Published: Oct. 22, 2020

Dear students,

We’re already a little more than halfway through the semester and starting to look toward the next one. I want to follow up on the message sent by the provost this morning and provide some information specific to the law school. But before I do I want to acknowledge the highly stressful time we’re living and offer the law school’s continued support in any way we can provide it. Unprecedented wildfires nearby and an extraordinary election, among other things, add to the once-in-a-100 years pandemic we’re living to compound the ordinary challenges of law school life. As I’ve repeatedly said, please continue to care for yourselves and each other, and do not hesitate to reach out for the support resources that the law school and Boulder campus make available to you. And make having some fun a daily goal.

Law School Calendar

Today the provost sent a message on the campus' plans for the spring 2021 semester and announcing changes to the spring calendar. I want to highlight that the law school’s calendar will be different from the campus' in a few important ways. These differences are to provide students an extended reading period before exams, in order to further mitigate the loss of spring break. Please take note that the law school’s spring calendar will be as follows.

  • Law school classes will begin on January 11 and end April 20, three days earlier than previously scheduled
  • Like the rest of campus, we will not have a typical five-day spring break but will have Feb. 17 and March 25 off
  • We’ve added reading days on April 21-23, in addition to those that were previously scheduled: Weekends (Apr 24-25, May 1-2) and Weds (Apr 28, May 5)
  • Final exams will take place April 26-May 6

Spring Semester Classes

Most law school classes in the spring will be taught remotely, but several will be taught in hybrid or fully in-person mode. Information about spring classes is posted on our website here. Click on the PDF version of the schedule to see the mode each course is scheduled in (remote, hybrid, in-person). Our registrar, Shannon Foley, continues to update that schedule regularly, but there should not be any significant changes between now and registration. We’ve asked all faculty members to designate each of their classes as remote or hybrid now, so that you know the format before you bid on the course.

Second- and third-year students will receive an email early next week from the registrar with detailed information about registration and bidding for spring courses. Round One of bidding begins on Monday, November 2—the same time of the year that bidding typically begins. LLM and MSL students will also be receiving information soon on registration for spring classes.

First-year students do not bid on courses but will have an opportunity to select an elective later this semester. The registrar will hold an information session about this in November, and you do not need to do anything now.

Finally, thank you to those who attended Provost Moore’s law school forum this afternoon. You are also invited to join a campus community town hall with the provost and other campus officials tomorrow, Friday, October 23, from 11 a.m. to noon.

I deeply appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep our community safe and well. Take good care.

Your Dean,

S. James Anaya
Dean and University Distinguished Professor