Commencement Date and Time
Commencement is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, and will not exceed two (2) hours. Graduates of all McGeorge School of Law programs with graduation dates spanning from December 2025 through Summer 2026 are invited to participate in the ceremony. Plan to arrive at the Memorial Auditorium no later than 1:15 p.m. to assemble for the academic processional. There is no secure storage space at the venue, so plan to leave any items you would not like to carry with you across the stage in the trunk of your car or with your guests. The main auditorium doors open for guests at 12:30 p.m. The Memorial Auditorium requires tickets for guest entry for tracking purposes only. Tickets are unlimited, free of charge, and will be available at a kiosk immediately outside the building.
Commencement Keynote
Harold Hongju Koh, the Sterling Professor of International Law at Yale Law School, will deliver the 2026 commencement keynote address. See this link to learn more about Professor Koh.
Graduate Speakers
Graduate speakers will represent the Class of 2026 at Commencement - one to represent the JD program and one to represent the Graduate programs (LLM, MSL, JSD, MPP and MPA). Every graduate has an opportunity to nominate one (1) speaker from their class. Note: Though voting is anonymous, practices are in place to ensure multiple votes from the same source are identified. Those votes will be deemed invalid and discarded.
After nominations close, finalists will be determined as follows: four (4) from the JD class (the two individuals with the most nominations in the Full-Time Division and the two individuals with the most nominations in the Part-Time Division) and four (4) from the Graduate Programs (the individual with the most nominations from each of the programs - LLM, MSL, JSD, and MPX). Finalists will be alerted of their status by the Speaker Selection Committee immediately after the nomination time frame closes and, if they opt in, will be provided instructions on how to proceed through the selection process. UPDATE AS OF 4/01/26: Voting is closed.
Caps, Gowns, Class Rings & Announcements
Regalia rentals are provided to you by McGeorge at no cost. Please visit the University's online regalia store to place your order today! After choosing "McGeorge School of Law", entering your program information, and selecting "Pick Up With Department", the complimentary regalia rental package may be found under the "Cap & Gown" header and "Graduation Regalia". Your order must be placed by March 30 at 8:59 PT to ensure regalia is received in time. The vendor will not be able to accept late orders. UPDATE AS OF 4/17/26 : The onsite regalia store is closed.
Regalia will be shipped directly to the school and distributed by the McGeorge Career Services Office beginning Monday, May 11. Your complete regalia order is sponsored and should be free of any charges. If charges appear, it is due to additional and optional items added to your cart. Orders placed with the "Home Ship" option will not be managed by the school. Note: other items available for purchase through this online store (i.e. decorative stoles) are not a part of your required regalia set as they do not signify any academic merit. Other Commencement items like class rings, announcements, diploma frames, etc., are also available for purchase. See the site for details.
Know that while rental gowns will be laundered, you are encouraged to have them pressed before Commencement. You will receive your hood at the ceremony immediately before crossing the stage. Know that your cap and tassel are yours to keep as a present from your SBA and the McGeorge Alumni Office. All other items are to be returned to the Career Services Office the week after Commencement to avoid being charged by the regalia vendor.
Onsite Ceremony Photographers
The school has arranged for a graduation photography company to cover the Commencement ceremony. Coverage will include shots of each graduate crossing the stage, individual graduate headshots after crossing the stage, and various event candid photos. Digital proofs will be emailed out to each graduate within two weeks post-ceremony. Photos will be available for purchase directly through the company's website.
Livestream
Commencement will be live streamed and recorded. Graduates may send the livestream link to remotely located family and friends in advance of the ceremony. This livestream address is https://youtube.com/live/xvyzLlmixNs?feature=share. The recording of the stream will be available online post ceremony.
Diplomas
Diplomas will not be in the diploma portfolio handed to you as you cross the stage during the ceremony. Your diploma will be sent directly to your mailing address on file with the Office of the Registrar.
SBA Professors and Staff Member of the Year
The Class of 2026 will have the opportunity to vote for Professors of the Year and Staff Member of the Year. Look forward to more information on this to come in a separate message from your SBA!
Post-Ceremony Reception on Campus
Immediately following Commencement, a reception will be held on campus for you and your guests. The campus will be open for touring.
Save The Dates!
Tuesday, May 19 — International Programs Potluck
Tuesday, May 26 — Graduate Mixer for all McGeorge Programs
Wednesday, May 27 — Order of the Coif (Top 10% of Class) Luncheon
Thursday, May 28 — Unity Celebration
Saturday, May 30 — Commencement
Questions?
Contact the McGeorge Alumni Office at mcgeorgealumni@pacific.edu.
