Commencement 2023

 

Vanderbilt Law School Chancellor Degree Conferral

Watch the video here

Weather Update: 

1. Class Photos Postponed Until 30 Minutes After Ceremony          
   VU Weather Service indicates that we will have moderate showers for the next several hours. As such, we are postponing the class photos until 30 minutes AFTER the ceremony ends. We hope that there may be a clear pocket. If not, the backup location for the class photo will be Flynn Auditorium (also 30 minutes after the ceremony concludes). This means that you do not need to be at the law school until lineup at 10:00AM.
2. Indoor Lineup
   We are hoping for a few minutes of lighter rain before the ceremony begins and are still planning on doing our lineup and procession, but will line up inside, starting at the V-Doors. Lineup still begins at 10:00AM.
3. Ceremony will be under the tent 
   Tent will open at 9am as planned. We will keep an eye on the weather and notify those under the tent if a shelter in place is necessary. 

Vanderbilt will celebrate Commencement for the J.D. and LL.M.
Classes of 2023 on May 11 and 12, 2023.

Schedule of Events

2023 Law School Awards Ceremony and Blackacre
Friday, April 14 | 4-5:30 p.m. | Blackacre Courtyard

EDI Annual Graduation Recognition Celebration
Hosted by Vanderbilt Intercultural Education and Outreach
Monday, May 1, 6:00-8:00 pm | RSVP required

VUGlobalCitizens Graduates Recognition Celebration
Hosted by ISSS, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and the International Student Council
Friday, May 5, 5:00-7:00pm | RSVP required

Law and Business Certificate Ceremony
Thursday, May 11, 2-3:30 p.m. | Law School 2nd Floor North Lobby

LL.M. Toast to Class of 2023
Thursday, May 11, 2:30-3:00 p.m. | Law School Cowden Atrium

Open House for Graduates and Guests
Thursday, May 11, 3-4:30 p.m. | Law School Main Street, North Atrium and Blackacre Courtyard
2022 graduates and their guests are invited! Faculty, staff and administrators will attend.

Class Photos
LL.M. Class of 2023 – Friday, May 12 at 7:30-7:45 a.m.
J.D. Class of 2023 – Friday, May 12 at 7:45-8:00 a.m.
Gather with your class on the front steps of the Law School for your Commencement class portrait. Please wear all regalia.

University Commencement Ceremony
Friday, May 12, 9 a.m. | Vanderbilt Stadium
All 2023 Vanderbilt University graduates may participate.

Law School Hooding Ceremony
Friday, May 12, approximately 10:30 a.m. | Curry Field
The Law School Hooding ceremony will be held in the Commencement tent on Curry Field.
The ceremony will start 30 minutes after the University ceremony ends to give law graduates and faculty attending the University ceremony time to join the Law School procession. 
Curry Field is located next to the Law School building and behind Wilson Hall.

Champagne Celebration
Immediately following the Commencement ceremony, graduates and guests are invited to celebrate with champagne and non-alcoholic beverages immediately behind the Law School Commencement tent.

Livestream
The 2023 Law School Hooding Ceremony will be livestreamed. A direct link to the stream will be available on this webpage.

Please ensure you visit this website periodically for most up to date information. 

FAQ

Where do I find information on the University ceremony? University commencement page

How do I order regalia? Students will order regalia through Oak Hall. All participants must wear academic regalia (cap and gown) to participate in the ceremony. The deadline to order is Friday, March 31, 2023. 

Can I order announcements to send to family and friends? Yes, students can order personalized announcements and other class memorabilia here. Announcement orders must be placed by April 5, 2023.

Do I need tickets? No. The law school hooding ceremony is open to the public.

How many people can attend? There is no limit to the number of guests who can attend the ceremony.

Is seating reserved? No. All seats are first-come/first-served. We recommend that guests arrive early and keep track of the main ceremony for when law school graduates are dismissed to head over to Curry Field. We will start approximately 30 minutes after dismissal.

Will there be a live stream of the event? Yes, a direct link to the stream will be available on this webpage.

What happens if there is inclement weather? The ceremony will take place under a tent. It will be held even if it is raining, although heavy rain may necessitate canceling the procession. If there is a threat of  severe weather nearby, the ceremony may be delayed. If the severe weather persists, the ceremony will take place inside the Law School building, and guests will watch a livestream.

Where should I park? Information about Commencement parking for graduates and guests is available on the University Commencement site. Shuttles will be available to transport graduates and guests from available parking to the Law School and the University Commencement ceremonies.

How will graduates get to/from the University Commencement ceremony? Alumni Lawn is within walking distance of the law school. Students will be dismissed from the main ceremony and can walk to Curry Field. 

Will the events be accessible?
All events will be accessible for those needing mobility accommodations. The main ceremony will also include closed captioning on the on-site screen and livestream. If you have specific accessibility needs, please visit the University Commencement page for detailed information. 

Will there be a professional photographer?
Yes. Vanderbilt Law School will have a photographer taking candid photos of 2023 Commencement.
Vanderbilt University also arranges for an external vendor to take portraits of each graduate onstage receiving their diploma, and a link that allows graduates to locate and purchase their Commencement portraits will be posted on the University Commencement website soon after Commencement day.

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