Event Planning

Holding a successful event at Columbia Law School requires planning and preparation. Below, please find some helpful resources to help you schedule, set up, and budget your event.

Scheduling Your Event

In an effort to coordinate the event planning process and avoid conflicting programs, all events must be added to the Law School’s master planning calendar. If you do not have access to edit the online calendar, please send a request for access to [email protected]. If you’re a member of a student group seeking to list your event on the online calendar, please submit your event via the student event form, and the Student Services will add it to the calendar. 

PLEASE NOTE, adding your event to the planning calendar is not a confirmation of your room reservation. 

BLACK-OUT DATES:

The Law School reserves the rights to limit events on certain days and/or times to avoid conflicting programs and to avoid major school-wide events. Events scheduled on these days will not be confirmed:

  • Admitted Students Days: February 28, February 29, April 4, April 5

All requests for space must be submitted to Room Reservations via EMS WebApp.

Reservations are subject to availability and are not finalized until email confirmation from Room Reservations has been received by the event organizer. Room Reservations maintains a listing and description of all available law school rooms, including their capacity and AV capabilities, as well as a detailed handbook of relevant policies and procedures. Please contact Room Reservations with any questions, [email protected].

All events must be listed in the Law School's public calendar, as a first measure in publicizing an event. A daily announcement and a weekly digest of Law School events listed in the calendar is sent to the Law School community.

If you do not have access to edit the online calendar, please send a request for access to [email protected]. If you’re a member of a student group seeking to list your event on the online calendar, please submit your event via the student event form, and the Student Services will add it to the calendar.

For information on photographers, additional promotion of events to the CLS community, digital content, print (brochures, specialty publications, invitations, reports), social media, editorial coverage, web, and design projects, please refer to the Communications Office.

Setting Up Your Event

If you plan on serving food at your event, using one of the Law School’s preferred vendors for on campus catering is preferable.

Additionally, Columbia Law School supports the University's commitment to our local community and to the well-being and competitive strength of the minority-owned business enterprises (MBEs) and woman-owned business enterprises (WBEs) in our local area. Here we spotlight these locally-based MBEs and WBEs which have provided goods or services--not just catering but also chocolatiers, photographers, videographers, and more--to the University.

To ensure that appropriate setup, cleanup, and custodial services are secured, please contact Building Services at [email protected] if you plan to serve food.

A range of auxiliary services are available when planning an event in one of the Law School’s buildings, some of which will incur fees. A quote can be provided based on the specifics of your event by contacting the appropriate party, Building Services or Audio Visual/Information Technology Services (details below), in advance of your event. Events hosted by Centers & Programs and Administrative Departments will require direct billing for all intramural services provided. You must obtain the appropriate account chartstring from the Business Office prior to arranging for any auxiliary services.

If you anticipate the need for auxiliary services, please contact the appropriate office as listed below AFTER you have received confirmation from Room Reservations and at least two weeks in advance of the event.

AUXILIARY SERVICES CONTACT GUIDE

Building Services include:

  • Special furniture configuration
  • Additional tables or chairs
  • Linen rentals
  • Food clean-up

Audio Visual/Information Technology Services include:

  • Microphones
  • Use of a projector screen
  • Use of computers
  • Presentation set-up
  • Disability accommodations
  • Video/phone conferencing

Public Safety

If your event will feature a government official who travels with a security detail (including judges and former officials), a prominent or controversial speaker, or if you have reason to believe that your event requires security please contact Lou Santiago, at [email protected]. Students, please contact Jeffrey Bagares, [email protected].

Expenses

The Business Office provides guidance on arranging for travel, lodging, and ground transportation, as well as general information regarding the Law School’s travel policies and procedures.

All payment for services associated with events hosted by the Law School must be processed through approved by the Business Office, including reimbursements for guests attending your event. Please see the Business Office website for further information.

Sufficient funding must be secured and available prior to all events. Cost estimates for catering, auxiliary services, and travel should be obtained prior to finalizing any arrangements. Please speak with the appropriate contact if you have questions about the budget for your event or if you would like assistance in constructing a budget proposal.

Events hosted by non-Law School entities, or without the support of a Law School center, program, organization, or faculty member, are subject to the policies and fees outlined in the room reservations policy. All third-party rentals must be approved by the Dean’s Office and the Chief Financial and Strategy Officer.