Spring Commencement

All times listed are in Central Time Zone (CDT).  

May 9Thursday

Law School Open House

When: Thursday, May 9, 2024, 4-6 p.m.

Where: UW Law School, Atrium

Families are invited to join graduates, faculty, staff, and students to celebrate at the Law School. Enjoy light refreshments and great company.

May 10Friday

Law School Hooding Ceremony

When: Friday, May 10, 2024 at 1 p.m.

Where: Monona Terrace Convention Center

Virtual Option: Live-streamed on the UW Law YouTube Channel

The hooding ceremony is a special ceremony for UW Law School graduates. During the ceremony, a faculty member places the hood on students, symbolizing completion of the program.

Guests, family members and friends are welcome to attend. There is no ticketing for attendance and seating is general admission, first come, first served. We do request that graduates and guests register for the event for planning purposes.

View the Video Stream »

Live stream will start at 1 p.m. CDT on May 10.

May 11Saturday

UW Commencement Ceremony

When: Saturday, May 11, 2024 at noon

Where: Camp Randall Stadium

Learn more about the UW Commencement Ceremony »

Questions? Contact the events team.

Academic Regalia for Graduation Ceremonies (Attire)

The gown for UW Law School graduates is called the doctor-of-law or juris doctorate gown, and the hood is purple. 

Honors stoles for those receiving Dean’s Academic Achievement Awards are solid red. Once UW Law School has determined the list of students receiving the Dean’s Academic Achievement Awards, it sends the list to The University Book Store. Students eligible to wear an honors stole will be notified. Eligible students should request their honors stoles when they pick up their tams and gowns.

Candidates should wear the academic attire appropriate to the degree to be conferred. Orders for academic attire should be made as early as possible through the University Book Store.

Rental Agency

The University Book Store handles all arrangements for tams, gowns, hoods and honors stoles. To confirm ordering dates and get more information about rentals, check the University Book Store.

You can order your tam, gown and hood:

Bar Admissions

May 29 Wed.

Bar Admissions Large-Group Swearing-in

When: Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Where: Wisconsin Supreme Court Chambers

The Bar Admissions large-group swearing-in for May graduates will take place on May 29 in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Chambers.

To be considered for the group swearing-in ceremony, applicant files must be deemed complete by Board of Bar Examiner staff by May 10, 2024.

Exit/Graduation Photographs

Graduates may elect to submit a photo for the alumni photo collection located in the online UW Law Library Repository

We plan to schedule a photography session in the Law School for students graduating in May. Photographs will be taken in the Mike Hall Student Lounge (located on the second floor of the building next to the lockers). Dates and details on when to register will be forthcoming. Students will be seated for their portraits on a first-come, first-served basis within half-hour sessions. 

Students may also participate by submitting a high-resolution digital copy of their own photograph, using their name as the file name. 

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