Law school is more than just classes and casebooks—it's a dynamic experience that shapes your personal and professional journey. At Santa Clara Law, student life is enriched by a supportive community, diverse organizations, and countless opportunities to get involved.
Whether you’re looking to join a student organization, participate in moot court competitions, engage in pro bono work, or simply connect with your classmates, there’s a place for you here. Our vibrant campus, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, provides access to an unparalleled legal network, exciting career opportunities, and a strong alumni community.
From networking events to social gatherings, wellness programs to leadership development, Santa Clara Law offers a well-rounded experience that balances rigorous academics with a fulfilling law school life.
Get involved. Make an impact. Find your community at Santa Clara Law.
Are there lockers available for law students?
Book lockers in Charney Hall are available for rent. The Student Bar Association (SBA) will hold a lottery to assign the lockers shortly after school begins. The SBA will be selling lockers at various times during Orientation.
What is an ACCESS card?
The ACCESS card is the official campus ID, library card, debit card, and personalized key to hundreds of SCU facilities. Eliminating the need to carry cash, it is accepted at all campus restaurants, Bronco Bookstore, ticket offices, vending machines, libraries, network printers, laundry machines, and copiers, as well as at off-campus merchants. It can even save you 8.25% on all campus dining and 13% on photocopying. Your ACCESS card will also be individually programmed to allow access as appropriate to your residence hall, computer labs, academic and athletics facilities, and more.
You can visit the ACCESS Card Office at Benson Memorial Center, Santa Clara University
Tel (408) 551-1647. More information is available online at: www.scu.edu/access.
Is there a post office on campus?
Yes. The Benson Center offers many services and facilities, including a post office. Additionally, the Benson Center offers food service venues, conference rooms, campus bookstore, credit union, and student and administrative offices. Benson is the place to relax, socialize, work on group projects, and meet others.
Where can I find a copy of the Bulletin?
The bulletin can be found on the web at law.scu.edu/bulletin/. The Santa Clara Law Bulletin serves as a reference for all law school rules, policies, and procedures. It also provides a listing of programs and services.
Does Santa Clara Law offer resources for students with disabilities?
Yes. Office of Accessible Education, or OAE, (formerly known as Disabilities Resources) is dedicated to providing reasonable accommodation and eliminating barriers for those who have a disability. For more information about services OAE visit their web page at https://www.scu.edu/oae/.
Where and when can I buy my law school textbooks and legal supplements?
The SCU Campus Bookstore serves all of your needs. Click here to browse the Bookstore’s website for information on store hours, textbook or legal supplement purchases and refund policy, accepted forms of payment, various gifts, and school and computer supplies.
You can reserve your order for new or used textbooks through the Bookstore’s online ordering system, or visit the store to pick out your textbooks in person. However, students should not purchase books until they have received their tentative class schedule.
Where can I sell my used textbooks and legal supplements?
Students may sell their books through the Campus Bookstore’s Buyback program. Visit the Bookstore’s website for more information.
What are the health care options for Santa Clara Law students?
Your law school tuition entitles you to unlimited visits (free of charge) with our health care practitioners at Cowell Health Center regardless of what health insurance you may carry. However, charges are associated with lab work, medications, and medical supplies. These charges are posted to your student account. A receipt can be provided for possible insurance reimbursement. For more information and Health Center hours, visit their website at www.scu.edu/cshc.
Do I need to have health insurance?
All students are required to either carry health insurance (either through a private plan or purchase of health insurance offered through the University) or complete a waiver. Students must provide proof of insurance every year by filling out a Health Insurance Waiver Form. The form must be returned by mail or in person, by a specific deadline, to the insurance coordinator at Cowell Health Center, Santa Clara University, 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053. A hold will be placed on your registration if you fail to fill out this form each year. A PDF version of the waiver form and applicable semester deadline can be downloaded from the Cowell Center website (www.scu.edu/cshc/insurance.cfm). SCU sponsors a health insurance program with TIG Insurance Company that students may purchase for a set fee per year. For more information, please visit the website above.
It is every student’s responsibility to understand the insurance requirements. If you have other insurance but fail to submit your Health Insurance Waiver/Enrollment Form by the specified deadline, you may automatically be charged for the non-refundable SCU-sponsored insurance plan OR a hold will be placed on your registration.
Are there counseling services available for law students?
Yes. CAPS (Counseling & Psychological Services) provides short-term individual therapy and support group counseling for law students. These services are free and confidential within the limits of California State Laws. Visit the CAPS website for more information. CAPS is located in the Cowell Health Center.
How do students get around campus?
Students generally walk or bicycle to most buildings on campus. However, classes at the Katharine and George Alexander Law Center are held off-campus. Law students can expect that a large majority of their courses will be held in Charney Hall.
Do I really need a car? What are the transportation options for Santa Clara Law students?
Some students are able to complete law school without a car due to SCU’s prime location near public transit stops. There are various transportation resources for students. For information on using public transportation to travel to and from SCU, please visit our off campus resources page.
