Welcome to Berkeley Law
I am often asked what makes Berkeley Law special. First, it is an excellent law school by every measure. The quality of any educational institution is a product of its faculty, students, and programs. Berkeley Law has a terrific faculty. They are top scholars in their fields; many have written the books used in law school classes across the country. They are also great teachers. Our students are superb and diverse in every way, with over half coming from outside California. And Berkeley Law has centers and programs doing cutting-edge work in every area of law.
Second, there is a deep commitment to public service. Almost 95% of first-year law students do pro bono work. Fellowships are provided to every student doing public service work during the summers of law school so long as they have done pro bono work during law school. There are post-graduate fellowships and a loan forgiveness program. The commitment to using law to improve society and the world animates the work of our clinics and centers and the teaching in our classrooms.
Finally, Berkeley Law is a very special community. It is a warm, collegial environment, not a competitive one. It is the most intellectually exciting law school that I have been part of, with a plethora of speakers and programs and symposia every week. It is part of a superb and beautiful campus in a great location.
I feel very proud to be the dean of Berkeley Law and am excited for you to learn more about it.
Warmly,
Erwin Chemerinsky
Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law
Land Acknowledgement
We recognize that UC Berkeley sits on the territory of xučyun (Huichin), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people, the successors of the sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and other familial descendants of the Verona Band.
We recognize that every member of the Berkeley community has, and continues to benefit from, the use and occupation of this land, since the institution’s founding in 1868. Consistent with our values of community, inclusion and diversity, we have a responsibility to acknowledge and make visible the university’s relationship to Native peoples. As members of the Berkeley community, it is vitally important that we not only recognize the history of the land on which we stand, but also, we recognize that the Muwekma Ohlone people are alive and flourishing members of the Berkeley and broader Bay Area communities today.
This acknowledgement was co-created with the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe and Native American Student Development and is a living document.
Credit and more information:
The building that you are about to tour is not, in fact, the original Berkeley Law building. In 1912, Berkeley’s “School of Jurisprudence” was established in a single, four-classroom building in the heart of main campus. The original building is presently named “Durant Hall” and is still open to students and visitors.
In 1950, the School of Jurisprudence was renamed the School of Law, and the following year it moved into a new building on the southeast corner of campus (it’s current location, where you are presently). Originally shaped like a Giant L, this building was designed by campus faculty members from the School of Architecture. The school’s three main lecture halls and the upstairs reading room were all a part of the original design and structure of the building.
As the campus thrived and grew, the law school building was expanded accordingly. In the 1960s, the campus added Simon Hall as part of their “Eastern Addition”; this seven-story building which originally functioned as a dormitory and housed more than 100 law students, is now used for faculty offices.
In 1995, the school gained a “Northern Addition” which gave the school even more office and library space. Our library’s “Robbins Collection” has a historic collection of medieval jurisprudence and the second largest collection of religious law texts, out-collected only by the Vatican. The collection also contains the Lincoln Letters and copies of the Magna Carta.
In 2011, the school expanded with a 55,000-square-foot “South Addition” which includes a student center, two subterranean levels with a new library, an outdoor roof terrace, an extra classroom, and space for dining, caffeinating, and student gathering. This most recent renovation dramatically changed the view from Bancroft Avenue and transformed the face of Berkeley Law.
Just as the look and shape of our campus has evolved and modernized with time, our legal education and practice remains committed to staying at the forefront of the ever-changing and ever-developing legal landscape. We hope that as you go through this Berkeley Law Self-Guided Tour – you explore our building and its history, learn about some of our campus programs and resources, and, most importantly, get a sense of what it’s like to be a part of our student community.
Berkeley Law Building Map & Stops
Floor 2
Floor 1
Stop One: The Admissions and Financial Aid Offices (Room 225)
Each year, this office recruits and admits some of the country’s most promising, diverse, and dynamic students to the Berkeley Law student body. Although we are one of the most selective law schools in the country, our holistic admission philosophy reflects a commitment to admitting human beings and not simply numbers. In addition to reading applications, the Berkeley Law Admissions Office also offers advising and information sessions throughout the year.
