Let the Record Show: How WWII Veterans and the GI Bill Transformed UC Law San Francisco

An illustration from a 1967 alumni publication shows the various locations where UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) held classes before its first building was constructed from 1950 to 1953. War veterans and the GI Bill played a key role in helping the College create a vibrant urban campus in the center of San Francisco.

When World War II ended, it didn’t just bring peace—it brought change. For UC Law San Francisco, that change arrived in the form of veterans and the GI Bill, which revitalized the student body and boosted the College’s financial stability. This paved the way for UC Law SF to establish a permanent campus in the heart of San Francisco.

A chart from a 1978 book on the history of UC Law San Francisco shows a major spike in student enrollment fueled by the GI Bill after World War II.

During the war, UC Law SF faced one of its toughest periods. Enrollment plummeted by over 80%, dropping from 272 students in 1940 to just 44 by 1944. Unlike pre-med and divinity students who received deferments to continue their studies, law students rarely had the same luck. If they were fortunate, they could finish a semester before being called to serve, but many had to leave mid-term.

With classrooms mostly empty and its future uncertain, the College endured some lean, difficult years. This inspired creative solutions, such as merging second- and third-year classes into one combined curriculum. This meant that students sometimes took third-year courses during their second year and vice versa.

That all changed in 1946.

Just months after the war ended, UC Law SF welcomed a flood of new students—most of them returning servicemen. For the first time ever, a new class started in January instead of the usual fall.

On the first day, 151 students filled the classrooms, with veterans making up 86% of the group. To manage this sudden growth, the College split the class into multiple sections, a practice that continues today with each class of law students divided into various “inns of court.”

The arrival of veterans and their GI Bill-funded tuition transformed the College. The once-quiet halls of the California Building at 515 Van Ness Ave., where classes were then held, began bustling with activity.

Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate the grand opening of UC Law San Francisco’s first permanent building and mark the College’s 75th anniversary during a ceremony on March 26, 1953.

Overcrowded classrooms and a larger student body made it clear that UC Law SF needed a permanent space of its own. The GI Bill’s financial boost lessened the College’s dependence on state funds, which helped encourage California lawmakers to approve $1.45 million in 1947 for a permanent campus building.

By 1950, construction began, and by 1953, the new building opened. The building was later renamed Snodgrass Hall to honor Dean David Snodgrass, who championed the idea of a permanent campus for what was then called UC Hastings.

Today, the College spans multiple buildings across two city blocks. The original building was replaced in 2020 to make room for a new, 14-story structure at 198 McAllister St., completed last year. The state-of-the-art facility now provides housing for 656 students and is part of UC Law SF’s Academic Village, a vibrant living and learning community that includes students from diverse fields such as business, law, and medicine.

Let the Record Show is an occasional series that showcases people, moments, and milestones from UC Law San Francisco’s past.