Student Checklist

Commencement 2024 Student Checklist

Here’s a list of important information and deadlines to help you prepare for Commencement 2024.

Academic Attire

This is what you'll wear to the Commencement Exercises:

J.D. Graduates

• Cap: Black velvet tam
• Gown: Red doctoral gown with black chevrons
• Hood: Purple velvet doctorate hood 

LL.M. in Bankruptcy Graduates

• Cap: Black velvet tam
• Gown: Black doctoral gown with purple chevrons
• Hood: Purple velvet doctorate hood with a silk lining that features the colors of the school from which you received your first law degree

LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies and Transnational Legal Practice Graduates

• Cap: Black velvet tam
• Gown: Black doctoral gown with purple chevrons
• Hood: Purple velvet doctorate hood from St. John’s University 

Order Your Cap, Gown, and Hood

Please order your cap and gown through our online store. There are two shipping options and corresponding order deadlines:

• Ship to St. John’s Law: Order by Friday, March 22, 2024
• Ship to your home (additional fee): Order by Friday, April 19, 2024

If you ship your cap and gown to the Law School, pick up is at the:

• Law School: Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Taffner Field House: Sunday, May 20, 2024 at 2 p.m.

Please note: Hoods are included in your cap and gown order, but are shipped directly to St. John’s Law. J.D. graduates will receive their hoods on the Commencement stage. LL.M. graduates will pick up their hoods at the Office of Special Events before Commencement.

Complete Your CDO Exit Interview

To participate in Commencement Exercises, you must first have an exit interview with your career counselor, which will take about 15 minutes. Please arrive five minutes early so you can complete a graduate employment survey. Contact your career counselor or the Career Development Office by May 3, 2024 to schedule your exit interview.

Get Your Commencement Tickets

You can pick up 10 Commencement tickets in the Career Development Office starting Wednesday, April 3, 2024 through Friday, May 3, 2024. If you need more tickets, we’ll give out any extras we have on a first come, first served basis when we distribute caps and gowns at the Law School on Thursday, April 25, 2024 (see above). If you don’t need all of your tickets, please give them to a student who needs them.

If you have guests in need of special assistance or seating accommodations for the Commencement ceremony, please contact Iris Diaz at [email protected] or 718-990-1950. You can pick up tickets for those guests from the Office of Special Events starting Wednesday, May 1, 2024 through Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Empty Your Law School Locker

You need to empty your Law School locker by Friday, May 17, 2024. If you’re taking the July Bar Exam and want to continue using your locker, please email Donn King at [email protected] and complete and submit a Law School Locker Registration form by Friday, May 3, 2024.

Enjoy Your Commencement Photos

GradImages will take a photo of you after you receive your hood on the Commencement stage and descend the stairs to take your seat on the arena floor. They will email the photo proofs to your St. John’s Law email address about a week after Commencement.

Receive Your St. John’s Law Diploma

The Office of the Registrar will contact you at your St. John’s Law email address when your diploma is ready to be mailed or picked up. Diplomas will be mailed to the address on file in UIS. So, if you move after graduation, please update your address in UIS.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please contact Iris Diaz at [email protected] or 718-990-1950.