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 2023

LLM Students - add to calendar

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

First Year MLS Students - add to calendar

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

First Year JD Students - add to calendar

  • 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 - add to calendar

  • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 21

All Students - add to calendar

  • 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 - TBD

Future Semesters

  • Spring 2024

    Advanced JD (2L & 3L) LLM, MLS & SJD Students - add to calendar

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

    First Year JD Students - add to calendar

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 16

    All Students - add to calendar

    • 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 & May 3
    • Final Examinations – April 29-May 9
    • Semester Ends - May 10
    • Commencement - May 10

Past Semesters

  • Spring 2023

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

    • Short Course Instruction (January courses) - January 3 – 13 (Includes Saturday 1/7)
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 17

    First Year JD Students

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 17

    All Students

    • Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (no classes meet) - January 16
    • Presidents' Day Holiday (no classes meet) - February 20
    • Spring Break - March 27 - 31
    • Cesar Chavez Holiday (administrative offices closed) - March 31
    • Administrative Makeup Monday (Monday classes meet) - April 25 (Tuesday)
    • Instruction Ends - April 25
    • Review Session/Reading Period - April 26 – 28 & May 5
    • Final Examinations - May 1 - 11
    • Semester Ends - May 11
    • Commencement - May 12
  • Fall 2022

    LLM Students

    • Short Course Instruction (American Law in a Global Context) - August 10-19
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 22

    First Year MLS Students

    • Short course Instruction (Introduction to Law) - August 15-19
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 22

    First Year JD Students

    • Orientation - August 11-12
    • Short Course Instruction (Introduction to Legal Analysis) - August 15-19
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 22

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

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 22

    All Students

    • Labor Day (no classes meet) - September 5
    • Election Day (no classes meet) - November 8
    • Veteran's Day Holiday (no classes meet) - November 11
    • Administrative Makeup Friday (Friday classes meet) - November 23 (Wednesday)
    • Instruction Ends - November 23
    • Thanksgiving Holiday - November 24-25
    • Review Sessions/Reading Period - November 28-December 1, and December 9
    • Final Examinations - December 2-16
    • Semester Ends - December 16
    • Winter Campus Closure - TBD
  • Spring 2022

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

    • Short Course Instruction (January courses) - January 3-14
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 18

    First Year JD Students

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - January 18

    All Students

    • Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday (administrative offices closed) - January 17
    • Presidents’ Day Holiday (no classes meet) - February 21
    • Spring Break - March 21-25
    • Cesar Chavez Holiday (administrative offices closed) - March 25
    • Administrative Makeup Monday (Monday classes meet) - April 26
    • Instruction Ends - April 26
    • Review Session/Reading Period - April 27-29 and May 6                            
    • Final Examinations - May 2 - 12
    • Semester Ends - May 12
    • Commencement - May 13
  • Fall 2021

    LLM Students

    • Short Course Instruction (American Law in a Global Context) - August 11-20
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 23

    First Year MLS Students

    • Short course Instruction (Introduction to Law) - August 16-20
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 23

    First Year JD Students

    • Orientation - August 12-13
    • Short Course Instruction (Introduction to Legal Analysis) - August 16-20
    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 23

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

    • Semester Course Instruction Begins - August 23

    All Students

    • Labor Day (no classes meet) - September 6
    • Veteran’s Day Holiday (no classes meet) - November 11
    • Administrative Makeup Thursday (Thursday classes meet) - November 23
    • Instruction Ends - November 23
    • Thanksgiving Holiday - November 25-26
    • Review Sessions / Reading Period - November 24, November 29-December 2, and December 10
    • Final Examinations - December 3-17
    • Semester Ends - December 17
    • Winter Campus Closure - December 18-January 2
News
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Sep 18, 2023

Adam Winkler discusses a gun rights matter in New Mexico on NPR's 'All Things Considered'

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Sep 18, 2023

Andrew Verstein is quoted by the Mercury News on agency in business law

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