Residency Details
Legal Foundations is the first in-person residency and is required prior to starting online live class sessions. This intensive, five-day, 25-hour course provides an introduction to the legal system of the United States and an introduction to the study of law. By the end of this week, you will understand the structure of the US government and legal system and its provisions, laws, statutes, and agencies. You will know the basic structure of the court systems and understand study methods and skills utilized in law school. This week also includes meeting and networking with your new classmates along with the staff, faculty, and alumni of Syracuse Law. You will be officially welcomed into the Syracuse Law community along with the On-Campus J.D. incoming class!
If you are unable to make this residency in person, due to our ABA guidelines, you will be asked to re-apply the following year.
Date/Time
August 9-14, 2026
You will arrive in Syracuse on Sunday evening and depart Friday afternoon. We set up blocks of hotels nearby. Many of your meals and all program events will be covered by your residency fee. Hotel and airfare are not included.
Please do not book a flight home on Friday that will require you to leave prior to 1pm.
Tentative Legal Foundations Schedule
| Dates | Events | Time | Location |
| Sunday, August 9, 2026 Dress code: Casual Attire | Check-In, Welcome Reception & Building/Campus Tours | 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Dineen Hall Levy Atrium |
| Monday, August 10, 2026 Attendance Mandatory Dress code: Business Casual Attire | Breakfast & Late Check-In | 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. | TBA |
| Large Group Session Welcome | 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. | TBA | |
| Lunch Buffet | 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | TBA | |
| Class | 1 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 350/352/340/ 440/360 | |
| Trolleys to Dean’s Dinner | 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Pick up at Dineen Hall (Irving Ave) to Drumlins | |
| Dean’s Dinner | 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Drumlins | |
| Trolleys to Dineen Hall | 9 p.m. | Drop off Dineen Hall (Irving Ave) | |
| Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Attendance Mandatory Dress code: Casual Attire | Breakfast | 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. | TBA |
| Class | 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Rooms 350/352/340/ 440/360 | |
| Full Group Session — Christine Demetros, Law Library | 11:05 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. | TBA | |
| Lunch, Library Tour and Presentation | 12:00 p.m. to 1:25 p.m. | Law Library | |
| Class | 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Rooms 350/352/340/ 440/360 | |
| *Optional — Veteran and Military- Connected Student Welcome | 5:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. | TBA | |
| Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Attendance Mandatory Dress code: Business Attire | Breakfast | 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. | TBA |
| Class | 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Rooms 350/352/340/ 440/360 | |
| Lunch | 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. | TBA | |
| TBA Programming | 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | TBA | |
| Health and Wellness for Law Students | 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | TBA | |
| TBA (Wellness Activity) | 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | TBA | |
| Thursday, August 13, 2026 Attendance Mandatory Dress code: Business Attire | Breakfast/Headshots (Bring your SUID) | 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. A-F: 7:30 a.m. G-L: 7:50 a.m. M-R: 8:10 a.m. S-Z: 8:30 a.m. | Breakfast Location: TBA Headshots in Room 106 (Main floor off of the Atrium) |
| Class | 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. | Rooms 350/352/340/ 440/360 | |
| Lunch | 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | TBA | |
| Class | 1 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. | Rooms 350/352/340/ 440/360 | |
| Convocation | 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom | |
| Dean’s Convocation Reception | 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. | Dineen Hall Levy Atrium | |
| Friday, August 14, 2026 Attendance Mandatory Dress code: Business Casual Attire | Alumni Breakfast Panels (see room posted list in Blackboard) | 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Panels, then Breakfast with Alumni in Atrium |
| Current JDi Student Panel (tentative) | 10:05 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. | TBA | |
| Class | 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. | TBA | |
| Lunch/Program End | 1 p.m. | TBA |
Hotel and Transportation Information Contact Us with Additional Questions
Information for Residencies 2 through 6
Please navigate to the Blackboard JDi Student Center under Residencies/Hotels for more information.