Welcome to the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco! Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning for another semester as a Master of Legal Studies (MLS) or Certificate in Legal Studies (CLS) student, we are excited about the opportunity to teach and learn from you. Please review this guide carefully, as it contains essential requirements, deadlines, and new policies for your coursework. You should be familiar with the contents of this guide before joining your individual advising appointment for the fall semester.

I. Key Dates & Deadlines (Fall 2026)

Event	Date & Time	Applies To
Due date for adding courses to plan in Self Service	Tuesday, June 30 at 11:59 PM	All Students
Priority Registration Opens	Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 AM	All Students
Mandatory In-Person Orientation	Tuesday, August 4, all day	New MLS & CLS Students
Orientation Reception / Happy Hour	Tuesday, August 4, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM	All Students & Alumni
Intro to U.S. Legal Systems (1-credit)*	August 4 – 14 (on Zoom)	Highly Recommended for New Students
Add/Drop Deadline	Sunday night, end of 1st week of classes	All Students

*The “Intro to U.S. Legal Systems” course is an intensive primer covering the writing and legal analysis style used in law school. The daily class sessions are live on Zoom, typically taking place at lunchtime and the late afternoon. While the course involves a demanding schedule of readings and assignments, past students have found it a crucial on-ramp to law school. Working students may wish to take time off of work to participate more fully.

II. Registration Procedures

The Fall 2026 registration period for MLS students begins on Wednesday, July 15 at 9:00 am. Popular courses at UC Law SF can fill up quickly. We strongly recommend that you register for your Fall courses as early as possible in your priority registration period.

• Schedule Approval (NEW for continuing students): Each semester, the Associate Dean or the Associate Director must approve your proposed schedule before you may register. Please add fall semester courses to your plan in Self Service by June 30th, or as early as possible, to avoid approval-related delays.
• Self Service: All registration takes place on the Self Service system. Detailed instructions
• and progress tracking are available on Sharknet.
• Waitlists: If a course is full by the time you register or during the Add/Drop period, you must join the waitlist to be considered for admission into the class.
• Special Priority Registration: An early registration window is available for students with a one-way commute of two or more hours, or those with caregiving obligations. Contact Student Services to verify eligibility.
• Spring Registration: You do not need to plan or register for Spring courses now. Spring registration will take place in November and the course catalog is not yet available.

III. General Program Features

Requirement	MLS Program	CLS Program
Total Credits Required	24 credits	12 credits
Time to Degree	Up to 4 years	Up to 3 years
Grading System	High Honors / Honors / Pass / No Pass. A grade of Pass or higher is needed to receive credit for the course.	High Honors / Honors / Pass / No Pass. A grade of Pass or higher is needed to receive credit for the course.
GPA Equivalent	No formal GPA and no curve.	No formal GPA and no curve.
Transfer to MLS	N/A	Credits earned with a “P” or better within the last 3 years can be applied to a full MLS degree.

• Full time vs. part time: A student who enrolls in 10 or more credits in a semester is considered full time, while a student who enrolls in 1-9 credits is considered part time. You may not enroll in more than 15 credits per semester unless there is an extraordinary circumstance and you have pre-approval from the Academic Dean. There are no cost savings to attending full or part time (or switching).
• Minimum credit considerations: If you are part time or a military veteran, you should consult with the financial aid office or Veterans Administration, if applicable, to determine if there are any minimum credit enrollment requirements (or in-person course requirements). Similarly, if you are studying at UC Law SF on a visa, there may be minimum requirements – please consult with Mei Cooley in the Enrollment Department for guidance.
• Exam Accommodations: Students whose first language is not English, or who received their prior degree from an institution where English was not the principal language of instruction, receive extra time on midterm and final examinations. Please contact Katey Mason if you qualify.

IV. Course Requirements

All MLS and CLS students are required to take specific core courses in their first two semesters at UC Law SF. These courses introduce the essential legal analysis and writing skills necessary to succeed at UC Law SF. Continuing students who have delayed these courses must register for them in the Fall 2026 semester.

