“YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS THAT THE LAW CAN GO, BECAUSE EVERY TIME THE LAW CHANGES, THE WORLD CHANGES. WORDS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD. ”
SUSANNAH “SUZ” KROEBER ’21
EXPERIENCE COLUMBIA LAW
PRESENT COMPANY
YOUR CLASSMATES Artists. Activists. Scholars. Entrepreneurs. Columbia Law School students come from all backgrounds and walks of life. Join a cohort of individuals with a zeal for learning, a commitment to excellence, and a resolve to change the world.
10% of entering students earned at least one graduate degree or professional degree.
74% of entering students have been out of college one year or more.
250+ undergraduate colleges and universities are represented.
150+ undergraduate majors are represented.
* As represented by the combined enrollment of the J.D. Classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026, based on students’ voluntary self-identification.
GLOBAL COMMUNITY *
43 states + District of Columbia + Puerto Rico
43 foreign countries across six continents
96 languages spoken
LOCATION ADVANTAGE
YOU ARE HERE Live and study in historic Morningside Heights on the west side of Manhattan, a friendly neighborhood with a college-town vibe. From campus, it’s just a short trip to your externship with the New York Attorney General’s Office, a federal court, or the United Nations, or your job interview at a top law firm or NGO. law.columbia.edu/community-life/your-campus-your-city
SUBWAY TIME FROM CAMPUS
10 minutes to: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
15 minutes to: Midtown, Broadway, Madison Square Garden, Penn Station, and Times Square
20 minutes to: New York Public Library and Greenwich Village
25 minutes to: Grand Central Terminal, High Line, Whitney Museum of American Art, SoHo, and Tribeca
35 minutes to: Chinatown, Wall Street, One World Trade Center, and Lower Manhattan courthouses
LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY
Housing
All first-year law students are prioritized to receive a housing-selection appointment, during which students have the opportunity to select available apartments managed by Columbia; most students live on campus for all three years.
Green Spaces
Get outdoors and explore Manhattan’s iconic parks—many within walking distance of campus. Play a game of softball and wander the Ramble in Central Park; take in the views in Morningside Park; and ride on the bike path or relax by the water in Riverside Park.
Culture
Go to the Met (museum) or the Met (opera). See a show on Broadway or at the nearby Apollo Theater. Let art inspire and entertain by taking your pick of countless museums, galleries, music venues, and theaters around the city.
COMMUNITY LIFE
THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE At Columbia Law, you’ll find a supportive, student-centered environment and become part of a welcoming community where you can learn from viewpoints and experiences different from your own. Your remarkable classmates and our supportive faculty and administrators will inspire you with their insights, creativity, determination, and empathy. They will be your allies, mentors, and lifelong friends. law.columbia.edu/community-life
“I’m grateful that I feel a strong sense of camaraderie among all of my classmates, my section in particular. We all operate under a sentiment of, ‘We’re all in this together,’ and that alleviated a lot of the apprehensive, anticipatory stress I had ahead of starting my 1L year.”
ALLEN BELO ’25
LEARNING AT COLUMBIA LAW
WELCOME CHALLENGE
CURRICULUM During your three years here, you will immerse yourself in an intellectually challenging environment, leverage the benefits of a world-class university, and learn to think critically about the law, its evolution, and its impact on society. The first-year curriculum will help you build a strong base of knowledge in legal concepts, reasoning, and analysis that you will draw on throughout law school and your legal career. law.columbia.edu/academics/jd-program-and-curriculum
BEYOND THE CASEBOOK
The Beyond the Casebook series offers first-year students the opportunity to engage with Law School faculty on relevant and timely issues that don’t always come up in class. Offered in a small-group format, these lunches allow for free-ranging discussion about social and political questions, often helping students to apply legal concepts and tools to real-world topics.
FIRST-YEAR CURRICULUM
Civil Procedure Gain an introduction to the principal elements of the civil litigation process, including the major phases of a lawsuit, issues of standing and jurisdiction, the effects of prior adjudication, the role of the jury, and alternatives to formal adjudication.
Constitutional Law Explore the architecture of the Constitution, the American tradition of judicial review, and theories of constitutional interpretation and enforcement. Learn about the individual and group rights afforded by the Constitution, its amendments, and two centuries of judicial interpretation.
Contracts Contract law examines the nature of promises. Explore how contracts are formed, interpreted, breached, and enforced. Contracts are considered within a range of contexts, such as the sale of goods or land and employment or family agreements.
