Commencement

Two grads showing off their self-decorated caps covered with blue and yellow flowers.

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The Spring 2024 Legal Studies Commencement Ceremony will be held on 
Sunday, May 12th at 2pm in Zellerbach Auditorium.


Our 2024 Keynote Speaker is Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Legal Studies '14

Legal Studies Grads: SIGN UP TO WALK HERE


Reminders and additional details will be sent out to the LSundergrads e-mail list.
Info and reminders will be sent to the students via the student e-mail list.

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PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!

(Graduates do not need a ticket.)

Tickets are available for purchase here, by phone (510) 642-9988 and in person at Zellerbach Hall during regular business hours.
The ticket phone and office is open Tuesday-Friday, 12:00pm-5:30pm, Saturday-Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm. 
All orders will be delivered via email as E-tickets. Patrons should contact tickets@calperformances.org if they have any questions or if they do not receive their E-tickets.
Students are encouraged to order online HERE.  All ordering options (phone, online and in person) are available. Once tickets are purchased, they will be delivered by email only. Mail and will call delivery methods are not available. The ticket office will be open 1 hour before the ceremony and 1 hour after the ceremony begins for those who need to purchase a ticket the day of the ceremony.

Students should email tickets@calperformances.org if they have not received their E-tickets or if they have any general questions.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Every body entering the venue will need a ticket, even babies.
For children 4 years old or younger, please choose the child ticket option when purchasing tickets.
The only people not required to have a ticket while entering the venue are the graduating seniors.
They are accounted for in a different manner than the guests.

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2024 Legal Studies Commencement Ceremony

When: Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 2pm
Where: Zellerbach Auditorium
Guest speaker: Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Legal Studies '14

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Commencement Updates

Updates and reminders will be sent to the LS undergrads listserve, so be sure that you are subscribed with a current e-mail address that you check regularly. Write to Lauri if you would like to be subscribed   Lauri@berkeley.edu

Comp Tickets

Anyone who signed up by Friday March 15 will get two free tickets.
Pick up later in May:

Where:  2240 Piedmont (the Legal Studies building)
When:  Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs,  May 6 - 9
Times:  9-12  and 1:30- 4


*****Graduates do not need a ticket.*****

Additional tickets are $5 each (buy as many as you need, there is no limit); tickets must be purchased online HERE.

There is no fee for children ages 4 and under, but a ticket is still required for admission. Every body entering the venue, needs a ticket, except for the graduates in cap and gown. 

Tickets are available for purchase via tickets.berkeley.edu, by phone (510) 642-9988 and in person at Zellerbach Hall during regular business hours. The ticket office is open Tuesday-Friday, 12:00pm-5:30pm, Saturday-Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm. 
Students are encouraged to order online at tickets.berkeley.edu.  All ordering options (phone, online and in person) are available. Once tickets are purchased, they will be delivered by email only. Mail and will call delivery methods are not available. The ticket office will be open 1 hour before the ceremony and 1 hour after the ceremony begins for those who need to purchase a ticket the day of the ceremony.
Students should email tickets@calperformances.org if they have not received their E-tickets or if they have any general questions.

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University-wide General Commencement

Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 10:30am  in California Memorial Stadium. The University-wide Commencement is the only University-wide event (held in Fall and Spring) where graduating seniors from all academic disciplines are given a time to come together and celebrate their achievements at UC Berkeley.

For more info: http://commencement.berkeley.edu/

UPDATE: If you have questions regarding the General Commencement, please contact events1@berkeley.edu 

Walking in a ceremony is a celebratory event, it is completely up to the graduate whether they participate or not and is not required to receive the degree or diploma.

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Instructions for Graduating Seniors - Day of Ceremony

Please arrive in cap and gown by 1pm on Lower Sproul in front of Zellerbach Auditorium. The venue will be open after 1pm for your guests. If your guests would like to sit up close or on the aisle, have them arrive early. Graduates need to find the volunteers outside the auditorium at the Golden Bear Statue. Pick up your name card from one of the volunteers. Fill out the back of your name card with your permanent address for the photographer. After you have filled out the back of your reader card, line up with whomever you like - we do not seat you in alpha order. The procession into the venue will begin at 2pm sharp. Hold onto your card until you walk to the professor reading names on stage. You will have your picture taken on stage before you have your name read. When it is your turn to move forward, hand your card to the professor at the podium and continue to walk to center stage to receive your graduation scroll. Continue to the end of the stage where you will have your picture taken, then return to your seat. Easy Peasy!

****Graduates do not need a ticket.****

Ceremony

The ceremony usually runs just over an hour. Please turn off your cell phones and refrain from using them for the duration of the ceremony.

Please tell your guests NOT to use air horns inside the theater. Tell them instead to clap, yell, hoot, holler, whistle, cheer, etc... Please no air horns.
They are meant for outdoor use and could potentially damage the hearing of the guests seated nearby, especially small children and those with hearing aids.
Please no air horns.

Cal Performances does not allow confetti.

Balloons, signs and strollers will be parked in the lobby and not be allowed into the auditorium due to fire regulations.

Covid Protocol

Zellerbach protocol on their website.
(Basically, you can get vaxed, mask up with good-fitting KN95 masks and please stay home if you are experiencing symptoms.)


Keynote Speaker

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, Legal Studies '14

Treats after the ceremony

Treats will be available out on Lower Sproul Plaza following the ceremony.

