Student Services

The Office of Student Affairs is the first place for students to visit for answers, help, suggestions and support. The office advocates for students, supports student organizations, assists students with personal matters, hosts community and wellness events, facilitates residency changes and provides disability accommodations. Staff members pride themselves on having an open-door policy and can be a sounding board for any student issue, big or small. The staff also acts as a liaison among students, faculty and staff to maximize the UConn Law student experience, and works with other departments and faculty to support students as they progress through law school.

Wellness Resources for Current Students

Academic Success

Law school attracts students from different educational backgrounds and professional experiences, diversity that provides unique perspectives and a variety of student contributions in the classroom. No matter a student's background or undergraduate institution, however, law school is certain to be a new and challenging experience. The UConn School of Law is invested in ensuring our students succeed, whether they adjust easily and just need a few pointers along the way or they want ongoing specialized support throughout their time at UConn Law. Our comprehensive Academic Success Program allows our students to select from a menu of services, each designed to provide support in varying areas of their legal studies.

Academic Advising

Students interested in obtaining an academic advisor work with the Student Affairs Office and are matched with a member of the distinguished faculty. When possible, matches capitalize on the student’s interest and the faculty member’s expertise and background. These unique relationships thrive within our law school community and often lead to ongoing curriculum mentoring and professionalism guidance. For more information, or to be paired with an individual advisor, please contact Associate Dean Paul Chill.

Academic Success Workshops

Chaired by a member of our UConn faculty, Academic Success Workshops are offered regularly during the fall semester. These invaluable sessions are announced via email and in the law school's events calendar. They typically last an hour and feature discussions led by experts in case briefing, legal research and writing, public speaking and exam preparation. For more information, please contact Professor Mary Beattie.

Academic Support

UConn Law School offers the services of an Academic Success Counselor, who meets with students seeking assistance with legal reasoning, writing and study skills. Students wishing to discuss exam preparation, exam writing, or drafts of papers for upper-level classes can email Professor Mary Beattie. Referrals to the office can also come from other professors.

Time Management Counseling

There are several simple ways that law school students can manage their stress and anxiety while making the most of their available time. The Student Affairs Office offers one-on-one counseling to help students adapt to the busy (and often chaotic) law school lifestyle. Students may arrange regular meetings throughout the year to stay on track or they may seek help when they are feeling overwhelmed and need to prioritize their time around exams or other challenges. The Office of Student Affairs will work with students to create and implement a time management strategy. To get started or to schedule an introductory session, contact the Office of Student Affairs.

Diversity

Diversity, equity and inclusion are important institutional values at the UConn School of Law, where we strive to ensure that every member of the community feels valued. Students are encouraged to find support in student organizations, the Office of Student Affairs, and in collaboration with other students, faculty, staff or alumni. More information about the law school's principles and efforts in this area can be found on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page.

Wellness

The UConn School of Law supports students' mental and physical health with facilities and services designed to support them through the challenges of law school. Learn more about health and wellness at UConn Law.

Career Planning

The Center for Career Development works with students from the very beginning of their law school careers and even before, offering consultations to incoming students before their first law school classes. As counselors help individual students create personalized career plans, the center arranges on-campus and off-campus interviews, organizes networking opportunities and coordinates professional programs. Learn more about the Center for Career Development.

Disability Services

At UConn Law, we believe that disability brings diversity to the legal profession and enriches the field, and we are committed to ensuring access to our programs for all law students.

It is the policy and practice of the UConn School of Law to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities. Individuals who are enrolled at the School of Law must be able to carry out the essential requirements of the curriculum with reasonable accommodation. Under these laws, no qualified individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in services, programs and activities of the School of Law.

Any student with a disability as defined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, and who desires reasonable accommodation should submit the appropriate documentation to the Student Affairs Office as soon as possible after admission to the School of Law so that decisions about accommodations can be made no later than the first week of classes. The executive director of student affairs makes accommodation decisions for law students on a case-by-case basis. The University's documentation guidelines and information for specific conditions are available from the University's Center for Students with Disabilities.

While the law school's legal obligation relates to disabilities of a substantial and long-term nature, the Student Affairs Office will consider accommodations for temporary impairments when practical. For more information, contact the Student Affairs Office.

Campus Accessibility

All buildings on the UConn Law campus are accessible. The University's Office of Institutional Equity provides detailed information on the accessibility of buildings on all UConn campuses, including all UConn Law campus buildings. Upon request, the Student Affairs Office will provide a touchpad for students to open doors at the ramped entrances to the buildings.

Website Accessibility

UConn Law strives to ensure all its web content is fully accessible. Please contact law.communications@uconn.edu if any pages or attachments on this site are inaccessible and the Communications Staff will work to rectify the problem.

Information Technology Services

The Information Technology Services Department provides many services for students, including a computer lab, secure and public wireless networks, audiovisual equipment loans and audiovisual support for events. The department also staffs a help desk to assist students, faculty and staff with technical issues. The help desk may be reached at (860) 570-5158 or lawhelpdesk@uconn.edu. For more information about IT services at UConn Law, students may visit the student portal.

Student Event Planning

Each year, the UConn School of Law hosts hundreds of meetings and events for students, faculty, staff and alumni, reflecting the  rich diversity of the campus community. Student-hosted events are coordinated through the Student Affairs Office. More information for students and organizations planning events is available in the Student Portal.

The Brown Family Campus Center Café

The Campus Center café in the Thomas J. Meskill Law Library serves as a place for students, faculty, and staff to meet, relax and eat. Student organizations, study groups and friends grabbing a cup of coffee can be found enjoying the café, which is operated by UConn Dining Services. Operating hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, during the academic year. The menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, pizza, snacks and baked goods. UConn Dining Services provides daily menus and nutritional information online. All transactions are cashless; customers may pay with credit cards, debit cards or Husky Bucks stored on UConn ID cards. Vending machines on the premises sell snacks and beverages.

Student Feedback

In the course of their education or employment, individuals may have complaints or concerns about UConn School of Law personnel, policies, or procedures. Learn more about the complaint review and resolution process at the UConn School of Law.

Contact Student Affairs

Thomas J. Meskill Law Library
39 Elizabeth Street, 2nd Floor
Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 570-5079

Student Affairs Staff

Shelby Summers
Director of Student Affairs
shelby.summers@uconn.edu
(860) 570-5244

Julian M. Torres
Assistant Director of Student Affairs
julian.torres@uconn.edu
(860) 570-5079