This fall, the Jacksonville University College of Law welcomed 110 students in the Class of 2029 to first-year orientation week, the largest incoming class in school history.
Four years ago, 14 law students attended the inaugural College of Law orientation and gathered for a photo on the steps of the Duval County Courthouse. That class went on to achieve a 91.7% first-time bar passage rate and 100% hiring rate upon graduation. Under the leadership of founding Dean Nick Allard and with the support of a dedicated faculty, they built a culture based on service and community that has garnered national attention and sparked tremendous growth.
Before a single class begins, before the first case brief is written or the first exam looms, Jacksonville University College of Law students are already becoming lawyers. That is the philosophy behind the four-day orientation program designed to do more than hand out schedules and building access cards.
"The first week of law school shapes how students see themselves and their future in the profession," said Dr. Courtney Barclay, associate dean for academic affairs. "Our orientation program is designed to challenge, support and inspire students from day one, while helping them build meaningful connections with faculty and classmates. By the time they reach convocation, they have already begun to understand what it means to think, act and serve as future lawyers."
The week was structured around three overlapping goals: academic preparation, professional identity and community building. On Day One, students were introduced to the foundational skills of legal education: how to read a case, how to identify a holding and how to begin briefing judicial opinions. Day Two built on that foundation with sessions on memorization, outlining, legal writing and the professional expectations that follow lawyers throughout their careers. By Day Three, students were sitting in a mock class, discussing an assigned case and experiencing the interactive, Socratic environment of legal education firsthand.
“I believe the depth of student-faculty relationships built at our school is one of its greatest strengths, and having the opportunity to meet many of the professors who will guide us through our legal education made a special impact on me,” said Roman Borger, a member of the Class of 2029 who earned his bachelor’s degree from JU in 2025. “Their willingness to speak with us individually and offer advice made it clear that our professors are invested not only in our academic success, but also in our development as future members of the legal profession.”
The week concluded at the Duval County Courthouse with a convocation ceremony that included a warm welcome from Jacksonville University Interim President Dr. Lisa Sutherland and remarks from Judge Lance Day. Gathered with faculty, staff and family, students took the first of many oaths to come, pledging to uphold professionalism and civility in their legal education and careers.
