Preparing for Commencement

COVID-19 Policy: The Law School follows University policy. Visit the University website for more information.

Yale is monitoring the spread of COVID-19 closely and is consulting with local, state, and federal agencies and experts at the university to safeguard the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.

We encourage you to follow precautions for your well-being and to review Yale’s COVID-19 website for the latest information.

Information for Class of 2023 regalia distribution can be found here. 

You must verify your diploma name through SIS by April 2023. Your first and last names must be your legal names. If you also want to include your middle name(s), you may ask that the name(s) be fully spelled out or listed as initials. Note: University policy is that only names will be put on diplomas; no honorifics (Dr., etc.) or other degrees (M.B.A., M.D., etc.) will be included, so do not add either of these to your name on the diploma list.

Confirm the pronunciation of your name for the Law School ceremony by May 8. Login to SIS. Click on the Personal Data tab. Select NameCoach. Follow the prompts to record your name. Please speak slowly. 

 

For each Yale Law School Commencement, a small group of graduating students are selected to act as marshals and a flag bearer during the Commencement procession and Old Campus ceremony. The students selected exemplify the qualities of kindness, service, and the ability to work with others. To nominate a graduating student for marshal or flag bearer, email Associate Dean Mike Thompson in February with the person’s name and the reason for nomination. 

Commencement Ceremonies

All Yale Law School degree candidates are invited to participate in Commencement activities. 

The Class of 2023 will be celebrating on Monday, May 22.

There are two distinct ceremonies that comprise Commencement. The University Commencement takes place on Old Campus in the morning and the Law School ceremony is held in the Lanman Center at Payne Whitney Gymnasium beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets are required for both the University Commencement and the Law School Ceremony. 

University Commencement

Class of 2023: Monday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m.
Old Campus
All university degrees are formally conferred during the Commencement ceremony on Old Campus. During the ceremony, the  deans formally present their approved candidates to President Salovey. The president, in turn, confers the degrees and admits new graduates to each degree’s “rights and responsibilities.” Student marshals accept symbolic diplomas from the president on behalf of their colleagues. The ceremony lasts approximately 1 hour 15 minutes.

Law School Ceremony 

Class of 2023: Monday, May 22 at 12:30 p.m. 
Payne Whitney Gymnasium
The diploma ceremony for Yale Law School takes place immediately after the University Commencement. The ceremony includes a few speeches including remarks by the dean and a faculty member selected by the class. This ceremony lasts approximately two and a half hours.

Reception

After the diploma ceremony, we will host a reception in the Goldman Courtyard of the Law School. This is an opportunity to mingle with faculty, members of the administration, family and guests, and to take lots of photographs! 

YLS graduates with children can walk across the stage at the Law School’s Diploma Ceremony with children if you wish. Please contact OSA to make arrangements.

All university parking lots are open on Commencement day, but parking will be at a premium, and meters will be monitored. Traveling and parking within the city of New Haven is always challenging on Commencement Day. Please plan ahead and allow plenty of time to travel to and around campus that day.

Additional information can be found here:
http://commencement.yale.edu/transportation

GradImages will take individual photos of all who participate in the Commencement Ceremony. It will be possible to order photographs from the their website. 
 
If have any questions or concerns regarding your photos, please contact our Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. 

It can be mild and sunny or cold and rainy in Connecticut in May. Recent Commencement weekends have had both weather extremes, so flexibility and practicality are good planning principles. Dress with an eye to the weather and comfort. The University ceremony is held outdoors; the Law School ceremony is held indoors. Low heels or flats are appropriate for navigating the grass and mulched pathways of Old Campus. Rain gear, including water-impervious footwear, is important; and rain ponchos are preferred over umbrellas so sightlines are not blocked. Sunglasses and hats may also be useful. A jacket and tie or collared shirt and sports jacket is appropriate men’s attire for most events. On graduation day, it is recommended that students wear clothing with pockets, comfortable heels (if they choose to wear heels), and a shirt with a button to make it easier to tie their regalia.

All bags will be checked at gates and no bags larger than 12x12 will be allowed. 

Looking for graduation gifts? Vendors selling fresh flowers will be available on site. You can also purchase hats, t-shirts, umbrellas, and other Yale memorabilia from the Yale University Bookstore and Campus Customs.

Preparing to Leave YLS

Please click here for the most current information on the July bar exam administration.

Questions about when and where to take a bar exam can be referred to Dean Maldonado. You may also schedule a meeting with Dean Maldonado.

Questions about the character & fitness process can be referred to the Office of Student Affairs. 

Questions about and requests regarding the various forms completed by the law school can be referred to the Registrar’s Office

Questions about financing the costs related to the exam or bar study can be referred to the Office of Financial Aid

 

Email
Your email account will remain open and active until June 2024. 

All graduating students are eligible to register for a lifelong email account. These accounts are managed by the Association of Yale Alumni and provided by gmail.  You will receive a communication from Yale later this summer with information on creating your AYA account.

VPN
Access to VPN will end on October 1, 2023.

NetID
Your NetID will continue to provide access to Yale Law School and University systems available to alumni, including the COAP online application, websis, and password protected areas of the law school website.

Box Account
If you plan to keep your Box.net account after graduation, Yale Box accounts must be converted to personal accounts before October 1st after graduation. Read instructions for converting your Yale Box account to a personal account.

Further Information
For more information on how to setup an auto-reply or forwarding on your Yale email account please review our graduating students FAQ.

Contact Information
Need assistance have questions? Please feel free to contact Loriann Seluga or email the YLS helpdesk.

For students graduating during the Spring semester, coverage ends on July 31. Students graduating at a different time should contact the Yale Health Member Services Department [member.services@yale.edu, +1-203-432-0246] to determine coverage end dates.

The Yale Health Member Services Department is available to assist with questions about how to transition your health insurance to another provider. They can be reached at member.services@yale.edu or +1-203-432-0246. Please contact Yale Health or the coverage providers directly to explore your options.

For more information about Yale Health coverage please see the Yale Health web site.

Bikes: need to be moved from the main courtyard by noon on May 17 to the upper courtyard located by entries J, K and L

Lockers: Graduating students must empty their lockers by noon on May 30; all remaining locks will be cut and the contents discarded.  

Keys: (student organizations and faculty offices) must be returned by May 25 in one of the envelopes located in a pouch underneath mailbox 13 in the mailroom and insert in the slot or can be returned to the Building Services office room 130 Monday- Friday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.  Any key not returned will result in a $25 fee added to your bursar account.

Library:

  • Students should return Law Library books and materials as soon as possible. 
  • Note: Students can return Law Library or Yale University Library material at any time to one of the University Library drop boxes located outside the entrances to the Sterling Memorial and Bass Libraries.
  • If you will not be returning to campus but need to return law library materials, please reach out to lawlib.admin@yale.edu.

All Baker Hall Suite Keys must be returned by May 30. On the basement level next to the laundry room, you will find envelopes and a key drop box. Fill out the information label and deposit into the slot. Any key not returned will result in a $25 fee added to your housing account.

3L Employment Survey:

As an ABA accredited law school, YLS is required to report numerous details about the postgraduate plans of every graduate. As a requirement for graduation, it is MANDATORY that every graduate complete a 3L Employment Survey in CDO's Career Management System (CMS). Please access the 3L Employment Survey from the CMS homepage by clicking on the tile for Employment Survey. If you have not finalized your post-graduate plans, please indicate that in the survey. Be sure to select Save Changes at the bottom of the form to confirm you have reviewed and approved your information. Return to the survey as needed to provide updated information. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact CDO's Director of Recruitment and Administration, Tina Severson at christine.severson@yale.edu.