Criminal Law Defining and administering the penal code is at the forefront of policy debates across the United States. You’ll consider crimes and defense strategies in light of the purposes of punishment, the application and adjudication of law by the judicial system, and the role of criminal sanctions in modern society.
Foundation-Year Moot Court Develop the core skills of legal practice, such as writing and delivering an argument. Write a legal brief, and present oral arguments before a panel of judges. You may also participate in one of the many approved extramural moot court competitions.
Legal Methods I and II Unique to Columbia Law, Legal Methods I offers you an intensive introduction to the legal system and case analysis. Legal Methods II builds on that introduction, giving you insight into important legal methods and jurisprudential, ethical, social, or cultural perspectives relevant to different areas of the law.
Legal Practice Workshop I and II
Get in-depth training in the research, writing, and analytical skills needed in legal practice through written assignments situated in practice contexts, seminar discussions, and personal conferences. The second part of the workshop emphasizes appellate advocacy.
Property As a core social institution, property law poses fundamental questions about efficiency, fairness, the distribution of wealth, and the tension between public and private rights. Examine the history and theory of ownership, government regulation, and the legal devices for allocation and development of resources.
Torts Tort law focuses on the commonlaw doctrines and precedents that assign duties of care and liability for noncontractual wrongs. You’ll consider negligence, the role of custom, malpractice, emotional and economic harm, causation, strict liability, products liability, nuisances, damages, defenses, and alternatives to litigation.
Elective As a 1L, you may choose one elective course during the spring semester. Recent offerings have included Federal Income Taxation, Legislation and Regulation, and Critical Legal Thought.
CRITICAL THINKING
AREAS OF STUDY Design your law school experience around robust and innovative pathways. Whether your desired career is already clear or you are just beginning to explore options, you’ll be guided by preeminent faculty who shape the law and public discourse on today’s most important global issues. You will also have access to clinics, research centers, externships, and other opportunities to learn and gain experience tied to your legal interests. law.columbia.edu/areas-study
“Our students have an extraordinary array of options for finding an intellectual home here. Every day, I see them working alongside their faculty mentors, making an impact on issues they care about, and seeking out new ideas and new challenges. It’s a joy and a privilege to teach— and to learn from—such talented students.”
BERT HUANG, HAROLD R. MEDINA PROFESSOR OF PROCEDURAL JURISPRUDENCE
ACADEMIC OFFERINGS
law.columbia.edu/academics
The courses and opportunities listed under each area of study are only a sample of those offered in recent academic years. You can expect some changes to be made. Visit the online curriculum guide to explore the complete, up-todate list of courses along with descriptions of the curriculum and other learning opportunities, including externships, clerkships, moot courts, independent study, and law journals.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND PUBLIC POLICY
The contemporary American legal system is largely defined by statutes and regulations. Congress and state legislatures vest in administrative agencies the ability to regulate behavior, both public and private, individual and corporate; agencies set policy on fundamental issues including environmental protection, health care, and tax collection; and statutory interpretation has become a central issue of our time.
SAMPLE COURSES
Health Law (lecture), Legislation and Regulation (lecture), Congressional Oversight—Past, Present, and Future (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Center for Public Research and Leadership, Environmental and Climate Justice Clinic, Federal Securities Law Enforcement Externship
CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND ENERGY LAW
Protecting the climate, nature, and people and promoting justice and a sustainable future requires leveraging tools that exist in nearly every area of the law. Climate, environmental, and energy law are interdisciplinary fields at the nexus of science, business, public policy, human rights, and international relations.
SAMPLE COURSES
Climate Change Law and Policy (lecture), Environmental Practice (externship), Food Systems and U.S. Environmental Law (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Columbia Climate School, Environmental and Climate Justice Clinic, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
The Constitution is a source of both stability and conflict in American society. Understanding the ways it is interpreted, debated, implemented, and regulated is essential for lawyers, who are entrusted to safeguard democratic institutions, civil rights, and the application of justice.
SAMPLE COURSES
Law of the Political Process (lecture), Current Issues in Civil Liberties and Civil Rights (seminar), Political Theory and the 1st Amendment (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Center for Constitutional Governance; Externship on the Federal Government: Semester in Washington, D.C.; Knight First Amendment Institute
CORPORATE, BUSINESS, AND TRANSACTIONAL LAW
The complex relationships among boards, banks, investors, management, and other stakeholders create a shifting legal landscape for businesses—which demand lawyers who are agile advisers, strategists, dealmakers, and problem solvers.
Blue Sky Blog, In-House Counsel Externship, Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership
FAMILY, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY
Some of the most profound questions of justice and equality involve the ways in which the private lives of individuals intersect with modern notions of gender, sexuality, and family.
