Law School Calendar

2023-2024 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 2023

Date Event
August 2023
1 Fall bidding - round 1 (July 28-Aug1)
4-8 Fall bidding - round 2
11 Summer classes end
11-14 Last chance to cancel Fall bids
14-17 Orientation week
14-18 Summer term exams
17 Fall open enrollment (through Sep 1)
21 Fall semester classes begin
25 Last day to drop a clinic
September 2023
1 Last day to add any law course; last day to drop any law course other than clinic
4 Labor Day Holiday - no classes
8 Summer grades post
October 2023
3 Follow Thursday schedule
4 Follow Friday schedule
5-6 Fall Break - no classes
17-18 Winter Intersession bidding
20-23 Last chance to cancel Winter bids
November 2023
3-7 Spring bidding - round 1
10-14 Spring bidding - round 2
22 Fall semester classes end
23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday - no classes
27 Reading period starts (Nov 27-Dec 1)
December 2023
1 Reading Period ends (Nov 27-Dec 1)
2-14 Fall semester exams

Winter Intersession 2024

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 2023
15-Jan 7 Winter Break
16 Winter Intersession courses begin
January 2024
7 Winter Intersession courses end

Spring Semester 2024

Date Event
January 2024
3-19 Spring open enrollment
8 Spring semester classes begin
12 Fall grades post
12 Last day to drop clinic
15 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - no classes
19 Last day to add any law course; last day to drop any law course other than clinic
February 2024
9 Winter grades post
March 2024
16-24 Spring Break - no classes
25 Northwestern Monday - no classes
26 Spring semester classes resume (follow Monday schedule)
April 2024
16 Spring classes end
17-19 Review sessions and reading period
20 - May 2 Spring semester exams

Summer Term 2024

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 2024
2 Spring semester exams end
10 Law School Convocation ceremony
31 Spring grades post
June 2024
14 Degree conferral
17 Summer term classes begin
19 Juneteenth Holiday - no classes
July 2024
4 Independence Day Holiday - no classes
August 2024
9 Summer term classes end
12-16 Summer term exams
26 Fall semester classes begin