Commencement Information for Guests

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

The Class of 2027 will be celebrating on Monday, May 24.

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 1:00 p.m.

Tickets are required for the University Commencement, the Law School Diploma Ceremony and Reception. Graduates must register their guests through the Yale Law School Commencement platform.

University Commencement

Class of 2027: Monday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Old Campus (344 College Street)
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 McInnis. 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 Diploma Ceremony 

Class of 2027: Monday, May 24 at 1:00 p.m. 
Payne Whitney Gymnasium (70 Tower Parkway)
The Yale Law School Diploma Ceremony takes place immediately following University Commencement. The program features remarks from multiple speakers, including the Dean and a faculty member selected by the class, and lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Reception

Following the diploma ceremony, we will host a reception. This is an opportunity to mingle with faculty, members of the administration, family, and guests—and to take plenty of photos.

The 2027 Yale Law School Diploma Ceremony will be live streamed and recorded. 

To request disability accommodations, please contact Joseph Bleehash.

Please find hotel and lodging information on the Yale Visitor Center website.

Many campus lots and garages will be available throughout Commencement Weekend. These parking areas open on Friday, May 21 at 5:00 p.m. and close on Tuesday, May 25 at 12:00 p.m. The specific locations of available campus lots and garages will be provided closer to Commencement Weekend. A full list of university lots can be found here. City of New Haven parking information may be found here.

Additional information can be found here. 

Connecticut weather in May can be mild and sunny—or cold and rainy. Recent Commencement weekends have included both extremes, so flexibility and practicality are good planning principles. Dress for the weather and for comfort. The University ceremony and Law School reception are held outdoors, while the Law School ceremony is held indoors. Low heels or flats are recommended for navigating the grass and mulched pathways of Old Campus. Rain gear, including waterproof footwear, is important; and rain ponchos are preferred over umbrellas to avoid blocking others’ sightlines. Sunglasses and hats may also be useful.

All bags will be checked at gates. The following items are prohibited:

• Signs or flags larger than 8.5” x 11”
• Banners
• Balloons/inflatables
• Any objects larger than 12” x 12” x 12”
• Laser pointers or similar items
• Wireless speakers and sound amplification of any kind including bullhorns
• Drones
• Noisemakers and compressed air devices

Items not permitted will be confiscated. Graduates or guests may be asked to leave.

More information can be found on the University website.