University of San Diego

front of warren hall

School of Law
Law Student Affairs

Sidebar
March 9, 2026— Volume 15, Number 27

Happy Spring Break!

While there are no classes, law school offices remain open for student services. We look forward to seeing you refreshed on Monday, March 16th.

Spring Break

Access the LRC Through the LWR Entrance During Spring Break

The front entrance to the LRC will be closed from Saturday, March 7, through Sunday, March 15, while broken tiles are repaired in the atrium. Law students will continue to have 24/7 access to the LRC through the LWR entrance at the back of the building during this time. Please forgive the inconvenience and noise from the repairs, but remember that fixing the tile is an essential first step for installing vending machines in the LRC atrium!

Please contact the LRC Circulation Desk (lrccirc@sandiego.edu or (619) 250-4542) with any questions about access to the LRC during spring break.LRC Spring Break

Certificate Opportunity 

The Office for Law Student Affairs invites you to participate in the inaugural cohort of the Conscientious Leadership in Law Program. This new certificate initiative features a three-part workshop series designed to bridge the gap between academic excellence and practice-ready leadership. Students who complete all three workshops will receive the Conscientious Leadership in Law Certificate. For more information and to register, click here.  Lunch will be served!Leadership Program

Upcoming Events

Monday, March 9

Stolen Lives: Film and Panel about Transitional Housing and Reentry at USD

Stolen Lives: Film and Panel about Transitional Housing and Reentry at USD
Monday, March 9, 2026 // 7:00 p.m.
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Tuesday, March 10

First-Gen Gathering

First-Gen Gathering
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 // Noon 
Student Life Pavilion, Room 401

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Thursday, March 12

GSG General Body Meeting

GSG General Body Meeting
Thursday, March 12, 2026 // 12:00 p.m.
Mother Rosalie Hill Hall, Room 102 (Executive Classroom)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Saturday, March 14

2026 Special Education Law and Advocacy Series (SELAS)

2026 Special Education Law and Advocacy Series (SELAS)
Saturday, March 14, 2026 // 10:00 a.m.
Virtual

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Monday, March 16

Lexis Session on MPRE/Moral Character

Lexis Session on MPRE/Moral Character
Monday, March 16, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, Room 131

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Women of Color in the Law

Women of Color in the Law
Monday, March 16, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, Room 3C

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

FBA Federal Court Lunch Panel

FBA Federal Court Lunch Panel
Monday, March 16, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Tuesday, March 17

Holi Celebration

Holi Celebration
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 // 11 a.m.
Warren Hall, South Patio

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Conscientious Leadership in the Law Program Spring 2026 Workshops

Conscientious Leadership in the Law Program
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

GSL: Luck of the Brush

GSL: Luck of the Brush
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 // Noon
Student Life Pavilion, Room 401

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Ramadan Iftar

Ramadan Iftar
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 // 6:30 p.m.
Degheri Alumni Center, Room 120

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Wednesday, March 18

Bagel Breakfast

Bagel Breakfast
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 // 8:45 a.m.
Student Life Pavilion, Room 401

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Grad Fest

Grad Fest
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 // 9 a.m.
Hahn University Center, Forums

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Law Financial Aid Tabling Event

Law Financial Aid Tabling Event
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, 2nd Floor Lobby

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Making the Move: Transitioning Between Public Service to Private Practice

Making the Move: Transitioning Between Public Service to Private Practice
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, 3A

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Thursday, March 19

How Equality Wins: A New Vision for an Inclusive America

How Equality Wins: A New Vision for an Inclusive America
Thursday, March 19, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, WH 2A

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Nuts & Bolts of Judicial Clerkships

Nuts & Bolts of Judicial Clerkships
Thursday, March 19, 2026 // Noon
Warren Hall, Grace Courtroom

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Office for Law Student Affairs: Academic Advising Drop-in Hours

Office for Law Student Affairs: Academic Advising Drop-in Hours
Thursday, March 19, 2026 // 4 p.m.
Warren Hall, Law Student Affairs (Rooms 116-130)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Saturday, March 21

Hike & Connect with APALSA

Hike & Connect with APALSA
Saturday, March 21, 2026 // 9 a.m.
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, 12600 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Grounded & Empowered: Pilates with WLC

Grounded & Empowered: Pilates with WLC
Saturday, March 21, 2026 // 10:30 a.m.
Palomar Wellness Center

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Announcements

Announcements from SBA

Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Noon-12:50 p.m. - SBA Budget Committee Meeting - Zoom

Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - Noon-12:50 p.m. - SBA General Meeting - WH 2A

Campus Concerns and Comments Form

Apply Now: Fall 2026 Academic Success Fellows

Applications are now open for Fall 2026 Academic Success Fellow (ASF) positions in the 1L doctrinal classes and 2L Issue Spotting & Legal Analysis. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 18, 2026. Apply here: https://forms.gle/jJM77CUQQaRaxAFq7

Call for Commencement Speech Submissions

Graduating students of the Class of 2026 are invited to submit their speeches for consideration to represent the class as the student commencement speaker.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Deadline: Monday, March 16th, by 5:00 p.m.
  • Eligibility: Submissions are limited to graduating 3Ls/4Ps.
  • Speech Requirements:
    • Must be no longer than 8 minutes when delivered.
    • Should not include any identifying information (e.g., name, student ID) on the document.

