Auditing Classes at UC Law SF

Auditing Policy & Information

With its rich offering of classes covering a broad variety of legal topics, the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco (“the College” or “UC Law SF”) welcomes and allows persons who are not degree candidates at the College to audit in-residence or online courses pursuant to the terms set forth in this policy.

Definitions

Degree Candidate: Degree Candidates are students who have been admitted to one of the College’s certificates or degree programs.

Auditor: Auditors are persons who are registered for a course and may attend and observe classes but are not required or permitted to submit assignments or take exams. Auditors are normally expected merely to observe but may participate in classroom discussions with the instructor’s permission.

Who May Audit

UC Law SF is open to all members of the community and welcomes auditors of all ages and backgrounds. However, because UC Law SF’s principal duty is to its degree candidates, auditing is by permission. Only persons determined by the Dean of Students, in coordination with the Registrar, may audit UC Law SF courses. Auditors must have at least earned a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and must have the requisite background necessary for the Dean of Students to conclude that they will benefit from the classroom experience.  For advanced courses, the Dean of Students will also ascertain that the potential auditor has an appropriate skill or knowledge level for the course.

UC Law SF degree candidates are not allowed to audit courses.

Course Limitations

UC Law SF students have priority in all courses, including seating availability for in-person classes.  The classroom seating capacity cannot be exceeded to accommodate an auditor. Also, for each course a non-degree candidate seeks to audit, the instructor must consent to have the auditor in the course. Auditors participate by observing and are not permitted to take exams or obtain feedback from faculty on their work.  Auditors may not take 1L courses or writing- or feedback-intensive courses (such as Advanced Legal Writing or “Law & Process” versions of subjects tested on the Bar Exam). The term “course” as used in this policy includes seminars.

Exam Policies

Auditors are not allowed to sit for examinations.

Fees

The fee for UC Law SF alumni to audit is $250 per unit. For persons who are not affiliated with or graduates of UC Law SF, the fee to audit is $625 per unit.

Fee Exclusions – NOTE: The College does not scale or waive audit fees based on the financial circumstances of potential auditors. Subject to the limitations contained in this policy, UC Law SF employees, affiliated scholars, or researchers may audit courses without charge, as long as attendance does not interfere with work obligations and is approved by the employee’s manager and Human Resources.  It is at the discretion of the Chancellor & Dean, in extraordinary circumstances, to identify additional categories of persons who will be allowed to audit without charge.

Other Limits

Auditors who are found to be disruptive to the class or who otherwise violate any of the terms of this policy or other campus rules or regulations, including the Code of Student Conduct and Discipline, will be withdrawn upon the determination by the Assistant Dean of Students that a disruption or violation of rules or regulations has occurred. In such circumstances, UC Law SF is not obligated to return audit fees.

Application Process

Persons interested in auditing a course at UC Law SF are to provide the following:

  1. An Auditor Application Form (all fields must be completed);
  2. A brief statement as to why you wish to audit a course, including your educational and professional background;
  3. A copy of your bar card if you are an attorney or an official college transcript (required only in lieu of presenting the bar card).
  4. A $25.00 non-refundable application fee using the Auditing Classes at UC Law SF pay site. Note: LSAT data is not required.

To Submit:
Submit the completed Auditor Application Form, the statement, a copy of your bar card (if applicable), and proof of your $25.00 payment to the Office of the Registrar via an email to registrar@uclawsf.edu. Prospective non-UC Law SF alumni auditors who do not have bar card must submit an official transcript through one of the following methods:

  • (preferred method) a certified electronic transcript via email to registrar@uclawsf.edu;
    or
  • a hard-copy transcript via official mail to the Office of the Registrar’s mailing address:

UC College of the Law, San Francisco
ATTN: Office of the Registrar
200 McAllister Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

UC Law SF alumni are not required to submit their UC Law SF transcripts because the Office of the Registrar has proof of enrollment and graduation.

Priority Application Deadline
Auditors should apply once the courses are published online for the term and at least a week before classes are scheduled to begin. Applications submitted after that date, and after the semester has begun, are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Approval Process

We will process your application as quickly as possible. If your application is approved, you will be contacted via email.

Dropping and Withdrawing

If an approved auditor determines to drop the course, they must do so in Self-Service by the drop/add deadline published in the Academic Calendar.  After the last day to Add/Drop for the term has passed, an auditor may only withdraw from the course, resulting in a grade of “W” on any transcript to be issued.  No tuition or fees will be returned for students who withdraw.

Transcripts

The credits for the course and grade of “AU”, for Audit, will appear on the transcript, indicating that the individual audited the course for no credit. If an Auditor drops a course prior to or by the drop/add deadline published in the Academic Calendar, no record of the audit and no grade will be assigned. Click here for information about how to request a transcript.

Questions

Please direct any inquiries to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@uclawsf.edu or by calling (415) 565-4613. The office is open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.