Incoming LLM & MSL Student Checklist

Your GW Identity and Account Activation (Due: ASAP)

Your GW identity is a collection of elements that uniquely identifies you as a member of the GW community. If you have not done so already, please activate/claim your GW identity as soon as possible. Please refer to the GW Account Activation for New Users for step by step guidance on how to claim your account. As part of the Identity claiming process, you will receive both GW and GW Law email accounts. These accounts use the same username and password. To access your GW Law email account, login at https://mail.google.com/a/law.gwu.edu.

Immunization Requirement (Due: August 1)

All matriculating students who will be under the age 26 as of August 1, 2023 must submit their immunization records directly to Student Health Services. Once you receive access to your GW email address later this month, you will be able to access the portal.

Register for your GWorld Card (Due: August 5)

The GWorld Card is the official ID card at GW and is required to access academic buildings, campus libraries, the health and wellness center, and other services. Want to avoid waiting in long lines of new students needing GWorld cards? Upload your photo today (no later than August 5, 2023); the GWorld team will have your card pre-printed and ready for pickup at the GWorld Office.

Update Your Chosen Name, Gender Identity and Pronouns (Due: August 5)

If you indicated a preferred name in your application to GW Law, that name will be entered into the various digital records across campus. If you need to update this information or want to change it, you can find more information on the process on the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Community Engagement website.

Purchase the Tuition Refund Plan (Due: August 14)

Although we hope each student will sail through the semester without incident, we know from experience that is not always the case. As a result, the university partnered with GradGuard so students can purchase insurance to protect their educational investment by reimbursing up to 100% of tuition, room, and board in the event of a medical or mental health withdrawal, based on your level of coverage. Please note that your financial aid award may affect refunded amounts. Tuition insurance is available for purchase via Student eBill prior to the start of each fall and spring semester. Tuition insurance may also be purchased from GradGuard directly via their website or by calling 877.794.6603. Tuition Insurance must be purchased prior to the start of each semester to cover tuition and other covered expenses for that term. For more information, please see the GradGuard website.

Final First Law Degree Transcript Requirement: (Due: August 18)

If the Graduate & International Programs Office has not already received your official, final transcript from your first law degree studies (JD or JD equivalent), either via LSAC or directly, please submit it now. You can have it sent directly from the school, or you may bring an original copy to the Graduate & International Programs Office for us to review and make a copy to be retained in your admissions file.

Character and Fitness Disclosures (Due: August 20)

Please ensure your application to GW Law provides disclosure of any legal volitions, college disciplinary matters, or similar issues, including any that may have occurred after you submitted your application. State boards of bar examiners will note any issue disclosed in your bar application that occurred before you enrolled in law school and specifically ask the Law School whether GW Law was aware of that issue when you enrolled. If an inconsistency exists between information obtained by the bar examiners and your law school admission application, that inconsistency could impact your admission to the bar.

Please make any necessary disclosures to the Admissions Office on or before Sunday, August 20, using the [email protected] email address. Please err on the side of disclosure. If you have questions regarding whether something needs to be disclosed, please contact the Dean of Students Office. It is in your best interest to review your law school application to GW and email any updates to Admissions now before you formally "matriculate" as a law student.

Update your U.S. Address in GWeb (Due: August 21)

After your arrival in the U.S., as required by U.S. federal law, please also remember to update your local and permanent addresses using the GWeb system. The International Services Office has step-by-step instructions on how to update your address. You can use GWeb to report changes in address 365-days a year, 24-hours a day. You are required to report your address when you arrive in the U.S., and within ten days of moving for the duration of your stay in the U.S. on an F or J visa. Failure to report a change of address is a serious immigration violation and there may be penalties associated with failure to report your address change.

Check in to the International Services Office: (Due: August 21)

If you obtained an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW, you must check in to the International Services Office as soon as you are able. You must do so online via ISOGateway. There is no need to report in-person to the International Services Office.

Submit any Specialization Changes: (Due: September 5)

If you are switching from one LLM specialization to another, or to/from the General LLM, you must submit this form by the end of the Add/Drop period. Do not submit this form more than once -- be sure of your decision before submitting the form.

Mandatory GW SHIP Enrollment (Waiver Due: September 12)

New this year, all law students will be automatically enrolled in GW Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) for 2023-2024. If you have other acceptable coverage you must waive by September 12, 2023 at University Health Plans. Please note the waiver form will be available in mid-July.

Registration for Accommodations (Complete as soon as possible, but no later than November 15 for Final Exams)

Students requesting an accommodation based on the potential impact of a disability must contact the University’s Disability Support Services Office to establish eligibility and to coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information on this process for law students, please refer to the GW Law Dean of Students Office website.

Sign up for Information from the Law School Affinity Groups (At Your Convenience)

The law school has over 80 student-led organizations that serve as the backbone of the law school community. Chief among them are the many student affinity groups which include:

Asian/Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA)
Black Law Student Association (BLSA)
Christian Legal Society (CLS)
Disability Law Society
J. Reuben Clark Law Society - international law society composed of LDS attorneys, law students, and others
Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA)
Lambda Law - an organization of students interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) legal issues, employment concerns
Latin American Law Student Association
Law Association for Women (LAW)
Middle Eastern and North African Law Student Association (MENALSA)
Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA)
Parents in Law
South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA)
Veteran Law Student Association (VLSA)

Each of these groups would like to welcome you personally. If you are interested in outreach, please complete this Affinity Group Interest form.