Ceremony Photography

GradImages™ will be photographing all graduates at the upcoming graduation ceremony. Visit our websitewww.gradimages.com, and click on PRE-EVENT REGISTRATION. Enter your email and up to 6 emails of loved ones who would like to share in your accomplishment by viewing and ordering your photos. By submitting your information to us early, you can rest assured that photo samples will be quickly and conveniently provided to you and all others registered as soon as they are available after the event. After graduation, order online at www.gradimages.com or call (800) 261-2576. You can feel confident that GradImages™ will capture your proud moment.

Regalia

Students can wear stoles, leis, decorated caps, etc. if they wish.
There is no official Legal Studies stole available.

Those who participated in the Honors Program please see the 'Honor Cord' info below. Do not buy your own honor cord!

Cap and gown, stoles, invitations, etc are available at The Official Cal Student Store at any time.
Cap and gowns are also available at the Fall Rush Berkeley Student Store at 2470 Bancroft Way across the street from campus. Phone: 510-845-1226     

Gowns will be wrinkled. Be sure to unfold and hang your gown a few days before the ceremony. 

Honor Cords

For those of you who are participating in the Legal Studies Honors Program, the Legal Studies department will be purchasing an honor cord for you, don't buy your own cord! When you sign up for commencement, you will indicate if you are participating in the program. When you submit your thesis via e-mail to your supervisor, please also Cc Lauri so she knows you have completed the program. Once Lauri receives confirmation that your thesis has been submitted, you can then pick up your honor cord from Lauri at 2240 Piedmont.

Your Diploma

Your diploma will be available approximately four months after you officially graduate. Your diploma will automatically be sent to your permanent mailing address in CalCentral. Your official name is the name that will be printed on your diploma. If you need to change your name, check the Registrar’s site for here details. If your degree hasn’t been posted to your transcript yet, you may request a Letter of Intent (also known as "Early Proof of Graduation") from the College of Letters & Science. Go here for lots of helpful transcript and diploma information.

Your Berkeley.edu Account

You are given a 9 month grace period for your berkeley.edu account, afterwhich it will be canceled.
Here is where you can find details for how to collect all of your data.

Special Accommodations

Graduates who wish to request disability-related accommodations (sign language interpreters and wheelchair seating), should indicate this in the sign up form. Please request accommodations ASAP (you can enter this info into the sign up form and if Lauri needs more info, she'll contact you.) to ensure the best possible arrangements. Zellerbach Auditorium provides 16 wheelchair spaces. There are ample aisle seats and seats that can be accessed without having to utilize stairs. Wheelchair accessibility to Zellerbach is available via the ramp on the north side of the building. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are on the Main (Orchestra) level.
For a basic map of Zellerbach Auditorium go here
(Our venue is listed as Zellerbach Hall.)

Navigating Berkeley - Info from Disability Access & Compliance

An information hub to help community members with disabilities navigate the campus. It includes maps of buildings, parking locations, transportation routes, policies & procedures, and additional resources.

The maps here are designed to assist individuals with disabilities in navigating and/or planning ahead during their time around campus.

Visitor Information and Parking

Parking will be available for a fee on a first-come, first-served basis at many of the campus "S" permit parking structures. Commencement parking will be available in the Lower Sproul Lot (underneath Zellerbach Auditorium) and at the RSF Garage on Bancroft Way at Ellsworth Street. Drivers must purchase a dispenser ticket to display on the vehicle's dashboard. At the Lower Sproul Lot there should be an attendant available the morning of the ceremony to sell parking.  The City of Berkeley Sather Gate Garage, located on Durant Avenue just west of Telegraph Avenue, is available to the public. Please be aware that the campus is moving towards credit card only sales, so please be prepared. No cash.

Passenger Drop-Off

Access to Zellerbach Hall is available from Bancroft Ave, both through the breezeway at the newly built Eshelman Hall and from the Telegraph Ave/Bancroft Ave. intersection.

Patrons can be dropped off at the loading zone area along Bancroft Way and access Zellerbach via a short walk through the Eshelman building breezeway.

There is also a ramp alongside the north side of Zellerbach Auditorium near the stairs that lead to the front entrance of the Auditorium.

Parking suggested by Cal Performances

UCB Parking and Transportation site 

UCB Parking Lot Map

Visitors from outside the Bay Area may wish to contact the UC Berkeley Visitors Services here or call (510)642-5215.

San Francisco Travel site.

Information regarding campus Disability Access Services can be found here.

To find Zellerbach Auditorium on an interactive campus map go here.


University-wide General Commencement

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 10:30am in California Memorial Stadium. The University-wide Commencement is the only University-wide event (held in Fall and Spring) where graduating seniors from all academic disciplines are given a time to come together and celebrate their achievements at UC Berkeley.
For more info: http://commencement.berkeley.edu/

Additional information for graduates:

California Alumni Association
Career Center resources after graduation

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Land Acknowledgement Statement

The Legal Studies Program recognizes that Berkeley sits on the territory of Xučyun, the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo Ohlone, the successors of the historic and sovereign Verona Band of Alameda County. This land was and continues to be of great importance to the Ohlone people. We recognize that every member of the Berkeley community has, and continues to benefit from the use and occupation of this land, since the institution’s founding in 1868. Consistent with our values of community and diversity, we have a responsibility to acknowledge and make visible the university’s relationship to Native peoples. By offering this Land Acknowledgement, we affirm Indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold University of California, Berkeley, more accountable to the needs of American Indian and Indigenous peoples.

An alternate spelling of  Xučyun is Huchiun.

What is a Land Acknowldgement?

A Land Acknowledgement is a formal statement that recognizes and respects Indigenous Peoples as traditional stewards of this land and the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories.