Welcome and Congratulations on your acceptance to Catholic Law!
We look forward to you joining us in Washington, D.C.
As an Admitted Student to Catholic Law, you are now part of a supportive community of students, faculty, alumni, and staff who want to see you succeed and challenge you to grow both academically and personally.
Below is some information that will be helpful as you prepare for law school. Congratulations again on your acceptance and we look forward to seeing you at the Catholic Law Orientation.
Admitted Student Events
March 21, 2023: Diversity Leadership Alumni Awards
April 1, 2023: Experience Catholic Law Day
The event featured an alumni panel, a student panel, lunch, and networking opportunities.
Admitted Student Mentor Programs
The Black Law Student Mentoring and Leadership Program and the Hispanic Student Mentoring and Leadership Program begin even before you set foot on campus as a student. From the day you are admitted to Catholic Law, we will be there to guide you through your decision to attend our law school, and we will help you prepare to start as a student here.
Once you’re admitted, we will ask if you would like to discuss your decision about where to go to law school with one of our faculty members, who will serve as your mentor throughout your decision-making process if you wish. They will welcome you to Catholic Law, serve as a resource to help answer your questions, and offer you advice as you think through your decision. Deciding where to go to law school can seem daunting—your faculty mentor is here to help guide you. To learn more about Mentor Programs, click here.
Scholarships
Law Preview Scholarships Sponsored by LexisNexis Law Preview (the nation's largest law school prep course) has teamed up with LexisNexis, one of the world’s leading online research providers, to provide Law Preview Scholarships to select members of our entering class. Lexis Nexis has generously agreed to help entering students prepare for the unique challenges they will face during their 1L year at Catholic Law by paying the cost of tuition for a law school prep course. Visit the following URL to see if you meet the scholarship criteria: http://lawpreview.barbri.com/scholarships/.
Law Preview’s “One Lawyer Can Change the World” $10k Scholarship Do you think one lawyer can change the world? BARBRI Law Preview does. They will be awarding one hard-working incoming law student $10,000 towards their 1L year. The application deadline is April 15th and you can review scholarship details here: https://lawpreview.barbri.com/10000-get-information/.
More scholarship information can be found here.
Using Cardinal Students and Making a Deposit
Cardinal Students is the name of the CUA student-services portal, through which you may accomplish many tasks including making a tuition deposit your first year, working with your financial aid package, registering for classes (2nd Year), and checking your student account, just to name a few. Click here to learn more.
Registering for First Semester Classes and Faculty
Incoming first year students will be assigned to class sections and registered for classes automatically. Incoming first-year students need not register for classes. To learn more about our faculty, click here.
Survival Guide for New Students
The Judge Kathryn J. DuFour Law Library welcomes our incoming J.D., M.L.S., and L.LM students! The library has created a guide for incoming students to help orient you to the library and its services. The guide includes information about getting ready for class, getting online, and getting the most out of the library resources during your first few days and weeks in law school.
First Year Curriculum
Day Division
In the first semester, first-year full-time day students take 15 credits of required classes. Classes typically meet Monday through Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. and Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. Students should also be prepared to attend programs on certain Friday afternoons.
In the spring semester Day Division students take 15 credits of required courses.
Evening Division
In the first semester, Evening Division students must take a minimum of 10 credits in both Fall and Spring semesters. Classes begin at 6:15 p.m. and go no later than 8:35 p.m.
Section Assignments
Section assignments are typically announced in mid-July.
Books
Until you receive your section assignment you will not be able to determine your course schedule or required books. Once you have received your section assignment in late summer, you can create your booklist. Once your section assignment and class schedule is confirmed, you can purchase your books at the University Bookstore or any other source you choose. If there are no materials identified for a course, the professor is still in the process of selecting materials for the semester. Some professors make some or all of the reading materials available at the Faculty Services copy room (4th floor) of the School of Law.
Assignments for First Classes
Many professors will reach out to their classes prior to orientation, so please be on the lookout for emails from your professors. You will receive a password for TWEN, the online syllabi managing system once you arrive for Orientation.