Ahead of the start of law classes last week, hundreds of new law students gathered with LMU Loyola Law School professors, staff, and alumni for an orientation that started with an oath, continued with legal hot-topics, and ended with newly bonded section-mates posing at selfie stations while an alumnus DJ’d in a shirt that said, “Live. Laugh. Lawsuit.”
In addition to JD orientation, new student orientations were held for the LLM (Master of Laws) and MLS (Master of Science in Legal Studies) programs.
Among the 275 day students and 48 evening students in the JD Class of 2026 are graduates of 96 undergraduate institutions from more than 56 different majors. One third are first generation students, and some members of the class already have graduate degrees in such subjects as fine arts, education, medicine an,d global studies.
The Class of 2026 includes a diverse array of experiences and interests. Students have interned with the district attorney and public defender’s offices, served at clinics in AmeriCorps and the military, and worked in television on “Judge Judy” and at Fox Sports. They’ve lived, worked, and volunteered around the world from South Korea to Spain, and some play musical instruments and dance.
But what brings them all together is the LLS degree that lies ahead of them, which will give them the power to change their own lives and the lives of those around them, Interim Dean Brietta Clark said to the students in her opening remarks.
Meanwhile, Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic programs held orientation for their new students. Festivities included a visit to the Inglewood Juvenile Courthouse, as well as an outing by the Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic (LIJC) to their community partners Dolores Mission Church and Homeboy Industries.
“The Loyola Immigration Justice Clinic very much reflects the model that is here in Dolores Mission Church: it reflects the community. As you can see, the community here is incredibly powerful…and I believe the community is the one that knows the solutions,” said LIJC Director Marissa Montes ’12.
“LMU Loyola Law School has a longstanding commitment to public interest law. We are excited to see a passionate group of social justice advocates getting ready to go out into the world this week at Orientation!” said Liz Bluestein, Executive Director of Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic.
