“A great accomplishment shouldn’t be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.” 

Dean Smith

Erica Smith, J.D., LL.M. (she/her/hers)
Associate Dean for Student Services
University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

On Friday, May 15, please arrive at Westminster Hall between 10:00 am and 10:30 am. You will be lined up alphabetically by degree program. During the lining up process, you will also dress in your academic regalia (gown, tassel, and tam). Staff will be on hand to help you if you need help. Don’t put your hood on, instead, drape it over your left arm for the procession. Later, you will carry your hood on stage to be hooded by a faculty member. We will be walking to the Hippodrome Theatre from Westminster Hall.  

Dean Edwards will direct graduates, row by row, to the left side of the stage (as you face the stage). Graduates will carry their own hood draped over their left arm. 

Before stepping on stage, I will help you with your hood and make sure you are camera ready when you walk onto the stage. I will also remind you to whisper your name to Dean McClain who will announce your name as you are hooded.  Please be sure you have recorded the proper pronunciation of your name in the Graduation 2026 -- JD, LLM, MSL Blackboard Course.

Please be advised that you will not be able to bring anything onstage other than your hood which will be draped across your arm. Guests, including children and babies, will not be permitted on the stage at any time, no exceptions. 

Once on stage, you should whisper your name to Dean McClain then walk towards the faculty members standing nearby.  You will give a faculty member your hood and stand in front of them facing the audience. A faculty member will place the hood over your head.  Photographs will be taken at this time. Example of the hooding process.

Next, you will walk toward the other end of the stage. You will stop to shake hands with Dean Laurent. You will see another photographer on the other side of the stage who will take your photograph before you exit the stage. After that photograph, exit the stage at the opposite end of where you entered and return to your seat. 

Before the conclusion of the ceremony, a photographer will take a group photo of the class. At the end of the Hooding Ceremony, faculty will leave the stage. Graduates will follow them out of the theater, followed by guests. We expect that the Hooding Ceremony will last an hour and a half.

Graduates typically wear dressy or business/professional attire under their academic regalia and at other graduation events such as recognition ceremonies and receptions. Wear comfortable shoes, but no flip-flops or sneakers. 

You will receive an email after graduation with the Graduation photos, the program, video recording of the Hooding Ceremony and more. 

Latin Honors (Summa and Magna Cum Laude) and Order of the Coif will be announced at the Law School’s Awards Ceremony and included in the Law School’s Hooding Ceremony program. Latin Honors (Cum Laude) will not be announced at the Law School’s Awards Ceremony, it will only be included in the Law School’s Hooding Ceremony program.

Please note that the Law School’s Awards Ceremony is by invitation only and will take place the same day as the Maryland Carey Law Graduation Reception. 

Please reach email the Office of Student Services or stop by Suite 280 if you have any questions regarding the Hooding Ceremony or other graduation events. 

Spring 2026 grades are due from faculty for May 2026 graduates on Friday, May 8. The Office of Registration and Enrollment (ORE) enters grades in the order they are received. Once grades are received from faculty and entered by ORE, students can access their grades via My UMLaw.

You must login in using your UMID credentials. Once logged in, click on "Course Evaluations & Grades." You will be required to submit a course evaluation for each course you participated in during the semester (seen only by each faculty member and law school academic administrators). Thereafter, you will have the option to submit an SBA evaluation (seen only by other students). Once grades have been posted to the system and you have submitted your course evaluations, you will be able to see your grades and each classes' grade distribution. 

Final class ranks will not be available until the week following the Hooding Ceremony.  

Students can request an official transcript through Parchment. Students can view or print their unofficial transcript on SURFS. The Office of Registration and Enrollment can also print unofficial transcripts with a Student Request Form submission.