Law School Calendar
2024-2025 Academic Calendar
The Law School operates on a semester calendar, with optional terms during the Winter and Summer break periods. The Law School reserves the right to make changes in this calendar. A detailed current calendar can be found at https://www.law.northwestern.edu/academics/acad_calendar/
Fall Semester 2024
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | |
| 2-6 | Fall bidding - round 1 |
| 9-13 | Fall bidding - round 2 |
| 9 | Summer classes end |
| 12-16 | Summer term exams |
| 16-19 | Last chance to cancel Fall bids |
| 22 | Fall open enrollment (through Sep 6) |
| 23 | Orientation |
| 26 | Fall semester classes begin |
| 30 | Last day to drop a clinic |
| September 2024 | |
| 2 | Labor Day Holiday - no classes |
| 6 | Last day to add any law course; last day to drop any law course other than clinic |
| 13 | Summer grades post |
| October 2024 | |
| 9 | Follow Thursday schedule |
| 10 | Follow Friday schedule |
| 11 | Fall Break - no classes |
| 15-16 | Winter Intersession bidding |
| 18-21 | Last chance to cancel Winter bids |
| November 2024 | |
| 1-5 | Spring bidding - round 1 |
| 5 | Day of Civi Service - no classes |
| 8-12 | Spring bidding - round 2 |
| 27 | Fall semester classes end |
| 28-29 | Thanksgiving Holiday - no classes |
| December 2024 | |
| 2-6 | Reading period |
| 7-19 | Fall semester exams |
Winter Intersession 2025
Intersession offers 2L, 3L, and LLM students the option to enroll in one class during the Winter break. 1L and Tax students are not eligible for Intersession courses. Intersession is an optional term that does not count toward the residence requirement.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | |
| 20-Jan 12 | Winter Break |
| 20 | Winter Intersession courses begin |
| January 2025 | |
| 12 | Winter Intersession courses end |
Spring Semester 2025
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | |
| 8-24 | Spring open enrollment |
| 13 | Spring semester classes begin |
| 17 | Fall grades post |
| 17 | Last day to drop clinic |
| 20 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - no classes |
| 24 | Last day to add any law course; last day to drop any law course other than clinic |
| February 2025 | |
| 7 | Winter grades post |
| March 2025 | |
| 22-31 | Spring Break - no classes |
| April 2025 | |
| 1 | Spring semester classes resume (follow Monday schedule) |
| 22 | Spring classes end |
| 23-25 | Review sessions and reading period |
| 26 - May 8 | Spring semester exams |
Summer Term 2025
Summer Term offers 1L and 2L students the option of enrolling in up to two courses during the break. Summer is an optional term that does not count toward the JD residence requirement.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | |
| 8 | Spring semester exams end |
| 16 | Law School Convocation ceremony |
| June 2025 | |
| 2 | Summer practica classes begin |
| 6 | Spring grades post |
| 20 | Degree conferral |
| 16 | Summer term non-practica classes begin |
| 19 | Juneteenth Holiday - no classes |
| July 2025 | |
| 4 | Independence Day Holiday - no classes |
| August 2025 | |
| 8 | Summer term classes end |
| 13-15 | Summer term exams |
| 25 | Fall semester classes begin |