If you’re applying to the JD program soon, be sure to check out the Ready to Apply page for the list of application instructions and important dates. Are you still a few years out and seeking preparatory information? We encourage you to take part in the all-virtual and asynchronous Pre-Law Preparatory Academy. Here, you’ll modules to guide you through what is law school, how to apply, becoming a lawyer, and how lawyers use their degrees.
Next door to the Admissions Office you’ll find the Financial Aid Office, which offers appointments (both in-person and virtual) for prospective and current law students. In addition to one-on-one advising sessions, they regularly host office hours and financial literacy sessions. Their website contains information about tuition and fees, scholarships (including an extensive list of outside scholarships), and financial resources.
Thinking about a career in public interest law? Our LRAP (Loan Repayment Assistance Program) and Public Service Loan Forgiveness can help some graduates pay off their loans if they work in a public interest job for 10 years post-graduation.
Did you know?
During the academic year, we have Student Ambassadors available via email to answer any questions you may have about student life at Berkeley Law. Feel free to email them if you’d like to connect with a JD student.
Stop Two: Main Reading Room
If you take a left as you exist the Berkeley Law Admissions Office, you will be facing the Garret W. McEnerney Memorial Library or the upstairs “Reading Room.” Many students call it the reading room because it is a popular place to study and is often used by students to do their readings or review their notes before class. Please note that the Reading Room required keycard entry and is reserved for current students use, so refrain from entering.
Did you know?
If you look closely, you may be able to spot some of the several “de-stress” activities like coloring books or puzzles for those who want to take a mental break while studying.
Stop Three: Art Display “Love as Liberation”
If you take another left while facing the McEnerney Memorial Library/Reading Room and proceed down the hallway, you will arrive at a space used for our rotating art exhibit.
Our current piece is called “Love as Liberation”, by Ximena Velázquez-Arenas ’23. The four paintings in this series examine the “ethic of love” under the canon of scholar and activist bell hooks and celebrate the power of healing and liberation from systems of domination.
There are many art exhibits throughout the law building. At the other end of the hallway is Berkeley Law’s Trailblazing Women exhibit outside of the Dean’s Office.
Did you know?
In recent years, Berkeley has hosted an annual Art, Finance, and Law Symposium which features leaders dedicated to exploring issues at the intersection of art, law, finance, technology, and culture. Through this event and other efforts, Berkeley seeks to promote discussions of hot topics like repatriation, artificial intelligence, securitization, and fraud in the art world.
Stop Four: Steinhart Courtyard and Rooftop Garden (level 2)
Turning right at the art exhibit and moving past the stairwell, you will reach the door to the Steinhart Courtyard. This courtyard is an outdoor eating and meeting space which is often used to host various student group events and networking functions. The courtyard is most busy from 1:00 – 2:15 PM because that is the set lunch hour for all students.
If the door is unlocked, you may be able to walk into Steinhart Courtyard and explore Berkeley Law’s rooftop terrace. On clear days, students are able to see the bay from this patio. Students will often chat here and connect with each other in between classes and eat lunch or a snack.
Photo Opportunity!
Take a photo at the end of the rooftop garden with the Bay in the background.
Above: Students pose with a poster showing clerkship placements at the Class of 2023 clerkship celebration.
Stop Five: Registrar, Student Academic Advising and Support Services, Career Development Office, and Bookstore (level 2)
If you continue along this hallways past the Courtyard entrance (or turn right upon exiting the Courtyard), you will reach a corner of the building. This corner of the building houses Berkeley Law’s Registrar, Student Academic Advising and Support Services (SAASS), Career Development Office (CDO), and Bookstore.
The mission of the Berkeley Law Registrar’s Office is to provide excellent service and official information to students, faculty, staff, central administration, and external constituencies. The Registrar’s Office collects and disseminates student and academic information through processes that ensure the integrity and security of all records, particularly with regards to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as set forth by the federal government.
