Welcome to the University of San Diego, and to the Juris Doctor (JD) program! This orientation is to prepare you for successful entry into law school life. All new students are expected to complete the self-paced orientation course in Canvas and attend the in-person orientation.
Please check your spam folder and add lawstudentaffairs@sandiego.edu, lawreg@sandiego.edu, lawcareers@sandiego.edu, and lawaid@sandiego.edu to your contacts so important messages do not get filtered to Spam. Consider adding a recurring calendar reminder to check your spam on a weekly basis as important emails often go to spam.
Please review the 1L Checklist below and complete all tasks, including benchmark tests and required assignments inside of the JD Orientation Canvas Course, by the posted deadline.
As soon as possible
- Once you receive your Student ID number from the Office of Law Admissions, please claim your USDOne Account to set up your official USD email account and gain access to your MySanDiego Portal.
- Optional: In your MySanDiego Portal, under applications, update your preferred first name, marital status, preferred pronoun, gender marker or, under torero hub/my torero service, add the phonetic spelling of your name.
- Save the date for orientation: August 13-14 (August 15 for Part-Time Students).
- Initiate disability accommodations process (if applicable).
- Ensure you have a laptop that meets minimum system requirements for law school exams which use Examplify. Laptops are mandatory for all law exams.
Week of July 20
- Access and begin the JD Orientation Canvas course (an email will be sent when it's open).
July 20-21
- Purchase parking e-permit. Permits go on sale for law students from July 20-21. Purchase before July 22 for law student priority. Permits available on a first come, first served basis.
By August 1
- Submit additional required immunization documentation.
- Upload a photo for your student ID card through GET.
August 3
- Receive section assignment via email (by 5:00 p.m.) and view class schedule in the MySanDiego portal.
- Once you receive your section assignments, access orientation materials and assignments in this course.
By August 10
- Submit your Moral Character Re-Certification Form to jdinfo@sandiego.edu by August 10–required in order to start classes.
- Submit Registration Forms via DocuSign. The forms will be emailed to you on August 3, and must be signed by August 10.
- Sign up for TimelyCare, 24/7 on-demand medical and mental healthcare.
- Purchase/rent textbooks (after receipt of class schedule, first week of August).
- Watch the Financial Aid Orientation Video in Canvas, review and sign the certification of completion.
- Complete your mandatory benchmark assessment, the Pre-Law-School Multiple-Choice Test.
By August 12
- Complete ALL Canvas orientation modules.
- Priority registration for a locker (August 10-12).
- Receive access codes via email and activate your legal research account (Westlaw/TWEN, Lexis, Bloomberg, CEB, and CALI) (Codes sent August 5).
- Complete Orientation assignments for "1L Essentials: Intro to the Legal System and Case Law" and sample doctrinal lecture.
By August 15
- Check Google Drive for course syllabi and first week assignments.
- Pick up Torero ID card (required to access Pardee Legal Research Center) from Campus Card Services in Hahn University Center 127 (During Orientation).
- Optional: Review the Law Careers 0L/1L Early Start Guide, especially if you are interested in learning about hiring timelines or big law (see Canvas course for password).
By September 11
- Enroll in or waive the Student Health Insurance Plan
Within the first 90 days of school
- Register as a law student with the State Bar of California