Academic Calendar

An overview of the Law School's academic calendar appears below, and a more detailed version may be downloaded in the sidebar. This calendar is subject to change as circumstances warrant. 

Updated March 11, 2024

Fall Term 2023

 August
7-11Executive LL.M. Class of 2023: Study/Exam Week
11Executive LL.M. Class of 2023: End of on-campus classes and exams
14-15 LL.M. Orientation
16Start of LL.M. Classes in Introduction to American Law and in LL.M. Legal Research & Writing
16-Sep 11Add/Drop Period
18Executive LL.M. Class of 2023: Start of final online class
21-231L Registration & Orientation
23Start of 1L classes in Legal Methods I and Legal Practice Workshop I
 September
1       October 2023 Degree Candidates: Deadline to submit outstanding 2022-23 written work granted an extension
1October 2023 Degree Candidates: Degree applications due
1Last day of 1L class Legal Methods I and LL.M. class Introduction to American Law
4Labor Day - No classes
5First day of classes in term-long Law School courses. If enrolled in other schools please refer to Columbia Academic Calendar for the first day of classes.
5-11Add/Drop continues; action required on wait-list notifications; after this date changes only with permission of the Rules Committee, upon petition
12-Oct 15Withdrawal from classes permitted; the notation of W will be recorded on the transcript
13All Students: Deadline to register for supervised research; 3Ls: Deadline to register for Major Writing Credit
22Final exam for LL.M. class Introduction to American Law
27Executive LL.M. Class of 2023: Last day of classes
29-Oct 4Executive LL.M. Class of 2023: Final online exam period
 October
1October 2023 LL.M. Degree Candidates: Last day to file final copy of LL.M. Essay with Office of Graduate Degree Programs
1LL.M.s: registration deadline for fall term writing projects
15All students: Deadline to submit outstanding 2022-23 written work that received an extension                                                                       
15All students: Deadline to withdraw from a Fall 2023 Law School course; the grade of F will be recorded for withdrawals after this date
18Conferral of October degrees
271L mid-term exams
 November
7Election Day - No Classes
15Grade submission deadline for outstanding 2022-23 written work that received an extension
21-December 4Add/Drop Period (Phase 1)
23-24Thanksgiving Holiday - No Classes
 December
May 2024 Degree Candidates: Degree applications due (tentative)
1Last day of 1L classes
2-71L study period
8-211L exams
8Last day of upper-year Law School classes
9-10Upper-year study days
11Last day of classes at other divisions of the University, if enrolled in other schools please refer to Columbia Academic Calendar.
11-21Upper-year exams
22Fall 2023 term ends; due date for submission of Fall 2023 written work; last day for rescheduled exams
31February 2024 LL.M. Degree Candidates: Deadline to submit outstanding written work; last day to file final copy of LL.M. Essay with Office of Graduate Degree Programs

Spring Term 2024

 January
3-8Add/Drop Period for upper year January elective classes
83Ls: Register Pro Bono Project
8-12Legal Methods II and upper year January elective classes
9-22Add/Drop Period (Phase 2)
12Fall 2023 grade submission deadline
15Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Observed - No Classes
16First day of all Law School classes. If enrolled in other schools please refer to Columbia Academic Calendar for the first day of classes.
16-22Add/Drop continues; action required on wait-list notification; after this date changes only with permission of the Rules Committee, upon petition
233Ls: Deadline to submit first draft of Major Writing Credit paper and to register for Minor Writing Credit
23-February 15Withdrawal from classes permitted; the notation of W will be recorded on the transcript
 February
1LL.M.s: registration deadline for spring term LL.M. Writing Project
2Legal Methods II and upper year January elective 2024 grade submission deadline
14Conferral of February 2024 degrees
15All students: Deadline to withdraw from a Spring 2024 Law School course; the grade of F will be recorded for withdrawals after this date
28Executive LL.M. Class of 2024: Welcome Webinar
 March
13Ls: Complete Pro Bono Project
11Executive LL.M. Class of 2024: Start of online classes
11-15Spring Recess - No Classes
 April
13Ls: Deadline to submit final draft of Major Writing Credit paper
1All students: Deadline to submit all outstanding Fall 2023 written work that was granted an extension
24Last day of Law School Classes
25-28Upper-year study period
25-291L study period
29Last day of classes at other divisions of the University, if enrolled in other schools please refer to Columbia Academic Calendar.
29-May 9Upper-year exams
30-May 91L exams
 May
1May 2024 JD Degree Candidates: Deadline to submit all outstanding Spring 2024 written work
1May 2024 LL.M. Degree Candidates: Deadline to submit all outstanding Spring 2024 written work. Last day to file final copy of LL.M. Essay with Office of Graduate Degree Programs
3Executive LL.M. Class of 2024: Last Day of Online Classes
6-13Executive LL.M. Class of 2024: Spring Exam Period
10Spring 2024 grade submission deadline for graduating students
10Continuing students: Due date for submission of Spring 2024 written work
10Spring 2024 term ends
13Law School Graduation Ceremony
15University Commencement & Degree Conferral
TBDExecutive LL.M. Class of 2024: On-campus orientation
TBDExecutive LL.M. Class of 2024: First day of on-campus classes
 June
1Spring 2024 grade submission deadline, continuing students in classes with enrollment of fewer than 150 students
10Class of 2025 First day of federal clerkship application review
11Spring 2024 grade submission deadline for continuing students in classes with enrollment of 150 or more students
 July
31Last date submitted work will be considered for honors for 2023-2024 academic year 
31Date upon which outstanding grades will be converted to F