SAMPLE COURSES
Advanced Family Law: Pre-Nups, Property Distribution, and Alimony in Divorce (lecture); Gender Justice (lecture); Domestic Violence Prosecution (externship)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, Family Defense Clinic
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Any criminal justice system is an imperfect but also essential part of a well-functioning civil society. Columbia Law faculty examine criminal justice issues holistically, raising questions about race, gender, socioeconomic status, and geography.
SAMPLE COURSES
Comparative Criminal Justice (lecture), Policing the Police (seminar), Trial Practice (simulation)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual, Criminal Prosecution externships, Criminal Defense Clinic
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY
With the internet pervading every aspect of modern life, Columbia Law faculty are at the forefront of discussions about antitrust and Big Tech, intellectual property in the digital age, and the policy and legal questions raised by the rise of artificial intelligence and tools like ChatGPT.
SAMPLE COURSES
Trademarks (lecture), Regulation of the Digital Economy (seminar), Technology and Venture Capital Law (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts; Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic; Legal Tech Association
INTERNATIONAL AND COMPARATIVE LAW
To work as a lawyer in a multinational arena requires an in-depth understanding of distinct legal systems and cultures. Columbia Law remains at the leading edge of scholarship and policy on global human rights advocacy, international corporate and antitrust law, economic migration, and global governance.
SAMPLE COURSES
European Union Law and Institutions (lecture), Comparative and International Law Workshop (seminar), International Arbitration (practicum)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Study abroad and international dual degree programs; Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court; three centers focused on Asian law: the Hong Yen Chang Center for Chinese Legal Studies, the Center for Japanese Legal Studies, and the Center for Korean Legal Studies
LAW AND PHILOSOPHY
Law and philosophy sheds light on fundamental questions about what the law is and what it should be. Students are guided by professors with expertise in both public and private law theory who draw on philosophy in their work. Together, they probe the nature of law and explore a range of theoretical and philosophical issues.
SAMPLE COURSES
Law and Philosophy (lecture), Contemporary Critical Thought (seminar), Intellectual Property Theory (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Law and Philosophy Program, research and scholarship opportunities, Columbia Law Review and other journals
LAW OF THE WORKPLACE
Questions surrounding regulations that govern the interaction between an individual and their workplace and even the very definition of “employee” significantly impact society and quality of life. Labor and employment law are central to these conversations.
SAMPLE COURSES
Employment Law (lecture), Sports and the Law (lecture), Labor Rights in a Global Economy (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Community Advocacy Lab Clinic, Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic, Civil Litigation externships
LEADERSHIP
The role of a lawyer is to advocate, persuade, engage, and work to resolve conflicts or achieve a common goal. Acquiring a core set of skills and a leadership mindset can transform lawyers into strategic and creative thinkers with the vision to change the world for the better.
SAMPLE COURSES
Law and Contemporary Society (lecture); Exploring the Role of the General Counsel (seminar); Lawyer Leadership: Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading Change in Challenging Times (practicum)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Center for Public Research and Leadership, Davis Polk Leadership Initiative, Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership
LEGAL HISTORY
Legal history enriches our understanding of the law, enhancing our grasp of current problems and empowering us to imagine new alternatives. All students benefit from the legal history curriculum, whether they are seeking to round out their legal education or pursuing an in-depth investigation of law and legal institutions.
SAMPLE COURSES
American Legal History (lecture), Asian Americans and the Law (seminar), Native American Law (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Legal History Workshop, joint J.D./Ph.D. program with the History Department at Columbia University
LITIGATION AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
The prospect of arguing a case in a courtroom attracts many students to law. Corporations and jurisdictions also turn to arbitration, mediation, and negotiation for dispute resolution. To successfully represent their clients, lawyers need to know what methodology to follow.
SAMPLE COURSES
Conflict of Laws (lecture), Negotiation Workshop (simulation), International Arbitration (practicum)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, Civil Litigation and Criminal Defense externships, Mediation Clinic
NATIONAL SECURITY AND PRIVACY
The evolving—and often competing— demands of national security, commerce, and privacy affect nearly every area of our lives. Understanding these complexities is critical for lawyers planning to operate in the public sphere.
SAMPLE COURSES
Military Law and the Constitution (lecture); Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Surveillance Law (seminar); Intelligence and International Law (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
National Security Law Program, National Security Law Society, Knight First Amendment Institute Externship
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Lawyers serving the public interest are powerful advocates for economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, racial justice, gender equality, immigrants’ rights, and more. Columbia Law faculty and alumni have historically occupied pivotal roles in social justice and human rights organizations, and the Law School continues to equip lawyers to use their skills for creating positive change in all aspects of society.
