Human Rights and Social Justice Law

UC Davis School of Law has a commitment to human rights and social justice stretching back to its beginning more than 40 years ago, when students and faculty successfully petitioned university administrators to name the Law School building for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout its existence, King Hall has been known for producing outstanding attorneys dedicated to using the power of law to achieve a more just society.

The UC Davis School of Law Human Rights and Social Justice Law curriculum provides education on some of the most pressing social issues of our time. Laws regarding race, gender, class, and sexual orientation profoundly affect the lives of individuals, the growth of social institutions, the substance of culture, and the workings of political economies. The King Hall faculty includes internationally renowned scholars passionately committed to the highest standards of legal education. UC Davis School of Law offers an outstanding array of classes in many different human rights and social justice fields including civil rights, disability rights, education, feminist jurisprudence, and immigration.

UC Davis School of Law also specializes in creating practical legal experiences for all students. Through its award-winning clinics and externships, the Law School offers students numerous opportunities to gain direct experience working with issues of domestic violence, immigration status, civil rights violations, and other legal problems. The Immigration Law Clinic, Civil Rights Clinic and Family Protection and Legal Assistance Clinic all allow students to work directly with clients who otherwise could not afford legal representation. Students can also enhance their education by participating in organizations or working on journals. The School of Law sponsors approximately 40 student organizations and five scholarly journals.

King Hall students with a concentration in Human Rights and Social Justice Law join a network of graduates with diverse, rewarding careers. UC Davis law alumni who studied human rights and social justice law now work in law and lobbying firms, legislatures, government offices, courts, corporations and nonprofit organizations throughout the world.