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The Spring 2025 Legal Studies Commencement Ceremony is on
Sunday, May 18th at 7pm in Zellerbach Auditorium.
Our 2025 Keynote Speaker:
Honorable Judge Dale Ho of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
Legal Studies Grads: SIGN UP TO WALK HERE Links to be updated in the spring.
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! Links to be updated in the spring.
(Graduates do not need a ticket.)
The ticket phone and office is open Tuesday-Friday, 12:00pm-5:30pm, Saturday-Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm.
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.
2025 Legal Studies Commencement Ceremony
When: Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 7pm
Where: Zellerbach Auditorium
Guest speaker: Honorable Judge Dale Ho
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
Where: 2240 Piedmont (the Legal Studies building)
When: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, May 5 - 8
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.
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University-wide General Commencement
Saturday, May 17, 2025 (time TBD) 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 in the north/west corner. 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.
From Campus regarding decorum:
Students have worked very hard to get to this moment, and family members and friends have traveled from afar to celebrate this important milestone. Please refrain from any action that disrupts the event or prevents the speakers from being heard. This includes shouting over speakers, speaking out of turn, blocking others’ view, and displaying banners and signs. Individuals who are disruptive will be asked to leave and may be referred to the appropriate disciplinary process.
The University has added a security measure just this week. Everyone who enters the venue will be scanned with a security wand.
Keys and cell phones are fine. They are checking for dense metal objects.
In order to create a smooth entrance for all guests into the venue, small bags are acceptable, but larger bags may slow down the process as all bags are subject to search.
Covid Protocol
Keynote Speaker
Honorable Judge Dale Ho.
Ceremony Photography
GradImages™ will be photographing all graduates at the upcoming graduation ceremony. Visit our website, www.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.
After graduating from UC Berkeley, you are granted a 9-month grace period to transition your student accounts. Before expiration, you will receive instructions on how to retain your CalNet ID and access to email. To maintain your CalNet ID and access to email:
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Renewal: Follow the instructions that will be provided before account expiration.
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Storage Limit: All alumni must reduce their Google storage to below 5 GB. You will want to start reducing your storage in your @berkeley.edu email account now so you are ready to transition before the grace period ends.
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Annual Email Renewal: You will be required to renew your email account annually to keep your alumni account active.
Please note that to keep your alumni CalNet account active, you must also regularly use your CalNet ID by logging in to campus services (such as email). Information and instructions will be shared before your grace period ends.
Visit the links in our bio for email FAQs and instructions to reduce Google storage.
Links in bio:
Google Storage: https://bconnected.berkeley.edu/projects/alumni-email-changes/reduce-google-storage
Alumni Email: https://bconnected.berkeley.edu/alumni-email-changesSpecial 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.
We encourage you to allot extra time to travel around campus. The City of Berkeley has a number of construction projects on the southside of the campus that will impact traffic during the week of graduations. Lane closures, detours, and possible traffic delays on Bancroft (Piedmont to Shattuck) and Fulton (Bancroft to Dwight) as part of the Southside Complete Streets Project. Temporary removal of on-street parking, relocation of bus stops, and rerouting of bike lanes on Bancroft. See more details on the project page, under “Construction Schedule.
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
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.