Academic Calendar

Our academic year begins in mid-August, when we welcome first-year students for orientation and events, and closes with commencement in mid-May, when we hand hard-earned diplomas to our newest alumni.

Fall Semester 2025

First Year LLM Studentsadd to calendar

  • Short Course Instruction (American Law in a Global Context) – Wednesday, August 13 – Friday, August 22
  • Semester Course Instruction Begins – Monday, August 25

First Year MLS Studentsadd to calendar

  • Short Course Instruction (Introduction to Law and Fundamentals) – Saturday, August 2 – Wednesday, August 6
  • Semester Course Instruction Begins – Monday, August 25

First Year JD Studentsadd to calendar

  • Orientation – Thursday, August 14 – Friday, August 15
  • Short Course Instruction (Introduction to Legal Analysis) – Monday, August 18 – Friday, August 22
  • Semester Course Instruction Begins – Monday, August 25

Advanced JD (2L and 3L), LLM, MLS, SJD Studentsadd to calendar

  • Semester Course Instruction Begins – Monday, August 25

All Studentsadd to calendar

  • Labor Day (no classes meet) – Monday, September 1
  • Pro Bono Day (no classes meet) – Tuesday, November 4
  • Veteran's Day Holiday (no classes meet) – Tuesday, November 11
  • Administrative Makeup Day (Tuesday classes will meet instead of Wednesday classes*) – Wednesday, November 26
  • Semester Course Instruction Ends – Wednesday, November 26
  • Thanksgiving Holiday – Thursday, November 27 – Friday, November 28
  • Review Sessions – Monday, December 1 – Wednesday, December 3
  • Reading Period – Thursday, December 4
  • Final Examinations – Friday, December 5 – Thursday, December 18
  • Semester Ends – Thursday, December 18
  • Winter Campus Closure – TBD

*To account for class days missed due to holidays.

Future Semester

  • Spring 2026

    Advanced JD (2L and 3L), LLM, MLS, and SJD Studentsadd to calendar

    • Short Course Instruction (January Term courses) – Friday, January 2 – Tuesday, January 13 (includes Saturday, January 3 and Saturday, January 10)
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins – Wednesday, January 14 (Monday classes will meet instead of Wednesday classes*)

    First Year JD Studentsadd to calendar

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins – Wednesday, January 14 (Monday classes will meet instead of Wednesday classes*)

    All Studentsadd to calendar

    • First Administrative Makeup Day (Monday classes will meet instead of Wednesday classes*) – Wednesday, January 14
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (no classes meet) – Monday, January 19
    • President’s Day Holiday (no classes meet) – Monday, February 16
    • Spring Break – Monday, March 23 – Friday, March 27
    • Cesar Chavez Holiday (administrative offices closed) – Friday, March 27
    • Second Administrative Makeup Day (Monday classes will meet instead of Thursday classes*) – Thursday, April 23
    • Semester Course Instruction Ends – Thursday, April 23
    • Review Sessions – Friday, April 24 – Tuesday, April 28
    • Final Examinations – Wednesday, April 29 – Tuesday, May 12
    • Semester Ends – Tuesday, May 12
    • Commencement – Friday, May 15

    *To account for class days missed due to holidays.

Past Semesters

  • Spring 2025

    Advanced JD (2L & 3L) LLM, MLS & SJD Students

    • Short Course Instruction (January courses) - January 2-15
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 16 (Monday classes meet)

    First Year JD Students

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 16 (Monday classes meet)

    All Students

    • First Administrative Makeup Monday (Monday classes meet) - January 16 (Thursday)
    • Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (no classes meet) - January 20
    • Presidents' Day Holiday (no classes meet) - February 17
    • Spring Break - March 24-28
    • Cesar Chavez Holiday (administrative offices closed) - March 28
    • Second Administrative Makeup Monday (Monday classes meet) - April 25 (Friday)
    • Instruction Ends - April 25
    • Review Sessions - April 28-30
    • Reading Period - May 1
    • Final Examinations - May 2-15
    • Semester Ends - May 15
    • Commencement - May 16
    • Memorial Day - May 26
  • Fall 2024

    LLM Students

    • Short Course Instruction (American Law in a Global Context) - August 14-23
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 26

    First Year MLS Students

    • Short course Instruction (Introduction to Law and Fundamentals) - August 3-7
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 26

    First Year JD Students

    • Orientation - August 15-16
    • Short Course Instruction (Introduction to Legal Analysis) - August 19-23
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 26

    Advanced JD (2L & 3L), MLS, SJD Students

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 26

    All Students

    • Labor Day (no classes meet) - September 2
    • Pro Bono Day (no classes meet) - November 5
    • Veteran's Day Holiday (no classes meet) - November 11
    • Administrative Makeup Monday (Monday classes meet) - November 27 (Wednesday)
    • Instruction Ends - November 27
    • Thanksgiving Holiday - November 28-29
    • Review Sessions - December 2-4
    • Reading Period - December 5
    • Final Examinations - December 6-20
    • Semester Ends - December 20
    • Winter Campus Closure – December 21-January 1
  • Spring 2024

    Advanced JD (2L & 3L) LLM, MLS & SJD Students

    • Short Course Instruction (January courses) - January 3-13 (Includes Saturdays 1/6 & 1/13)
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 16

    First Year JD Students

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 16

    All Students

    • Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (no classes meet) - January 15
    • Presidents' Day Holiday (no classes meet) - February 19
    • Spring Break - March 25-29
    • Cesar Chavez Holiday (administrative offices closed) - March 29
    • Administrative Makeup Monday (Monday classes meet) - April 23 (Tuesday)
    • Instruction Ends - April 23
    • Review Session/Reading Period - April 24-26
    • Final Examinations – April 29-May 9
    • Semester Ends - May 10
    • Commencement - May 10
  • Fall 2023

    LLM Students

    • Short Course Instruction (American Law in a Global Context) - August 9-18
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 21

    First Year MLS Students

    • Short course Instruction (Introduction to Law) - August 14-18
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 21

    First Year JD Students

    • Orientation - August 10-11
    • Short Course Instruction (Introduction to Legal Analysis) - August 14-18
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 21

    Advanced JD (2L & 3L), MLS, SJD Students

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 21

    All Students

    • Labor Day (no classes meet) - September 4
    • Pro Bono Day (no classes meet) - October 24
    • Veteran's Day Holiday (no classes meet) - November 10
    • Administrative Makeup Friday (Friday classes meet) - November 22 (Wednesday)
    • Instruction Ends - November 22
    • Thanksgiving Holiday - November 23-24
    • Review Sessions/Reading Period - November 27-November 30, and December 8
    • Final Examinations - December 1-15
    • Semester Ends - December 15
    • Winter Campus Closure - December 23-January 2
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