175th Commencement Ceremony
Class of 2026

175thCommencement
Friday, May 15, 2026 - 10a.m.
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Springs, NY

Speaker: TBD

*The ceremony is approximately an hour and forty-five minutes.
*Unlimited seating within the amphitheater and lawn, no tickets required

Arrival Time

Graduates must arrive at SPAC no later than 9 a.m.; signs will direct you to student line-up area at the pavilion. Processional will begin promptly at 10 a.m.

Directions

Saratoga Performing Arts Center is located about 40 minutes north of Albany. Commencement will take place in the Main Amphitheater.

Visit Directions and Parking at SPAC

Regalia Information for Graduates

Information on ordering regalia for Commencement will be emailed on November 5, 2024. There is no cost to students who order regalia between November 5 and December 18, 2025. All regalia must be ordered no later than December 18 to ensure on time arrival. There will be a $75 charge to students who order regalia between December 19, 2025 and February 1, 2026. There will be a $125 charge to students who order between February 2, 2026, and April 30 2026. Regalia cannot be ordered after April 30, 2026.  

Regalia Pick Up for Graduates

Regalia will be distributed on two dates.
Thursday, May 7, 2026, 9am to 12pm in the gym
Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 11am to 2pm in the gym

*All outstanding fees (including tuition and fees, parking fines and book fines) need to be paid, and financial aid exit interviews completed prior to pick up.

Announcement Cards/Class Rings

Jostens Company is the official vendor for announcement cards and class rings. You may also order online at www.jostens.com.

Class of 2026 Farewell Party

The Farewell Party will be held on Thursday, May 14. Graduates will receive information from the 3L Class President as we gt closer. 

Stage Information

During the Commencement Ceremony, students will be called in alphabetical order by program to walk the stage. When a student's name is called, they will walk across the stage stopping at two locations before exiting the stage. First, stopping at the hooding table, students will turn and face the audience. At that time, the faculty hooder will place the hood over the students head resting on their shoulders. The student will then continue to the center of the stage where they will be handed a mock diploma by the President and Dean. Photos will be taken at that time.

Student Hooding

Hooding is reserved for recently promoted faculty members - no exceptions

Diploma

The handing of diplomas is reserved for the President and Dean only - no exceptions

Web Cast

Commencement will be Web cast live for family and friends to view. More details will be shared as we get closer.

Handicapped Seating

There is ample handicapped seating throughout the amphitheater and is available on a first come first serve basis. There will be golf carts running from the lot to the amphitheater to assist those in need. If you have additional questions about handicapped seating, please contact Andrea Irizarry at airiz@albanylaw.edu. To locate the handicapped seating in advance please click here.

Unlimited Seating - No Tickets Required

There will be unlimited seating within the amphitheater and lawn for Commencement. No tickets will be required and you do not need to notify the school of the amount of guests you will be inviting.

Photos

Formal stage photos will be taken, as well as candid photos. Links to proofs for the stage photos will be sent via your law school email approximately two weeks after the ceremony. The candid photos will be made available at no cost. A link to the candid photos will be sent via the law school email address one week after the ceremony.

The Justinian Society

Members of the class receiving their juris doctor degree summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude become members of the honorary legal society of Justinian.

Honors for JD

Academic honors are awarded at graduation. Honors for students who meet the requirements for graduation will be awarded as follows:

Cumulative Average: 3.75 or higher - summa cum laude (white cord)
Cumulative Average: 3.50 or higher - magna cum laude (gold cord)
Cumulative Average: 3.25 or higher - cum laude (silver cord)
 

Honors will be awarded to transfer students and those who visit elsewhere for a semester or a year if, in addition to meeting the above grade-point averages, they take two full years and complete no fewer than 55 credits at Albany Law School. Honors are based on grades received at Albany Law School.

Honors for LLM

Cumulative Average: 3.75 or higher - summa cum laude (white cord)
Cumulative Average: 3.50 or higher - magna cum laude (gold cord)
Cumulative Average: 3.25 or higher - cum laude (silver cord)

For a student to be eligible for Honors at Graduation, at least 21 graduate academic credits must be earned directly from Albany Law School.

Honors for MS

Academic honors are awarded at graduation. Honors for students who meet the requirements for graduation will be awarded as follows:

Cumulative Average: 3.85 or higher - summa cum laude (white cord)
Cumulative Average: 3.70 or higher - magna cum laude (gold cord)
Cumulative Average: 3.50 or higher - cum laude (silver cord)

Prizes and Awards

Prizes and awards will be available in the Commencement Program