On August 18, the UCLA Law community convened at its annual convocation ceremony, which was held outdoors on Dickson Court.

The law school’s incoming students include 315 who are pursuing a juris doctor degree (J.D.), 228 who are working toward a master of laws degree (LL.M.) and 54 who are earning a master of legal studies degree (M.L.S.).

The J.D. class of 2026 is among the most academically accomplished in the law school’s history with a median LSAT score of 170 and a record-high median grade point average of 3.92.

Marking his first convocation at UCLA Law, Dean Michael Waterstone presided over the occasion and spoke to incoming classes about the value of empathy and listening to people with diverse perspectives.

“It can’t just be about who shouts the loudest or whose truth is the most rigid,” he said. “What we are going to teach you here is how to listen, reflect and analyze. Lots of opportunities will arise – we’re going to intentionally put you in situations where you need to critique someone’s position. That’s OK. But you can do it without questioning their legitimacy, their dignity or their motivation. As a lawyer, your words are going to be most effective if they can inspire and persuade.”

Ashley Kinder ’24, president of the UCLA Law Student Bar Association, told the entering students about many of the joyous and unexpected moments of learning and levity that await them.

“As hard as it may be, try to not always dwell on the looming stress of exams or memos,” she said. “There are constantly glimmers of fun and light at this school, and I hope you recognize and take advantage of as many as you can.”

Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw ’79, a UCLA Law alumna who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, administered the Oath of Professionalism and delivered remarks on maintaining kindness and integrity in the legal profession.

“UCLA Law graduates draw upon the wonderful and varied opportunities the school provides. … There are really no limits on how you will be able to use your degree,” she said. “But becoming part of the legal community starts right now. Your classmates are your first legal network. Treat them with dignity, respect and kindness. You are planting the seeds of your reputation.”

The law school’s entering J.D. class is 63% women, 29% who identify as LGBTQIA+ and 58% who identify as students of color. In addition, 18% of the class members are the first in their families to earn a four-year college degree.

Among their many impressive records of accomplishment and service, incoming J.D. students include two Fulbright Award recipients, six high school valedictorians and seven people who graduated from UCLA Law’s Law Fellows Program. Four have already earned Ph.D.s in areas including philosophy and accounting, and 17 hold master’s degrees in areas such as theology, English literature, screenwriting, sports management and public health. Many come to law school after having worked at leading companies, law firms and government offices, including the White House, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, and Library of Congress, as well as service in the U.S. Navy. The class includes an array of elite athletes and skilled artists and performers, plus speakers of at least 37 languages. 

Carrying an abiding commitment to public service, incoming students have worked or volunteered for the public defender’s office, JusticeCorps, judges, district attorney’s offices, the ACLU, the Alliance for Children’s Rights, the Eviction Defense Network, Environment California, Physicians for Human Rights, the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, UNICEF and an array of labor unions and organizations that are committed to protecting the rights and dignity of underserved communities across the country. (Read more on the J.D. class profile.)

UCLA Law is also pleased to welcome 34 transfer students who succeeded in their first years at top law schools elsewhere around the country and join the class of 2025, now in its second year. Also, three visiting students join the community to complete their legal education at UCLA Law.

The new LL.M. students are lawyers who hail from 43 countries and hold law degrees from top institutions on six continents. Female students comprise 54% of the class.

Many members of the LL.M. cohort are already accomplished legal professionals, having worked at leading international law firms, as in-house counsel for major corporations, or as public servants in the governments of their home countries. The class includes judges from Japan and Korea and clerks for the Supreme Court of India, the Criminal Court of Buenos Aires and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Two students are Fulbright scholars, from Serbia and Spain. Two others are Health and Human Rights Fellows from South Africa, who will specialize in public interest law and policy, and another is a Critical Race Studies Fellow. During their year of studies at UCLA Law, many of the LL.M. students will pursue degree specializations, including in media, entertainment, technology, and sports law and policy; business law; environmental law; and international and comparative law.

The law school also welcomed one S.J.D. student, who recently earned an LL.M. at UCLA Law and will engage in a project analyzing ex-ante regulatory responses to antitrust concerns in digital markets. In addition, eight foreign exchange students join the law school community from partner schools in Australia, Austria, China, Israel, Germany and Spain.

Members of the M.L.S. class are accomplished professionals who are attending UCLA Law to earn a degree that allows them to master legal principles and advance their careers but does not qualify them to practice law.

Of the 54 class members, 32 are part-time students and six comprise the first cohort of UCLA’s joint M.D./M.L.S. degree program. The new degree is designed for medical students who have completed two years of medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine and are interested in understanding the legal aspects of medicine.

For the full incoming M.L.S. class, 67% of the students identify as female and 56% identify as students of color. They range in age from 21 to 62, and 37% hold advanced degrees in areas including business administration, healthcare administration, plant biology, education, journalism and public health. As leaders in their fields, 73% of the class is chief executives, vice presidents, directors or managers, with an average professional work experience of 18 years at nonprofits, consultancies, entertainment companies, healthcare organizations and more. The class also includes athletes on UCLA’s football, volleyball and track-and-field teams. At UCLA Law, they will specialize in areas including entertainment and media law, employment and human relations law, health law and policy, business law, public interest law and environmental law.