2022 JD First-Year Orientation Schedule

Monday, August 15 | Tuesday, August 16 | Wednesday, August 17 | Part-Time Orientation Saturday, August 20

All full-time students are expected to participate in the complete in-person orientation with your peers August 15-17.

Part-time students are encouraged to attend all sessions on the 15-17 that work for their schedules, and are expected to attend the dedicated half-day orientation for part-time students on Saturday, August 20.

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!

Monday, August 15, 2022

Suggested Attire: Business

Bring: No devices, materials, backpacks, etc. required

Note: These orientation sessions take place on the west end of campus. Visit the USD Parking website for information about available parking and rules and regulations.

4:30-5:40pm

Check-In

Receive your name tag and meet your new colleagues over light hors d'oeuvres.

Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (KIPJ) Rotunda, Garden of the Sea (behind KIPJ)

 

Professional Individual Photos

Start your legal career with a professional photo. This photo will be provided to you for free and can be used as your profile picture on your LinkedIn account.

KIPJ, Room A

5:40-6:00pm

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. If you do not want to appear in the photo, please go directly to the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Theatre.)

KIPJ, Garden of the Sky

(in front of KIPJ)

6:00-6:45pm

Dean's Welcome and Oath of Professionalism

Meet Provost Gail F. Baker, Dean Robert A. Schapiro, Vice Dean Margaret A. Dalton, Senior Administration, and the USD School of Law Faculty. Your legal career starts today with the Oath of Professionalism, which will be administered by Judge Olga Álvarez '02 (JD).

KIPJ Theatre

6:45-8:00pm

Student and Faculty Dessert Reception

Get to know your professors and new classmates over desserts and refreshments.

KIPJ, Garden of the Sea

(behind KIPJ)

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Suggested Attire: Casual

Bring: Laptop or notetaking materials, if desired; Comfortable shoes; Refillable water container.

Note: These orientation sessions start and end at Warren Hall. Visit the USD Parking website for information about available parking and rules and regulations.

9:00-9:15am

Check-In & Coffee

Check in to receive a welcome gift from Law Student Affairs. Grab some coffee, mingle with colleagues and store your backpack in your locker to prepare for a campus tour.

In front of Warren Hall

9:15-11:15am

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 section sign.

In front of Warren Hall

11:15-11:45am

Welcome to Law School

Hear from Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs Emily Nagisa Keehn.

Kroc Institute of Peace and Justice (KIPJ) Theatre

11:45am-1:00pm

SBA and Student Life Lunch

Meet the Law Student Affairs team and SBA Executive Board. Learn about life at USD from continuing students.

KIPJ, Garden of the Sea

(behind KIPJ)

1:00-2:30pm

Bias and Cultural Competence Panel

A panel discussion introducing bias, racism, and cross-cultural competency in the law featuring Professor Mary Jo Wiggins, Attorney Nick Fox '11, and Director Mike Chavez.

KIPJ Theatre

2:30-3:00pm

Break / Go to Warren Hall

Directions from KIPJ Theatre to Warren Hall

3:00-4:15pm

1L Essentials: Intro to the Legal System and Case Law

Introductory session with a Legal Writing and Research faculty member.

Subsections A1 & A2: Warren Hall, Room 131

Subsections A3 & C9: Warren Hall, Room 2A

Subsections B4 & B5: Warren Hall, Room 2B

Subsections B6 & E10: Warren Hall, Room 3A

Subsections C7 & C8: Warren Hall, Room 3B

4:30-6:30pm

Optional

Mixer with USD Law Affinity Student Organizations

Join the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), Law Students for Cross-Racial Understanding (LS4CRU), First Generation Legal Professionals (FGLP), and La Raza for light appetizers and hosted beverages.

La Gran Terraza Terrace

Wednesday, August 17, 2022

Suggested Attire: Casual - undergraduate college gear

Bring: Laptop or notetaking materials, if desired; Refillable water container.

Note: These orientation sessions start at Warren Hall and end in the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (KIPJ). Visit the USD Parking website for information about available parking and rules and regulations.

9:00-9:15am

Coffee & Mingle

Grab some coffee and mingle with your new colleagues.

In front of Warren Hall

9:15-10:15am

Section A: Strategies for Success in Law School
How should you prepare for class? What should you learn in class? What do you do with that information? Find out in this introduction to studying law and succeeding in law school. 

