Dear Incoming Students:

We are looking forward to you joining our community in a couple short months.  Now is a good time to think about some additional details before your arrival, but it is also a good time to rest and relax.  In the summer months, we typically hear from incoming students with questions about preparing for Law School and housing options in Chicago.  This letter introduces you to the Dean of Students’ Office and answers some of those questions.  If you have questions this summer please feel welcome to contact either the Admissions office or the Dean of Students’ office.

Information for Purchasing Laptop Computers

Our Director of Information Technology recently posted a memo to incoming students with detailed information about purchasing your laptop computers for the fall.  That letter is available for your review at: https://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/studentcomputingmemo.pdf.

Introduction to the Dean of Students’ Office

We are busy preparing for your arrival, and you can look forward to an eventful Orientation program that begins on Wednesday, September 24th and continues through Friday, September 26th. The tentative schedule is online at 
http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/orientation_schedule.html.
 
Once you’ve arrived on campus, my team and I will be available to help make your transition to Law School as smooth as possible.   As a former health law attorney, legal writing instructor,  law professor, and student services administrator at two other local law schools over the past 15 years, I hope that I can offer you a unique and relevant perspective on your life as a law student.   Finally, I am a local resident and can help you find almost anything that you might need in Hyde Park or in the greater Chicago area.   Any student with special needs or concerns that might affect your ability to fully engage in your studies should make an appointment with me when you arrive on campus, but I’ll welcome visits from any of you.

Maureen Sheehan, Chicago JD ‘04, is the Associate Director of Student Affairs.   She joined the Dean of Students Office last year after practicing law at Sidley & Austin LLP.  Maureen is available to assist students with questions about course selection and academic preparation.  She also provides guidance to our Law Students Association and other student organizations.  In addition to many other duties, she should be your first point of contact for questions about housing, transportation, and student health insurance.  Maureen is also available to talk with you about any challenges that you face as you transition to Law School and continue on in your studies.

The Dean of Students’ Office also includes Lisa Alvarez, the Student Affairs Administrator.  Lisa assists student organizations with scheduling, event planning, and budget questions among other things.  She is a wonderful resource about how to get things done around here.  Lisa also has access to my and Maureen’s schedules should you need to schedule an appointment with either of us. 

Our team also includes Pontus Niklasson, our Registrar, who is a ready resource of information about registration.   Amy Wahl, our Assistant Registrar, works closely with Pontus and supervises exam administration among other things.  They both have a long tenure at the Law School and great resources for students.  Pontus and Amy will handle all of your Law School registration needs for your first year.

Preparing for Law School

When you join us in September, you are in for a treat in the classroom.  Our faculty members take great pride in their teaching for good reason:  they are the best law teachers.  Our faculty members are looking forward to the opportunity to shape each of you as legal thinkers.  To best prepare for this experience over the summer, you should read The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, other periodicals and/or books that appeal to you.  Also take some time to vacation, relax, and recharge for the journey that awaits you.  You are fortunate to be part of an exceptional Law School class.  Please join us with interesting things to share!

If you are so inspired, we are inviting incoming students to read City of the Century: The Epic of Chicago and the Making of America by Donald L. Miller.  This book is not meant as law school prep.  Instead we hope that it will inspire conversation among you and your classmates and give you an appreciation for Chicago.  For those of you who are interested in reading part or all of the book (you are not required to do so!), our office will arrange informal book club meetings focused on particular sections of the book, and perhaps an outing, for you and your classmates during the Autumn Quarter. 

You may also find The Unofficial Guide to Chicago by David Hoekstra with Alice Van Housen and Laurie Levy useful if you are a newcomer.  The information offered in very candid and the guide can help you navigate the city when you arrive. 

Housing

For those of you who are moving to Chicago, and haven’t already made arrangements for housing next year, we want to remind you that there are many housing options in Hyde Park.  First, the University offers graduate student housing (http://reo.uchicago.edu/housing.shtml).  One advantage of graduate student housing is that you are often able to negotiate a nine-month lease.  Graduate student apartments are typically within close distance to the campus bus service, making your commute easier.  Living in New Graduate Residence Hall is another option for law students (http://reo.uchicago.edu/ngrh.shtml).  New Graduate Residence Hall is conveniently located just blocks from the Law School.  Many students enjoy the relationships that they form while living in community with other graduate and professional students at New Graduate Resident Hall.

Second, there are many private housing options in Hyde Park.  Regents Park, a high-rise across from Lake Michigan, is a favorite of many law and medical school students (http://www.regentsparkchicago.com/).  The amenities of Regents Park include a doorman, indoor parking, an indoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant, and an exercise club.  There are other private housing options in Hyde Park as well.  The University student government offers a guide to finding apartments in Hype Park at: http://apartments.uchicago.edu/.  You may want to review this site to get a better idea of your private housing options in Hyde Park.

If possible, we encourage you to visit Hyde Park this summer to explore your housing options in person.

Logistical Details: CNET IDs, Student Directory Information, and Student Profiles

If you haven’t already claimed your CNET ID, please do so at your earliest convenience online at: http://nsit.uchicago.edu/services/cnetid/.  Thank you to the overwhelming majority of you who have already claimed your CNET IDs.

Thank you to those of you who have already submitted your local Chicago or cell phone number.  If necessary, our office will use these phone numbers to reach you during the 2008-2009 academic year.  Unless you elect not to share your information, your phone number and uchicago.edu email address will be included in the Student Directory.  The Student Directory will be shared with your fellow students in paper form when you arrive.  To be included in the Student Directory, please complete the online form at: https://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/incomingdirectoryinfo.html by this Friday, July 18th.  The online form gives you the ability to opt-out of the Student Directory if that is your preference.

Finally, due a technological glitch, not all of your Student Profiles have been received.  If you completed your Student Profile before last Friday, July 11th, please re-submit your profile online at: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/incoming-profile-form.html.  Thank you for your patience as we fix this minor glitch.

Photos for the Glass Menagerie

Please remember to send in a recent photo, passport size (approximately 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches) for the directory if you haven’t already done so.   The deadline has already passed, but you can still mail your photos to the Admissions Office, The University of Chicago Law School, 1111 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637. While we prefer to receive a print photo, we know some of you may want to send the photo digitally, so the guidelines to do so are available on-line. If you send a digital image, please send it to glassmenagerie@law.uchicago.edu.

Final Transcripts

Also please remember to obtain official transcripts for each undergraduate and each graduate institution from which you have received a degree and send these to the Admissions Office, The University of Chicago Law School, 1111 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL  60637, by August 29th. 
Your transcripts must show that a degree was awarded. The American Bar Association rules prohibit submission of an LSDAS transcript in lieu of an official copy. You will not be able to register for classes if your official transcript is not on file.
The next letter from our office (via email) should be arriving in your inboxes in August.  All correspondence will also be posted on the Law School website for your convenience.

Sincerely,

Michele Baker Richardson
Dean of  Students

Maureen C. Sheehan
Associate Director of Student Affairs