Spring Commencement
Note on current health protocols: As of March 12, 2022, masks are no longer required in indoor settings. Please note that the information below is subject to change based on current health protocols.
All times listed are in Central Time Zone (CDT).
Law School Open House
When: Thursday, May 12, 2022, 4–6 p.m.
Where: UW Law School, Atrium
Families are invited to join graduates, faculty, staff, and students to celebrate at the Law School. Enjoy light refreshments and great company.
For planning purposes, please register ahead of time.
Law School Hooding Ceremony
When: Friday, May 13, 2022 at 1 p.m.
Where: Monona Terrace Convention Center
Virtual Option: Live-streamed on the UW Law YouTube Channel
The hooding ceremony is a special ceremony for UW Law School graduates.
During the ceremony, a faculty member places the hood on students, symbolizing completion of the program. Alternatively, students may select to hood themselves. Students who prefer to hood themselves should arrive wearing the hood. Those who would like to be hooded by faculty should plan on carrying their hood.
For planning purposes, please register below to indicate how many guests you plan to bring and your preference for hooding.
Live stream will start at 1 p.m. CDT on May 13.
UW Commencement Ceremony
When: Saturday, May 14, 2022 at noon
Where: Camp Randall Stadium
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:
- By phone: 608-257-3784 ($10 service fee added)
- In-store: the University Book Store, 711 State St.
- Online: www.uwbookstore.com
Bar Admissions
Bar Admissions Large-Group Swearing-in
When: Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Where: Wisconsin Supreme Court Chambers
The Bar Admissions large-group swearing-in for May graduates will take place on June 1 in the Wisconsin Supreme Court Chambers.
To be considered for the group swearing-in ceremony, applicant files must be deemed complete by Board of Bar Examiner staff by May 13, 2022.
Exit/Graduation Photographs
Graduates may elect to submit a photo for the alumni photo collection located in the online UW Law Library Repository.
We have scheduled a photography session in the Law School for students graduating in May. Photographs will be taken in the Mike Hall Student Lounge (located on the second floor of the building next to the lockers) on:
- Wednesday, April 27, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Students will be seated for their portraits on a first-come, first-served basis within each half-hour session. Please register online to sit for a photo.
Students may also participate by submitting a high-resolution digital copy of their own photograph, using their name as the file name.
Please contact Kimberly Raether with any questions.
Additional Graduation Information
Additional graduation information is available in the Student Handbook:
