BITS Law School, Mumbai has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the USC Gould School of Law, University of Southern California. The former is a law school established under the aegis of BITS Pilani while USC Gould School of Law is California’s first law school. The partnership is a bid to create opportunities for students and faculty through a globally benchmarked academic framework. It will allow BITS Law School students to pursue Master of Laws (LL.M.) programmes at USC Gould, and the potential development of innovative dual degree offerings such as a Bachelor of Laws–Juris Doctor (LL.B.–J.D.).

“We are proud to partner with USC Gould School of Law. This collaboration is rooted in shared values and a mutual commitment to building future-ready legal education. With overlapping strengths in technology, media, and entertainment law, this partnership will equip students to navigate complex legal challenges in rapidly evolving sectors,” says Professor Ashish Bharadwaj, Founding Dean, BITS Law School. 

“We are excited to expand our global footprint through this institutional partnership. Together, we aim to foster collaborative research, faculty exchanges, and dynamic pathways for students including a specialised programme that will allow students completing their final year at BITS Law School to enrol in one of our on-campus LL.M. programmes,” adds Professor Franita Tolson, Dean, USC Gould School of Law.

The collaboration enables faculty and student exchanges, provides access to internationally benchmarked curricula, and offers exposure to diverse legal systems and perspectives. The partnership further envisions collaborative research, co-teaching initiatives, and a summer school hosted at USC Gould in Los Angeles.