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Student Handbook

Graduation Procedures

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Prospective Graduates

Candidates for graduation should submit a Graduation Information form online here. Students must not submit this form prior to the beginning of their last semester of law school. Students are responsible for knowing about all JD requirements at the University of Denver College of Law and for successfully completing those requirements prior to the date of graduation.

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Commencement Ceremonies

The College of Law holds commencement ceremonies in May; attendance is optional. Students graduating in August are welcome to participate in the following May ceremonies. JD candidates may not walk in any commencement ceremony before they have completed all requirements for graduation. Students who participate in commencement exercises are required to rent and wear the appropriate regalia available from the vendor.

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Honors, Prizes, and Awards

The College of Law presents numerous honors, prizes, and awards to students for outstanding accomplishments.

  • Faculty Prize
    Awarded to graduates of the Day and Evening Divisions who took law courses exclusively at the University of Denver College of Law and earned the highest cumulative grade point averages during their academic careers.
  • Order of St. Ives
    The Order of St. Ives is an honorary society which recognizes students in the top 10% of their class for outstanding scholastic achievement. Please note that The Order of St. Ives, an honorary society which recognizes students approximately in the top 10% of their class for outstanding scholastic achievement, is not an official class ranking.
  • Melanie Hardaway Memorial Award
    This award is given to the graduating student in the top 5% of the class that has made the greatest overall contributions to the law school.
  • Scholastic Excellence Awards
    These awards are given in each law school course to the student receiving the highest grade each semester.
  • Student Leadership Awards
    These awards are presented to students who have made significant contributions to the College of Law and the community.
  • The Harry Clayton Davis Award
    This award is given annually to a graduating law school student who has made the greatest progress during his/her course of law study.
  • Irving P. Andrews Award
    This award is presented to a graduating black law student by the Sam Cary Bar Association of Colorado.
  • The Nathan Burkan Prize
    Two awards are presented to law students who prepare the best papers on copyright law.
  • Arnold P. Chutkow Award
    The recipient of this award is selected on the basis of academic achievement.
  • Corporate Internship Award
    These awards are presented to two students from the internship program based upon the following criteria: best performance on papers submitted to the program; quality of class participation; and outstanding performance at the respective companies where the students interned.
  • The Colorado Bar Association Mineral Law Writing Award
    Presented for scholarly research in the fields of oil and gas law and mining law.
  • Dufford & Brown Legal Writing Award
    This cash award is given to two students for outstanding written works in the first year Lawyering Process class. One student is selected from the day and one from the evening division.
  • Colorado Supreme Court Judicial Fellows Award
    This award is given to one or more second or third year students who serve for an academic year as interns with the Colorado Supreme Court or the Court of Appeals, and in the law firm of Hall and Evans. Judicial interns are selected by a committee that reviews academic and professional accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and personal statements addressing accomplishments in over-coming economic, social race or ethnic challenges.
  • Howard Jenkins, Jr. Award in Labor Law
    Presented to the graduating student receiving the highest grade in Labor Law.
  • Krendl Business Planning Award
    This cash award is given to a student for outstanding written work in the area of Business Planning.
  • John Phillip Linn Employment Law Award
    This award is given to a student whose interest, activities, and scholarship manifest an ability to make an outstanding contribution in the area of Labor Relations and Employment Law.
  • Outstanding Student Lawyer Award
    This award is given to a student who demonstrates initiative in handling cases; is respectful to clients and honors their wishes; appreciates the importance of collaborating with others; integrates the law school experience with clinical practice; performs beyond average expectations; and is committed to values other than merely acquiring good grades.
  • National Association of Women Lawyers
    An outstanding female law school graduate from each of the American Bar Association’s approved schools is recognized for this award.
  • The International Natural Resources and Environmental Law Graduate Studies Program, LLM/MRLS Award
    This award is presented to a graduating student for outstanding academic achievement and mastery of the subject.
  • The Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute’s Annual Prize
    This prize is sponsored by Isaacson, Rosenbaum P.C. and West Group for law students who have achieved the highest grades in Land Use Planning courses.
  • The Leonard v. B. Sutton Award
    This cash award is presented for the best paper in international law, with the opportunity to attend the Hague Academy of International Law in the summer.
  • Roberta Steinhardt Ehrlich Mediation Award
    This award is given to the student who has excelled in the Mediation Clinic at the College of Law by bringing mediation to amiable resolutions for both parties, getting paperwork in on time, and integrating the law school experience with clinical practice.
  • Environmental Law Clinical Partnership Award
  • Criminal Representation Clinic Award
  • Civil Litigation Clinic Award
  • Tax Clinic Award
  • Civil Rights and Disability Law Award

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