Student Services

Each student is assigned an e-mail account during orientation before first year. Accounts are assigned through the campus Center for Information Technology Services (CITS). E-mail is mandatory and items posted on e-mail constitute official notice for all students. When obtaining their campus email account, students are required to sign an agreement in which they acknowledge and consent to abide by the applicable acceptable use policies. School wide postings to student email accounts are not permitted unless the posting relates to a school sponsored event. Postings of books, apartments, tickets or other for sale items and any lost or found items are expressly prohibited. The School of Law’s Acceptable Use Policy can be found at: http://www.law.umaryland.edu/about/departments/technology/policies/acceptable_use.html

E-mail can be accessed via computers on campus or off-site via the Internet. For more information on student e-mail accounts, stop by the Assistance and Service Center (ASC) Help Desk in the HS/HS Library #LL06. They can be reached at 410-706-HELP or check out their website at http://www.umaryland.edu/helpdesk/.

Short term emergency loans are available to assist students in meeting unexpected needs or to cover a period of need while approved financial aid is being processed and for other emergencies. To obtain approval for an emergency loan, contact Marilyn Jones, Student Financial Planning Coordinator located in Suite 280.

External Competitions

Credit-bearing co-curricular teams

The law school has several competitive teams for which students are eligible to receive academic credit. Each of these co-curricular teams is connected to a course that teaches related subject matter content, such as trial or oral advocacy, evidence, negotiation, mediation advocacy, or transactional drafting. Students on the co-curricular teams are typically selected through an intra-school competition and require course enrollment for credit. The courses may have prerequisites and the credit earned for these courses derives from their academic content, with the competition activity providing an opportunity to practice the skills learned.

Each co-curricular team must submit their annual competition plan and proposed budget to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Deborah Eisenberg by August 1 prior to the following academic year. The plan should include a list of the competitions in which the team anticipates competing in the next academic year.

Extra-curricular, student-initiated teams

Some student groups want to participate in external competitions as an extra-curricular activity. Participating in an external competition can provide an opportunity to develop and hone professional skills. Participating on an extra-curricular competition team requires substantial commitment and time from students. We want to ensure that the students dedicate sufficient preparation time to learn from the experience and represent the school well. Fielding a team is also expensive and law school funding is limited. This policy describes the process for obtaining law school approval to represent the law school or a law school student group in an external competition, and/or to seek funding from the law school for a competition.

Proposals for External Competitions

All teams must submit a proposal and receive approval prior to registering for any external competition intending to use the name of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. This policy applies to all student organizations teams that intend to compete using the law school’s name, regardless of whether funded by the law school and regardless of whether academic credit is associated with the team. Applications for competition approval and/or funding must be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs through the following form. Requests for competition funding should not be submitted to the Student Bar Association.

While we want to provide opportunities for students to practice skills, the law school’s pool of funding to support competition teams is limited. Proposals for participation in external competitions should be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs no later than 30 days prior to the registration deadline for the competition. Funds will be allocated based on compliance with the proposal deadline and the criteria listed below, on a first come, first served basis. Because funds are limited, proposals should be submitted as early as possible.

Competition proposals should describe the following:

Competition Details

Include the details about the competition (name, dates, location, type of competition, etc.) and a short paragraph about what the team hopes to learn from the experience.

Team Member Commitment

The proposal should include the names of the students who have committed to investing adequate preparation time for the competition. Make sure that the practice plan and competition dates do not conflict with the team members’ school, work, and personal plans. Confirm the competition dates prior to submitting your proposal. All team members, and any alternates, must sign the proposal confirming their commitment to preparation and competition attendance.

Given the academic demands of the first year of law school, and the time commitment involved in preparing for and competing in external competitions, first year day and first and second year evening students are prohibited from competing on external competition teams.

The proposal should describe the method by which team members have been selected.

Law School Advisor Approval

Prior to submitting the proposal, a full-time or adjunct faculty member, or a law school staff member must review and approve the proposal. The name of the advisor must be included in the proposal.

Budget

The proposal must include a budget, including registration fees, transportation costs, and lodging. All team members must commit to compliance with UMB and law school travel policy.

Preparation Plan

The proposal should include the practice schedule for your team, to begin at least five weeks prior to the competition date. Each team is responsible for organizing its own practice sessions.

Teams are encouraged to identify a team coach. This individual may be a previous competitor, alumni, or a Maryland Carey Law faculty or staff member.

Coordination with Other Teams

It can be confusing for schools hosting competitions if multiple teams from the same law school register for a competition. The co-curricular teams regularly represent the school in certain competitions. The Office of Student Affairs maintains a list of the competitions in which the law school’s co-curricular teams regularly compete. Teams should consult that list prior to submitting a proposal. If multiple teams want to compete in the same competition, they must coordinate with each other to resolve any conflicts. Please contact Wendy Geist at wgeist@law.umaryland.edu in the Office of Student Affairs to assist with this process.

Review Process

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and law school Controller will review all competition proposals and approve based on satisfaction of this criteria and availability of law school funding.

Teams should not register for competitions until their proposals have been approved by the law school. Any expenses incurred by students without prior approval will not be reimbursed.

Hosting of Competitions

Teams that are considering hosting of competitions at the law school must consult with the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and the Law School’s Events Manager prior to taking any action.