Do I need a parking permit to park on campus?
Yes, students must purchase a Campus Parking Permit to park on campus. Permits and parking information are available from the Parking & Transportation Services located in the Main Parking Structure. You can find more information about the cost of parking permits here. The Parking and Transportation Office is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Permit requirements are strictly enforced, and violators will be ticketed. Failure to pay a parking fine will result in a hold being placed on your registration, transcripts, and graduation.
What kind of permit should I buy to park closest to Charney Hall?
Nonresident students (live off-campus) typically purchase E Permits which allow them to park in Main Parking Structure and North Parking Structure, the two lots nearest Charney Hall. For resident students, C Permits are required for parking in the residence and an E Permit can be purchased daily, weekly, or monthly. You can view the permit options and their designated parking locations here. For more information about permits, please reach out to firstname.lastname@example.org.
What does SCU offer in terms of on-campus dining?
Our campus features several dining locations and services, including Market Square, Mission Bakery, Side Bar Cafe, Cellar Market, and Sunstream Cafe. Visit the dining services website at http://www.scu.edu/diningservices/ for a complete list of locations, menus, and services.
Is there a gym available for law students to exercise and/or participate in intramural sports?
Yes, the Pat Malley Fitness and Recreation Center is available to law students with their ACCESS card. The Fitness Center offers use of the weight and cardiovascular equipment, gymnasium, tennis center, and lap pool, allowing individuals to recreate as their schedule permits. There are also Lifetime Recreation Classes to improve individual health and fitness, promote wellness and teach positive lifetime activity skills. They include badminton, aerobics, group fitness, yoga, pilates, martial arts, cardio-kickboxing, and CPR. Finally, there are intramural and club sports that involve team activities.
Where can I find answers to my questions about Financial Aid?
Visit the Financial Aid website for answers to all of your financial aid questions.
What is the SBA?
Nationally, the Student Bar Association is a part of the 50,000-member American Bar Association Law Student Division (ABA-LSD). On our campus, the SBA represents the interests of law students in their relationship with faculty administration, alumni, and the surrounding community. All students enrolled in the School of Law are members of the Student Bar Association (SBA) and are entitled to participate in its functions and activities. The SBA allocates funds to various law student organizations, and sponsors events of its own throughout the school year. For more information, visit the Student Bar Association page on the Student Life Website.
How do I join a student organization?
SCU Law offers students a chance to join various student organizations. Each fall the Student Bar Association (SBA) hosts Club Day, a time when all registered student organizations have an opportunity to present themselves to new and continuing law students, and students are able to explore the diverse organizations’ interests. Typically, each organization has a sign-up sheet at its table on Club Day, so that the organization may later contact the student regarding membership, activities, and leadership opportunities. Look for Club Day announcements during the first weeks of school to find out more information.
How do I form a new student organization?
Law students are free to organize and join organizations whose stated purposes are consistent with the University and School of Law’s mission. All student organizations seeking recognition by the Student Bar Association and eligibility for University benefits must be registered and must follow the procedures described in the Guide for Law Student Organizations.
What is the Grapevine?
The Grapevine is published weekly by the SBA for the students and community of Santa Clara Law. Each issue of the Grapevine contains SBA updates, event announcements, classifieds, and student resources. The Grapevine web page also contains a link to the Grapevine Submission Guidelines. Questions and concerns can be directed to the SBA Print Editor, editor of the Grapevine, on our student feedback form.
How do I announce a student event?
You may announce student events using flat panel screens, The Grapevine, bulletin boards, e-mail, and blogs. For information regarding announcement policies, visit the School of Law Student Bulletin webpage.
Does the law school have wireless Internet access?
All of our law classrooms are fully networked. Every student seat has two electrical outlets, as well as a single network jack allowing access to the Internet. Also, over 100 of the study carrels in the Law Library are networked. Students with laptops will be able to connect to the Web, their e-mail, LEXIS, and WESTLAW from any seat in the six classrooms, the Moot Court, and the majority of carrels in the Law Library. The Santa Clara University Law Library, as well as the Charney classrooms, is also fully wireless. You no longer need to be in the labs or be connected via a data jack in selected carrels in order to access the SCU network system (though the labs and connecting through a data jack in a carrel will still, as always, be available).
Will law students receive an SCU e-mail address? If so, how is it set up?
All law students will be assigned an SCU Gmail account. Official administrative announcements will be sent out via e-mail. Students will be held accountable for checking their e-mail regularly and keeping themselves informed. You may wish to forward your SCU account to any other e-mail account that you regularly access.
Do I need a laptop?
Santa Clara Law does not require students to have laptops and they are not necessary for successful completion of the degree program. Many successful students do not have laptops. However, many Santa Clara Law students do use laptops and the law school recommends that you consider purchasing a laptop for several reasons. To view a discussion of these reasons, along with information regarding the Laptop Recommendation Program, click here.
Can I purchase a computer or laptop through the school?
Santa Clara Law recommends laptops for each academic year. Visit the Recommended Laptop Program website for more information.