*** Congratulations to the graduating class of 2024! UC Davis School of Law will hold a commencement from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024 at the Mondavi Center.
For more information, please contact Events & Facility Manager Onell Berrios at oaberrios@ucdavis.edu.
COVID-19 Protocols
Face coverings are strongly recommended.
Graduation vs. Commencement
The language can sometimes be used interchangeably but “graduation” is used to describe the completion of your academic work and degree, while “commencement” refers to the celebratory event. Please read the following instructions which will help you prepare for both graduation and commencement.
Review Your Academic Record
It is your responsibility to verify your graduation requirements and ensure you’re on track to complete your degree. Please review your degree progress now and contact the Registrar’s Office if you have any questions or concerns. JD students may find it helpful to utilize the Graduation Checklist on the Law School Intranet site under the "Course Tools" tab, as well as your unofficial transcript. The Registrar's Office will contact graduating students by email, around the third week of February to confirm graduation requirements and any concerns with students not graduating on time.
Diploma Name Verification
UC Davis requires your legal name be used for your law school diploma. The name on your diploma must match your university record. If you need to change your name on your university record, please submit a Petition for Name Change by April 1st. You will be required to upload supporting legal documentation. You may also use this form if you want to adjust how your middle name is listed (or not listed) on your diploma.
Deadline to submit name verification: TBD
Post-Graduation and Bar Exam
Most graduates will sit for a bar exam following graduation and the Law Registrar will need to file proof of graduation with the state bar on your behalf. Each state has a unique deadline and process by which the Law Registrar will certify you as a graduate. Please use the Intranet Commencement page to note your post-graduation plan (or if you don't plan to take a bar exam, please note that on the intranet as well) so we can begin our process to prepare the necessary certification documents.
Certificates
The School of Law has eight certificate programs that allow student's specialization to be recognized upon graduation. The Pro Bono program recognizes students who fulfill a minimum number hours performing volunteer legal work performed without compensation or academic credit and under the supervision of an attorney. The Public Interest Law Certificate program allows students who have taken a certain number of course hours in this concentration to receive a certificate.
We also have six academic subject matter certificates: Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, Business Law, Criminal Law and Policy, Immigration Law, and the Tax Law. Even if your certificate work is still pending completion, please submit your Completion of Requirements Form by March 1st to have your certificate listed in the Commencement Program.
Deadline to submit certificate Completion of Requirements Form: TBD