2023 New Student Orientation for LL.M.s, S.J.D.s and Exchange Students

 
​Important to Note

  • Add/Drop Period ends September 5 at 9 a.m. Detailed instructions about the add/drop process will be sent via email.
  • First-year (1L) courses start August 23. Upper-level courses start August 29. Access the Academic Calendar
  • Homework before first class: Most courses have required readings for the first class. Check Canvas for reading assignments required for each class.
  • Books: Students can purchase or rent books from the Law School's Courts and Commerce Bookstore. Please refer to Dean Vito’s email with instructions (to be sent in July after academic advising meetings) on how to order your books. For book order questions email Larry Rambo. Books should be ordered after the course registration lottery.
  • Dress code: Feel free to wear comfortable clothing and shoes. Dressing in layers is advised.

In-Person Mandatory Events (August 14-19, 2023)

University of Virginia School of Law, 580 Massie Road, Charlottesville, Virginia

All orientation events are mandatory for all students unless marked otherwise. If you need to miss a mandatory event for any reason please email Assistant Dean Adriana Vito.

Monday, August 14

9:30-10 a.m., Clay Hall

Registration

Meet and Greet with Graduate Studies Office Staff

Pick up ID cards, nametags and orientation welcome kit (passport/picture is required to pick up ID cards).

  • Graduate Studies Program Welcoming Committee: Adriana Vito, Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies; Graduate Studies staff, current SJD candidates

10-11 a.m., Caplin Pavilion

Welcome to the Graduate Studies Program

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Clay Hall

Tours of the Law School and Law Library (Starts From Clay Hall)

LL.M.s and S.J.D.s will split into two groups for tours (45 minutes each tour)

12:30-1:45 p.m., Caplin Pavilion

Welcome Lunch

Get to know classmates, UVA faculty and staff

1:45-2:15 p.m., Caplin Pavilion

Graduate Law Students Association Welcome and Introduction

  • Current SJD candidates

2:15-2:45 p.m.

Student Records Introduction

Law School Policies and Procedures

2:45- 3:15 p.m.

Student Services Introduction

Learn about resources and services available to graduate students.

3:15-3:30 p.m.

Break

3:30-5 p.m., Caplin Pavilion

Alumni Panel 

Learn about the career trajectory of successful LL.M. alumni, their favorite courses and professors, and things they enjoyed doing while living in Charlottesville. (Optional for J.A.G.s and S.J.D.s)

Tuesday August 15, 2023

9:15-10 a.m.

Travel to Minor Hall, Central Grounds

Travel to Minor Hall in Central Grounds to attend mandatory ISO orientation session. Give enough time to find the building, arrive and get settled.

10 a.m.-noon, Minor Hall

International Studies Office (ISO) Graduate Students Orientation

  • All new international students holding all non-immigrant statuses must attend the ISO Orientation Session.
  • International student advisers will review important immigration regulations and how to maintain legal status, and provide resources for international students.
  • International students entering the United States on non-immigrant visas (example: F1 and J1) are required to check in with ISO. Completion of this process is necessary in order to activate legal status in the U.S.

International Studies Office Advisors

Noon- 1 p.m.

Free Time for Lunch

Students can select where they want to eat. Newcomb Hall is within walking distance and provides multiple options.

1-1:30 p.m.

Transition to the Law School
 

1:15-2:15 p.m.

Bloomberg Training

  • Will Thompson

2:30-2:45 p.m.

Pro Bono Program

Learn about the Pro Bono Program at UVA Law and resources to fulfill the 50 hours of pro bono work required for licensure in New York. (Optional for J.A.G.s, S.J.D.s and exchange students)

2:45-3 p.m. 

Break

3-4:15 p.m.

Welcome to the Study of Business Law

Study Tips

Participate in an interactive class and learn how to maximize chances for success at UVA Law. Q&A session at the end. (Optional for J.A.G.s and S.J.D.s)

4:15-5 p.m.

Overview of the Journal Tryout Process

(Optional for J.A.G.s and S.J.D.s)

  • Mia Smutny, Membership Development Editor
    Shontae Salmon, Membership and Inclusion Editor

Wednesday, August 16

All events take place in the Purcell Reading Room, except where noted.

9-10 a.m.

Introduction to U.S. Constitutional Law

10-10:45 a.m.

Lexis Training

  • Sabrina Chester

10:45-11 a.m.

Break

11 a.m.-noon

Introduction to the U.S. Legal System Framework, American Law and the Socratic Method

Overview of the U.S. legal system, American Law and Graduate Legal Research and writing, plus tips for studying and preparing for class

  • Professor Ron Rosenberg
  • Professor Karen Moran

Noon-1:15 p.m.

Lunch With Professors Rosenberg and Morgan

Meals provided. Students are welcome to eat in Purcell, other Law School common areas or outside.
 

1:30- 2:30 p.m.

New York Bar Exam Eligibility Requirements

Q&A Session

(Optional for J.A.G.s and S.J.D.s)

2:30-2:45 p.m.

Break

3-4 p.m.

Welcome to America: How to Set up a New and Happy Life at UVA and Charlottesville

(Optional for J.A.G.s)

4-5 p.m.

Orientation First Part Wrap

Q&A

(Reminder of mandatory sessions and what to expect in the next few days

Thursday, August 17

LL.M.s, S.J.D.s and exchange students will join the J.D. students in orientation starting August 17. All events are mandatory except when noted optional for certain groups. 

