Law School, University of São Paulo

University of São Paulo Law School

Former names	Academia de Direito de São Paulo, Faculdade de Direito de São Paulo
Type	Law school
Established	1827 (1827)
Parent institution	University of São Paulo
Dean	Floriano de Azevedo Marques Neto
Academic staff	137
Students	1,990
Location	São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
Website	www.direito.usp.br

Night view of the building's façade.

The Law School, University of São Paulo (in Portuguese: Faculdade de Direito da Universidade São Paulo, also known as Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco) is an institution of higher education and research in the field of Law located in São Paulo, Brazil. It joined the University of São Paulo (USP) in 1934, when the latter was established.

History

One of the oldest establishments of higher education in Brazil, and the oldest law school, the São Francisco Law School (in Portuguese: "Faculdade de Direito do Largo de São Francisco"), was founded together with the Olinda Law School (later moved and renamed Recife Law School), by Brazilian regent Dom Pedro I on August 11, 1827, but its classes began earlier than Olinda's. As it was founded a few years after the proclamation of the Independence of Brazil, it was essential for the administration of the Brazilian Empire, having formed most of those who would later be part of the Brazilian government.

The school was first installed in a monastery building from the Franciscan order, which was later rebuilt many times, one of them after a fire. The most recent construction dates from 1934. A number of Brazilian politicians and famous writers have studied at Largo de São Francisco since its foundation, such as Castro Alves, Álvares de Azevedo, Fagundes Varela, Rui Barbosa, Monteiro Lobato.

There is a statue of Álvares de Azevedo in front of the building with this quote: "Foi poeta, sonhou e amou na vida". In English: "He was a poet, dreamed and loved in life".

Students come from all over the country to study at São Francisco and contribute with bohemian and cultural lifestyle to the Brazilian most cosmopolitan city of São Paulo.

There is a gravestone in its patio, where Julius Frank, a German professor dear to students, was buried in 1841. Because Frank was a Protestant, he could not be buried in any of the Catholic graveyards in São Paulo, so the students chose to bury him inside the school as homage.

Ranking

Consistently ranked as the best Law School in Brazil, São Francisco Law School has been the alma mater to 12 Brazilian presidents and many outstanding public officers, diplomats, scholars, writers, politicians and businessmen. Each year São Francisco Law School admits 460 new students in its undergraduate (LL.B.) program, from roughly 10,000 to 15,000 applicants. Graduate programs (MSc and PhD) are also available.