Welcome to UC Law SF, Class of 2029
Members of the incoming JD Class of 2029 take the oath of professionalism during Convocation as they start their journeys at UC Law San Francisco.
- More than 600 new students are joining UC Law SF this fall across its JD, master’s and international exchange programs.
- The JD Class of 2029 includes 460 students, with 17% first-generation college students.
- The new class includes a submarine sailor, recording artist and urban beekeeper, among students from a wide range of professional and personal backgrounds.
A new academic year is here, and UC Law San Francisco is welcoming more than 600 new students to campus as they begin the next chapter of their educational and professional journeys.
The JD Class of 2029 includes 460 students, with 17% who are the first in their families to attend college and 62% who identify as female or non-binary. Their ages range from their 20s to their 50s, and they arrive at UC Law SF with a remarkable range of experiences.
The new class includes a nonprofit founder, submarine sailor, recording artist, composer, urban beekeeper, combat medic, engineer, scientist, sailing instructor, social worker, former journalists, teachers and parents. Each brings a different perspective to the classroom — and a unique story of what led them to law school.
They are joined by some 700 returning second- and third-year JD students, as well as 150 students in the master’s and international exchange programs. UC Law SF’s master’s degree and certificate programs include the Master of Laws (LLM) for international lawyers, Master of Legal Studies (MLS), Certificate of Legal Studies (CLS), and Master of Science in Health Policy and Law (HPL). The master’s and international students come from a wide range of fields, including health care, government, technology, business, journalism and the arts.
Together, they make up a community with an extraordinary breadth of backgrounds, interests and experiences — all coming together at UC Law SF to learn, connect and prepare for what comes next.
For the Class of 2029, the journey begins now. Welcome to UC Law SF!
See photos below from the activities that kicked off the new academic year.
Nearly 600 students from UC Law SF and other higher education institutions will call the Academe at 198 home this year. Nicole Pawlak, a 1L from San Diego, is one of 326 UC Law SF students living in the Academe.
Vice chair of the UC Law SF Board of Directors Andrew Houston ’07 speaks to incoming JD students in the Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEOP) at orientation, sharing advice on navigating the demands of law school and a legal career. “Don’t rush the process,” he says. “Be patient with yourselves because as you’re learning, you’re going to continue to grow in this profession.” Houston, a LEOP alumnus, is principal campus counsel at UC Berkeley.
In welcoming the JD Class of 2029, Chancellor & Dean David Faigman emphasizes the importance of honing two fundamental lawyering skills: understanding opposing views and solving problems. With a law degree opening doors to countless career paths, he tells students: “There’s no blueprint for how you should use your law degree … You must chart your own course. We are here to help.”
Provost & Academic Dean Morris Ratner encourages incoming JD students to stay open-minded about their future careers and to learn from classmates with different experiences, noting that UC Law SF brings together students from many walks of life. “Whatever your background, you belong here.”
Students took a break from orientation sessions with faculty and leaders for a swag giveaway in the UC Law SF dining commons on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Students spun the prize wheel for a chance at t-shirts, pennants and other school gear.
Three lucky students won the raffle at the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Working Group welcome event. Students had the opportunity to engage in casual conversation with Dean David Faigman, Assistant Dean of LEOP and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Elizabeth McGriff, and Assistant Dean of Student Services Miguel Zavala.
Chief Judge Troy Nunley ’90 of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California greeted the incoming Class of 2029 at Convocation on Thursday, Aug. 13, and led students in the UC Law SF Pledge of Professionalism. He emphasized the importance of hope, the value in taking risks and the need for perseverance in the face of challenges. “Hope. Dream. And prepare,” he said.