Welcome to the University of San Diego School of Law, we look forward to meeting you soon! Your first step is to review the 1L Checklist and complete each task by its specified due date to ensure you are fully prepared for your first year of law school. Below, you will find helpful information about Orientation Week and its schedule.
Please feel free to contact the Office for Law Student Affairs if you have any questions.
Save the Date
2026 JD First-Year Orientation: August 13-14 (August 15 for Part-Time Students).
Peer Mentorship Program
The Peer Mentor Program provides incoming students with mentorship support from a returning student. Through our partnership with Mentor Collective we offer highly personalized matches designed to help give students someone they can go to for advice and support. The first year of law school can be one of the most challenging times of a person’s life and having a mentor guide you can be crucial in your success. For more information about the Peer Mentor Program contact lawstudentaffairs@sandiego.edu.
2026 JD First-Year Orientation Schedule
Orientation is designed to set you up for success both academically and personally.
All full-time students are expected to participate in the complete in-person orientation with your peers August 13-14. Part-time students are encouraged to attend all sessions on August 13-14 that work for their schedules, and are expected to attend the dedicated orientation for part-time students on Saturday, August 15.
Please contact the Office for Law Student Affairs at lawstudentaffairs@sandiego.edu or (619) 260-4651 with any questions about orientation. We look forward to meeting you soon!
Thursday, August 13, 2026
- Suggested Attire: Casual, comfortable shoes
- Bring: Laptop or notetaking materials, if desired. Refillable water container.
Note: These orientation sessions begins at Warren Hall and end in Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (KIPJ). Visit the USD Parking website for information about available parking and rules and regulations.
| Start Time | End Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:30 a.m. | 8:45 a.m. | Check-In Check in, receive a welcome gift from Law Student Affairs (LSA) and your name tag. Store your backpack in your locker to prepare for a campus tour. |
In front of Warren Hall |
| 8:45 a.m. | 9:45 a.m. | Campus Tour Student volunteers will show you around campus and the Legal Research Center. Tours start in front of Warren Hall. Look for the Orientation Volunteer with your Legal Writing & Research subsection sign. |
In front of Warren Hall |
| 9:45 a.m. | 10:00 a.m. | Break & Water | |
| 10:00 a.m. | 11:15 a.m. |
Welcome & Cultural Competency Training |
Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (KIPJ) Theater |
| 11:15 a.m. | 11:30 a.m. | Break | |
| 11:30 a.m. | 12:45 p.m. | Rules of the Road; Wellness (Sections A & B) Assistant Dean Emily Nagisa Keehn, will review key policies, expectations, and resources for success while sharing strategies to support your well-being and help you thrive in law school and beyond. |
Section A & B: Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (KIPJ) Theater |
|
Strategies for Success (Sections C, D, & E) |
Section C, D & E: KIPJ - AB (1st Floor) |
||
| 12:45 p.m. | 1:30 p.m. |
Student Life Lunch |
Garden of the Sky |
| 1:30 p.m. | 2:45 p.m. | Strategies for Success (Sections A & B) How should you prepare for class, what should you focus on during class, and how do you process that information afterward? Join the Academic Success and Bar Programs (ASBP) team for an introduction to studying law and building strong foundations for success in law school. |
Section A & B: KIPJ - AB (1st Floor) |
|
Rules of the Road; Wellness (Sections C, D, & E) Assistant Dean Emily Nagisa Keehn, will review key policies, expectations, and resources for success while sharing strategies to support your well-being and help you thrive in law school and beyond. |
Section C, D & E: Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (KIPJ) Theater | ||
| 2:45 p.m. | 3:00 p.m. |
Break |
|
| 3:00 p.m. | 4:30 p.m. |
1L Essentials: Intro to the Legal System and Case Law |
Subsections A1 & A2: KIPJ, Room 215 Subsections B4 & C8: KIPJ, Room 217 Subsections B5 & C7: KIPJ, Room 220 Subsections A3 & B6: KIPJ, Room 219 Subsections D10 & D11: KIPJ, Room 218 Subsections C9, D12, & E13: KIPJ, Room 223 |
Friday, August 14, 2026
- Suggested Attire: Business (bring your name tag)
- Bring: Laptop or notetaking materials, if desired; comfortable shoes; refillable water container.