SAMPLE COURSES
Human Rights (lecture), Refugee Law and Policy (lecture), Critical Race Theory Workshop (seminar)
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, Smith Family Human Rights Clinic, the Max Berger ’71 Public Interest/Public Service Fellows Program
PRACTICE CHANGE
PUBLIC INTEREST/PUBLIC SERVICE
Every legal professional has a responsibility to serve, whether through human rights or social justice advocacy, a career in government or at a nonprofit, or pro bono lawyering at a private firm. Students take courses with faculty who have extensive experience in public interest and public service; they also gain hands-on experience by participating in clinics, externships, internships, research, and other pro bono activities. law.columbia.edu/academics/public-interest
“ If you are a true professional, you will use your degree to make things a little better for other people.”
U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG ’59
THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INTEREST/PUBLIC SERVICE LAW AND CAREERS (PI/PS OFFICE)
The PI/PS Office helps students envision how to use their education to advance the public good and promote social justice through the law. In addition to offering public interest/public service career advising and job search tools, the PI/PS Office oversees public sector on-campus interviewing along with initiatives such as the Columbia Summer Funding program, the Max Berger ’71 Public Interest/Public Service Fellows Program, postgraduate fellowships, and pro bono programs.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
law.columbia.edu/public-interestfinancing
Columbia offers specialized programs, fellowships, support, and resources for students interested in pursuing careers in public interest/public service. For example, Columbia Summer Funding and the Human Rights Internship Program help support students during their summer internships, while the generous Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), Enhanced LRAP Fellowships, and Public Service Bridge Loan reduce the burden of Law School debt to make a career in public service financially possible for graduates.
346 members of the Class of 2024 exceeded the 40-hour pro bono requirement.
20,000+ hours of pro bono service were performed by the Class of 2024.
16
Spring Break Pro Bono Caravans (remote and in-person) took place throughout the United States and overseas in 2024.
ENHANCED LEARNING
BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Experiential learning is central to your time at Columbia Law. You’ll gain hands-on training—through clinics, externships, and other opportunities—that prepares you for leadership roles in a variety of settings. You can also broaden your knowledge about the law by participating in moot courts and law journals, and taking advantage of dual and joint degree programs and study abroad options. law.columbia.edu/academics/experiential
“I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend such an incredible law school. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and changed the trajectory of my legal career. I learned from the best legal minds and was able to make long-lasting connections and friendships with my fellow law students. My education at Columbia opened up doors and enabled me to practice at the highest levels in the Native American legal field.”
KATIE BROSSY ’05, SENIOR COUNSEL IN THE AMERICAN INDIAN POLICY AND REGULATION PRACTICE AT AKIN GUMP
STRAUSS HAUER & FELD
CLINICS AND EXTERNSHIPS
Clinics and externships put you in the role of an attorney. In clinics, under the supervision of dynamic full-time faculty, you’ll provide legal assistance to individuals, communities, and organizations that would not otherwise have access to high-quality representation, and advocate for systemic change. In externships, you’ll work with legal departments, judicial chambers, and government agencies across the city and beyond to solve legal problems and attend a seminar designed to supplement your fieldwork.
MOOT COURT AND LAW JOURNALS
All first-year students participate in the 1L Foundation Moot Court Program or join one of the specialized teams that compete at external competitions—a unique feature of the Columbia Law experience. In addition, student-run law reviews and specialized journals, many of which are the top publications in their areas of focus, enable you to immerse yourself in scholarship of the highest quality.
INTERNATIONAL STUDY AND DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
law.columbia.edu/international-study-dual-degrees
Choose from more than 20 international study options. Supplement your legal studies by spending a semester abroad at one of Columbia’s partner institutions, or earn two law degrees in approximately the same amount of time as one and at no additional cost through partnerships with universities in Frankfurt, London, and Paris.
DUAL AND JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS
law.columbia.edu/academics/dual-degrees
Enrich your education with interdisciplinary study, either at Columbia University’s graduate and professional schools or with partner institutions. Options include nearly a dozen dual degree programs with graduate programs at Columbia University, such as a three-year accelerated J.D./MBA or four-year J.D./MBA with Columbia Business School, and the option to design your own program (contingent on approval from both schools).
