UC Davis School of Law is committed to ensuring equal educational opportunities for students with disabilities, in collaboration with the UC Davis Student Disability Center (SDC). We strive to provide a welcoming and accommodating atmosphere for all students, including those who manage a disability or medical condition. We work with students to develop their academic and professional goals and provide them with support in achieving learning outcomes for each course and degree program.
To fulfill our commitment, UC Davis School of Law makes reasonable accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities, in accordance with state and federal laws. All accommodations and services are provided on a case-by-case and class-by-class basis, and may include making academic modifications, removing architectural barriers, providing auxiliary aids and services, or a combination of any of the above. The purpose of these accommodations is to mitigate the impact of the students’ disabilities in the law school environment, without waiving any requirements essential to the curriculum or educational programs.
Seeking Disability Services and Accommodations
On higher education campuses, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact with the Student Disability Center (SDC) and engage in an interactive process to determine eligibility for services. At UC Davis, the SDC is the campus unit designated to receive requests for accommodation and approve services, and the Law School Registrar’s Office coordinates implementation of approved accommodations within King Hall. In addition, Senior Assistant Dean Emily Scivoletto is available to meet with students to discuss these services. After eligibility is determined by an SDC Specialist, it is the student's responsibility to submit accommodation letters to the Law School through the My SDC Online student portal each semester.
Timing – When to request accommodations?
• Students should request accommodations as early in the semester as possible. It can take several weeks to put accommodations in place, so we strongly recommend that students complete the process of having letters issued within the first two weeks of the term, especially if midterm exams are scheduled. To ensure testing accommodations are in place for final exams, accommodation letters should be provided no later than November 1 (Fall) and April 1 (Spring). Accommodation requests made on short notice will be attempted but cannot be guaranteed to be implemented for that semester.
New Students – How to request accommodations:
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STEP 1: Visit the SDC website and complete the steps listed on the request initial accommodations page to determine eligibility, engage in the interactive process, and generate accommodation letters. Questions about this process should be directed to Abby Tilden. Abby is the primary Disability Specialist for law students.
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STEP 2: Coordinate implementation of your accommodations with the Law School Registrar’s Office. The Law School Registrar’s Office will send a confirming email with next steps after the student’s accommodation letters are received (generally within 1-2 business days). Questions about this process should be directed to registrar@law.ucdavis.edu.
Returning Students – How to request accommodations each semester:
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STEP 1: Visit the SDC website to submit accommodation letters to the Law School for each class in which accommodations are needed. Students should think about the nature of the course (lecture, experiential, clinical, exam, etc.) and select the services that will maximize access to course content. Questions about what accommodations are needed for a particular course can be directed to SDC.
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STEP 2: Coordinate implementation of your accommodations with the Law School Registrar’s Office. The Law School Registrar’s Office will send a confirming email to a student with next steps after that student’s accommodation letters are received (generally within 1-2 business days). Questions about this process should be directed to registrar@law.ucdavis.edu.
Adjustments for Pregnancy
In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and with the California Education Code, Section 66281.7, University of California Davis does not discriminate against or exclude any person on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions. Students who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy and need academic adjustments should reach out to the Student Disability Center for assistance. Dean Scivoletto is also a helpful resource for students navigating law school while pregnant and parenting.
Accommodations for the Bar Exam and MPRE
Students requesting accommodations for the California State Bar Exam, other state bar examinations, or the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) should know that the accommodation application process and documentation requirements may differ from higher education standards and standardized testing guidelines such as the SAT, LSAT, or GRE. In other words, receipt of ADA accommodations in law school does not guarantee approval for accommodations on the bar exam or MPRE. Students are advised to plan early and take the time to review the testing accommodation standards for each agency as you may need to provide updated documentation and/or undergo additional testing to meet the standards.
Applying early and planning carefully allows applicants to maximize their chances of successfully requesting accommodations. Applying for bar exam accommodations and MPRE accommodations are two separate processes:
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BAR EXAM – For the California Bar Exam, applicants are encouraged to petition for accommodations at the beginning of their last year of law school and should file a petition no later than three (3) months prior to the exam they intend to take. Visit the State Bar of California website for more information.
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MPRE – For the MPRE, candidates must apply for accommodations and receive their determination prior to registering and scheduling a test appointment. The NCBE advises individuals requesting accommodations to submit their request as far in advance of their desired test administration as possible, and no later than the Recommended Submission Date for that administration. Visit the NCBE website for more information.
Students should work with their SDC Specialist to fill out the necessary forms.
Off-Campus Resources
Department of Rehabilitation
The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) may be able to assist students who manage a disability or medical condition with funding and resources towards becoming an attorney. Please visit the DOR website for more information and click here to request employment services. DOR may be able to help students with: disability and benefits programs, job search and interview skills, job training and tools, paying for tuition and textbooks, disability equipment, support services like childcare or transportation, and connecting students with other people or groups that may be able to assist.