Commencement

May 23, 2024

Celebrating the Class of 2024

Dear Class of 2024,

Congratulations on reaching this milestone! The entire community of staff, faculty, fellow students, and our alumni is proud to see you approaching a day you have been working for since orientation. CUNY Law is looking forward to celebrating your success with a fantastic Commencement Ceremony. More details will be provided on this page in the weeks ahead.

This year’s Commencement Week Activities kick off with Reuinon and include Pipeline Graduation Celebration, and Student Awards Night. We hope to see you and your loved ones celebrating all that you’ve accomplished as you prepare for your next chapter.

As you get ready for graduation, please read all the information on this page and check back periodically for updates. Be mindful of upcoming deadlines as they are fast approaching and can affect your attendance/participation in graduation.

We look forward to cheering you on with your family and friends this May!

Commencement Ceremony

May 23, 2024  | 11 AM  | Location TBA 

The Law School’s Commencement Ceremony is a ticketed event to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2024 and to welcome their loved ones to join as our graduates complete law school and begin their next chapter.

Deborah Archer headshot

Commencement Speaker

Deborah N. Archer
President of the American Civil Liberties Union

Professor Archer is a leading expert in civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice. She is the Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Clinical Programs, the Margaret B. Hoppin Professor of Clinical Law, and the Faculty Director of the Community Equity Lab at New York University School of Law. Professor Archer also serves as the President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). A graduate of Yale Law School and Smith College, she previously worked as an attorney with the ACLU and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., where she litigated in the areas of voting rights, employment discrimination, and school desegregation. She is also a former Chair of the Association of American Law Schools’ Sections on Civil Rights and Minority Groups and previously served as Chair of the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board, the nation’s oldest and largest police oversight agency.

COMMENCEMENT WEEK ACTIVITIES

Alumni Reunion group shot

Reunion
May 18, 2024 

We are excited to gather all alumni in celebration of big milestone anniversaries—including CUNY Law’s 40th! More information for our soon-to-be newest alumni is forthcoming.

Pipeline Graduation Celebration
May 21, 2024 | 5-7 PM | The Beacon

Join the Pipeline to Justice program at their annual celebration.

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Student Awards Night
May 22, 2024  |  5-7 PM  |  Dave Fields Auditorium & Second Floor Blvd

The Class of 2024, along with family and friends, is invited to a reception in your honor. This is a great opportunity for family and friends to meet the CUNY Law community through the celebratory remarks of student-nominated speakers, awards, and honors.

GRADUATION PREPARATION

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Commencement Rehearsal

May 2, 2024  |  6-8 PM  |  Dave Fields Auditorium

The Class of 2024 will gather to review the schedule, proceedings, and more details for commencement.

Graduation Checklist

  • 3/25Application to Apply for Graduation via CUNYFirst opens.
  • 3/29 — Deadline: Submit measurements for regalia. There is no opportunity to order regalia after this date.
  • 3/31 — Deadline: Complete and submit Graduation Survey. Completing this survey by the deadline notifies our office of your intention to participate in the ceremony.
  • 4/30 — Pick up regalia from Career Planning
  • TBAPick up Commencement invitations and tickets from Student Affairs
  • 5/2 — Commencement Rehearsal 6-8 pm in the Dave Fields Auditorium
  • 5/20 — Last day to pick up regalia
  • 5/22 — Student Awards Night from 5-7 PM at CUNY Law
  • 5/23 — Commencement Ceremony at Location TBA

Information about Commencement

Students anticipated to graduate at the end of the semester are required to apply for graduation in CUNYfirst. The application to apply for graduation via CUNYFirst will open on Monday, March 25.

After this step, you must then complete a Diploma Form. The deadline to apply for Graduation and complete the Diploma Form will be announced by the Registrar’s Office.

In addition, you will need to complete and submit the 2024 Graduation Survey by March 31. The survey will be sent via email to graduates from the Office of Student Affairs.

