First New California Public Law School In 40 Years Opens

It finally happened.  The University of California - Irvine School of Law opened its doors with an inaugural class of 61 top-ranked students on full tuition scholarships.

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky said at a ribbon cutting that the School of Law at the University of California, Irvine, has already exceeded his expectations.  The students selected for the three-year full tuition program had grades comparable to those at top-20 law schools, and private donations are approaching $30 million.  The school's faculty was recruited from major law schools and its curriculum is billed as innovative, stressing public service and unique legal challenges of the 21st century.