Note: These orientation sessions take place in Warren Hall and end in Camino Hall. Visit the USD Parking website for information about available parking and rules and regulations.
| Start Time | End Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:15 a.m. |
9:30 a.m. | Check-In (New Arrivals Only) Check in to receive a welcome gift from Law Student Affairs (LSA). |
In front of Warren Hall |
| 9:30 a.m. | 10:30 a.m. |
Introductory Doctrinal Session (Sections A, B, & E) |
Section A: Warren Hall, Room 2B Sections B & E: Warren Hall, Room 131 |
|
Student Life Panel (Sections C & D) |
Section C: Warren Hall, Courtroom (303) Section D: Warren Hall Room 3B |
||
| 10:30 a.m. | 10:45 a.m. |
Break - Grab & Go Lunch |
Warren Hall, 2nd Floor Foyer |
| 10:45 a.m. | 11:45 a.m. |
Student Life Panel (Sections A, B, & E) |
Section A: Warren Hall, Courtroom (303) Sections B & E: Warren Hall, Room 3B |
|
Introductory Doctrinal Session (Sections C & D) |
Section C: Warren Hall, Room 2B Section D: Warren Hall Room 131 |
||
| 11:45 a.m. | 12:55 p.m. | Headshots & Meet Your New Colleagues A professional photographer will be on-site to take individual headshots, which will be provided to you at no cost. Afterwards, take some time to meet and mingle with your new colleagues. Light snacks will be provided. |
Headshots |
| 12:55 p.m. | 1:15 p.m. | First-Year Group Photo Gather for a photo of the entire incoming class. (Note: This photo will be available for purchase for all first-year students. Participation in the group photo is optional.) |
Paseo de Colachis (PDC) East |
| 1:15 p.m. |
3:00 p.m. |
Welcome from the Provost & Dean, Faculty Model Debate & Oath of Professionalism Meet Provost James Antony, Dean Robert A. Schapiro, Vice Dean Robert F. Muth, senior administration, and the USD School of Law faculty. Join us as our esteemed faculty demonstrate the civility in disagreement expected of legal professionals through a faculty model debate. Your legal career formally begins with the Oath of Professionalism, administered by Judge Rohanee Zapanta ’98 (BA) ’02 (JD). |
Camino Hall, Shiley Theater |
| 3:00 p.m. | 4:15 p.m. |
Law Community Reception |
Camino Founders South Patio |
Part-Time Orientation:
Saturday, August 15, 2026
- Suggested Attire: Business
- Bring: Laptop or notetaking materials, if desired; change of clothes and comfortable shoes; refillable water container.
| Start Time | End Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 a.m. | 9:30 a.m. | Headshots & Meet Your Colleagues A professional photographer will be on-site to take individual headshots when you arrive. While you wait, enjoy a pastry and a cup of coffee as you mingle with your new colleagues. |
Warren Hall, Faculty Reading Room (201) |
| 9:30 a.m. | 10:45 a.m | Welcome, Rules of the Road & Wellness Meet Dean Robert A. Schapiro and hear from Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs, Emily Nagisa Keehn, who will review key policies, expectations, and resources for success while sharing strategies to support your well-being and help you thrive in law school and beyond. |
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom (303) |
| 10:45 a.m. |
11:00 a.m. | Break | |
| 11:00 a.m. | 12:15 p.m. | Strategies for Success How should you prepare for class, what should you focus on during class, and how do you process that information afterward? Join the Academic Success and Bar Programs (ASBP) team for an introduction to studying law and building strong foundations for success in law school. |
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom (303) |
| 12:15 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. | Lunch | Warren Hall, South Patio |
| 1:00 p.m. |
2:30 p.m. | 1L Essentials: Intro to the Legal System and Case Law Introductory session with a Legal Writing and Research faculty member. |
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom (303) |
| 2:30 p.m. | 2:45 p.m. | Break | |
| 2:45 p.m. | 3:30 p.m. | Cultural Competency Training Specialized training on cultural competency skills as a core lawyering skill essential for effective legal practice. |
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom (303) |
| 3:30 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. | Student Life & Campus Tour Learn about opportunities to get involved at USD Law and take a tour of the law school buildings. |