LLS Student FAQs

LLS welcomed new students to campus for in-person Orientation activities beginnging on Saturday, August 13. Fall 2022 instruction will begin in-person on Monday, August 22. LLS Registrar’s academic calendar section.

In-person instruction resumed for the Fall 2022 Semester begins on Monday, August 22, 2022.

If a student must be absent for medical or personal reasons, whether or not they are related to COVID, the student should advise their professor(s).

LLS has a number of provisions for faculty illness. Flex Days allow for professors to make up classes for any reason they are unavailable to teach.  

Fall 2022 semester exams are expected to be primarily in-person, subject to evolving public health regulations. Exams for students in the online Graduate Tax Program will take exams virtually as usual.

Student Accessibility Services, in the Office of Student Affairs, is continuing to work in support of our current and prospective students. Please visit the Student Accessibility webpage or email accessibility@lls.edu.

The William M. Rains Library is open. The library's hours are available online. Many of the William M. Rains Library’s collections and services are accessible online. Librarians are available for research or reference assistance. A special digital library is available. Additionally, students have access to CALI (Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction) for supplementary class materials, including a full list of lessons. Please visit the Library's COVID-19 Resources page for more information.

Librarians are available for research or reference assistance. Students may contact reference@lls.edu with any questions or set up a virtual research appointment. Please visit the Library's COVID-19 Resources page for further details. 

Please visit the law school Registrar’s section.

LLS Campus Operations has implemented new sanitation measures on campus, including but not limited to the following:

• All high-touch areas (including elevator buttons, main door entrances, etc.) are cleaned with EPA-approved disinfectants three times per day.
• Housekeeping will continue to dust, remove trash, and clean the floor, door handles and light switches in personal offices. Cleaning supplies will be provided to departments for faculty and staff to regularly self-clean and sanitize their personal work spaces. 
• Water fountains are disinfected three times per day. All fountains are filtered, have been maintained within the past year, and are primarily used as refill stations. All water fountains will have hand sanitizer nearby.
• Ventilation filters are  replaced every 3-4 months in line with guidance from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). In consultation with an industry leading HVAC contractor with specific expertise, we have upgraded all LLS HVAC systems. We have doubled the filter change intervals to four times per year, and we have upgraded all filters to the MERV 13 standard. We have increased air circulation and the percentage of outside air to the maximum possible range (18-20%).
• Classrooms are cleaned between courses, and deep cleaned every night.
• Public study areas are deep cleaned every night.

Sonia’s Café is open for weekday operations. Starting on Monday, August 22, it will be open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Fridays.

Internal meetings and events are now generally permitted, and events with external guests have also resumed. Please make event reservations with Information & Support Services for the fall semester using the 25Live Scheduling Portal.  

Law review offices are accessible to students.

Please see the Isolation/Quarantine section of LMU's Need to Know A-Z Index for current information.

Law school administrators are in close communication with local and regional health authorities, as well as colleagues at the Westchester campus, to ensure we can welcome students back to campus safely and securely, and no decision is made without consulting public health officials.

We look forward to welcoming members of the LLS community back to campus for the start of fall semester classes on Monday, August 22. As we remain nimble and responsive to quickly changing circumstances, we will share updates about our plans and preparations for the fall semester. 

Fall classes will begin on campus on August 16. As has been previously announced for students and faculty/staff, proof of COVID vaccination is required for the fall semester absent a vaccination exemption based on qualifying medical or religious reasons. To upload your COVID-19 vaccination record at Vax LMU, simply click on the upload button below on your phone, snap a photo of your vaccination card once you're in the app and submit. If you need help uploading your vaccination card, you may contact Human Resources (310.338.2723, hr@lmu.edu) for staff, or the LLS Office of Student Affairs (213.736.8151, studentaffairs@lls.edu) for students.

The law school continues to refine comprehensive strategies for infection control ahead and is addressing every facet of campus life. In all instances, we will follow directives from public health authorities. LLS is undertaking precautions that include:

Masking protocol:

Current public health protocols require that everyone wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status, unless you are alone in a private office with the door closed. We urge all LLS community members to comply on campus, and to take precautions off campus as well for your own well-being and for the safety of our community. Masking outdoors, while not required if you are vaccinated (or unvaccinated and maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from others), will model cautious, community protecting behavior for students. Masking consistently will also help reduce the risk of stigma for unvaccinated community members who must mask outdoors when they cannot maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others, or for any individuals in our community who would prefer to stay masked.

We understand many of you are concerned about tools for enforcing mask protocols. We are determining the enforcement mechanism and anticipate sharing that before the start of classes.