Fall Semester Required Course Sections (for MLS and CLS students)

** This course is required for students matriculating in the Fall 2026 semester or later.

Course	Credits	Format	Instructor(s)	Meeting Time
MLS*080: Introduction to Law for Masters Students	3	Synchronous (Zoom)	Prof. Wells	Mondays & Wednesdays, 12:00 – 1:30 pm
MLS*080: Introduction to Law for Masters Students	3	Asynchronous	Profs. Hwang, Darling & Hall	No class meetings; pre-recorded lectures & weekly assignments
MLS*082: Legal Research & Writing for Masters Students	2	Synchronous (Zoom)	Prof. Lee	Tuesdays, 5:10 – 7:20 pm
MLS*082: Legal Research & Writing for Masters Students	2	Synchronous (Zoom)	Profs. Cantarella & Rogers	Fridays, 12:00 – 2:10 pm
MLS*082: Legal Research & Writing for Masters Students	2	Asynchronous	Profs. Vapnek, Quick & Zimmerman	No class meetings
MLS*098: Legal Research for Non-lawyers	1	Asynchronous	Profs. Vinson & Pelczynski	No class meetings
MLS*083: MLS/CLS Essentials**	1	Asynchronous	Profs. Wells, Vapnek, and Busnardo	No class meetings

Fall Semester Foundational Courses (for MLS students only)

In addition to the required courses, all MLS students must enroll in and receive a grade of “Pass” or better in a foundational course within their area of interest. One way to fulfill this requirement is by taking one of our doctrinal, MLS-specific courses. This Fall, the following MLS courses will satisfy the requirement (more may be added):

Course	Credits	Format	Instructor(s)	Meeting Time
MLS*086: Foundations of AI Law	2	Asynchronous	Prof. Schneider	No class meetings
MLS*087: Foundations of Intellectual Property Law	3	Asynchronous	Prof. Cantarella	No class meetings
MLS*092: Foundations of Environmental Law	2	Asynchronous	Prof. Kass	No class meetings

 

Depending on your specific areas of interest, and subject to the JD course enrollment policies described in the following section, you may also fulfill this foundational requirement by taking one of the following types of courses:

• First-Year JD Courses: Such as Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, or Torts.
• Subject-Specific Doctrinal JD or HPL* Courses: Such as Health Law (for those interested in health), Business Associations (for business), and so forth.

(Note: Format, instructors, and meeting times for JD courses will vary. Please check the current course schedule for details).

*Masters in Health Policy and Law (HPL) is a separate fully asynchronous degree program. With specific permission, MLS students may enroll in one or more HPL courses (up to a maximum of six credits) and apply those credits toward their MLS degree.

Writing Requirement (for MLS students only)

Finally, all MLS students must satisfy the writing requirement, either in a seminar or via an independent study. Dean Wells can discuss this requirement with you, which most students satisfy a bit later in their MLS degree journey.

Important Course Reminders

• Attendance in Synchronous Online Classes: As with all live classes at UC Law SF, attendance at all class sessions is mandatory. Your video must remain on for the duration of the class.
• Attendance in Asynchronous Classes: Students must log in to Canvas and complete assignments on a weekly basis. Students who fail to log in or engage the course materials are at risk of academic withdrawal, or worse, receiving an NP in the course.

V. JD Course Enrollment Policies (NEW)

While MLS and CLS students are permitted to enroll in most of the JD curriculum, the following restrictions apply to ensure students have the foundational skills necessary to succeed:

• JD Seminars: You may not enroll in a JD seminar unless you have successfully passed the MLS Writing Seminar OR received explicit permission from the JD seminar instructor. You should discuss your plans with an MLS program advisor prior to approaching the professor for permission.
• Asynchronous Students: If you take both Legal Writing & Research for Master’s Students (2 credits) and Introduction to Law (3 credits) asynchronously, you may not enroll in subsequent JD lecture courses unless you earn High Honors in both of these courses OR obtain permission from the Associate Dean or Associate Director of the MLS Program.
• Academic Standing: If you receive a “No Pass” in any course, you may not enroll in a JD lecture course or seminar unless the Associate Dean or Associate Director determines you have demonstrated sufficient knowledge and skills to succeed in such a class based on your performance in other courses.

VI. Considerations for Crafting a Balanced Schedule

As an MLS or CLS student, you have access to a wide variety of courses. When building your schedule, it is helpful to understand the source of the course, the type of course, and the format of the course.

A. Course Categories (By Program)

• MLS Courses (MLS prefix): These are designed specifically for master’s students, often in an asynchronous format to accommodate students’ work schedules. They are typically assessed through a combination of written exercises and a final project or exam.
• JD Courses (LAW prefix): The majority of traditional law school courses are available to you. In these courses, you will learn alongside JD students who are studying to become lawyers. Most are in-person (but not all).
• Health Policy & Law (HPL prefix): These specialized asynchronous courses are available to MLS students by special permission for those with healthcare backgrounds. Consult with Dean Wells if interested.