Regalia must be ordered by Friday, March 29, 2024 online at https://collegegrad.herffjones.com.

Your regalia is paid for by your materials fees. There is a gold tassel included with your regalia with the graduation date attached. This tassel will be used on graduation day and is yours to keep. Examples of souvenir tassels ($18.95) and a diploma frame ($169) are available for viewing in Student Affairs and available for you to purchase via the link above.  

 

Regalia must be picked up between April 30 – May 20 from the Career Planning Office in Room 4-108 no later than May 20th at noon. CUNY Law staff will not be able to deliver any regalia on Commencement Day.

The Commencement Ceremony is a ticketed event for the Class of 2024 and their invited guests.  Each student will receive a ticket allotment for their guests, which would include all adults, children ages 2 and up, and guest hooders they wish to invite to the ceremony. Further details and information to be announced.

Children of graduates can participate in the Commencement Ceremony. If you would like to have your child or children process across the stage with you during the conferral of degrees, you must submit your request through the Graduation Survey.

Children ages 2 and up are considered ticketed guests and those confirmed for participation will receive a permission card that must be presented on Commencement Day.

Submitting your information does not create any obligation to participate; if you decide that you do not want to include your child/children at a later date, just let Student Affairs know.

Each year, graduates are hooded by two faculty members of the class’s choosing. Students are also welcome to invite any faculty member or an attorney of their choice to do their hooding.

If you would like to have a guest hooder, please indicate that person’s name in the Graduation Survey. Please note that to invite a guest hooder, students must use one of their allotted tickets to the Commencement Ceremony.

If you choose this option you will receive instructions and a guest hooder permission card during the Commencement Rehearsal on May 2 at 6:00 pm. Guest Hooders must present their permission card on Commencement Day. You will be responsible for making arrangements with this individual and providing them with their ticket and permission card.

Information for family and guests to follow.

Ticketed guests are invited to take photos and videos using personal recording devices. We ask that you remain in your seats and out of the processional aisles to ensure the event can run smoothly.

Island Photography will provide photos from our Commencement Ceremony which will be made available for students to purchase. Every graduate will be photographed twice as they cross the stage, greet the Dean, and return to their seat. Island Photography will mail and email complimentary color proofs to each graduate within 48 hours of the ceremony.

To receive complimentary proofs or place orders, graduates must register with Island Photography directly at https://appointments.islandphoto.com/

CUNY Law is not involved in the registration or distribution of Island Photography proofs of photos. Information about how to register will be emailed to students.

CUNY Law will publish a gallery of images taken throughout Commencement Day and a special video for the graduating class, both of which will be published on the Law School’s website.

Information TBA.

Information about Graduating

Dear Graduating Students,

If you are eligible to graduate this June, you must apply for graduation in CUNYFirst through the application that will open on Monday, March 25. You will receive email notification with relevant information and deadlines, including when the application portal opens and the Diploma Request form is available.

Any legal Name Changes should be submitted using the linked form to our office before graduation.

June graduates’ physical diplomas are expected to be available in late August/early September. Electronic diplomas will be available in early to mid-August.

Congratulations!

The Office of the Registrar

The application to apply for graduation via CUNYFirst will open on Monday, March 25.

1. Students can access the Online Graduation Application via CUNYFirst > Student Center > Graduation

CUNYfirst Online Application Portal

2. Select the My Academics tab and click on the Apply for Graduation link.

Online Graduation application portal - Submit an application for Graduation under the My Academics tab

3. Verify your graduation data, including CUNY School of Law, program, degree and expected graduation term and click the submit application button.

Online Graduation application portal - Verify Graduation Data and Submit Receive confirmation message

4. When completed you will receive a confirmation message.

Information about study spaces, test prep, resources, and more are forthcoming in March and will be published on the website and linked here.

Information and resources regarding loans repayment, financial literary, and more are forthcoming in March and will be published on the website and linked here.