Skip to Content

Due to inclement weather, the University of South Carolina’s Columbia campus will open under a delayed start at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 26. All classes beginning before 11 a.m. on Monday are canceled. For more information: sc.edu/weather

Joseph F. Rice School of Law

  • Students learning

Academic Calendar

Updated December 23, 2025

Juris Doctorate Program 

Fall 2026

Event Date
First-Year Orientation TBD
First Day of Class (Monday Class Schedule) Monday, August 17
Last Day of Drop-Add Monday, August 24
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 7
Fall Break (no classes) Thursday-Sunday, October 15-16
Election Day (No Classes) Tuesday, November 3
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Friday, November 20
Reading Day Monday, November 23
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Tuesday–Sunday, November 24-29
Final Examinations Monday–Friday, November 30 - December 11
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 12
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 14
University Commencement Monday, December 14
Winter Session #1 Monday-Friday December 14-18

Spring 2027

Event Date
Winter Session #2 Monday-Friday January 4-8
First Day of Regular Class Schedule Monday, January 11
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 18
Last Day of Drop-Add  Tuesday, January 19
Spring Break (No Classes) Sunday-Sunday, March 7-14
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Monday, April 19
Reading Day  Tuesday, April 20
Final Examinations  Wednesday-Tuesday, April 21 - May 4
Make-up Exam Day Wednesday, May 5
Law School Hooding and Commencement Saturday, May 8

May and Summer 2027

Event Date
May Term Begins Monday, May 10
May Term (Including London) Ends Friday, May 227
Memorial Day (No Classes) Monday, May 31
First Day of Summer Term  Tuesday, June 1
Last Day of Drop-Add  See self Service Carolina for individual courses
Independence Day (No Classes) Monday, July 5
Last Day of Classes Thursday, July 15
Reading Day Friday, July 16
Final Examinations Monday-Thursday, July 19-22
Fall 2025
Event Date
First-Year Orientation TBD
First Day of Class (Monday Class Schedule) Wednesday, August 20
Last Day of Drop-Add Wednesday, August 27
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 1
Fall Break (no classes) Thursday - Sunday, October 9-12
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Friday, November 21
Reading Day Monday, November 24
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Tuesday–Sunday, November 25 - 30
Final Examinations Monday–Friday, December 1-12
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 13
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 15
University Commencement Monday, December 15
Winter Session #1 Monday-Friday December 15-19
Spring 2026
Event Date
Winter Session #2 Monday-Friday January 5-9
First Day of Regular Class Schedule Monday, January 12
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 19
Last Day of Drop-Add  Tuesday, January 20
Spring Break (No Classes) Saturday-Sunday, March 7-15
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Monday, April 20
Reading Day  Tuesday, April 21
Final Examinations  Wednesday-Tuesday, April 22 - May 5
Make-up Exam Day Wednesday, May 6
Law School Hooding and Commencement Saturday, May 9
May and Summer 2026
Event Date
London Maymester Begins Sunday, May 10
May Term Begins Monday, May 11
Memorial Day (No Classes) Monday, May 25
May Term (Including London) Ends Friday, May 29
First Day of Summer Term  Monday, June 1
Last Day of Drop-Add  See self Service Carolina for individual courses
Independence Day (No Classes) Friday, July 3
Last Day of Classes TBD
Final Examinations TBD
Fall 2024
Event Date
First-Year Orientation Tuesday-Friday, August 13-16
First Day of Class (Monday Class Schedule) Tuesday, August 20
Second Day of Class (Tuesday Class Schedule) Wednesday, August 21
Last Day of Drop-Add Wednesday, August 28
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 2
Fall Break (no classes) Thursday - Sunday, October 17-20
Election Day (No Classes) Tuesday, November 5
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Friday, November 22
Reading Day Monday, November 25
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Tuesday–Sunday, November 25 - December 1
Final Examinations Monday–Friday, December 2-13
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 14
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 16
University Commencement Monday, December 16
Winter Session #1 Monday-Friday December 16-20
Spring 2025
Event Date
Winter Session #2 Monday-Friday January 6-10
First Day of Regular Class Schedule Monday, January 13
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 20
Last Day of Drop-Add  Tuesday, January 21
Spring Break (No Classes) Saturday-Sunday, March 8-16
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Monday, April 21
Reading Day  Tuesday, April 22
Final Examinations  Wednesday-Tuesday, April 23 - May 6
Make-up Exam Day Wednesday, May 7
Law School Hooding and Commencement Saturday, May 10, 8:30 am
 May and Summer 2025 
Event Date
London Maymester Begins Sunday, May 11
May Term Begins Monday, May 12
Memorial Day (No Classes) Monday, May 26
May Term (Including London) Ends Friday, May 30
First Day of Summer Term  Monday, June 2
Last Day of Drop-Add  See self Service Carolina for individual courses
Independence Day (No Classes) Friday, July 4
Last Day of Classes See Summer Schedule
Final Examinations See Summer Schedule

