east-west thoroughfare in San Francisco, California, beginning downtown at Market Street near Market Street's intersection with Montgomery Street, and running westbound through downtown, the Civic Center area, the Western Addition, and running for most of its length...
) near Franklin Street in the Western Addition
Western Addition, San Francisco, California
The Western Addition is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, United States.-Location:The Western Addition is sandwiched between Van Ness Avenue, Golden Gate Park, the Upper and Lower Haight neighborhoods, and Pacific Heights....
neighborhood. For the purpose of conferring the LL.B degree under authority of law the school was incorporated as the Young Men's Christian Association Law College on June 1, 1910. With the rest of the YMCA the law college moved to its purpose-built home at 220 Golden Gate Ave, near Leavenworth Street, again in the Tenderloin in November 1910. The Law College's graduates enjoyed the diploma privilege
Diploma privilege
In the United States, the diploma privilege is a method for lawyers to be admitted to the bar without taking a bar examination. Once used by as many as 32 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, Wisconsin is currently the only state that offers a broad diploma privilege for admission to its state...
from 1915 to its abolition in 1917.
The YMCA Golden Gate School of Law along with the rest of the local "Y"'s educational programs was formally incorporated separately from the San Francisco Central YMCA in April 1923, as Golden Gate College. The school left the YMCA's Golden Gate Ave. quarters and moved to its present location, a 1926 warehouse known as the "Alleyne Building" at 536 Mission Street
Mission Street
Mission Street is a north-south arterial thoroughfare in San Francisco, California that runs from the city's southern border to its northeast corner. The street and the Mission District through which it runs were named for the Spanish Mission Dolores, several blocks away from the modern route. Only...
, near 1st Street in the South of Market
South of Market, San Francisco, California
South of Market is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California, United States.-Name and location:Its boundaries are Market Street to the northwest, San Francisco Bay to the northeast, Mission Creek to the southeast, and Division Street, 13th Street and U.S. Route 101 to the southwest...
district in December 1964 with the rest of the college joining it two years later. The law school added a full-time three year day program in September
September
September is the 9th month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars and one of four months with a length of 30 days.September in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of March in the Northern Hemisphere....
1966. Following the national trend, the school replaced the Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
with the Doctor of Jurisprudence
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
in 1967. The college elevated to university status and became Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
in 1972, with Golden Gate University School of Law as its law school.
About the law school
In 1978, the law school developed a graduate legal program in taxation and in the 1990s graduate programs in environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
, an International Legal Studies Program, and U.S. legal studies. In 1998, the school continued its tradition of providing a practical legal education by establishing the Honors Lawyering Program through which students participate in two full-time, semester-long legal apprenticeships.
It was listed with a "B+" in the March 2011 "Diversity Honor Roll" by The National Jurist: The Magazine for Law Students.
Programs
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
) and first graduate degrees in law (L.L.M., and doctoral S.J.D.) programs in intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
, environmental law
Environmental law
Environmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
, taxation, U.S. legal studies and international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
.
Certificates of specialization are available in:
- business law
- criminal lawCriminal lawCriminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
- environmental lawEnvironmental lawEnvironmental law is a complex and interlocking body of treaties, conventions, statutes, regulations, and common law that operates to regulate the interaction of humanity and the natural environment, toward the purpose of reducing the impacts of human activity...
- family lawFamily lawFamily law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
- intellectual property law
- international lawInternational lawPublic international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
- labor law
- litigation
- public interest law
- real estate law
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.
The school has been accredited by the American Bar Association
American Bar Association
The American Bar Association , founded August 21, 1878, is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation...
since 1956. Additionally it has been accredited by the Committee of Bar Examiners of the State Bar of California
State Bar of California
The State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
since 1940. It is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools
Association of American Law Schools
The Association of American Law Schools is a non-profit organization of 170 law schools in the United States. Another 25 schools are "non-member fee paid" schools, which are not members but choose to pay AALS dues. Its purpose is to improve the legal profession through the improvement of legal...
(AALS). Graduates qualify to take the bar exam in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. On an institution-wide basis, Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University
Golden Gate University is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in the South of Market district, immediately south of the Financial District of downtown San Francisco, California...
has been fully accredited on an institution-wide basis by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
(WASC) since 1959. (It had been accredited by what is now the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
Northwest Association of Accredited Schools
The Northwest Accreditation Commission , formerly named the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools, is an organization based in Boise, Idaho which accredits a variety of schools, including K-12, elementary, middle, and high schools; schools offering distance education; non-degree-granting...
from 1950.)
Bar passage rates
Golden Gate reports a 72% pass rate for graduates taking the California Bar on their first try.Post-graduation employment
Official ABA data reports that 85% of Golden Gate Law graduates were employed 9 months after graduation.Publications
- Golden Gate University Law Review is published three times a year, and includes the Ninth Circuit Survey, the only law review journal dedicated solely to addressing cases decided by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Golden Gate University School of Law Environmental Law Journal is published twice during the academic year.
Law Library
Golden Gate University's Law Library houses a collection of more than 373,000 volumes, microforms and electronic resources. The holdings include comprehensive series of case law, statutes, digests, encyclopedias, periodicals, and treatises dealing with American law, a tax collection, microforms collection, a government documents collection, and a body of work in environmental law, law and literature, and international law.Notable events
- Golden Gate University School of Law was northern California's first evening law school.
- Golden Gate University School of Law was northern California's third law school.
- In 1973, Judith McKelvey was appointed Dean; she was the second woman in the United States to be named dean of a law school.
- In 2004, Frederic White was appointed Dean; he was the first African-American dean of an ABA-accredited Law School in California.
