Orientation
Unless otherwise noted in your admission letter, orientation for all newly enrolled students will begin Monday, August 17th .
Important dates:
- Monday, August 17 – Friday, August 21, 2026 – New Student Orientation
- Monday, August 24 – Friday, August 28, 2026 – LAWR I and Research Lab classes for JD students begins.
- Monday, August 31, 2026 – All Upper Level and 1L Doctrinal Classes Begin
This information is for JD., LLM and Transfer/Visiting students only. Undergraduate law students looking for information on their undergraduate orientation and related activities should visit UB’s Fall Opening website.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION SCHEDULE 2026
Includes JDs, Transfer & LL.M students.
Note: This schedule is subject to change.
Attendance Mandatory unless otherwise noted with an asterisk.
Professional Attire Required.
| Title | Session | Location |
| 10:00 am - 10:30 am | Registration & Beverages | Center for the Arts (CFA) UB North Campus |
| 10:30 am - 11:00 am | Dean's Welcome & Remarks from the Faculty & Administration - Introduction to Class of 2029 - Dean’s Welcome - Welcome to International Students - What to Expect in Law School | CFA Screening Room |
| 11:00 am - 11:15 am | New Student Class Photo | CFA |
| 11:15 am - 12:15 pm | Lunch | CFA Atrium |
| 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | - What to Expect in LAWR - Student Support Services - Admissions & Enrollment Experience Survey LLMs/Transfer: Please attend for the Student Support Services presentation and to complete the Admissions and Enrollment Experience Survey. | CFA Screening Room |
| 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Student led Tours* | O'Brian Hall |
Attendance Mandatory unless otherwise noted with an asterisk.
| Time | Session | Location |
| 8:30 am - 9:30 am | Breakfast Sponsored by Buffalo Law Review* | O’Brian Hall Lobby |
| 9:30 am - 10:00 am | Library Orientation | 106 O’Brian (Sections 1,2,3) ----------- 107 O’Brian (Sections 4,5,6 and LLM/Transfers) |
| 10:00 am - 10:30 am | Technology Orientation | 106 O’Brian (Sections 1,2,3) ----------- 107 O’Brian (Sections 4,5,6 and LLM/Transfers) |
| 10:30 am - 11:00 am | Records & Registration Orientation | 106/107 O’Brian (same as above) |
| 11:15 am - 12:45 pm | Lunch: Join Us for Taco Tuesday! | 102 & 104 O’Brian |
| 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm | General Academic Requirements, Policies & Code of Student Conduct AND Financial Wellness and AccessLex NOTE: LLMs/Transfers need not attend; | 106 O’Brian (Sections 1,2,3) ----------- 107 O’Brian (Sections 4,5,6) |
| 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Library Welcome Party | Charles B. Sears Law Library |
Attendance Mandatory unless otherwise noted with an asterisk
Professional Attire Required
| Time | Session | Location |
| 11:45 am - 12:25 pm | Section 1: Professional Photos | O’Brian Hall 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 12:25 pm - 1:05 pm | Section 2: Professional Photos | 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 1:05 pm - 1:45 pm | Section 3: Professional Photos | 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 1:45 pm - 2:25 pm | Section 4: Professional Photos | 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 2:25 pm - 3:05 pm | Section 5: Professional Photos | 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm | LLMs/Transfers: General Academic Requirements, Policies and Code of Student Conduct | 312 O’Brian Hall |
| 3:05 pm - 3:45 pm | Section 6: Professional Photos | 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 3:45 pm - 4:15 pm | LLMs/Transfers: Professional Photos | 1st Floor Courtroom |
| 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm | Networking 101 | 106 O’Brian (Sections 1,2,3) ----------- 107 O’Brian (Sections 4,5,6 and LLM/Transfers) |
| 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Law Alumni Association Welcome Reception* Join your alumni for a networking reception, with beer, wine, soda and hors d’oeuvres. | Center for Tomorrow, North Campus |
Attendance Mandatory unless otherwise noted with an asterisk.
| Time | Session | Location |
| 8:30 am - 9:30 am | Breakfast Sponsored by Buffalo Public Interest Law Program* | O’Brian Hall Lobby |
| 10:00 am - 11:00 am | Community and Belonging in Law School | 106 O’Brian (Sections 1,2,3) ----------- 107 O’Brian (Sections 4,5,6 and LLM/Transfers) |
| 11:00 am - 1:00 pm | Screening of Ken Burns Film: The Central Park Five | 106/107 O’Brian |
| 1:00 pm - 1:15 pm | Break | |
| 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm | Panel Discussion | 106/107 O’Brian (same as above) |
Attendance Mandatory, Professional Attire Required
| Time | Session | Location |
| 8:45 am - 12:00 pm | Downtown Court Trip Lanyard/Nametag Required for Security | Old Erie County Hall 92 Franklin Street Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Luncheon at Pearl Street Grill & Brewery Meet and greet members of the judiciary, local Bar Associations and Peer Advocates over lunch. | Pearl Street Grill & Brewery 76 Pearl Street Buffalo, NY 14202 |
Attendance Mandatory.
LLMs/Transfer students: If you are not enrolled in LAWR I, please disregard the LAWR classes and Research Labs, but attend the daily Academic Success Workshops.
| Time | Session | Location |
| 9:30 am - 11:30 am | LAWR (Legal, Analysis, Writing, & Research) | Check HUB for classroom by Section. |
| 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Academic Success Workshops | Mon., 8/24 - Sections 1,2,3, Transfers in 106 Sections 4,5,6, LLMs in 107 Tues., 8/25 - Sections 4,5,6 in 106 Sections 1,2,3 in 107 Wed., 8/26 - Sections 1,2,3, Transfers in 106 Sections 4,5,6, LLMs in 107 Thurs., 8/27 - Sections 4,5,6 in 106 Sections 1,2,3, Transfers in 107 Fri., 8/28 - Sections 4,5,6, LLMs in 106 Sections 1,2,3 in 107 |
| 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Research Lab | Check HUB for classroom by Section. |
Future Events of Interest
| Departmental and Student Organization Info Session Tabling | Check SIP and Lobby Screens for Dates/Times |
| Student Bar Association Welcome Party | Check SIP and Lobby Screens for Details |
* Marked Sessions are optional, but highly encouraged.