UCSD - University of California - San Diego

10/23/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/23/2025 10:05

From Classroom to Courtroom Faster: UC San Diego and USD School of Law Launch Accelerated Pathway

Story by:

Published Date

October 23, 2025

Story by:

Topics covered:

  • Law School
  • Legal Profession
  • Accelerated Path

Share This:

Article Content

For students at the University of California San Diego dreaming of a legal career, the road to law school just got shorter - and a lot more certain.

UC San Diego and the University of San Diego School of Law have partnered to create the Accelerated Pathway to USD School of Law, a new opportunity that allows high-achieving UC San Diego undergraduates to earn both their bachelor's and law degrees in six years instead of seven.

"UC San Diego is committed to creating opportunities that connect education with real-world impact," said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. "By aligning world-class undergraduate education with a premier local law school, we're reducing time and cost barriers and keeping homegrown talent in San Diego to serve our communities."

Developed in collaboration with UC San Diego's Department of Political Sciencein the School of Social Sciences, the program offers early advising, LSAT preparation and hands-on learning for students interested in law, policy and civic engagement. A dedicated student affairs advisor will help participants with academic planning and the transition into USD School of Law.

"This partnership gives our students a clear and confident path into law school," said Lawrence Broz, chair of the Department of Political Science in UC San Diego's School of Social Sciences. "It reduces uncertainty, saves time and tuition costs, and connects two outstanding San Diego institutions committed to academic excellence and public service."

Students who meet the GPA and LSAT standards established by USD School of Law will receive presumptive admission to the J.D. program. Each year, up to 25 students will be admitted through the pathway.

"We are delighted to welcome UC San Diego students into this partnership," said Robert Schapiro, dean of the USD School of Law and C. Hugh Friedman Professor of Law. "This exciting collaboration between our two renowned institutions reflects our shared commitment to prepare the next generation of lawyers to serve society with integrity, wisdom, and compassion. Together, we are strengthening legal education and expanding access to justice in San Diego."

The Accelerated Pathway to USD School of Law builds on a long-standing connection between the two universities: UC San Diego graduates already make up one of the largest groups entering USD School of Law each year.

The pathway also extends the work of the Krinsk-Houston Law & Politics Initiativein the Department of Political Science, which has fostered strong partnerships with USD School of Law through joint workshops, mentoring and pre-law programming.

Maysa Nichter, director of the Krinsk-Houston Law & Politics Initiative, said the new agreement expands those efforts. "Our students gain real support and a sense of direction early on," she said. "It's about creating a clear bridge from curiosity about law and politics to purposeful entry into the legal profession."

While the pathway is designed for highly motivated political science majors who can complete their degree requirements within three years, students from other UC San Diego majors may participate if they meet the GPA requirements and complete at least three Public Law courses in the Department of Political Science. Participation is nonbinding-students can take advantage of the advising and workshops while still applying to other law schools.

The first cohort will be identified in Fall 2026, with admission to USD Law beginning in December 2027.

Interested to learn more? Register with the Accelerated Pathways to USD School of Law interest list, for an upcoming virtual information session.

"By aligning world-class undergraduate education with a premier local law school, we're reducing time and cost barriers and keeping homegrown talent in San Diego to serve our communities." - UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla

Topics covered:

  • Law School
  • Legal Profession
  • Accelerated Path

Share This:

UCSD - University of California - San Diego published this content on October 23, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 23, 2025 at 16:05 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]