University of California, Irvine School of Law
Encyclopedia
The University of California, Irvine School of Law is the law school
at the University of California, Irvine (UCI or UC Irvine). It is the fifth law school in the UC system
and the first public law school to open in California in 40 years. In September 2007, Erwin Chemerinsky
was announced as the law school's first dean.
, chairman of the Irvine Company
, in honor of his $20 million donation towards its founding. In 2008 an agreement was reached between Bren and UCI
that the school would not bear his name. Chemerinsky said, "We are deeply grateful for the Bren gift, but it was decided between the chancellor and Mr. Bren that our name should be parallel to other UC schools."
Over 2,700 applications were received to join the inaugural class and 4% were accepted. Classes officially began for the first class of students on August 24, 2009. The School's inaugural class is composed of 34 females and 26 males with a median LSAT of 167 and median undergraduate GPA of 3.61. UC Irvine's LSAT and GPA statistics rival Southern California's other top law schools, UCLA
and USC
, which are both ranked among the nation's top 20 by US News & World Report. University of Chicago Law Professor Brian Leiter, in his "Leiter Law School Rankings", ranked the UC Irvine faculty 9th in the nation in terms of scholarly impact.
UC Irvine's second class (Class of 2013) averages an undergraduate GPA of 3.34-3.76 (25th percentile-75th percentile) and an LSAT score of 163-168 (25th-75th percentile). UC Irvine Law aspires to be a "top 20" law school.
. After signing a contract with Chemerinsky on September 4, 2007, the offer was rescinded by UCI Chancellor
Michael V. Drake
because he felt the law professor's commentaries were "polarizing" and would not serve the interests of California's first new public law school in 40 years; Drake claimed the decision was his own and not the subject of any outside influence. The action was criticized by liberal and conservative scholars who felt it hindered the academic mission of the law school, and disbelief over Chancellor Drake's claims that it was the subject of no outside influence.
The issue was the subject of a New York Times editorial
on Friday, September 14, 2007. Details emerged revealing that UCI had received criticism on the hire from California Chief Justice
Ronald M. George
, who criticized Chemerinsky's grasp of death penalty appeals, as well as a group of prominent Orange County
Republicans and Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
, who wanted to derail the appointment. Drake traveled over a weekend to Durham, North Carolina
, and the two reached an agreement late Sunday evening. On September 17, Chemerinsky issued a joint press release with Drake indicating that Chemerinsky would head the UCI law school, stating "Our new law school will be founded on the bedrock principle of academic freedom. The chancellor reiterated his lifelong, unqualified commitment to academic freedom, which extends to every faculty member, including deans and other senior administrators."
Law school
A law school is an institution specializing in legal education.- Law degrees :- Canada :...
at the University of California, Irvine (UCI or UC Irvine). It is the fifth law school in the UC system
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and the first public law school to open in California in 40 years. In September 2007, Erwin Chemerinsky
Erwin Chemerinsky
Erwin Chemerinsky is an American lawyer and law professor. He is a prominent scholar in United States constitutional law and federal civil procedure...
was announced as the law school's first dean.
History
Initially, it was announced that the school would be named for Donald BrenDonald Bren
Donald Bren is an American businessman who is Chairman of the Irvine Company, a US Based real estate developer, which he wholly owns.-Early Life and Education:...
, chairman of the Irvine Company
Irvine Company
The Irvine Company is a privately held real estate development company based in Newport Beach, Orange County, Southern California. The corporate center of the company lies in Newport Center. A large portion of its operations are centered in and around the City of Irvine, a planned city of 250,000...
, in honor of his $20 million donation towards its founding. In 2008 an agreement was reached between Bren and UCI
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
that the school would not bear his name. Chemerinsky said, "We are deeply grateful for the Bren gift, but it was decided between the chancellor and Mr. Bren that our name should be parallel to other UC schools."
Over 2,700 applications were received to join the inaugural class and 4% were accepted. Classes officially began for the first class of students on August 24, 2009. The School's inaugural class is composed of 34 females and 26 males with a median LSAT of 167 and median undergraduate GPA of 3.61. UC Irvine's LSAT and GPA statistics rival Southern California's other top law schools, UCLA
UCLA School of Law
The UCLA School of Law is the law school of the University of California, Los Angeles. It has been approved by the American Bar Association since 1950. It joined the Association of American Law Schools in 1952.- History :...
and USC
University of Southern California Law School
The University of Southern California Law School , located in Los Angeles, California, is a law school within the University of Southern California...
, which are both ranked among the nation's top 20 by US News & World Report. University of Chicago Law Professor Brian Leiter, in his "Leiter Law School Rankings", ranked the UC Irvine faculty 9th in the nation in terms of scholarly impact.
UC Irvine's second class (Class of 2013) averages an undergraduate GPA of 3.34-3.76 (25th percentile-75th percentile) and an LSAT score of 163-168 (25th-75th percentile). UC Irvine Law aspires to be a "top 20" law school.
Chemerinsky hiring
In hiring an inaugural dean, the University approached constitutional law Professor Erwin ChemerinskyErwin Chemerinsky
Erwin Chemerinsky is an American lawyer and law professor. He is a prominent scholar in United States constitutional law and federal civil procedure...
. After signing a contract with Chemerinsky on September 4, 2007, the offer was rescinded by UCI Chancellor
Chancellor
Chancellor is the title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the Cancellarii of Roman courts of justice—ushers who sat at the cancelli or lattice work screens of a basilica or law court, which separated the judge and counsel from the...
Michael V. Drake
Michael V. Drake
Michael V. Drake is an American physician and current chancellor of the University of California, Irvine .-Early years:...
because he felt the law professor's commentaries were "polarizing" and would not serve the interests of California's first new public law school in 40 years; Drake claimed the decision was his own and not the subject of any outside influence. The action was criticized by liberal and conservative scholars who felt it hindered the academic mission of the law school, and disbelief over Chancellor Drake's claims that it was the subject of no outside influence.
The issue was the subject of a New York Times editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
on Friday, September 14, 2007. Details emerged revealing that UCI had received criticism on the hire from California Chief Justice
Supreme Court of California
The Supreme Court of California is the highest state court in California. It is headquartered in San Francisco and regularly holds sessions in Los Angeles and Sacramento. Its decisions are binding on all other California state courts.-Composition:...
Ronald M. George
Ronald M. George
Ronald Marc George is the retired 27th Chief Justice of California, where he headed the Supreme Court of California and the Judicial Council of California...
, who criticized Chemerinsky's grasp of death penalty appeals, as well as a group of prominent Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
Republicans and Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich
Michael D. Antonovich
Michael Dennis Antonovich is a politician and the most senior-serving member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors...
, who wanted to derail the appointment. Drake traveled over a weekend to Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, and the two reached an agreement late Sunday evening. On September 17, Chemerinsky issued a joint press release with Drake indicating that Chemerinsky would head the UCI law school, stating "Our new law school will be founded on the bedrock principle of academic freedom. The chancellor reiterated his lifelong, unqualified commitment to academic freedom, which extends to every faculty member, including deans and other senior administrators."