Welcome to UC Hastings!

Established in 1878 as the law department of the University of California, Hastings College of the Law was the first law school west of the Rockies. For more than 125 years, UC Hastings has educated prominent leaders in the judiciary and the bar, in government and business, in education, and in the entertainment industry.  Now, under the innovative leadership of Dean Frank Wu and Academic Dean Shauna Marshall, the school is further defining its legacy as the pre-eminent West Coast law school that brings life to the study of law. 

UC Hastings is located in San Francisco, one of the most beautiful, vibrant, and innovative cities in the nation. All levels of the local, state and federal courts (other than the U.S. Supreme Court) are within blocks of the school. Also nearby are San Francisco's plethora of public interest organizations and private firms that serve the leading sectors of the U.S. and Pacific Rim economy. This proximity gives Hastings students the opportunity to experience the law in the very forums where it is practiced and determined, and provides a level of relevancy to their education that is unparalleled in most law schools.  

In this unique setting, UC Hastings has created a rich and vital legal community. The school's faculty consistently ranks in the top tier of the nation's law schools and its dedication to teaching - to helping students become superlative lawyers - truly sets it apart. From our extensive clinical and externship programs to our award-winning moot-court teams, from our concentrations and law journals to our law centers and study abroad opportunities, Hastings is committed to training lawyers with the depth of knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world.

Thank you for considering UC Hastings as a choice for pursuing your legal education. Please take the opportunity to visit us -- attend a class, go on a tour, or participate in an information session and learn why Hastings holds a distinctive place in American legal education.