General Services and Policies

This is a brief summary of general services and non-academic policies, both Law School and University, applicable to law students. This information is intended as general guidance; more detailed information may be obtained from responsible administrative offices and official University publications.

Alcoholic Beverages.  The presence or service of alcoholic beverages on Law School premises or at a University function in which University students will be present requires prior approval by the Law School and the University’s Vice President for Student Affairs. More information and a link to the alcohol approval request form is available online.

Bicycles/Mopeds.  The Department of Parking and Transportation administers policies related to bicycle and moped use and registration at the University.  Bicycles must be parked in bike racks and may not be locked to railings, trees, bushes, benches, or fencing.  Mopeds must have a valid UVA moped parking permit to park in designated motorcycle and moped parking spaces on grounds. Parking and Transportation has more information online

Bookstore.  The University operates a multi-service bookstore, Courts and Commerce, located on the first floor of Slaughter Hall.  Hours are 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. on Friday during the academic year. The bookstore will be open the weekend of August 20-21 before orientation and first-year classes begin. 

Building Access.  The Law School’s exterior doors are unlocked 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (except holidays). When the exterior doors are locked, the building can be accessed via card readers using a University ID card. There are six entrances with card readers:

  • Clay Hall: The southwestern entrance closest to Slaughter Hall and the visitor’s parking lot
  • Slaughter Hall: The main western entrance
  • Student-Faculty Center: The main northern entrance
  • Brown Hall: The northern entrance at the corner of Hunton & Williams Hall
  • Brown Hall: The southeastern entrance near Caplin Auditorium
  • Brown Hall: The southern entrance closest to Arlington Boulevard

Coffee.  The Greenberry’s coffee bar in the Sidley Austin Café, located in the Student Faculty Center, serves coffee, specialty coffee drinks and baked goods from 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday while classes are in session. Coffee is also available in MyLab, in the Law Library, and from Courts & Commerce. 

Dry Cleaning.  The Courts and Commerce bookstore offers dry cleaning drop-off and pick-up for a local service. 

Emergencies.  For immediate police and/or emergency response or to report a crime, dial 911. The University has an outdoor speaker system that broadcasts emergency alerts. The University’s UVA Alerts system notifies registered users via text message when the University population faces imminent threat from a hazard. More general safety, security and emergency preparedness information, including how to register for emergency alerts, is available online.

Fax Service.  The Courts and Commerce bookstore offers fax service.

Firearms.  The possession, storage, or use of any kind of ammunition, firearms, fireworks, explosives, air rifles, and air pistols on University-owned or operated property, without the expressed written permission of the University police, is prohibited.

Food Service.   The Sidley Austin Café, located in the Student-Faculty Center, serves breakfast and lunch 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday when classes are in session. The Café features sushi, salads, soup, sandwiches, pizza and calzones, and a hot entrée station.  Vending machines are located on the first floor of Slaughter Hall near the Law School Library, on the first floor of Brown Hall near Hunton & Williams Hall, in the Student-Faculty Center’s Class of 1950 Dining Room, and in MyLab.  The Class of 1950 Dining Room has refrigerators, microwaves, toaster ovens and a sink for student use.  The Courts and Commerce bookstore also sells snacks, cold drinks and frozen meals.  [See also Coffee Service]

Fundraising and Solicitation.  University policy limits sales, solicitation and student fundraising activities. Law School student group solicitation or acceptance of sponsorships over a certain amount must receive the prior approval of the Office of Student Affairs. More information and request forms are available on LawWeb. Sales and solicitation by outside entities on Law School premises are prohibited without the prior approval of the Senior Associate Dean for Administration.

Library.  The Law Library is located in Brown Hall, with the main entrance on the first floor. The Law Library offers a full range of services, including reference assistance, inter-library loan, microforms, photocopy machines, study carrels and tables, and small group study rooms. Food that is not smelly or messy is permitted in the Law Library. Drinks must be in covered containers. During the academic year, library hours are 8 a.m.-midnight, Monday-Sunday, with expanded hours during exams.

Mail.  Student mailboxes are located in the Student Faculty Center.  These boxes are for internal use only.  The Law School does not provide U.S. mail or package delivery to law students, except for official organizational mail to some student organizations.  Student organization mailboxes are located in the mailroom on the first floor of Slaughter Hall.  A U.S. Mail collection box is located near the Law School between the D-2 and D-3 parking lots close to the Judge Advocate General’s School.  The Courts and Commerce bookstore sells postage stamps.

Parking.  Parking on Grounds is controlled by the University’s Department of Parking and Transportation (P&T).  Permits are required to park in all University lots, and are required year-round in Law School lots Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Parking for law students is available near the Law School in the D-3 lots (reserved for law students), and in other lots that are open to the entire University community. Permits are available for purchase through P&T.

Pets.  Pets and animals are not permitted on Law School premises, except as service animals for the disabled.  University policy also prohibits dogs from running at large on University property, and further prohibits “tying, chaining, or otherwise restraining a dog to any tree, bush, shrub or other vegetation, post, step, or other fixed structure on the Grounds of the University.”

Printing and Copying Services.  The Law School maintains numerous multi-functional devices (MFD) located around Law Grounds for self-service printing, copying, and scanning. Prints and copies are 5 cents per page (25 cents for color). The Law School has partnered with UVA Printing and Copying Services to outsource printing and copying requirements that cannot be performed via self-service at the Law School networked MFDs. UVA PCS delivers completed print requests typically twice a twice a day, Monday-Friday, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. More information is available on LawWeb.

Publicity for Student Organization Events.  The SBA sends email announcements to law students twice a week; event announcements may be emailed to the current SBA Secretary for consideration for inclusion in these announcements. Students, staff, and faculty may also request to have an event posted on the Law School’s online events calendar. You can request inclusion on the calendar through the online room reservation request form (accessible from LawWeb or the Events Calendar).

Recycling.  The Law School participates in the University’s recycling programs for glass, aluminum and paper.  Containers for paper are located near copy machines and student mailboxes.  Containers for glass and aluminum are located throughout the premises. There are also post-consumer composting receptacles located in the main dining room.

Signs and Postings.  The SBA allocates bulletin board space provided to student organizations.  Kiosks are also located in key locations around the building for posting fliers and notices of immediate interest (for example, a poster announcing an upcoming speaker).  Signs on kiosks may be posted for no longer than one week.  Signs and announcements may not be posted on walls, doors, windows, classroom lecterns, chalkboards, or other surfaces not designated for posting.

Smoking.  Smoking is not allowed in the Law School buildings or in Purcell Garden.  Smokers should dispose of smoking materials properly and not leave their discards on surrounding walkways, driveways, and landscaping.  Please do not discard cigarettes in landscape mulch or trashcans because of danger of fires.

Space Reservation.  Law School space is available for use by student groups on a reservation basis.  The use of space must relate to the mission and programs of the Law School and must conform to all applicable policies for the space requested.  All requests for space require the user to assume full responsibility for the space used, to comply with all University and Law School policies, and to perform clean-up work.  Students may request to reserve space online, via LawWeb or the Events Calendar.

Student Lounges and Group Study Rooms.  Lounges and group study rooms are located in Slaughter Hall and Brown Hall.  The Purcell Reading Room and the Caplin Reading Room provide tables and lounge seating.  There are two group study rooms on the first floor of Slaughter Hall.  Additional lounges and group study rooms are located along the main Brown classroom corridor and on the second floor of the Law Library. 

Telephones. Courtesy telephones are located on the second floor of Slaughter Hall outside of SL278, and on the first floor of Brown Hall near the vending machines (north end).  Dial “9” to access an outside extension.