Winter Commencement

All times listed are in Central Time.

December 17Sunday

UW Winter Commencement

When: 10 a.m. Sunday, December 17, 2023 

Where: Kohl Center

Learn more about the UW Commencement Ceremony »

UW Law School Reception

When: 1 p.m. Sunday, December 17, 2023 

Where: DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown

Friends and families of Law School graduates are invited to join the Law School reception, which will immediately follow the University of Wisconsin—Madison commencement ceremony, and is expected to start at approximately 1 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Questions? Contact Kimberly Raether.

Academic Regalia for Graduation Ceremonies (Attire)

The gown for UW Law School graduates is called the doctor-of-law or juris doctorate gown, and the hood is purple. 

Honors stoles for those receiving Dean’s Academic Achievement Awards are solid red. Once UW Law School has determined the list of students receiving the Dean’s Academic Achievement Awards, it sends the list to The University Book Store. Students eligible to wear an honors stole will be notified. Eligible students should request their honors stoles when they pick up their tams and gowns.

Candidates should wear the academic attire appropriate to the degree to be conferred. Orders for academic attire should be made as early as possible through the University Book Store.

Rental Agency

The University Book Store handles all arrangements for tams, gowns, hoods and honors stoles. To confirm ordering dates and get more information about rentals, check the University Book Store.

You can order your tam, gown and hood:

Bar Admissions

January 23 Tuesday

Bar Admissions Large-Group Swearing-in

When: Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Where: Wisconsin Supreme Court Chambers

The Bar Admissions large-group swearing-in for December graduates will take place on the afternoon of January 23 in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Chambers.

Exit/Graduation Photographs

Graduates may elect to  have a photgraph taken or submit a photo for the alumni photo collection located in the online UW Law Library Repository

Graduates who elect to submit a photo for the alumni photo collection located in the online UW Law Library Repository should email a high-resolution digital copy of their own photograph (using their name as the file name) to Kimberly Raether.

We have scheduled a photography session in the Law School for students graduating in December. Photographs will be taken in the Mike Hall Student Lounge (located on the second floor of the building next to the lockers) on Monday, Dec. 4, and Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students will be seated for their portraits on a first-come, first-served basis within each half-hour session. Please register below to attend the photo session.  

Please contact Kimberly Raether with any questions.

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