Contact Tracing:

LMU’s COVID-19 Support Team oversees contact investigation and communication with individuals who test positive or are exposed to others who test positive for COVID. Consistent with L.A. County’s Exposure Management Plan for Higher Education, in the event of a positive case, the LMU Support Team (trained by Johns Hopkins University) immediately initiates contact investigation and provides instructions for home isolation (and quarantine for those exposed), and also notifies the individuals when they have been cleared to return to campus. 

The Support Team also provides a list of all individuals exposed to the positive case to the L.A. County Department of Public Health within one business day. These individuals are also notified that L.A. County Department of Public Health will contact them directly, through the LACDPH Case and Contact Investigation Program. 

If you test positive for COVID, please contact the COVID Support Team at COVIDSupportTeam@lmu.edu or 310-568-6868, and stay home until cleared by the COVID Support Team.

Air Filtration:

In consultation with an industry leading HVAC contractor with specific expertise, we have upgraded all LLS HVAC systems. We have doubled the filter change intervals to four times per year, and we have upgraded all filters to the MERV 13 standard. We have increased air circulation and the percentage of outside air to the maximum possible range (18-20%).

Face masks are not required on campus, regardless of vaccination status. 

Do I need to wear a mask while on campus?
LMU continues to align our policies with L.A. County Department of Public Health requirements and guidance from regional, state, and federal public health authorities. As of August 17, 2022, masks are not required on LMU campuses. Masks are still required at Student Health Services, Student Psychological Services, and the LMU shuttles, per county and state guidelines for healthcare and public transportation settings. 

What type of mask should I wear?
L.A. County Public Health recommends surgical masks, N95 and KN95 respirators. Bandanas and scarves are not recommended. You can view L.A. County Public Health's full face mask recommendations here. 

May I wear a face shield instead?
Face shields with drapes are permitted as a reasonable accommodation only. To submit a request to use a face shield, students should contact DSS and faculty and staff should contact HR.

How do I request an N95 mask?
As a reminder, LLS students, faculty, staff, and visitors may obtain masks at the Information Center, which is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fridays. 

Other updates and information are available in the Masking section of the A-Z Need to Know Inde.

The university’s COVID-19 Support Team handles contact investigation and communication with positive or exposed individuals. In the event of a positive case, the team immediately initiates contact investigation, and provides instructions for home isolation (and quarantine for those exposed). The team will generate a list of all individuals exposed to the positive case, and provide this information to L.A. County Department of Public Health using the Contact Line List for the Education Sector within 1 business day. Individuals are notified that LACDPH will contact them directly, through the LACDPH Case and Contact Investigation Program.    

All individuals who live, work, or otherwise access LMU’s campuses and have been exposed to a suspected or confirmed case will be notified by phone and email, including information about home quarantine, instructions should they become symptomatic, and information about when they are expected to be able to return to campus. 

If there are 2+ confirmed cases within 14 days, the COVID-19 Support Team will perform a review to identify if the two cases are epidemiologically linked. This information will be relayed to LACDPH. The COVID-19 Support Team will also relay this information to Environmental Health and Safety to review if and how protocols must be adjusted. 

LACDPH categorizes 3+ confirmed cases within 14 days that are epidemiologically linked as a cluster. In the event of a cluster, in addition to the steps above, the COVID-19 Support Team Leader will initiate an LLS or LMU Alert to notify the community of the cluster, and remind individuals of safety measures they can take to stay safe and healthy on campus.  

LLS Campus Operations will implement new sanitation measures ahead of any potential return to campus, including but not limited to the following:

• All high-touch areas (including elevator buttons, main door entrances, etc.) will be cleaned with EPA-approved disinfectants three times per day.
• Housekeeping will continue to dust, remove trash, and clean the floor, door handles and light switches in personal offices. Cleaning supplies will be provided to departments for faculty and staff to regularly self-clean and sanitize their personal work spaces. 
• Water fountains will be disinfected three times per day. All fountains are filtered, have been maintained within the past year, and are primarily used as refill stations. All water fountains will have hand sanitizer nearby.
• Classrooms will be cleaned between courses, and deep cleaned every night.
• Public study areas will be deep cleaned every night.

The health and safety of the LLS community is our first priority. We have enacted a number of measures in this regard, including:

Masking protocol

Current public health protocols require that everyone wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status, unless you are alone in a private office with the door closed. We urge all LLS community members to comply on campus, and to take precautions off campus as well for your own well-being and for the safety of our community. Masking outdoors, while not required if you are vaccinated (or unvaccinated and maintaining 6 feet of physical distance from others), will model cautious, community protecting behavior for students. Masking consistently will also help reduce the risk of stigma for unvaccinated students who must mask outdoors when they cannot maintain 6 feet of physical distance from others, or for any individuals in our community who would prefer to stay masked.

