Events
Law Academic Calendar
The School of Law Academic Calendar contains all dates and deadlines associated with the fall and spring terms for St. Mary’s Law. You can find the University Academic Calendar on the St. Mary’s University website.
Fall 2025
July 28-31: Optional First-Generation Law Student Pre-1L Bootcamp (virtual, evenings)
August 4-7: Optional First-Generation Law Student Pre-1L Bootcamp (in person)
August 8: Optional Professional Development Day for Upper-Level Online J.D. Students (O22, O23, and O24)
August 11-15: Required Orientation for all incoming J.D. students [Incoming first-year J.D. students will have additional online programming before and after the in-person orientation. Please check your St. Mary’s email for details]
August 11-12: Required Orientation for all incoming M.L.S. and LL.M. students
August 11-21: Course changes online open for J.D. students (M.L.S. course changes through Director; LL.M. course changes through Assistant Dean)
August 11-22: 100% tuition refund
August 18: Classes Begin — Fall 2025
August 20: Online M.L.S. Classes Begin
August 25-29: 75% tuition refund
September 1: Deadline to Apply for December 2025 Graduation online via Gateway
September 1: Timely Filing Deadline for February 2026 Texas Bar Exam Registration
September 1-5: 50% tuition refund
September 1: Labor Day — No classes (University offices closed)
September 8-12: 25% tuition refund
September 13: 1L Family Day
September 19: Last Day to Drop without academic penalty
September 22-October 10: Midterm Exams
October 1: Timely deadline for first-year J.D. students to file Declaration of Intent to Study Law with Texas Board of Law Examiners
October 13: Fall Break — No Classes (University Open)
October 14: Monday classes meet today instead of Tuesday classes; Tuesday classes are canceled
October 16: Red Mass (classes starting at 6:00 p.m. or later are canceled [including online courses])
November 3-7: Course Registration for Spring 2026 [Details announced by email; expect the course schedule to be released by email two weeks in advance of registration]
November 25: Last Day of Classes
November 26-28: Thanksgiving Holiday — No Classes (University closed)
December 1: Reading Day
December 4: Registration Opens at 10:00 AM CT for July 2026 Texas Bar Exam Registration
December 2-16: Fall 2025 Final Exams
December 13: Fall 2025 University and Law School Commencement Ceremony. Fall 2025 graduates will participate in the main University Commencement Ceremony. Learn more on the Commencement page.
December 22-January 2: Christmas Break — No Classes (University Closed)
Spring 2026
January 5: University reopens after Christmas Break
January 6: Fall 2025 grades due by 5 p.m. (CST)
January 7-16: Course changes online open for J.D. students (M.L.S. course changes through Director; LL.M. course changes through Assistant Dean)
January 7-16: 100% refund
January 8-9: LL.M. Spring Orientation
January 9: M.L.S. Spring Orientation
January 12: Classes Begin — Spring 2026
January 14: Classes Begin — Online M.L.S.
January 19-23: 75% refund
January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day — No classes; University offices closed
January 26-30: 50% refund
February 1: Deadline to apply for Graduation in May 2026; online via Gateway
February 1: Timely Filing Deadline for July 2026 Texas Bar Exam Registration
February 2-6: 25% refund
February 16 – March 6: Midterm Exams
February 20: Last day to drop a class without academic penalty
March 9-13: Spring Break — No classes; University open
March 25: Mandatory registration meeting for full-time, first-year students
March 27-28: Law Weekend
April 6-10: Course registration for Summer 2026 and Fall 2026 [Details announced via email — expect the course schedule to be released by email two weeks in advance of registration]
April 2: Friday classes meet instead of Thursday classes; Thursday classes canceled. Extracurricular activities and student group meetings are prohibited for Holy Thursday.
April 3-4: Good Friday and Easter weekend — No Classes Friday or Saturday; University Closed
April 17-18: Fiesta Oyster Bake weekend — No classes Friday or Saturday; University Closed
May 1: Last Day of Classes — Spring 2026
May 4-5: Reading Days
May 6-20: Final Exams — Spring 2026
May 14: Law School Awards Ceremony
May 16: Law School Commencement Ceremony at 9:30 a.m. (Doors open at 8 a.m.)
June 10: Faculty grading deadline for Spring 2026
Fall 2026
August 7: Summer II Final Exams
August 18: Fall 2026 Classes Begin for Undergraduate, Graduate and Doctoral Students
September 7: Labor Day Holiday (University Closed)
November 26-27: Thanksgiving Break (Campus Closure)