Commencement Information
Memphis Law celebrates all graduates with three annual commencement ceremonies, in May, August, and December. (August and December commencements are held with the University's main ceremony).
May 2020 Commencement Information
UPDATE FROM PRESIDENT RUDD
Please see the March 16, 2020 update from President Rudd here.
Time & Place
Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 4:00 p.m.
The Orpheum Theater
203 S. Main Street
Memphis, TN 38103
The graduation ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. There will not be a rehearsal.
Guest Seating
We will have general seating at graduation with the exception of several reserved front rows. Your guests do not need to purchase or use tickets for graduation. There is no limit to the number of guests who may attend.
Guests should arrive early, particularly if they want seats together as a group and/or to be seated near the front.
You can find information about accessible seating here.
Graduates with Disabilities
If you are a graduating student and have a physical impairment that might impact your ability to process and recess with your classmates or to climb up and down stairs during the processional and for your hooding, please contact Dean Aden as soon as possible so that we can make appropriate arrangements for you.
Personal Belongings
You will not be able to leave any personal belongings backstage during the graduation ceremony. Do not bring any personal belongings to the staging area that you can't process and recess with or leave under your seat during the ceremony.
Photographers
There will be professional photographers taking photos at graduation. Each graduate will be photographed on stage as he or she is being hooded and during the handshake. In addition, each graduate will have the opportunity to take an additional formal graduation photo during the graduation ceremony. Information about how to purchase photographs will be available at the ceremony.
You can pre-register to purchase your graduation photos and save 20% on your graduation photos if you pre-register. Information about pre-registering will be available closer to graduation.
Invitations
The law school will not have an official invitation, but graduates can order invitations through the University or on their own. To order through the University, please contact Balfour at 1-800-278-7644 or visit the law school landing page on their website, which will be available soon.
Regalia, Certificate & Pro Bono Cords
There is no additional charge for the regalia. We will provide a specific pick-up date and location closer to graduation.
If you are graduating with a certificate in Advocacy, Business Law, Health Law, or Tax Law or if you are receiving a Dean's Distinguished Pro Bono Award, the law school will order a special cord for you to wear at graduation.
Legacy Hooding
Are you a legacy? If you have a family member who is a graduate of the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, we'd like to know! If you have family members who are Memphis Law Alumni or on the law faculty or staff, they can assist with your hooding at graduation. Please email Archie Shelton no later than April 27, with your name and the name and contact information of your family members if you would like to participate.
Please note that hooding assistance is only available to students with family members who are Memphis Law Alumni or law faculty or staff.
Name Pronunciations
If your name is difficult to pronounce, complete this form by Monday, April 27, to ensure the correct information regarding phonetic pronunciation is included on the pronunciation card. We will need to have this information well in advance of graduation, so fill the form out as soon as possible, if you haven't done so already.
Graduation Attire & Honor Pins
In keeping with the formality and tradition of the ceremony, men usually wear dark dress trousers, a white shirt, a tie, socks, and dark shoes, while women usually wear dresses (or equivalent) and dark shoes.
You may wear honor pins (college level and higher) on the left side of your graduation robe (on the black lapel next to the purple chevron). This includes Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Alpha Delta, Omicron Delta Kappa, and other honorary pins.
Diplomas & Composites
You will not receive a diploma during the graduation ceremony. Your diploma and composite will be mailed to you several months after the ceremony, once summer classes are completed, rankings are calculated, and once it has been certified that your financial obligations are met and that all degree requirements have been satisfied. By law, the University cannot release grades, transcripts, diplomas, or certifications of credit on or to any student who has an unresolved financial obligation to the University.
Change of Address
Please let us know about any changes of address, phone number, or email address that you have after graduation. We need to know where to send your diploma, and there are several surveys and other matters you will receive the first year after graduation.
For any other commencement related questions or concerns, please contact us at lawgraduation@memphis.edu.
Most of all, congratulations! We look forward to seeing you there.