LIFE
AFTER COLUMBIA LAW
CAREER COUNSEL
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Whether you envision yourself at a law firm, a U.S. attorney’s office or other government agency, a start-up, or an international NGO, your Columbia Law education positions you for success and prepares you to lead. Columbia Law advisers in offices dedicated to the private sector, public interest/ public service, and judicial careers provide counseling that continues through your time in law school and beyond graduation. law.columbia.edu/careers
“Columbia Law—and especially its clinics—inspired me to build a career in public service. The experience informed my work as a prosecutor as well as a teacher in prisons. Today, I am proud of my office’s work to safeguard the integrity of government and serve the most vulnerable New Yorkers.”
LUCY LANG ’06, NEW YORK STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL
98% of 2023 graduates were employed 10 months after graduation.
PUBLIC INTEREST/ PUBLIC SERVICE
law.columbia.edu/careers/public-interest
The Office of Public Interest/Public Service Law and Careers (PI/PS Office) serves as the hub for career advising, pro bono options, and an array of events to support students and alumni pursuing public interest and public service.
PRIVATE SECTOR
law.columbia.edu/careers/private-sector
The Office of Private Sector Careers (OPSC) helps students and graduates explore opportunities in top law firms and businesses around the world. Advisers help you develop a career road map tailored to your goals, passions, and geographic preferences.
JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS
law.columbia.edu/careers/ judicial-careers
One of the best ways to build a solid foundation for your legal career is by securing a clerkship in a state or federal court. The Office of Judicial Careers (OJC) brings Columbia to the courts and the courts to Columbia.
ACADEMIC CAREERS
law.columbia.edu/ careers/academic-careers
For those seeking careers in the legal academy, the Careers in Law Teaching program provides guidance, training, and support. Professors work with students and graduates to develop individual research agendas and scholarship in preparation for academic careers.
ACADEMIC SCHOLARS PROGRAM
law.columbia.edu/ academic-scholars-program
Through the Academic Scholars Program, a select group of J.D. candidates with strong potential and ambition to become law professors receives mentorship and support, including monetary awards and participation in a seminar for aspiring legal academics.
LASTING CONNECTION
A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE
Build lifelong relationships with classmates who share your intellectual curiosity and commitment to excellence, and network with alumni around the world. Columbia Law School graduates have gone on to become leaders in their fields—U.S. Supreme Court justices, CEOs, entrepreneurs, executives, and law firm partners—and will serve as a valuable resource for every stage of your professional journey. law.columbia.edu/alumni
“Having a Columbia Law degree allows you to be in any room you choose. And it is up to us to use our presence to say or do something that is meaningful and good for society.”
MOEZ M. KABA ’05, MANAGING PARTNER, HUESTON HENNIGAN
ONE NETWORK, MANY CONNECTIONS
Students and alumni can join Columbia LawLink, the Law School’s exclusive online community and networking platform, to connect with the Law School community around the world, build relationships, and find opportunities for professional development.
More than
30,000 alumni in
119 countries
FINANCIAL RESOURCES
law.columbia.edu/financial-aid
Columbia Law School awards grant assistance primarily on the basis of demonstrated financial need. The Office of Financial Aid is committed to assisting all students in the financial aid process and is available to clarify any aspect of the process so every student can fully explore options to fund their legal education. Learn more online.
Additionally, there are a number of fellowships that are not based on financial need; these are awarded by the Office of J.D. Admissions at the time an applicant is admitted to the Law School. In general, there is no separate application for these fellowships.
Columbia University does not discriminate on the basis of age, alienage or citizenship status, color, creed, disability, familial status, gender (sex), gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran or active military status, or any other protected characteristic as established by law, in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other university administrated programs.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Early Decision November 15, 2024
Regular Decision February 15, 2025
Three-Year J.D./MBA February 15, 2025
Leadership Experience Admission Deferral (LEAD) Fellowship June 15, 2025
Transfer July 1, 2025
Visiting July 15, 2025
CONNECT WITH THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
William and June Warren Hall, 5th Floor 1125 Amsterdam Ave., between West 115th and West 116th Streets New York City admissions@law.columbia.edu 212-854-2674
law.columbia.edu/admissions/jd/visit
REASON BOLDLY LEAD COMMUNITY
MINDFULLY PRACTICE WISELY LEAD
CALLENGE WISELY REASON BOLDLY CHALLENGE
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REASON BOLDLY PRACTICE QUESTION
REASON CHALLENGE CHANGE QUESTION
REASON MINDFULLY ADVANCE LEARNING
JUSTIFY CHANGE PRACTICE CHALLENGE
MINDFULLY QUESTION MINDFULLY
LEARNING COMMUNITY FOCUS
VANCE BOLDLY PRACTICE WISELY WISELY REASON CHALLENGE CHANGE