8:30-9:30 a.m., Caplin Auditorium Lobby

Continental Breakfast (Optional)

9:30-10:45 a.m., Caplin Auditorium

Welcome

Meet the Student Services Team

10:45-11 a.m.

Break

11-11:45 a.m., Caplin Auditorium

Welcome to the Profession: Civility Matters

11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Various Classrooms

Lunch With Sections and Orientation Facilitators 

  • Section A - WB101
  • Section B - WB102
  • Section C - WB103
  • Section D - WB104
  • Section E - WB105
  • Section F - SL262
  • Section G - SL278
  • Section H - SL294
  • Section I - SL298
  • Section J - WB126
  • Section LL.M. - WB128

1:30-2 p.m., Caplin Auditorium

Professional Expectations in Law School 

2-3 p.m., Caplin Auditorium

Fundamentals of the First Amendment and Law School Policies on Free Speech

3-4:30

Break 

4:45-6 p.m., Various Locations

Picnic Dinner by Section

Students only

Friday, August 18 (Required Unless Otherwise Noted)

1:45-2:45 p.m., Caplin Auditorium

Skills and Strategies for Managing Conflict

2:45-4 p.m., Various Classrooms

Facilitated Discussions by Section

  • Section A - WB101
  • Section B - WB102
  • Section C - WB103
  • Section D - WB104
  • Section E - WB105
  • Section F - SL262
  • Section G - SL278
  • Section H - SL294
  • Section I - SL298
  • Section J - WB126
  • Section LL.M. - WB128

4-5 p.m., Spies Garden

Ice Cream Social

Monday, August 21 

8:30-9:30 a.m., WB126, WB128, WB152

Registration

8:30-9:30 a.m., Caplin Auditorium Lobby

Continental Breakfast (Optional)

9:30-10:15 a.m., Caplin Auditorium

Preparing for Class: Reading and Briefing 

(Optional for J.A.G.s and S.J.D.s)

10:15-11 a.m., Caplin Auditorium

Mock Contracts Class (and Why Cold Calls are Important)

(Optional for J.A.G.s and S.J.D.s)

11-11:15 a.m.

Break

11:15-12:15 p.m., Caplin Auditorium

Habits for Success

  • Justin Earley, Esq.

12:15-2 p.m., Various Classrooms

Welcome Lunch with Peer Advisors by Section

  • Section A - WB101
  • Section B - WB102
  • Section C - WB103
  • Section D - WB104
  • Section E - WB105
  • Section F - SL262
  • Section G - SL278
  • Section H - SL294
  • Section I - SL298
  • Section J - WB126
  • Section LL.M. - WB128

2-2:30 p.m., Various Classrooms

Meet Your LRW Professor

  • Professor Buck - Sections B, C, H, J - WB154
  • Professor Fore - Sections A, D, E - WB152
  • Professor Ware - Sections F, G, I - WB126
  • Professor Moran - Section LL.M. and Exchange- WB128

2:30-2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45-4:45 p.m., Various Classrooms

Meet your Doctrinal Professors 

(LL.M.s who are registered for 1L courses will meet with instructors. Students not registered for 1L courses can skip)

Civil Procedure, 2:45-3:05 p.m. 

  • Professor Woolhandler - Sections A, H - WB154
  • Professor Mitchell - Sections D, I - WB128
  • Professor Nelson - Sections B, F - SL278
  • Professor Frost - Sections C, E - WB101
  • Professor Rutherglen - Sections G, J - WB102

Torts, 3:15-3:35 p.m. 

  • Professor Abraham - Sections A, E - WB154
  • Professor White - Section B - SL262
  • Professor Barzun - Section C - WB104
  • Professor Kendrick - Sections D, J - WB101
  • Professor Armacost - Sections F, I - WB152
  • Professor Strauss - Section G - SL298
  • Professor Duffy - Section H - WB103

Criminal Law, 3:45-4:05 p.m. 

  • Professor Jeffries - Sections D, H - WB102
  • Professor Bowers - Sections A, F - WB152
  • Professor Stevenson - Sections B, G - WB101
  • Professor Frampton - Sections C, J - WB128
  • Professor Brown - Sections E, I - SL278

Contracts, 4:15-4:35 p.m. 

  • Professor Gulati -Section F - SL294
  • Professor Stephan - Section I - WB105
  • Professor Maloney - Section J - WB103
  • Professor Geis - Section A - WB104
  • Professor Johnson - Sections B, H - WB126
  • Professor Johnston - Sections C, G - WB128
  • Professor Hynes - Section D - SL298
  • Professor Setear - Section E - SL262

5-7 p.m., Caplin Pavilion & Spies Garden

Law School Kick-off BBQ

Families and children welcome

University ID Cards

Each student must secure a photo ID card from the University. Students may submit a passport-style photo online by July 21, 2023.

ID cards will be distributed during orientation check in on August 14. Students must present an original valid, government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license or passport). University ID photos will be used in the Law School’s photo directory and seating charts.

University ID's are required to enter the Law School building when it is locked (card swipe at the door), use university Transit (buses are free for students to ride with a valid University ID card), and check out exams (you will learn more about these types of exams during orientation).  

Pre-Entrance Health Forms

New students at the University of Virginia must file a Pre-Entrance Health Form with the University, available on the University's Student Health website. 
 
Students must complete and upload the pre-entrance health form by August 1, 2023. If your form is not received by the due date, you will be subject to a late fee of $100. This late fee will be placed on your SIS account on August 2, 2023.
 
Once data from the form has been entered into your medical record, Student Health and Wellness offers a secure website to view immunization data in case you are contacted about any deficiencies.