Scholarship controversy
In April 2011, the New York Times ran an article on law school scholarships that included interviews with Golden Gate students and alumni who claimed the school had baited them into enrolling by awarding them merit scholarships. Such a scholarship would continue as long as its recipient maintained a GPA of at least 3.0. The article claims that the school did not inform recipients that the school's mandatory first-year curve made it statistically impossible for all of them to maintain a GPA of at least 3.0.In response, the school's dean, Drucilla Stender Ramey, said, "Of course some students are disappointed. I thought I'd be 5-foot-10, and I'm 4-11." She declined to say how many students would lose their scholarships in 2011, suggesting that doing so would violate the privacy rights of the students.
Notable alumni
- Mark S. Anderson (JD '89), Vice President and General Counsel, Dolby LaboratoriesDolby LaboratoriesDolby Laboratories, Inc. , often shortened to Dolby Labs, is an American company specializing in audio noise reduction and audio encoding/compression.-History:...
- Elaine Andrews (JD '76) Superior Court Judge, Alaska (retired)
- John L. Baxter (JD '94), Salt Lake City Justice Court Judge, Salt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City, UtahSalt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
- Joan BladesJoan BladesJoan Blades was the cofounder in 1987 with her husband Wes Boyd of Berkeley Systems, a San Francisco Bay area software company known for marketing the After Dark screensaver and the You Don't Know Jack trivia game...
(JD '80), Co-founder, MoveOn.org - Phillip BurtonPhillip BurtonPhillip Burton was a United States Representative from California. A Democrat, he was instrumental in creating the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Burton was one of the first members of Congress to acknowledge the need for AIDS research and introduce an AIDS bill. He was the brother of...
(LL.B. '52), US Congressman (1975–1982) - Jesse Carter (1913), Associate Justice, Supreme Court of California (1939–1959)
- Morgan ChristenMorgan ChristenMorgan Brenda Christen is an associate justice on the Alaska Supreme Court and a current federal judicial nominee to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Christen was appointed to the Alaska high court on March 4, 2009 by Governor Sarah Palin to replace outgoing...
(JD '86) Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Alaska - Charles R. Conradi (JD '78), Treasurer and Vice President—Tax, CloroxCloroxThe Clorox Company is a US-based manufacturer of various food and chemical products based in Oakland, California, which is best known for its bleach product, Clorox.- History :...
- Peter CorroonPeter CorroonPeter Maitland Corroon is the current mayor of Salt Lake County, Utah, and a member of the Democratic Party. He was the Democratic candidate for governor in the Utah gubernatorial election, 2010, losing to Gary Herbert by a 33 point margin...
, (JD '95), Mayor of Salt Lake County, UtahSalt Lake County, UtahSalt Lake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Utah. It had a population of 1,029,655 at the 2010 census. Its county seat and largest city is Salt Lake City, the state capital. It occupies Salt Lake Valley, as well as parts of the surrounding mountains, the Oquirrh Mountains to the west... - Gail Dekreon (JD '81), San Francisco Superior Court
- Peter Fowler (JD '84), Senior Counsel, US Patent & Trademark Office
- Lt. Col. Lily Hutcheon Gridley (LL.B '30) first female Judge Advocate in the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
- C. J. GoodellC. J. GoodellCouncil Julian Goodell , also called Julian Goodell, was an American attorney and jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the District Court of Appeal of California from 1945 to 1953.-Early life and education:...
(LL.B 1909) Associate Justice, Court of Appeal of California, First Appellate District (1945–1953) - Carol A. King (JD '84), US Immigration Court of the Executive Office for Immigration ReviewExecutive Office for Immigration ReviewThe Executive Office for Immigration Review is an office of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases in the United States. The EOIR oversees immigration courts in the United States through the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge...
- Philip M. Pro (JD '72), US District Court, District of Nevada
- Dave Roberson (JD '78), Senior Vice President and General Manager, Hewlett-PackardHewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
- Richard Rosenberg (JD '66), Former Chairman and CEO, Bank of AmericaBank of AmericaBank of America Corporation, an American multinational banking and financial services corporation, is the second largest bank holding company in the United States by assets, and the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by market capitalization. The bank is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina...
- Sandra M. Snyder (JD '76), US Magistrate, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- Marilyn J. Teeter (JD '77), US Immigration Court of the Executive Office for Immigration ReviewExecutive Office for Immigration ReviewThe Executive Office for Immigration Review is an office of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for adjudicating immigration cases in the United States. The EOIR oversees immigration courts in the United States through the Office of the Chief Immigration Judge...
- Joseph J. Webb (attended 1902–1904) First President of the State Bar of CaliforniaState Bar of CaliforniaThe State Bar of California is California's official bar association. It is responsible for managing the admission of lawyers to the practice of law, investigating complaints of professional misconduct, and prescribing appropriate discipline...
(1926–1927) - Amy M. Wollman (JD '94), Senior Counsel, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc.
Notable faculty
- Professor Clifford Rechtschaffen, former Fulbright Scholar currently on leave as assistant to California Governor Jerry BrownJerry BrownEdmund Gerald "Jerry" Brown, Jr. is an American politician. Brown served as the 34th Governor of California , and is currently serving as the 39th California Governor...
. - Professor Bernie Segal (1930-2011), renowned trial advocate and criminal litigation attorney
- Professor Roger Berhardt, author of leading textbooks on California real property law
- Professor Susan Rutberg, criminal defense attorney whose work has resulted in the exoneration of the wrongfully accused
- Professor and Dean Emeritus Peter Keane, internationally known legal news analyst and former member of the San Francisco Police Commission
- Casper Weinberger former U.S. Secretary of Defense taught Contracts and Civil Procedure as an adjunct instructor in the 1940s and 50's.
- Professor and Dean Emerita Judith G. McKelvey, first female dean of GGU School of Law and past President, Bar Association of San Francisco