Dean of Students staff welcome students as they file into the building on day one of orientation.

Students collect an assortment of Law School goodies and swag while meeting staff across different departments.

The Laird Bell Law Quadrangle is the new intellectual home of the Class of 2026. Constructed in the 1950s, the building has been called a midcentury modern masterpiece for its emphasis on horizontality and interlocking spaces.

Students shared many meals together over the course of the week.

The Law School’s “Clap-In” is an annual tradition in which faculty and staff applaud as new students enter the auditorium on the first day of orientation.

Students walk into the Green Lounge, the central hub in the Law School where students will enjoy Coffee Mess on Wednesdays, gather with friends between classes, and celebrate special events throughout the year.

Students took tours of the building, including (shown here) the D’Angelo Law Library.

Another stop along the building tour.

Students attended a variety of sessions presented by faculty and staff, like this one with Career Services.

Student orientation leaders (pictured in the white t-shirts) welcome the new students to campus.

Orientation packs a full day but provides plenty of opportunities for students to informally connect.

Guided by staff, students get to know their way around the building as they move from session to session.

Dean Thomas J. Miles gives his welcome remarks.

Students attend the “Intellectual Life at the Law School” session, featuring Professors Emily Buss, William Hubbard (who also serves as Deputy Dean), and Lior Strahilevitz.

Students get a chance to engage and ask questions at all the sessions.

Students not only tour the Law School building as part of orientation, but the University of Chicago campus as well.

Dean of Students staff pose with University of Chicago mascot Phil the Phoenix at the Welcome Wine Mess photobooth.

Wine Mess, organized by a Wine Mess student organization committee, is a popular tradition at the Law School.

Ahmed El-Sammak, ’26, (right) poses with a fellow new student.

Photobooth fun!

Students were broken into groups during orientation and each group participated in an improv session.

The improv session included various team-building activities designed to help students get to know each other…

… and have some fun!

Students enjoyed a dinner cruise on the Chicago River during their second week of orientation.

Many faculty attend the dinner to welcome and get to know students. Here, students chat with Professor Omri Ben-Shahar.

Celebrating the end of the week at the Entering Students Dinner Reception.

Dean Thomas Miles stands with Brian Leiter, Karl N. Llewellyn Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the Center for Law, Philosophy, and Human Values, who served as this year’s keynote.

Dinner takes place in the Law School’s Green Lounge, marking the official end of orientation.

Welcome Class of 2026!

Welcome LLM Class of 2024!

Welcome to our 16 transfer students!

“It feels like an absolute dream to officially be at UChicago Law!” said Maya Adel, ’26, one of 190 new students the Law School welcomed at orientation this fall. “I feel an immense privilege to be part of such a remarkable community.”

The program ran September 14-21, helping students get acquainted with their new intellectual home through a series of sessions that included building tours, a Free Expression workshop, a pledge of professionalism, a “First Legal Research & Writing Class,” and many others.

Danny Graves, ’26, said the research and writing class was his favorite session. “It was a stimulating introduction to the dynamics of a real law school class,” he explained. “I unfortunately missed the admitted student events, so I was glad to experience this class during orientation to help calm my nerves.”

Adel said she most enjoyed the Free Expression workshop facilitated by Professor William Baude. “I learned more about how the university is committed to fostering different ideas and prides itself in being a place where those differences can coexist. I was able to have a sneak peek into the classroom experience, and it was truly fascinating.”

The Law School is known for being a tight-knit community, and Orientation helps cultivate that dynamic from the very beginning. Students get to know each other through community-building activities weaved throughout the program, like an “improv” session, in addition to fun social events that mark the end of each busy day—from Wine Mess, a popular Law School tradition that offers an array of handcrafted beverages, to a dinner and boat cruise on the Chicago River. New this year was a Friday Social, where students played a Get to Know You Bingo activity and enjoyed a “Taste of Hyde Park” with food from different restaurants in the area.

The week concluded with the Entering Students Reception and Dinner, another long-standing tradition of the Law School, with Professor Brian Leiter serving as keynote.

 “I enjoyed watching everyone slowly let their guards down as we all got to know each other better,” said Ahmed El-Sammak, ‘26. “With each new day more friends were made, more laughs were shared, and our collective relationship strengthened. I loved seeing our community slowly take shape, and I can’t wait to see how it evolves over the next three years. I see every student here as a potential friend for life.”