The Student Academic Advising and Support Services (SAASS) Office is available for academic and personal advising and counseling. Law students are encouraged to come to Student Services to discuss academic plans, questions about the profession, personal concerns, summer jobs, accommodations, and other matters. In addition, the law school has dedicated Psychologists available to meet with students.
Every student admitted to Berkeley Law has the ability to succeed in law school. But for many students, adjusting to the demands of the curriculum can be difficult. Berkeley Law is committed to fostering an academic environment in which all students can achieve their full potential. Through a variety of programs and services, the Academic Skills Program (ASP) helps students build the skills critical to success in law school and in practice. ASP offers programming such as ASP Fellows (student fellows who lead workshops on reading case, outlining, and studying for exams), advising, and Pre-Orientation for JD student (which happens the week before Orientation).
The Career Development Office (CDO) dedicates extensive resources to helping students with job searching, career exploration, and interview skills. They have attorney counselors dedicated to private practice (“Big Law”), public interest and government jobs, and judicial clerkships. The CDO also offer events and workshops throughout the year, such as resume reviews, alumni panels, and career fairs.
If you have time, feel free to visit the Berkeley Law Bookstore where we have apparel and merchandise for sale, perfect for perfect for gifting spirit wear and showing Berkeley Law pride.
Did you know?
Twelve percent of the Class of 2023 obtained a judicial externship immediately after law school. Each fall, we host a Judges-in-Residence Program, where judges spend time at the law school connecting with students and faculty, visiting classes, and describing their path to the bench and their favorite parts of the job.
Stop Six: Pictures of Student Life and Notable Alumni
Once you are finished with “Stop Five”, head to the lower level of Berkeley Law. You can choose between taking the stairs near the entrance to Steinhart Courtyard or taking the elevator in the hallway to the right of the above display.
Head toward the hallway near the staircase and you will find that there are photographs of various student activities and groups. Turn the corner and there will be photographs of notable alumni hanging on the walls. Berkeley Law prides itself on its involved, diverse, and far-reaching alumni network.
As you head down the hallway, you will pass room 140, our mock courtroom, complete with judge and jury box. Berkeley Law has multiple competition teams that participate in different types of legal practice and competition programs – Moot Court, Mock Trial, Patent Drafting, and Alternate Dispute Resolutions. Berkeley Law also organizes tournaments for students to refine their skills in appellate advocacy, transactional negotiations, and trial advocacy.
Did you know?
Across from room 110 is a painting of Chief Justice Earl Warren, who was a Berkeley Law graduate, class of 1914. He was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1953 to 1969. During that time he wrote the majority opinion on Brown v. Board of Education (ended racial segregation in public schools), Miranda v. Arizona (created what we know now to be Miranda rights), and Loving v. Virginia (stopped bans on interracial marriage)
Stop Seven: Library and Café Zeb
As you proceed down the hallway, take a left and approach the descending staircase. This is the entrance to the Berkeley Law Library.
The Berkeley Law Library is one of the world’s great law libraries. Its collection of books and manuscripts is a priceless resource that supports legal scholarship at its highest level. The library staff has also worked hard to stay near the cutting edge of technological innovation, providing access to a wide array of web-based research tools and online databases. Our reference librarians are available to help you utilize legal research databases, plan effective research strategies, and can track down hard-to-locate or ambiguous citations and references.
If you take these stairs and head downward, you will reach the lobby of the Berkeley Law library. As you descend, take a peek through the floor to ceiling windows on the side of the staircase. These windows provide a view of two reading rooms, often used by students who want a quiet place to study.
If you want to order a coffee drink or get a quick bite to eat, turn left when you reach the staircase and you will reach Berkeley Law’s Café Zeb. We recommend the quesadilla or one of the panini sandwiches, but all of the selections are tasty.
Did you know?