All locker requests must be made using the online locker request form . DO NOT SELF SELECT LOCKERS.
Lockers are only assigned to enrolled students that will be in the law school on a full time basis for classes for the current semester. The locker you are assigned will be yours for the entire time you are an enrolled student here at the law school.
Lockers are assigned on a first come, first serve basis.
Students must provide their own lock for their assigned locker.
Locks on unassigned lockers and locks placed on an assigned locker by an “intruder” will be cut off.
Never store any valuables (laptops, wallets, credit cards, etc.) in your locker. The Law School is not responsible for your locker contents or for stolen items.
Lockers are all together, in numerical order, on the first floor.
Do not deface University of Maryland property ~ No stickers or like items are permitted on lockers.
The area above the lockers is not to be used as storage space. Nothing is permitted on top of the lockers due to the lack of safety (although we do understand the occasional wet umbrella). The School of Law is not responsible for any item placed in this space.
Graduates must remove their belongings and lock from their assigned locker after graduation so the locker can be reassigned.
- May & Summer grads must remove belongings and lock by August 1.
- December grads must remove belongings and lock by January 1.

For any locker concerns, please feel free to contact the Office of Student Affairs, osa@law.umaryland.edu, (410) 706-5235, or stop by Suite 280.

Student mailboxes are assigned each school year to efficiently accommodate enrollment changes. Mailboxes are located on the First Floor and are used for school mail, event flyers, and intra-campus communication.

Finding Your Mailbox:

-Check the “Mailbox Guide” bulletin board next to the water fountains for your mailbox number.
-The board displays mailboxes in numerical order alongside an alphabetical list of enrolled students with corresponding mailbox numbers.
-A key to the numbering system is also provided.

Important Guidelines:

-Do not change your mailbox number or replace it with your name.
-Please refrain from defacing school property, including altering mailbox numbers or attaching items to mailboxes.
-For any mailbox concerns, contact the Office of Student Affairs at osa@law.umaryland.edu, (410) 706-5235, or visit Suite 280.

All postings must be approved in advance by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). To obtain approval, please bring your proposed notice to OSA in Suite 280. Upon approval, your notice will be stamped, and you will be instructed on the appropriate bulletin board(s) for posting. Please note that nothing may be posted on the walls.

Important Guidelines:

Only stamped notices may be displayed; unapproved postings will be removed and discarded.
Notices must be professional in appearance; handwritten materials will not be accepted.
Any notice that becomes unpresentable or defaced will be removed.
Maximum size: 11” x 14”; Minimum size: 3” x 5”.
Notices must pertain to UMB school-related activities and be submitted by a member of the University community.
The sponsoring organization or person’s name and contact information must be clearly indicated on the notice.
Notices will be removed after the event concludes or after 30 days, whichever comes first. The event host is responsible for the timely takedown of flyers post-event.
OSA reserves the right to select notices for posting if bulletin board space is limited, prioritizing events with the widest appeal.
Notices advocating fraud or unlawful actions, or deemed inappropriate by OSA, are not permitted.
Please note that posting a notice does not imply endorsement by the University of Maryland Carey School of Law.

There is no smoking anywhere in the law school or on law school property. A designated smoking area has been provided at the southeast corner of the entrance. Smoking is not allowed directly outside of building entrances, and smoking is not allowed in the Courtyard.

The UMB non-smoking policy covers e-cigarettes. (III Policy 1. It is the intent of the Entities to assist smokers in reducing the use of tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, by providing access to cessation programs and support from the non-smoking community.)

Student Suggestions

Any UM Carey Law Student who has a suggestion for how to improve any aspect of the law school experience may submit their suggestion on-line.

Student suggestions will be received and reviewed by the Associate Dean for Student Services. She will relay the suggestion to the administrator working most closely in the area affected by the student’s suggestion.

Suggestions may be made anonymously.

The Associate Dean for Student Services will advise the student, if known, within two weeks, that the suggestion has been received and any action that has been or will be taken in response.

Student Complaints Concerning the Program of Legal Education

Reporting a complaint: Any UM Carey Law student who believes there is a significant problem with the School’s program of legal education and its compliance with the American Bar Association’s Accreditation Standards should file a written complaint with the Associate Dean for Student Services. The accreditation standards for law schools can be accessed on the webpage of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

The written complaint may be sent by e-mail using the student’s law school e-mail address or submitted in hard copy to the Associate Dean for Student Services, Suite 280, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, 500 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201.

Contents of the complaint: The complaint must identify the problem in sufficient detail to permit the Associate Dean to investigate the matter, including the specific Accreditation Standard(s) at issue. The complaint must include the student’s name, e-mail address, home address and telephone number.

Response to the complaint: Within three weeks after receiving a written complaint in proper form, the Associate Dean shall advise the student of any action the School is taking to address the matter or any further investigation into the matter.

Appeal process: Within ten calendar days of being advised of any action by the School in response to the complaint, the student may appeal that decision to the Dean. The Dean’s decision shall be final.

Maintaining a written record of the complaint: The School shall maintain a record of student complaints submitted during the most recent accreditation period. This record shall include information about how each complaint was resolved.

Cross References: Complaints that allege violations of the law school’s Honor Code, the Student Disciplinary and Appeals Procedures or the University’s Policy on Sex-Based Discrimination of Students will be subject to the policies and procedures set forth in these aforementioned policies.