Selection Process:

  • Speeches will undergo a blind scoring by a review committee.
  • The top three finalists will be invited to audition their speeches in person on Tuesday, April 14th, during the lunch hour.

We encourage you to share your unique voice and inspire your peers as part of this memorable event.

Summer 2026 Non-Profit and Public Sector Fellowship

The Office of Career and Professional Development is excited to formally launch the Summer 2026 Non-profit and Public Sector Fellowship.  This fellowship is an excellent way for eligible USD Law students to earn compensation while completing volunteer legal internships at non-profit and government agencies during the Summer of 2026.  

If you're interested in applying for this Fellowship, you will first need to secure and accept a legal position for Summer of 2026.  You will then need to complete these three items:

These forms and the recorded presentation are available in HireUSD in the Resource Library under Public Interest Funding for Summer. 

The priority deadline to submit your application is March 20, 2026. 

Please let Andrew know if you have any questions at publicsectorfellowship@sandiego.edu

Perform the National Anthem

Apply to audition to perform the National Anthem at the School of Law 2026 Commencement Ceremony by April 1st. Auditions are open to all USD School of Law students, including vocalists and instrumentalists. In-person auditions will be held April 7–10.

Flyer Posting Policy

This is a reminder that all students are expected to comply with the law school’s Flyer Posting Policy. Flyers may be posted only in designated areas and may not cover or obscure other materials. Flyers that are properly posted in accordance with the policy may only be removed if they are clearly outdated (for example, if the event date or deadline has passed). In all other circumstances, students who have concerns about a posted flyer should contact the Office of Law Student Affairs. 

The law school’s Freedom of Expression Policy and the Flyer Posting Policy are intended to protect our community members’ expressive rights and to ensure a respectful and professional learning environment for all.

Scholarship

Check out a comprehensive list of both USD and external scholarships to help fund your studies HERE.

Below is a partial listing of outside scholarships of interest for USD Law students. For a complete listing, please visit Outside Scholarships on the USD School of Law Financial Aid website.

James E. Beckley Law Student Scholarship $750 - $1,500 - Available to JD or LLM students currently enrolled. Selected writtings will be publichsed in the Public Investors Advocate Bar Association. Deadline - March 27, 2026.

2026 Lem Garcia Law Scholarship $1,000 - Available to JD or LLM students currently enrolled and continuing enrollment into 2026-27. Deadline - June 25, 2026.

Nix Patterson Collegiate Scholarship $5,000 - Available to US citizens or permanent residents who are accepted or enrolled in law school with a 3.5 GPA or higher, and demonstrate community involvement. Deadline - July 31, 2026.

Law Fin Aid

Graduate Student Life

Are you interested in connecting with other grad students across USD? Grad Life offers a wide variety of programming for grad and law students. See the events calendar and sign up for the newsletter! Check out the Grad and Law Student Handbook as well!

Student Writing Competitions

Looking for a way to get published? Maybe earn some extra cash? Then consider entering a writing competition. Visit Writing Competitions webpage for current opportunities. Deadlines vary and new competitions are posted periodically. 

CalFresh Program

We recognize the importance of the CalFresh Program available to eligible, enrolled students and strongly encourage all to apply. CalFresh provides food resources in the form of an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. This program helps many graduate and professional students purchase groceries 12 months a year. Visit CalFresh at https://students.getcalfresh.org/ to start your application. If you have questions about eligibility or need assistance with your application, please contact a CalFresh representative. Approval is determined by CalFresh and the State of California. Please contact the USD School of Law Financial Aid Office  at lawaid@sandiego.com to request a CalFresh letter to submit with your application as supporting documentation. It is also recommended to include a copy of the 25-26 FAFSA Submission Summary (The FAFSA Submission Summary summarizes the information you reported on your FAFSA form and includes your estimated eligibility for federal funding, and your Student Aid Index (SAI) received by email from the Department of Education - Federal Student Aid after submitting the FAFSA) along with the CalFresh application, and USD supporting letter.    

USD Food Pantry and Torero Closet

The USD Food Pantry in Hahn University Center (UC) 116 includes: food, school supplies, hygiene supplies, laundry detergent, etc. Additionally, we have a refrigerator and freezer to offer students fresh produce, dairy, and additional protein options.

The Torero Closet’s mission is to provide support and resources to members of the USD community who are low income students who express need, identify as former foster youth, homeless or at risk for homelessness, and those students who were emancipated minors or in legal guardianships.  It is located at 5330 Linda Vista Road, just south of the West Parking Lot

Food Pantry

TimelyCare

TimelyCare provides students with 24/7 access to campus health and counseling resources—anytime, anywhere.

Timely Care

Sidebar is a weekly enewsletter prepared by the Office for Law Student Affairs and is emailed to all USD law students every Monday morning. It contains important deadlines, announcements and upcoming events for the following two weeks. Past issues of sidebar can be found online.

Submit your listing request online by noon on the Thursday before you wish the listing to run. Listing requests may be edited. Announcements will not be posted for more than two weeks.

Law Student Affairs

Phone
(619) 260-4651
Email
lawstudentaffairs@sandiego.edu
Meet with an Advisor
LSA & ASBP
Instagram
@usdlawstudentaffairs

University of San Diego

School of Law
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492