Final Exercises on May 19, 2024

  • 9 a.m. – The Lawn, Academic Procession and Final Exercises 
  • 12:15 p.m. – Law School Ceremony, Front Lawn 

Graduates and guests should continue to monitor the Major Events site for details about the May 19 ceremony, especially if the weather is looking bad. The site also has information regarding the security procedures that will be followed; make sure guests are aware of the restrictions.

Fair Weather Plan

Saturday, May 18

4-7 p.m.

Law School Foundation Reception
Caplin Pavilion 

Sunday, May 19

9 a.m.

University Final Exercises and Conferral of Degrees
The Lawn (tickets required) - UVA Finals Information for the Class of 2024
Watch Livestream

12:15-1:45 p.m.

Law School Ceremony
Law School, Holcombe T. Green Lawn
Commencement Speaker, Dasha Smith ’98
Watch Livestream - The livestream can be viewed on-site in rooms WB152, WB154, WB126 and WB128.

*A reception with light snacks will be held at the Law School immediately following the diploma ceremony.

Brief Overview of Graduation 2024

Graduation will be held the weekend of May 18, 2024. On May 18, the Law School Foundation will hold an evening reception at the Law School for graduates, families and friends. Heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages will be served. This is a fun event that includes an opportunity to celebrate with your class and take a class photo. Faculty and staff also attend this event. 

The graduation ceremonies will be on Sunday, May 19. Two separate ceremonies take place that day. At 9 a.m., the Academic Procession and Final Exercises begin. This ceremony will take place either on the Lawn (fair weather plan or inclement weather plan) or in JPJ Arena (severe weather plan). Graduates should be in the designated gathering spot at 8:15 a.m. Guests must have tickets for this ceremony. Graduates will have six tickets for the event if it is outdoors, and three if it is indoors. Graduates will not be individually recognized at Final Exercises on the Lawn, although you will be asked to stand and have your degrees conferred en masse by President Jim Ryan. 

The Law School Ceremony takes place at 12:15 p.m. on Holcombe T. Green Lawn under the fair weather plan. If the school follows the inclement weather or severe weather plan, the Law School Ceremony will be held at JPJ Arena in the afternoon (at 2 or 2:30 p.m.). No tickets are required for the Law School ceremony; however, seating is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. The Law School ceremony usually lasts about an hour and a half. A reception with light snacks will be held at the Law School directly after the diploma ceremony. 

The University will announce which weather plan the University is following early on May 19. The Law School has no input in this decision and must follow the weather plan announced by the University. Regardless of the weather plan followed, the ceremonies will be the same in content. If we are at John Paul Jones Arena, the clear bag policy is in effect. 

Where do graduates need to be and when?

Graduates participating in Final Exercises on the Lawn should be at the assembly point at Green Alley by 8:15 a.m. Information and Maps

Graduates participating in the Law School Ceremony (Fair Weather Plan) should be seated in front of the Law School by 11:30 p.m.

Parking

For UVA Law guests, the UVA Shuttle Service will leave from the Darden School for Final Exercises on the Lawn (Shuttle maps here). Parking for the Law School ceremony is first-come, first-served in all lots except the D2 visitor lot and the Darden School lots. More information is on the Parking & Transportation website. Contact @email with questions.

Accessibility Accommodation Information 

If you or your guests require accessibility accommodations at the Law School or for Final Exercises, please complete this form by April 14, 2024, at 5 p.m. We will have parking available in the D2 visitor lot, but it is limited. We will also arrange for reserved seating for people who have an accessibility need.

How do tickets work?

To access the Lawn, tickets will be required for all guests. As in the past, each graduate will receive six guest tickets for the Lawn ceremony. The graduate does not need a ticket but must be wearing a cap and gown to gain access to the Lawn or John Paul Jones Arena. If the ceremony is moved to the John Paul Jones Arena (in the event of severe weather), graduates will be limited to three guest tickets. 

Tickets will be distributed digitally during the second week of May, no later than May 9th, using the Virginia Athletics ticketing system (Paciolan). An email from the Office of Major Events and External Relations will be sent to all degree candidates’ UVA email address (ex. abc2d@virginia.edu) with instructions on how to claim tickets. 

For Final Exercises, graduates and faculty will be seated on the Lawn in front of Old Cabell Hall. Guest seating will be behind the student seating area and on the next four levels of the Lawn on either side of the processional route.

On the morning of each Final Exercises ceremony, ushers will scan tickets and seat guests starting at 7:30 a.m. All seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests are encouraged to be in their seats by 8:15 a.m. because the center aisle of the Lawn will close in preparation for the procession at 9 a.m. Once the center aisle closes, foot traffic from one side of the Lawn to the other will be prohibited. If guests need to leave the Lawn temporarily before or during Final Exercises, they must obtain a pass from an usher for re-entry.

*Tickets are not required for the separate School of Law Ceremony held at the Law School* 

Livestreaming

Additional guests are welcome. Guests without a Final Exercises seating ticket can watch a livestream of the ceremony in one of our climate-controlled, Remote (Indoor) Viewing Locations. Tickets are not required for these venues. In addition, Final Exercises ceremonies on the Lawn will be streamed live on the University of Virginia live webcast page. The Law School will also livestream the Law School ceremony, with indoor viewing locations available at the Law School in rooms WB152, WB154, WB126 and WB128.

Do children require tickets to attend Final Exercises on the Lawn?

Children aged 2 and younger do not require a ticket if sitting on someone's lap. All children older than 2 are required to have a guest seating ticket. Guests with children are also encouraged to take advantage of the Remote (Indoor) Viewing Locations. These locations are climate-controlled and located near indoor restrooms. In addition, these locations are less crowded than the seating area on the Lawn, allowing for more space for children to move around. Tickets are not required for these venues.

Regalia

The Law School has ordered rental regalia for all graduates. Regalia consists of a gown, a tam, a tassel and a doctoral hood. Students will be notified when the regalia is available for pickup, usually in April or early May. Students will not get their doctoral hoods until the hooding ceremony on May 19. Regalia must be returned on May 19. If you are interested in purchasing regalia, you should contact the Law School Bookstore.

What happens if it rains?

The University will determine if the weather requires moving all or some of the day's events indoors. Students will receive an email early on May 19 letting them know which plan will be followed and giving them instructions on where they need to be and at what time they need to be there. Please watch your email carefully for this information.

Inclement Weather Plan

Saturday, May 18

4-7 p.m.

Law School Foundation Reception
Caplin Pavilion

Sunday, May 19

9 a.m.

University Final Exercises and Conferral of Degrees
The Lawn (tickets required)

2:30-4:30 p.m.  

Law School Ceremony
JPJ Arena 
Commencement Speaker, Dasha Smith ’98

*A reception with light snacks will be held at the Law School after the diploma ceremony.  

Severe Weather Plan

Saturday, May 18

4-7 p.m.

Law School Foundation Reception
Caplin Pavilion

Sunday, May 19

9 a.m.

University Final Exercises and Conferral of Degrees
JPJ Arena (tickets required)

2-4:30 p.m.

Law School Ceremony
JPJ Arena 
Commencement Speaker, Dasha Smith ’98

*A reception with light snacks will be held at the Law School after the diploma ceremony.