Welcome to GW Law and to the class of 2023! We hope you are excited and proud to be starting GW Law this fall. We are eagerly anticipating your start and planning for your orientation. We know the fall environment may be different than we had envisioned, but we are also confident that you will find many opportunities to engage, connect, and learn as we navigate hybrid courses, online meet-ups, and small group gatherings.
The Dean of Students Office (DOS) is the initial point of contact for all student issues and can assist with a variety of matters, including academic advising, disability support services, student wellness, and exam administration. The Office is also responsible for coordinating Orientation 2020. Please check the Orientation 2020 website as we will update it with important information throughout the summer.
Orientation for the full-time JD program will be held Wednesday, August 12 – Friday, August 14 and participation is mandatory for incoming students. Consistent with the law school's plans for the fall academic semester, all required information for students will be delivered online. Therefore, you will be able to participate remotely.
However, the Dean of Students Office and the Student Bar Association (SBA) are also planning (within current public health guidance) an opportunity for in-person, community-building events which are optional (but fun!)
Pre-Orientation Conversations
We have developed a series of programs to allow you to engage with the law school community in advance of Orientation. We have sessions scheduled ranging from concrete strategies for academic excellence to how students with disabilities can find support. Below is a calendar of the summer conversations currently planned:
Academic Excellence: Preparing for Class - Andrew Realon will lead an interactive discussion on how 1Ls should prepare for class. (July 15 at noon)
Conversation with the Dean of Students - Dean of Students Elizabeth Ewert will lead a conversation about the keys to success as a first-year student. (July 17 at noon)
Being Well at GW Law - Kami Sidman will lead a discussion about strategies for wellness in law school. (July 20 at 1:00 p.m.)
Academic Excellence: Introduction to Legal Analysis- Andrew Realon will discuss some elementary legal analysis topics. (July 22 at noon)
The ADA at 30 and Registering for Accommodations at GW - To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, this presentation will provide an overview of how the ADA came into being and provide information on how to register for accommodations at GW. (July 27 at noon)
Academic Excellence: Succeeding Inside the Classroom – Andrew Realon will lead a discussion of classroom etiquette. (July 29 at noon)
Q&A re: Accommodations at GW Law - Andra Chernack will lead a question-and-answer session about registering for accommodations at GW Law. (August 3 at noon)
Academic Excellence: Beginning Your Academic Excellence Journey - This event features a panel of upper-level students. (August 5 at noon)
The password for each event is gwlaw should you need one. Be on the lookout for a message later today from Andrew Realon who heads the law school’s Academic Excellence program with specific instructions on four-part academic success series offered this summer. In addition, we will update you on additions to this schedule as the summer progresses.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
GW Law is committed to providing an equal educational opportunity and participation for students with disabilities. The University’s Disability Support Services Office is responsible for evaluating requests and helps coordinate reasonable accommodations. For information on how to request accommodations, please refer to the registration information for law students. As academic accommodations are not retroactive to the beginning of the semester, we suggest you begin the process as soon as you have your GWID in order to have your accommodations in place from the outset of your law school experience.
Post-Deposit Requirements
Resume Submission – If you have not done so, please upload your current resume here. We use this information to help the faculty get a better sense of the 1L class. The deadline for submission is July 15.
Undergraduate Transcript - If you have not already done so, you must have an official copy of your final undergraduate transcript sent directly to LSAC. Please ensure that your transcript shows the conferral of your undergraduate degree. Your final, official undergraduate transcript must accompany your law school application before it is archived by the Admissions Office. The deadline for submission was July 1.
Immunization Requirement - All entering students who will be under the age 26 as of August 1, 2020 must submit their immunization records directly to Colonial Health Center. Here you can find information on how to complete this task. The deadline for submission is August 1.
Application Supplements - In your application to GW Law, you were asked if you had any legal violations, college disciplinary matters or similar issues. If you had any such issues after the time you submitted your application, you are obligated to disclose this information to the law school. Similarly, if there are any such issues you neglected to disclose in your application, now is the time to update your file. Please make any necessary disclosures to the Admissions Office no later than Sunday, August 16, using the [email protected] email address. Please err on the side of disclosure.
Dean of Students Blog
To remain engaged with students during remote instruction, we created Illuminate, the official Dean of Students blog. Subscribe and follow us to get the inside scoop on resources, thoughts about recent alumni, how we have been spending our time during quarantine, and more!
The Dean of Students Office
George Washington Law
202-994-8320
[email protected]