Orientation
Unless otherwise noted in your admission letter, orientation for all newly enrolled students will begin Monday, August 19th .
Important dates:
- August 18 - September 5, 2025 - New Student Orientation
- Tuesday, August 19, 2025 - LAWR classes for JD students begins
- Wednesday, August 27, 2025 - 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.
Agendas
To view your agenda, click on the tabs below. Note, schedules are subject to change, please check back often.
This schedule is subject to change.
Download this JD Orientation Schedule (PDF).
Monday, August 18
Attendance Mandatory, Professional Attire
| 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 | CFA Screening Room |
| 11:00 am - 11:15 am | New Student Class Photo | CFA Atrium |
| 11:15 am - 12:30 pm | Lunch Meet alumni, faculty, staff, current students! | CFA Atrium |
| 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm | Student Support Services, Code of Conduct, and Overview of the General Academic Requirements and Policies (GARP), Part I* | CFA Screening Room |
| 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm | Student led tours* | CFA Atrium |
Tuesday, August 19
Attendance Mandatory
| Time | Session | Location |
| 8:30 am - 9:30 am | Breakfast Sponsored by Buffalo Law Review* | Lobby O’Brian Hall |
| 9:00 am - 11:30 am | LAWR (Legal, Analysis, Writing, & Research) | See Records & Registration** or HUB for section & location |
| 11:45 am - 12:45 pm | Lunch: Join us for Taco Tuesday! | 102 & 104 O'Brian Hall |
| 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm | Library Orientation | 106 O'Brian Hall |
| 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Academic Success Workshop One Law School: What to Expect | 106 O'Brian Hall |
| 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Technology Orientation | 106 O'Brian Hall |
| 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm | Library Welcome Party* Join us for refreshments & prizes! | 2nd Floor Law Library O'Brian Hall |
Wednesday, August 20
Attendance Mandatory, Professional Attire
(Required for Professional Photos and Alumni Reception)
| Time | Session | Location |
| 9:30 am - 11:30 am | LAWR (Legal, Analysis, Writing, & Research) | See Records & Registration** or HUB for section & location |
| 11:45 am - 12:25 pm | Section 1: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm | Academic Success Workshop Two Sections 4, 5, 6 & LLMs Law School: Reading Law, Part I | 106 O’Brian Hall |
| 12:25 pm - 1:05 pm | Section 2: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 1:05 pm - 1:45 pm | Section 3: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Academic Success Workshop Two Sections 1, 2 & 3 Law School: Reading Law, Part I | 106 O’Brian Hall |
| 1:45 pm - 2:25 pm | Section 4: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 2:25 pm - 3:05 pm | Section 5: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 3:05 pm - 3:45 pm | Section 6: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 3:45 pm - 4:00 pm | Transfer & LLMs: Professional Photos | Courtroom O'Brian Hall (First Floor) |
| 4:15 pm - 5:15 pm | Networking 101 | 106 O'Brian Hall |
| 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm | Law Alumni Association Welcome Reception* Join your alumni for a networking reception, with beer, wine & plenty of hors d'oeuvres. | Center for Tomorrow UB North Campus |
Thursday, August 21
Attendance Mandatory
| Time | Session | Location |
| 8:30 am - 9:30 am | Breakfast Sponsored by Buffalo Public Interest Law Program* | Lobby, O’Brian Hall |
| 9:30 am - 11:30 am | LAWR (Legal, Analysis, Writing, & Research) | See Records & Registration** or HUB for section & location |
| 11:45 am - 12:45 pm | Lunch | 102 & 104 O'Brian Hall |
| 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm | Valuing Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in Legal Education | 106 O'Brian Hall |
| 2:30 pm - 6:00 pm | Movie Screening and Discussion Led by the Office of Diversity, Equity & Belonging, the Office of Student Affairs and members of the faculty | 106 O'Brian Hall |
Friday, August 22*
| Time | Session | Location |
| 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Student Bar Association Welcome Event* Enjoy complimentary food and drink with your Student Bar Association! | Resurgence Brewing Company 55 Chicago Street Buffalo, NY 14204 |
Monday, August 25
Attendance Mandatory
| Time | Session | Location |
| 9:30 am - 11:30 am | LAWR (Legal, Analysis, Writing, & Research) | See Records & Registration** or HUB for section & location |
| 11:45 am - 12:45 pm | Lunch | 102 & 104 O'Brian Hall |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Student Support Services, Code of Conduct, and Overview of the General Academic Requirements and Policies (GARP), Part II Complete and submit your GARP Acknowledgement Form | 106 O'Brian Hall |
| 2:00 pm - 3:45 pm | Academic Success Workshop Three Law School: Reading Law, Part II | 106 O'Brian Hall |
Tuesday, August 26
| Time | Session | Location |
| 9:30 am - 11:30 am | LAWR (Legal, Analysis, Writing, & Research) | See Records & Registration** or HUB for section & location |
Wednesday, August 27
Attendance Mandatory
Full slate of academic classes begin. (See HUB for Section & Location).
Thursday, August 28*
| Time | Session |
| 10:00 am - 3:00 pm | Departmental Tabling in O’Brian Hall Lobby* Meet and greet with different departments from the School of Law and University. |
Friday, September 5
Attendance Mandatory, Professional Attire Required
| Time | Session | Location |
| 9:00 am - 11:00 am Arrive by 8:45 am | Downtown Court Trip - Lanyard/Nametag Required for Security Download Court Trip Instructions (PDF) | Old Erie County Hall 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| 12:30 pm - 3:30 pm | Reception at Pearl Street Grille - Meet and greet members of the judiciary, local Bar Associations and some Peer Advocates over lunch. | Pearl Street 76 Pearl Street Buffalo, NY 14202 |
Further Engagement
Optional, but Highly Encouraged - Mark your Calendar!
| Date | Event | Location |
| Wed. & Thurs. Sept. 10th & 11th 10:00 am - 1:00 pm | Student Club and Organization Tabling Learn more about the many different ways to get involved and meet and greet with the various clubs & organizations at UB Law! | Lobby, O'Brian Hall |
* Marked Sessions are optional, but highly encouraged.