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Fall 2025: JD/SJD Orientation

Welcome to Emory Law! Orientation will be held Monday, August 11, through Thursday, August 14, and we can't wait to meet you. Over these four days, you'll do more than learn how to brief a case—you'll start building your Emory Law community. This week is all about finding your people, getting grounded in what matters here, and setting yourself up for success in the classroom and beyond.

Here's a glimpse of what's coming:

  • Meet your future classmates, professors, and alumni
  • Explore what it means to be an Emory lawyer and the values that guide us
  • Get the tools to start off with a strong academic foundation

Orientation is mandatory and in-person. If you have any questions about this, please contact us at jdadmission@emory.edu.

Please note:

Orientation Dress Code

  • Monday and Wednesday: Business Casual
  • Tuesday: Casual—you'll be wearing your House t-shirt
  • Thursday: Professional Attire—you'll be taking your official Emory University School of Law headshot on Thursday. This photo will be used for future networking, marketing, and professional opportunities. We strongly recommend wearing navy or black, as these colors project a polished, professional image.  

Parking: Complimentary parking is available in the Gambrell Parking Deck directly behind the law school. You will be emailed a QR code ahead of Orientation that will grant you access to the parking deck. This pass will let you into the Gambrell Parking Deck only for the week of Orientation.

International Students: If you have an F-1 visa, you are required to attend the additional ISSS session on Friday, August 15.

Schedule

SJD Orientation — Friday, August 15

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), Room G575

Immediately following

Brief meeting with Associate Dean John Acevedo to go over the program (light refreshments included)

JD Orientation
Monday, August 11

Time

Program

Location

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Check-in

2nd Floor Connector

1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Welcome to Emory Law

Tull Auditorium/1E

1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Faculty to 1Ls: What Faculty Expect and How to Deliver (Optional for transfer students)

Tull Auditorium/1E

2:30 p.m. 2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Beyond the Brief: Thriving and Protecting Your Peace

Tull Auditorium/1E

3:10 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Transition time

3:15 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.

Smart Money Moves for 1Ls

Tull Auditorium/1E

3:40 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Transition time

3:45 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Your Law School Era: Community, Connection, and Support

Tull Auditorium/1E

4:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Break/Movement

4:30 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

We Did It, So Can You

Tull Auditorium/1E

5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Creating Space: Conversations on Inclusion and Belonging at Emory Law

Tull Auditorium/1E


Tuesday, August 12

Time

Program

Location

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Check-in

2nd Floor Connector

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Jobs, Internships, and Networking…Let's Go

Tull Auditorium/1E

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Academic Game Plan: Tools, Resources, and Support

Tull Auditorium/1E

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Character, Fitness, and the Bar: What You Need To Know

Tull Auditorium/1E

11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Break/Transition to classrooms

11:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Making Sense of a Case: How to Brief, Highlight, and Actually Understand (Optional for transfer students)

Various Classrooms

12:00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Break/Movement back to Tull/Overflow

12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Putting the Pieces Together: Reading, Analysis, and 1L Law School Strategy (Optional for transfer students)

Tull Auditorium/1E

1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Box Lunch with Houses, SBA

Hunter Atrium/Student Commons/Classrooms 1D, 1E

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Mess Around and Find Out (Where Everything Is)

Gambrell and Big Emory

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

SBA Recess

Bacardi Plaza

Wednesday, August 13 

Time

Program

Location

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Check-in

2nd Floor Connector

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

First ILARC class

Various Classrooms

11:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

Transition time to lunch

11:45 a.m. - 1:25 p.m.

Faculty Lunch

Hunter Atrium/Student Commons/Bacardi Plaza/Reece Plaza

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Language of the Law

Tull Auditorium/1E

3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Break/Movement

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Thriving in the Middle: Wellness as a Way Through Law School

Tull Auditorium/1E

4:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Break

4:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

An Emory Lawyer: Dean's Perspective

Tull Auditorium/1E

5:15 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

From 1L to Practice: Stories and Advice from Emory Law Alumni

Tull Auditorium/1E

6:15 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Alumni and Student Mixer: Building Your Emory Law Network

Bacardi Plaza

Thursday, August 14

Time

Program

Location

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Picture Day: Law School Edition

Hunter Atrium

12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Break/Overflow time headshots

Hunter Atrium

12:45 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Opening Session for Students

Tull Auditorium/1E

1:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.

Transition break to classrooms

TBA

1:15 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.

Professionalism Hypos

Various Locations

3:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Break

TBA

3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Professionalism Remarks and Oath

Tull Auditorium/1E

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Reception

Bacardi Plaza