AUWCL Welcomes New Students with Service, Scholarship, and Community
The 2025–2026 academic year is officially underway at American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL), where more than 450 first-year JD students—alongside new part-time, evening, LLM, SJD, and exchange students—began their legal journeys with a week of orientation events that blended service, scholarship, and celebration.
Before orientation began on Tuesday, nearly 200 students participated in In My Backyard 2025, a community service initiative that sent volunteers to nearly a dozen sites across Washington, DC. The program underscored AUWCL’s commitment to public service and introduced students to the city that will serve as their extended classroom.
A defining moment came when 1Ls took their professional oath, administered by distinguished members of the judiciary. The Honorable Tanya M. Jones Bosier ’00 led the oath for full-time 1L students, emphasizing the importance of ethical responsibility and the lawyers’ role in safeguarding the rule of law. The Honorable Ebony M. Scott, Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, welcomed part-time and evening students with both the oath and words of encouragement for the journey ahead.
Interim Dean Heather Hughes reminded students of AUWCL’s historic role in advancing democracy and inclusion. “It is a tremendous honor to be your servant-leader, especially during this pivotal year in our nation’s history,” she said. “AUWCL has a special relationship to democracy, since women founded the Washington College of Law during the fight for suffrage.”
Students were also introduced to Faculty Big Ideas, a forum where professors showcased how research and scholarship shape legal education. Highlights included Professor Benjamin Leff on nonprofit political endorsements, Professor Hilary Allen on the legal challenges of emerging technologies like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, and Professor Jayesh Rathod on emigration trends from the United States.
Hughes emphasized the importance of integrating scholarship into student experience, noting, “You are an amazing group, and that is fitting, because AUWCL is an amazing community in which to study law. I hope that you will take advantage of our rich curriculum, engage with our accomplished and diverse student body, and draw upon our unparalleled alumni network for career exploration.”
Orientation events extended beyond campus. At Nationals Park, AUWCL was honored for its service to the Washington, DC community. Interim Dean Hughes accepted the recognition on behalf of the institution.
AUWCL also welcomed a new group of LLM and SJD students, alongside exchange and dual-degree students from partner institutions including Stockholm University, Bocconi University, Comillas University, Nanterre University, LUISS University, and ADA University. Representing 37 countries, this cohort reflects AUWCL’s global reach. Hughes urged all students to embrace purpose, stating, “Regardless of where your path may lead, whether public service, the private sector, the courtroom, or even outside the practice of law, remember that your purpose is larger than yourself. Know that your AUWCL family will be with you every step of the way.”
Students capped off orientation week with a milestone moment: their very first law school class. To celebrate, the AUWCL community gathered for a lively community barbecue, setting the tone for a year of rigorous study, meaningful engagement, and lasting connection.
As the academic year begins, AUWCL reaffirms its mission to educate the next generation of lawyers and leaders who will shape the future of law—guided by service, scholarship and community.