Sections B & E: Financial Aid Basics 
Financial aid, loans, scholarships...It can all be so confusing. Come meet the team who can answer your questions.

Section C: Live Well @ USD Law 
Law School is stressful...Come learn about ways to manage stress and thrive in your personal and professional life.

Section A: Warren Hall, Room 131

Sections B & E: Warren Hall, Room 3B

Section C: Warren Hall, Room 3A

10:15-10:30am

Break & classroom rotation

 

10:30-11:30am

Section A: Introductory Doctrinal Session
Introductory session with a doctrinal faculty member.

Sections B & E: Strategies for Success in Law School
How should you prepare for class? What should you learn in class? What do you do with that information? Find out in this introduction to studying law and succeeding in law school.  

Section C: Financial Aid Basics
Financial aid, loans, scholarships...It can all be so confusing. Come meet the team who can answer your questions.

Section A: Warren Hall, Room 3B

Sections B & E: Warren Hall, Room 131

Section C: Warren Hall, Room 3A 

11:30am-1:00pm

Law Community Lunch
Get to know the USD Law Community over lunch. 

Warren Hall, South Patio

(behind Warren Hall)

1:00-2:00pm

Section A: Live Well @ USD Law 
Law School is stressful...Come learn about ways to manage stress and thrive in your personal and professional life.

Sections B & E: Introductory Doctrinal Session 
Introductory session with a doctrinal faculty member.

Section C: Strategies for Success in Law School
How should you prepare for class? What should you learn in class? What do you do with that information? Find out in this introduction to studying law and succeeding in law school.  

Section A: Warren Hall, Room 3A

Sections B & E: Warren Hall, Room 3B

Section C: Warren Hall, Room 131

2:00-2:15pm

Break & classroom rotation

 

2:15-3:15pm

Section A: Financial Aid Basics 
Financial aid, loans, scholarships...It can all be so confusing. Come meet the team who can answer your questions.

Sections B & E: Live Well @ USD Law 
Law School is stressful...Come learn about ways to manage stress and thrive in your personal and professional life.

Section C: Introductory Doctrinal Session 
Introductory session with a doctrinal faculty member.

Section A: Warren Hall, Room 131

Sections B & E: Warren Hall, Room 3A

Section C: Warren Hall, Room 3B

 

3:15-3:30pm

Break & go to KIPJ

Directions to KIPJ

3:30-4:15pm

Student Life Panel 

Have a burning question about life as a law student at USD? Current students will discuss tips for getting through (and doing well!) 1L year, life and culture at USD Law, and anything else you want to know. 

KIPJ Theatre

4:30-6:30pm

Optional

Mixer with USD Law Affinity Student Organizations

Join the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA), Middle Eastern Law Students Association (MELSA), Pride Law, and Women's Law Caucus (WLC) for light appetizers and hosted beverages.

La Gran Terraza Terrace

Part-Time Orientation: Saturday, August 20, 2022

Suggested Attire: Casual

Bring: Laptop or notetaking materials, if desired; Refillable water container.

Note: These orientation sessions will take place in Warren Hall. Visit the USD Parking website for information about available parking and rules and regulations.

10:00-10:15am

Coffee & Pastries

Grab some coffee and mingle with your new colleagues.

Warren Hall Foyer

10:15-10:30am

Welcome to Law School

Hear from Vice Dean Margaret Dalton, Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs Emily Nagisa Keehn, and Associate Director of Career and Professional Development Marti Worms.

Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

10:30-11:00am

Strategies for Success in Law School

What should you learn in class? What do you do with that information? Find out in this introduction to strategies for success in law school. 

Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

11:00-11:15am

Live Well @ USD Law 

Law School is stressful...Come learn about ways to manage stress and thrive in your personal and professional life.

Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

11:15am- 11:45am

Financial Aid Basics

Financial aid, loans, scholarships...It can all be so confusing. Come meet the team who can answer your questions.

Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

11:45-12:15pm

Bias and Cultural Competence 

An introduction to bias, racism, and cross-cultural competency in the law.

Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

12:15-12:45pm

Student Life & Campus Tour

Learn about opportunities to get involved at USD Law and take a tour of the law school buildings.

Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

12:45-1:00pm

Lunch

Warren Hall, South Patio