Golden Gate University School of Law is consistently ranked one of the best public interest law schools in the country.  Last year, the National Jurist found that Golden Gate was one of the six best in California. 

Golden Gate owes this reputation to several factors.  First, Golden Gate’s curriculum—including many first-year offerings—extends to every area of public interest law.  Second, Golden Gate supports a formidable externship program (ranked third in the nation in a 2010 study by Professor James Backman of Brigham Young University).  Most Golden Gate students participate in this program and obtain hands-on public interest law-related experience.  Third, many of Golden Gate’s faculty are renowned public interest leaders.  Likewise, Golden Gate’s clinics and centers all focus on public interest issues.  Fourth, Golden Gate is home to many student organizations that create a community deeply committed to public service.  Finally, Golden Gate offers its students many public interest curricular specializations.