UC Hastings Concentrations

With a J.D. from UC Hastings, you can tailor your education to fit a growing number of legal roles and professions.

The practice of the law has never been more diverse. UC Hastings alumni work for global health organizations, Silicon Valley start-ups, the U.S. Congress, Hollywood talent agencies, Public Defender’s offices, the IRS, hospitals, and homeless shelters. By pursuing a concentration within the J.D. program, you can refine and focus your studies to prepare for an ever-expanding number of professional roles.

Think of concentrations as law school “majors.” Each concentration is built around a combination of advanced courses and real-world experience through clinics, externships and law journals.

• Civil Litigation and Dispute Resolution: Study and practice advanced trial advocacy, mediation and alternative dispute resolution.
• Criminal Law: Gain experience with criminal procedure and criminal trial advocacy through coursework, externships and the Criminal Practice Clinic.
• Government Law:  UC Hastings' newest concentration was launched in 2012 and features a Legislation clinic in Sacramento
• Intellectual Property: Learn copyright, trademark and patent law from the top IP practitioners in the Bay Area and finish with a capstone IP seminar.
• International and Comparative Law: Asia, Europe, the Middle East and more. Learn to navigate the waters of international law and study abroad at 16 global universities.
• Law and Health Sciences: Study the impact of the law in the age of health care reform, bioscience, genetic patents and global epidemics.
• Social Justice Lawyering: Work directly with live clients as you learn to balance the scales of justice for the poor and marginalized.
• Taxation Law: Learn from a faculty with expertise in family, corporate and international tax law and policy.

Each concentration has its own requirements; visit the link for the concentration that interests you.

With the permission of a concentration advisor, and if consistent with UC Hastings academic regulations, students may apply units from another law school, or units earned as part of an approved joint degree program, toward fulfillment of concentration requirements. Students can also request credit for relevant independent studies, law journal writing, and interscholastic moot court competitions sponsored by the Law School.

Contact Us

Contact the Admissions Office to learn how you can tailor your legal education with UC Hastings’ J.D. concentrations.