15.1 Travel Funding

The Law School recognizes the educational value of student travel and therefore strives to make travel financially possible for all of its students.  Any student interested in obtaining funds for travel may submit a request to the Dean of Students. The Law School will only consider funding student travel if the primary purpose of the proposed trip is educational and bears a relation to the student’s future legal practice or the study of law in general.

In addition, any student(s) or student organization(s) seeking travel funds must meet each of the following criteria:  

1. Each student must contribute financially to the cost of the proposed trip.  A student is expected to contribute at least 10% of the costs of the trip (including transportation, lodging, and any applicable registration fees) or $75, whichever amount is greater.
2. The proposed trip must not require the student to miss class or reschedule exams. This requirement will not be waived under any circumstances.
3. Before any Law School funds for travel will be approved, the student or student organization must demonstrate efforts to secure funding from the following alternate funding sources:
   • Center for Leadership and Involvement (CLI);
   • Student Government Funding Committee (SGFC);
   • Graduate Council; and
   • Law Students Association (LSA).
4. If the purpose of the trip is to attend a conference, the conference must be academic in purpose and the student must attend as a presenter rather than as a participant. Upon return from the conference, the student is required to submit their presentation materials to the Office of the Dean of Students for review.

If a student or student organization meets these enumerated criteria, the student or student organization must meet with the Dean of Students to discuss the potential funding.  If approved, the Law School may contribute up to $500 per student towards the travel costs.  If appropriate, prior to approving travel funds for any student or student organization, the Dean of Students may: (1) refer student(s) or student organization(s) to External Affairs for fundraising outside of the Law School; and/or (2) require student(s) or student organization(s) to take efforts to raise travel funds within the Law School.   

Students seeking funding for travel must be sure to adhere to the University and Law School restrictions on reimbursements and costs.  For information on reimbursement procedures, please refer to the Student Organization Handbook (http://www.law.uchicago.edu/students/organizations/handbook).