2025 Summer Newsletter 2

Hi incoming 1Ls! 

We hope your summer is off to a great start. 

If you haven't already, please claim your MySCU account. All further SCU Law correspondence, including important information about orientation, will only be sent to your SCU email accounts. If you are having trouble accessing your account, please do not hesitate to reach out to lawadmissions@scu.edu for support.

You should have already completed your Workday on-boarding tasks. If you haven't already, it is critical that you complete these tasks as soon as possible to avoid delays with your enrollment and registration for classes. For help with on-boarding tasks, you can find step-by-step instructions or contact lawadmissions@scu.edu. 

The Financial Aid Office wants to remind you of some key dates to be aware of as we approach the start of classes. 

• JULY 15th: Financial Clearance Date
  • All incoming 1L students have a mandatory financial clearance deadline of July 15th. By July 15th, all incoming 1Ls must pay their fall tuition and fees, or have accepted financial aid to cover the cost of tuition. The July 15th financial clearance deadline is critical to meet to ensure that you are enrolled in classes and assigned to your section.
• THE WEEK OF AUGUST 25th: Federal Student Loan Refunds are Processed
  • If you have accepted federal loans in an amount that exceeds the cost of tuition, fees, and on-campus housing, the Bursar's Office will begin directly depositing refunds into student bank accounts to cover educational expenses such as housing, food, books, transportation, and personal expenses. 

Important Information About Your Loan Processing

If you are completing a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for the first time, please be aware that it may take some time for the system to update. During this period, Workday will display the status as “In Progress” until your loan has been fully linked. This processing delay will not impact your financial clearance or payment deadlines. To confirm completion, you can log into your Federal Student Aid (FSA) account and check the “Documents” section for both your Unsubsidized Loan and Graduate PLUS Loan MPNs.

Please note that Graduate PLUS Loans cannot be accepted through Workday. To apply, you must visit the Federal Student Aid website. We’ve provided step-by-step instructions in previous emails to guide you through the application process. Before applying for a Graduate PLUS Loan, be sure to accept your federal Unsubsidized Loan in Workday.

Check out this video for more answers to some of your FAQs!

We're excited to share that the California Lawyers Foundation has launched a new scholarship opportunity, awarding a total of $80,000 to support students pursuing careers in law. 

The Justice Pathways Scholarship provides $5,000 in financial assistance to outstanding first and second-year law students who demonstrate academic promise, a commitment to public service or social justice, and financial need. 

Applications are open now through August 1, 2025.

To find out more and apply, please visit the California Lawyers Foundation website. If you have any questions, please contact lawfinancialaid@scu.edu. 

On behalf of Law Student Services, welcome to Santa Clara Law! 

We are ready to make you a part of our vibrant community! Before classes kick off, it is time to get to know the people, places, and resources that will help you thrive as a student here. That's where your 2025 Orientation comes in. Yes, it's mandatory. Yes, it's awesome.  

Orientation isn't just another campus event; it's your pass to everything Santa Clara has to offer. You will meet your future friends and professors, and get the inside scoop on Student Life, from campus tours to interactive sessions and socials. Arrive on time, stay for the full schedule, and bring your questions!

Full-time students are required to attend the mandatory Orientation events on Tuesday (8/12) - Friday (8/14). Flex students are required to attend their mandatory Orientation on Sunday (8/17), but are welcome to join any of the programming events offered to all full-time students, Tuesday - Friday. 

Below you’ll find a brief overview of the Orientation schedule for full-time students: 

*** Tech Edge, Public Interest JD, and International and Global Student Orientation information will come directly from program directors for relevant parties. To enroll in the First Gen Orientation, please see the information below from the Office of Academic and Bar Success. 

Your path to becoming a legal professional begins here, and we can’t wait to welcome you to Clara-dise! 🌴☀️

The Student Services Office is proud to host Orientation and serve as your primary point of support throughout law school. Law school is intense, but you are never in it alone. The Student Services Office is your central resource for navigating law school with purpose and confidence. From Orientation onward, we’re here to support your academic progress, connect you with key resources, and help you stay focused on your long-term goals in the legal profession.

We work closely with students to foster meaningful engagement beyond the classroom through student organizations, leadership development, and events that build community and sharpen professional skills.

Whether you're exploring career paths or getting involved in campus life, we help you make the most of every step of the way.

You can turn to us for help with:

• Academic or personal concerns 
• Health and wellness
• Student orgs and leadership opportunities 
• Letters of good standing or student status
• Class rank and enrollment verifications
• Orientation support
• Commencement and graduation details 
• Leave of absence or withdrawal requests 

Have questions or need guidance? Email lawstudentservices@scu.edu at any time! We’re here to support you, every step of the way.

The Office of Academic & Bar Success (OABS) works with students throughout their time at Santa Clara Law to help them transition to law school, develop effective learning and exam-taking strategies, and prepare for the Bar Exam. All students will have the opportunity during orientation to learn more about what resources and support their office is able to provide to 1Ls.

In addition to these resources, OABS is putting together resources and orientation events geared towards assisting first-generation students. At Santa Clara Law, students are classified as first-generation if neither parent nor guardian completed a baccalaureate degree. If you are a first-generation student interested in participating in these events, please contact svega@scu.edu for more details and to RSVP. 

If you are no longer interested in attending Santa Clara Law as part of the incoming fall 2025 class, we kindly ask that you notify us by email as soon as possible. This allows us to offer your seat to another deserving student on our waitlist.

We are here to help! You are welcome to contact us at lawadmissions@scu.edu, lawfinancialaid@scu.edu, or by giving us a call at (408) 554-5048. You are also welcome to schedule an appointment with a member of our admissions or financial aid team here! 

We look forward to welcoming you to campus! 

Sincerely,

The Santa Clara Law Admissions and Financial Aid Team