We understand many of you are concerned about tools for enforcing mask protocols. We are determining the enforcement mechanism and anticipate sharing that before the start of classes.

Contact Tracing

LMU’s COVID-19 Support Team oversees contact investigation and communication with individuals who test positive or are exposed to others who test positive for COVID. Consistent with L.A. County’s Exposure Management Plan for Higher Education, in the event of a positive case, the LMU Support Team (trained by Johns Hopkins University) immediately initiates contact investigation and provides instructions for home isolation (and quarantine for those exposed), and also notifies the individuals when they have been cleared to return to campus. 

The Support Team also provides a list of all individuals exposed to the positive case to the L.A. County Department of Public Health within one business day. These individuals are also notified that L.A. County Department of Public Health will contact them directly, through the LACDPH Case and Contact Investigation Program.

If you test positive for COVID, please contact the COVID Support Team at COVIDSupportTeam@lmu.edu or 310-568-6868, and stay home until cleared by the COVID Support Team.

Air Filtration

In consultation with an industry leading HVAC contractor with specific expertise, we have upgraded all LLS HVAC systems. We have doubled the filter change intervals to four times per year, and we have upgraded all filters to the MERV 13 standard.  We have increased air circulation and the percentage of outside air to the maximum possible range (18-20%). 

• Hand sanitizer stations have been installed near entrances to campus buildings, offices, classrooms, library study areas, dining areas, elevator lobbies, breakrooms, large open spaces and other areas.
• Restrooms have extra soap dispensers installed and are deep cleaned every night.

A limited number of LLS facemasks are available for students, faculty and staff. Please inquire at the Security Office or the Information Center.

The LLS COVID Testing Center is available to any individual who is approved for campus access (including students, faculty, staff, and approved visitors). Reservations must be made at www.lls.edu/covidtesting to receive a test; no walk-ups will be permitted. More information about the Center is available here. Located in Burns Lounge on the first floor of the Burns Building, the Center’s hours are as follows:  

Hours: 

• Sundays: CLOSED 
• Mondays: 11 a.m. -2 p.m., 5-6 p.m. 
• Tuesdays: 11 a.m. -2 p.m., 5-6 p.m. 
• Wednesdays: 11 a.m. -2 p.m., 5-6 p.m. 
• Thursdays: 11 a.m. -2 p.m., 5-6 p.m. 
• Fridays: CLOSED 
• Saturdays: CLOSED 

Some members of the community have received erroneous testing center directive. If you have received an email directing you to required COVID Testing Center testing and believe you have satisfied Vax LMU requirements, please forward the email in question to Student.Affairs@lls.edu for students or hr@lmu.edu for staff.  

The university’s COVID Dashboard includes data from the law school. It may be found online. The law school is working to develop an LLS-specific version of the dashboard. 

Members of the LLS community may use the LMU Testing Center as a supplemental site but should plan to make reservations up to three days ahead of their planned visit. More information about the LMU COVID Testing Center is available here. 

The categories of people required to test at the LLS COVID Testing Center include students who are unvaccinated but have an approved exemption. In addition, faculty and staff who are not fully compliant with Vax LMU until the August 30 deadline – or who have an approved exemption – must test. Those categories of people must test in the Center twice a week on non-consecutive days, or submit an exemption form weekly to obtain an exemption if they are not present on campus.  

If a community member required to test misses a test or otherwise falls out of compliance, they will lose campus access. For staff, supervisors will receive notices about such noncompliance. Those who fail to comply with testing requirements may face additional sanctions. 

Individuals will receive an email and/or text notification (their preference) when their test results become available. They will click on the provided link, verify their identity and have access to the results.  

Test results are usually available the day after testing (approximately 24 hours from the time of test). Please wait 48 hours before contacting the COVID Testing Team for assistance. The COVID Testing Team may be reached at COVIDTesting@lmu.edu.   

The university’s contact tracing team will contact those who were in close contact with a community member who tests positive for COVID.  Seating charts and other methods will be used to make those determinations. Please see below for more information about contact tracing. Learn more. 

You are already aware that LLS Student Affairs provides student wellness resources in addition to the offerings by the university's Student Psychological Services. But did you know there are new 2021 Wellness Groups & Workshops that include options exclusively for graduate students like you? Please see the Wellness Groups & Workshops page for more information.