 

 Fall 2023
Event Date
First-Year Orientation Wednesday - Friday, August 9-11 & Monday, August 14
First Day of Class (Monday Class Schedule) Wednesday, August 16
Last Day of Drop-Add Wednesday, August 23
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 4
Fall Break (no classes) Thursday - Sunday, October 19-22
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Friday, November 17
Make-up Day for Classes Monday, November 20
Reading Day Tuesday, November 21
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Wednesday–Sunday, November 22-26
Final Examinations Monday–Friday, November 27 - December 8
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 9
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 11
University Commencement Monday, December 18
Spring 2024
Event Date
First Day of Class  Monday, January 8
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 15
Last Day of Drop-Add  Tuesday, January 16
Spring Break (No Classes) Saturday-Sunday, March 2-10
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Monday, April 15
Reading Day  Tuesday, April 16
Final Examinations  Wednesday-Tuesday, April 17-30
Make-up Exam Day Wednesday, May 1
Law School Hooding and Commencement Friday, May 3
May and Summer Terms 2024
Event Date
London Maymester Begins Sunday, May 5
May Term Begins Monday, May 6
May Term (Including London) Ends Thursday, May 23
Memorial Day (No Classes) Monday, May 27
First Day of Summer Term  Tuesday, May 28
Last Day of Drop-Add  See Summer Calendar
Independence Day (No Classes) Thursday, July 4
Last Day of Classes See Summer Calendar
Final Examinations See Summer Calendar
Fall Term 2022
Event Date
First-Year Orientation Wednesday - Friday, August 10-12 & Monday, August 15
First Day of Class (Tuesday classes meet) Wednesday, August 17
Last Day of Drop-Add Wednesday, August 24
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 5
Fall Break (no classes) Thursday - Sunday, October 13-16
Election Day (no classes) Tuesday, November 8
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Monday, November 21
Make-up Day for Classes Tuesday, November 22
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Wednesday–Sunday, November 23-27
Reading Day Monday, November 28
Final Examinations Tuesday–Friday, November 29 - December 9
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 10
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 12
University Commencement Monday, December 12
 
Spring Term 2023
Event Date
First Day of Class (Monday Classes meet) Wednesday, January 4
Last Day of Drop-Add  Wednesday, January 11
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 16
Spring Break (No Classes) Saturday-Sunday, March 4-12
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Wednesday, April 12
Make-up Day for Classes  Thursday, April 13
Reading Day  Friday, April 14
Final Examinations  Monday–Friday, April17-28
Make-up Exam Day Monday, May 1
Law School Hooding and Commencement  Friday, May 5
May and Summer Terms 2023
Event Date
London Maymester Begins Sunday, May 7
May Term Begins Monday, May 8
May Term Ends Thursday, May 25
Memorial Day (No Classes) Monday, May 29
First Day of Summer Term  Tuesday, May 30
Last Day of Drop-Add  TBD
Independence Day (No Classes) Tuesday, July 4
Last Day of Classes TBD
Final Examinations TBD
Fall Term 2021
Event Date
First-Year Orientation Wednesday–Friday, August 11–13;
Monday, August 16
First Day of Class (Monday classes meet) Wednesday, August 18
Last Day of Drop-Add Wednesday, August 25
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 6
Fall Break (no classes) Thursday - Friday, October 7-8
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Friday, November 19
Make-up Day for Classes Monday, November 22
Reading Day Tuesday, November 23
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Wednesday–Sunday, November 24-28
Final Examinations Monday–Friday, November 29 - December 10
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 11
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 13
University Commencement Monday, December 13
Spring Term 2022 
Event Date
First Day of Class (Monday Classes meet) Wednesday, January 5
Last Day of Drop-Add  Wednesday, January 12
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 17
Spring Break (No Classes) Saturday-Sunday, March 5-13
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Wednesday, April 13
Make-up Day for Classes  Thursday, April 14
Reading Day  Friday, April 15
Final Examinations  Monday–Friday, April 18-29
Make-up Exam Day Monday, May 2
Law School Hooding and Commencement  Friday, May 6
 
