Celebration Days are a series of program and section-specific ceremonies hosted on the Law Center campus on Friday, May 19 and Sunday, May 20. Graduates will hear remarks from Dean Treanor and student speakers, and candidates for graduation names will be read aloud as they cross a stage for individual recognition.

The Commencement Ceremony is a Law Center-wide event happening on Sunday, May 21, in which students process onto Healy Lawn. Dean Treanor and our honorary degree recipient will address the class, and Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia will ceremoniously confer degrees.

Celebration Days will take place on the Law Center campus on Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20. Participants should plan on arriving 30 minutes before your scheduled ceremony start time and check in at the Hotung Atrium for robing and line-up.

The Commencement Ceremony will take place on the Hilltop campus and begins promptly at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 21. This ceremony lasts approximately 90 minutes, including the academic procession which starts promptly at 1:30 p.m. Graduates should plan to arrive at the Hilltop Campus by 12:30 p.m. for robing and line-up.

J.D. students will robe and line-up in Dahlgren Quad and graduate students (LL.M., S.J.D., M.L.T., M.S.L. will robe and line-up in the David Arts Center. View the map for location details.

The Commencement Ceremony will take place on the main campus in Georgetown at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, 2023. This ceremony lasts approximately 90 minutes, including the academic procession that starts at 1:30 p.m. 

Celebration Days are the individual section and program ceremonies on the Law Center campus happening on Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20. The schedule for the Celebration Days events can be found here. Celebration Days events are approximately an hour to 90 minutes for the ceremony and reception.

Graduates are welcome to invite as many guests as they would like for both the Celebration Days and the Commencement Ceremony. 

For the Celebration Days events, we anticipate that there will be enough seating under the tent on the Eleanor Holmes Norton Green to accommodate all guests, and seating is available on a first come, first serve basis. There will also be standing room outside the tent as well as various livestreaming locations across the Law Center campus. Everyone is welcome to attend the closing reception on the Paul R. Dean Library Green.

We will have standing room outside the tent as well as various livestreaming locations across the Law Center campus. Everyone is welcome to attend the closing reception on the Library Green.

There are no seating limits for guests at the Sunday, May 21, Commencement Ceremony on Hilltop Campus’ Healy Lawn. However, the number of guests will be limited if inclement weather should force us to move the Commencement Ceremony indoors.

The regalia order deadline is Wednesday, March 29. Graduates can order their Commencement regalia here. The cost is $109.98.

Regalia orders will be ready for pick up at the Law Center Bookstore starting Monday, May 8, through Saturday, May 20, during regular business hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The Law Center Bookstore will also be open on Saturday, May 20, the only Saturday opening.

If you need to make special accommodations to pick-up your regalia outside of normal business hours, or anyone who missed the deadline to pre-order regalia, please contact the bookstore at sm8199@bncollege.com (preferred) or call 202-662-9676.

Please note that graduates are not required to wear regalia to participate in any event.

If these past couple of years have taught us anything, it is the importance of flexibility and creativity. Graduates are always welcome to attend another section or program ceremony, whether it is in place of their assigned time (switch a section), or in addition to their original ceremony (so guests can hear their graduate’s name read and see them walk across the stage). Please fill out this form to request any changes to your assigned times.

Yes! The Gala will be held on Saturday, May 20, at 8:00 p.m. at the National Portrait Gallery. Each graduate will be able to have up to three guests at the event, but space is limited. Dress is black tie optional. This is a ticketed event and is currently sold out.

We will have student speakers at the Celebration Days events. Information on applying to be a speaker will be sent the week after Spring Break and voting will take place in April.

Georgetown Law alumni are welcome to participate in a graduate’s Celebration Days event. Please fill out this form to request to participate, and we will be in touch with additional details.

*Please note that diplomas will not be presented at Celebration Days events or Commencement, but will be shipped directly to graduates after degrees have been conferred.

We will not present diplomas at the Celebration Days events or Commencement, but diplomas will be shipped directly to graduates after degrees have been conferred. The Registrar’s Office will send prospective Spring 2023 graduates additional information and diploma delivery instructions in April.

Celebration Days events will be livestreamed on our Georgetown Law YouTube Channel. Sunday’s Commencement Ceremony will be broadcast live on the University YouTube Channel.

Yes! However, if your family is traveling to the United States, they will need a visa to enter and stay for the duration of graduation.

If your family members are not eligible for the visa waiver program, then they will need to apply for B-2 tourist visas to enter the United States to attend commencement ceremonies.

If you are a citizen from a visa waiver program country, you can apply for ESTA authorization. Details can be found from the Department of Homeland Security,

The University does not issue commencement invitation letters for visa purposes. The Department of State has indicated that a letter of invitation would not be helpful during the visa application process. A letter written by you may be beneficial. Our colleagues on the Main Campus have created an invitation letter template that you can use to create a letter inviting your family members to visit for commencement. That template is available here.

Children may not sit in the graduate candidate seating, but children are permitted to walk with the parent / graduate candidate as they cross the stage for recognition. You may arrange to meet a partner at the steps at the right of the stage.

While there is no official policy on the size limit and type of bags that guests may bring, we recommend that guests carry small bags for personal items during the ceremonies and to be mindful of other guests’ personal space. There are no secure storage locations for your bags, purses, coats, etc., during the ceremonies.

There will be a photographer present to take a photo as you cross the stage and receive your scroll at Celebration Days. You will be sent a link to your photo several days after the ceremony.

Law Center: Parking is not available on the Law Center campus. If you are using a rideshare, please use 600 New Jersey Ave., N.W. and enter campus at the Eleanor Holmes Norton Green. There are also a number of parking garages within a few blocks of campus.

University’s Hilltop Campus: Parking around the Hilltop Campus is very limited. You may park in the Southwest Quadrangle garage (no charge) or behind Lauinger Library in Lot 9. Please visit the Commencement Travel and Parking website for more details.

Celebration Days will take place rain or shine! If weather is severe we will notify you via email and Hoya Alert (text) with any changes. In case of severe weather on Sunday, the Commencement Ceremony will move indoors to the McDonough Arena. Please note this may impact the number of guests allowed to attend. More details on inclement weather plans will be shared via email.

Georgetown Law alumni are welcome to participate in a graduate’s Celebration Days event. Please fill out this form to request to participate, and we will be in touch with additional details.