"After 30 years spent in courtrooms in Texas, ... I am comfortable that SMU's emphasis on how to think as opposed to what to think has been instrumental in procuring justice for a number of deserving clients."
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Partner, Law Offices of Frank L. Branson, PC
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Academic Calendar

Spring 2008  
January 10 (Thursday) Classes Begin
January 16 (Wednesday) Payment Due Date
January 18 (Friday) Last Day to Add/Drop
January 21 (Monday) University Holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday
March 10-14 (Monday-Friday) Spring Break
March 21 (Friday) University Holiday, Good Friday
April 24 (Thursday) Follow Monday Class Schedule
April 25 (Friday) Classes End; Last Day to Withdraw
April 28 (Monday) Reading Day
April 29 (Tuesday) Final Exams Begin
May 9 (Friday) Final Exams End
May 17 (Saturday) University Commencement and Law School Hooding Ceremony
May 26 (Monday) University Holiday, Memorial Day
Summer 2008  
May 27 (Tuesday) Classes Begin; Payment Due Date
May 30 (Friday) Last Day to Add/Drop
July 4 (Friday) University Holiday, Independence Day
July 14 (Monday) Classes End; Last Day to Withdraw
July 15-16 (Tuesday-Wednesday) Reading Days
July 17 (Thursday) Final Exams Begin
July 21 (Monday) Final Exams End
Fall 2008  
August 12-20 (Tuesday-Wednesday) Int'l LLM Orientation
August 18-20 (Monday-Wednesday) JD Evening Program Orientation
August 19-20 (Tuesday-Wednesday JD Day Program Orientation
August 20 (Wednesday) Tax LLM Orientation
August 21 (Thursday) Transfer & Visitor Orientation
August 22 (Friday) Classes Begin
August 28 (Thursday) Last Day to Add/Drop; Payment Due Date
September 1 (Monday) University Holiday, Labor Day
November 26-28 (Wednesday-Friday) University Holidays, Thanksgiving
December 2 (Tuesday) Follow Thursday Class Schedule
December 3 (Wednesday) Classes End; Last Day to Withdraw
December 4-5 (Thursday-Friday) Reading Days
December 8 (Monday) Final Exams Begin
December 13 (Saturday) University Commencement for December Graduates
December 18 (Thursday) Final Exams End
December 22-26 (Monday-Friday) University Holidays, Christmas/Winter Break
Spring 2009  
January 8 (Thursday) Classes Begin
January 14 (Wednesday) Last Day to Add/Drop; Payment Due Date
January 19 (Monday) University Holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday
March 9-13 (Monday-Friday) Spring Break
April 10 (Friday) University Holiday, Good Friday
April 23 (Thursday) Follow Monday Class Schedule
April 24 (Friday) Classes End; Last Day to Withdraw
April 27 (Monday) Reading Day
April 28 (Tuesday) Final Exams Begin
May 8 (Friday) Final Exams End
May 16 (Saturday) University Commencement and Law School Hooding Ceremony
May 25 (Monday) University Holiday, Memorial Day
Summer 2009  
May 26 (Tuesday) Classes Begin; Payment Due Date
May 29 (Friday) Last Day to Add/Drop
July 3 (Friday) University Holiday, Independence Day
July 13 (Monday) Classes End; Last Day to Withdraw
July 14-15 (Tuesday-Wednesday) Reading Days
July 16 (Thursday) Final Exams Begin
July 20 (Monday) Final Exams End

Major Religious Holidays
(August 2007-August 2008)

Listing of religious holidays for use in requesting excused absences according to University Policy 1.9. For religious holidays not listed, the instructor or supervisor may contact the Office of the Chaplain.

Christian  
December 25, 2007 Christmas
February 6, 2008 Ash Wednesday
March 21, 2008 Good Friday
March 23, 2008 Easter Sunday
April 27, 2008 Easter Sunday (Orthodox)
Hindu  
September 4, 2007 Janmashtami
October 21, 2007 Dasera
November 9, 2007 Diwali
Jewish All holidays begin at sundown before the first day noted and conclude at sundown on the day(s) noted.
September 12-13, 2007 Rosh Hashana
September 22, 2007 Yom Kippur
September 27-October 3, 2007 Sukkot
December 5-12, 2007 Hanukkah
April 20-26, 2008 Pesach (Passover)
June 9, 2008 Shavout
Muslim  
September 13-October 13, 2007 Ramadan
October 13, 2007 Eid al Fitr
December 20, 2007 Eid Al_Adha
January 10, 2008 Hijra-Islamic New Year
January 19, 2008 Ashura
March 20, 2008 Mawlid an Nabi

Major Religious Holidays
(August 2008-August 2009)

Listing of religious holidays for use in requesting excused absences according to University Policy 1.9. For religious holidays not listed, the instructor or supervisor may contact the Office of the Chaplain.

Christian  
December 25, 2008 Christmas
February 25, 2009 Ash Wednesday
April 10, 2009 Good Friday
April 12, 2009 Easter Sunday
April 19, 2009 Easter Sunday (Orthodox)
Hindu  
August 28, 2008 Janmashtami
October 9, 2008 Dasera
October 28, 2008 Diwali
Jewish All holidays begin at sundown before the first day noted and conclude at sundown on the day(s) noted.
September 30-October 1, 2008 Rosh Hashana
October 9, 2008 Yom Kippur
October 14-15, 2008 Sukkot
December 22-30, 2008 Hanukkah
April 9-26, 2009 Pesach (Passover)
May 29, 2009 Shavout
Muslim  
September 2-October 2, 2008 Ramadan
October 2, 2008 Eid al Fitr
December 9, 2008 Eid Al_Adha
December 29, 2008 Hijra-Islamic New Year
January 7, 2009 Ashura
March 9, 2009 Mawlid an Nabi