May and Summer Terms 2022 
Event Date
London Maymester Begins Sunday, May 8
May Term Begins Monday, May 9
May Term Ends Thursday, May 26
Memorial Day (No Classes) Monday, May 30
First Day of Summer Term  Tuesday, May 31
Last Day of Drop-Add  Friday, June 3
Independence Day (No Classes) Monday, July 4
Last Day of Classes Friday, July 15
Final Examinations Tuesday-Friday, July 19-22
Fall Term 2020
Event Date
First-Year Orientation Monday-Wednesday, August 17–19
First Day of Class (Monday classes meet) Thursday, August 20
Second Day of Class (Tuesday classes meet) Friday, August 21
Last Day of Drop-Add Friday, August 28
Labor Day Holiday (No classes) Monday, September 7
Election Day (No classes) Tuesday, November 3
Last day for Regular Class Schedule Friday, November 20
Make-up Day for Classes Monday, November 23
Reading Day Tuesday, November 24
Thanksgiving Recess (No classes) Wednesday–Sunday, November 25–29
Final Examinations Monday–Friday, November 30 - December 11
Law School Hooding Saturday, December 12
Make-up Exam Day Monday, December 14
University Commencement Monday, December 14
Spring Term 2021
Event Date
First Day of Class  Thursday, January 7
Last Day of Drop-Add  Wednesday, January 13
Martin Luther King, Jr., Holiday (No classes)  Monday, January 18
Wellness Holiday (No classes) Thursday, February 4
Wellness Holiday (No Classes) Tuesday, February 23
Wellness Holiday (No Classes) Friday, March 12
Wellness Holiday (No Classes) Wednesday, March 31
Last Day for Regular Class Schedule  Wednesday, April 14
Make-up Day for Classes  Thursday, April 15
Reading Day  Friday, April 16 
Final Examinations  Monday–Friday, April 19-30
Make-up Exam Day Monday, May 3
Law School Hooding and Commencement  Friday, May 7
Summer 2021
   
Maymester Begins Monday, May 10
Last day for Maymester Classes Thursday, May 27
Summer Classes begin Tuesday June 1
Last day to drop/add summer courses Friday, June 4
July 4 Holiday (No Classes) Monday, July 5
Last Day for Summer Courses Friday, July 16
Reading Day  Monday, July 19
Summer Exams begin Tuesday, July 20
Summer Exams End Monday, July 26

Graduate Programs 

Fall 2025
   
First Day of Course I Monday, August 18
Last Day of Course I Sunday, October 12
First Day of Course II Monday, October 13
Last day of Course II Sunday, December 7
Spring 2026
   
First Day of Course I Monday, January 12
Last Day of Course I Sunday, March 8
First Day of Course II Monday, March 9
Last day of Course II Sunday, April 26
Fall 2024
   
First Day of Course I Monday, August 26
Last Day of Course I Sunday, October 20
First Day of Course II Monday, October 21
Last day of Course II Sunday, December 15
Spring 2025
   
First Day of Course I Sunday, January 7
Last Day of Course I Sunday, February 25
First Day of Course II Monday, March 11
Last day of Course II Sunday, April 28
Summer 2025
   
First Day of Course I Monday, May 12
Last Day of Course I Sunday, July 6
First Day of Course II Monday, June 8
Last day of Course II Sunday, August 3
Fall 2023
   
First Day of Course I Sunday, August 20
Last Day of Course I Sunday, October 15
First Day of Course II Monday, October 23
Last day of Course II Monday, December 18
Spring 2024
   
First Day of Course I Sunday, January 7
Last Day of Course I Sunday, February 25
First Day of Course II Monday, March 11
Last day of Course II Sunday, April 28
Summer 2024
   
First Day of Course I Monday, May 6
Last Day of Course I Sunday, June 16
First Day of Course II Monday, June 24
Last day of Course II Sunday, August 4

 

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

©