B. Course Types

• Doctrinal/Lecture courses: Typically large classes (30–90 students). The principal method of assessment is often an anonymously graded exam. Note: Most JD lecture exams are closed-book and in-person, even if the course itself is taught online.
• Seminars: Small classes (10–20 students) focused on intensive discussion of advanced readings. The primary assessment is a substantial legal research paper. Active participation is crucial, and prerequisites are common.
• Skills Courses: Interactive courses focused on building practical abilities (e.g., Drafting Legislation, Mediation, Negotiation). Assessment relies on multiple written assignments, mock exercises, and presentations. As you are building your schedule, we often recommend balancing these course types so that you aren’t overloaded with too many papers or too many final exams in any given semester.

C. Course Format

Courses come in many formats at UC Law SF, including online (synchronous or asynchronous), in-person, hybrid, or condensed. Pay close attention when you are registering to ensure you understand whether the course has mandatory live meetings and when they are.

D. Additional Considerations & Policies

• “Sack Sections” (First-Year JD Courses Only): These are special sections of foundational JD courses that offer intensive, individualized feedback on legal writing and analysis from a dedicated “Sack Fellow.” We highly recommend taking a Sack section if you wish to take a first-year JD course.
  • Why take them? They provide excellent writing practice and give you a better sense of your learning prior to the final exam. Because of the extra work, they carry one additional credit (e.g., a 5-credit Torts class instead of 4).
  • Availability: Open to MLS students on a space-available basis.
  • 2026/2027 Offerings: * Fall [2026]: Civil Procedure (Profs. Koningisor/Martin/Moscato), Contracts (Prof. Viswanathan), and Torts (Prof. Freeland)
    • Spring [2027]: Contracts (Prof. Hand), Criminal Law (Prof. Rappaport), and Property (Profs. Belonick/Carrillo/Rao).
• Courses NOT Open to MLS or CLS Students: You may not register for Appellate Advocacy, Lawyers for America, Pretrial Practice, Trial Advocacy, or Trial Objections. Additionally, any course with “Concentration,” “Team,” “Competition,” or “Law and Process” in the title is restricted unless express permission is granted – consult with the Associate Dean of MLS for further guidance.
• Clinics & Non-Classroom Credits (MLS only): MLS students may apply a maximum of 6 credits of non-classroom work toward their degree. Some clinics are reserved specifically for future lawyers. Please consult the approved MLS clinic list before applying. Clinics have a separate application process outside the usual course registration process and with an earlier deadline.
• Prerequisites: Check Self Service for mandatory course prerequisites. These must be completed prior to enrollment or, in some approved cases, taken concurrently.
• Attendance: Across all courses and formats at UC Law SF, attendance is strictly mandatory. Multiple late arrivals, early departures, or absences can result in an administrative withdrawal or a failing grade on your transcript.
• Course Conflicts and Availability: While the administration works to minimize scheduling conflicts and accommodate diverse interests, it is impossible to avoid all overlaps. Please note that not all classes are offered every semester or every year.

VII. Specializations (MLS Students Only)

MLS candidates have the option to pursue a specialization to develop depth of knowledge in a particular field of law (a minimum of 8 credits of approved coursework). Specializations are not required, but for those who pursue one, it will appear on your transcript and you will receive a printed certificate.

• Course Approval: The Associate Dean must approve each course you intend to apply toward your specialization (unless explicitly listed in the specialization policy).
• Tracking: You are responsible for maintaining the Specialization Tracking Form, available from Katey Mason. Each semester, add your approved courses, units, and grades.
• Submission: Once you reach 8 units, notify Katey Mason. Following a formal audit by the administration and Registrar, you will transfer this information to the official MLS Specialization Application and submit it to the MLS Program.

VIII. Advising & Contacts

We are here to help you navigate your academic journey. Please sign up for a group and/or individual advising appointment via the link in your email once you have closely reviewed this guide.

Contact	Area of Responsibility	Email
Morgan Wells (Associate Dean)	Academic advising, schedule approval, course selections, prerequisites, degree requirements	wellsmorgan@uclawsf.edu
Claudia Cantarella (Associate Director)	Academic advising, schedule approval, course selections, prerequisites, degree requirements	cantarellac@uclawsf.edu
Katey Mason (Program Coordinator)	Self Service issues, registration procedures, orientation, exam accommodations, specialization tracking	masonk@uclawsf.edu

 

All the best, and we look forward to seeing you next semester!

 

Morgan Wells

Associate Dean