Welcome and Congratulations on Your Acceptance to Catholic Law!

We look forward to you joining us in Washington, DC! As an Admitted Student to Catholic Law, you are now part of a supportive community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who want to see you succeed and challenge you to grow both academically and personally. Below is information to help as you prepare for law school. Congratulations again and we look forward to seeing you at Admitted Students Day and First-Year Orientation.

 

Private Admitted Students Webpage
  • Admitted students have access to a private webpage and will receive the link via email (or by contacting admissions @ law.edu)

Admitted Student Events
  • Weekly office hours via Zoom
    1st & 3rd Wednesdays 12:00-1:00 pm and 5:15-6:15 pm (contact admission or access your private admitted students webpage)
  • Saturday, April 12, 2025
    Admitted Students Day at Catholic Law 
  • Tuesday, August 12 through Thursday, August 14, 2025
    Orientation Program for First Year Students
  • Monday, August 18, 2025
    First Day of Classes for All Students
  • Other admitted student events are being planned.

Scholarships
All admitted applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships and are notified of their award just after admittance decisions. Other forms of scholarship are available through outside sources, some of which may be found here and here.


Using Univsersity Email and Making Your Seat Deposit

To access University information, you must use the cua.edu email address assigned to you upon acceptance. Cardinal Station is the landing page housing Catholic University's student/faculty/staff information, functions, and management systems for conducting academic and administrative activity. Within Cardinal Station, the student services portal Cardinal Students is the main source for students to carry out a number of functions, such as making a tuition deposit, updating personal information, viewing and accepting financial aid, paying fees, viewing class schedules, checking grades, etc. Once you have logged into Cardinal Students, you will find the various uses fairly intuitive. If you are ready to make your seat deposit, click here.

Pre-Orientation Coursework and Assignments

All incoming students are expected to take the Lawyering Fundamentals online course approved by the law school during the summer months, prior to Orientation, in order to help prepare for the law school experience. Course information, access, and the assignment schedule will be provided sometime around the middle of June. The course is designed to be completed over a period of about 14 days, and includes simulated classes with assigned readings and interactive modules, along with practice on case briefing, outlining, essay writing, and other helpful success strategies. Most importantly, however, the course is meant to demystify various law school teaching methods to better acclimate you to law school. It benefits you.

All assignments will be completed in an online classroom. The course is not a credit-bearing course to be factored into your GPA, but you are expected to score 65% or higher to successfully complete/pass the course (with 50% of your grade based on participation and 50% on an essay and multiple-choice question exam at the end of the course). More information to follow.

First Year Curriculum and Registering for Classes

Day Division - First-year full-time day students take 15 credits of required courses in each Fall and Spring semesters. Classes typically meet Monday through Thursday between 9:00am and 5:00pm. Students should also be prepared to attend classes or programing on desinated Fridays.

Part-time Division - Part-time students take a minimum of 10 credits in each Fall and Spring semesters. Classes take place Monday through Thursday between the hours of 6:15pm and 9:30pm.

All First-Year Students - Incoming first-year students (day and evening divisions) will be assigned to class sections typically by mid-July. Thereafter, the Registrar automatically assigns courses and notifies students of their schedules. Thus, first-year students need not register for first semester courses.

Books and Assignments for First Classes

You will be able to determine your course schedule and required books once you have received your class assignment in late summer. Many professors will reach out to their classes prior to orientation, so please be on the lookout for emails from your professors. To learn more about our faculty click here. Note that you will receive a password for the online syllabi managing system once you arrive for Orientation. After your class schedule is confirmed, you can purchase your books through the  University Bookstore or from any other source you choose. If there are no materials identified for a course, the professor is still in the process of selecting materials for the semester.  

Survival Guide for New Students

The Law School's Judge Kathryn J. DuFour Law Library welcomes incoming students and has created and will share a resource guide during Orientation for incoming students. The guide includes information about preparing for class, and utilizing library resources during your first few days and weeks in law school.