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W&L Law to Hold Online Conferral of Degrees Ceremony Friday, May 8 Washington and Lee University School of Law will hold an online event at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8 to confer law degrees on the 154 graduates of the Law Class of 2020.

Law-school-w-flags-800x533 W&L Law to Hold Online Conferral of Degrees Ceremony Friday, May 8Law School

Washington and Lee University School of Law will hold an online event at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2020 to confer law degrees on the 154 graduates of the Law Class of 2020.

The online event is set for the same day and time as the original date for the School’s Commencement ceremony, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. University officials have announced that the in-person, traditional Commencement exercises for the Class of 2020 will take place on Saturday, April 3, 2021.

W&L Law Dean Brant Hellwig said holding this virtual event is an important and necessary step in recognizing the accomplishments and successful completion of degrees for the members of the Law Class of 2020.

“Even though we are forced to defer gathering in person for our traditional Commencement ceremony, it is important to convene as best we can to celebrate the Class of 2020 and the completion of their legal studies, and to actually confer their J.D. degrees,” said Hellwig. “The event promises to offer some more personal, informal elements, which should make it both meaningful and enjoyable.  We all are craving a measure of connection these days, and the conferral of degrees event will provide just that.”

Third-year students have been heavily involved in planning the schedule of events, which will include remarks from President Will Dudley and Dean Brant Hellwig, video messages from faculty, and a montage of candid photos gathered by members of the class. Emily Kendall and Joe Barton, 3L class officers, will provide remarks, as will SBA president Roy Abernathy.

“The online conferral is just one way the W&L community demonstrates its commitment to the Class of 2020,” said 3L Class President Joe Barton. “The foremost value of W&L is our sense of community, and this ceremony, although not what we expected, is the best way to bring our community together to honor the graduates. I am excited that we will be able to gather – it marks such a special occasion knowing that we are all watching the conferral at the same time. Congratulations Class of 2020!”

The Conferral of Degrees event can be viewed here: http://go.wlu.edu/law-conferral.

Download Program PDF.