Law students chose the name of this café to honor the fictional Uncle Zeb, a character created by Professor Robert Berring in the early 1980s, when he was serving as Director of the Law Library. In order to encourage students to leave suggestions in the library’s comments book, he created the fictional narrative that when they were leaving comments in the suggestion box they were addressing Uncle Zeb. “Uncle Zeb” was a wise, ironic, unflappable Zen master, who would respond in the book in a day or two, with his own brand of sage counsel. The entire run of the Zeb Books is housed in the Law School Archives.
Stop Eight: Classrooms
As you walk down the hallway past the library entrance you’ll notice classrooms on both sides of you. If you continue straight and turn left, you’ll be heading towards room 100, 105, and 110. These classrooms house most of the large classes that we offer, especially the doctrinal classes that students take in their 1L year. Make sure to not enter classrooms if class is in session (you can check the electronic display outside of each classroom, which shows the schedule for that classroom). If you’d like to observe a class, you can check if any classes are available for observation (only available during the fall and spring semesters).
Our classes range from small groups of 10-15 students up to 160 students. We place incoming 1Ls into one of 12 modules (“mod” for short) of about 30 students. In your fall semester, 2 classes will be just with your small mod and the other 2 classes will be in these larger lecture halls with 3 mods altogether (a “supermod”) of about 90 people.
Most professors utilize the “Socratic method”, meaning that instead of lecturing at you the entire time, they try and make it interactive. Some classes have the “panel system” which means that you will be told ahead of time when you will get called on, or you’ll walk in and your name will be on the board. But the good news is that at Berkeley, this is just to facilitate discussion or learning, not to embarrass or quiz you. They will typically ask for your opinion or background facts of the case.
At Berkeley Law, we use a non-traditional grading system. Our system is curved, but does not use A-F letter grades. The top 10% of the class gets a High Honors, next 30% gets Honors, and the rest of the class gets a P for Passing or NP for Non-Passing. This grading system makes the classroom environment very collaborative and collegial.
Did you know?
In 2024, the law school completed the construction of a gender neutral restroom, complete with 21 full private stalls. This is the largest gender neutral restroom on the UC Berkeley campus. They are located next to the staircase and across from room 113.
Stop Nine: Berkeley and Beyond
As you exit the law building, you’ll be able to explore the rest of campus and the city of Berkeley. Just next to the law building is University Stadium and the Haas School of Business. As you head west (downhill) you’ll find the Campanile, Sather Gate, Doe Library, and Memorial Glade.
But student life doesn’t end at the school’s perimeter. It spills spontaneously across the Berkeley campus, the city of Berkeley, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The options are infinite, whether a person’s interests run to politics or poetry, food or film, nature or nightlife. Nearby, there are more than 50 live music venues in Berkeley, more than 400 eateries representing more than 30 cuisines from every continent but Antarctica, and more than 2,000 acres of hiking and biking trails in a region with more than 225 sunny days per year.
No other law school comes with giant redwoods on campus and the Golden Gate Bridge a glance away. The San Francisco Bay Area attracts millions of visitors a year to its marquee venues: Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Napa Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge. But as locals, our students have the luxury of experiencing an intimate and familiar side of paradise that tourists rarely see.
If you’re exploring the Bay Area, we have compiled some of our favorite local restaurants and things to do. Below are some links to help guide additional exploration of our Bay Area backyard:
UC Berkeley
- Interactive campus map
- Campus Self Guided Tour
- Black History Tour:Hear about the stories of Black students, faculty, and events from the past 100 years.
- Walking Tour of the Berkeley Bears: The Berkeley Library created a campus map with locations and descriptions of 23 bear statues and artwork found throughout the university’s grounds.
City of Berkeley
- Telegraph Avenue Tour: Learn about the history of Telegraph Avenue.
- Visit Berkeley Maps & Neighborhoods: Learn all about the city of Berkeley with multiple interactive maps.
- Berkeley Landmarks Tour: Berkeley is famous for the amount of wonderful structures it has listed in the National Register of Historic Places.