Th e Ri g ht Ch o ice Fall 2 017
D i s c o v e r C o r n e ll Law Sc hool
When you choose a law school, you aren’t only deciding on a place to spend the next three years. You’re choosing the legal scholars who will shape your outlook as a lawyer. The location that will be the backdrop to days spent reading in the library or gathering with friends. And the reputation that will follow you into interviews, client meetings, and the courtroom for a lifetime. It’s not a decision to take lightly. If you’re looking for a place where you can engage deeply with professors and peers, enjoy your time outside of class, and position yourself for a successful career post-graduation, you’ll find it at Cornell Law School. Learn more about what Cornell Law has to offer.
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The Right
Size
C on n e ct w i t h a c l o s e - k n i t s tudent body
We’re not like other law schools. And we like it that way.
Learn from world-class scholars who are accessible and committed to advising students.
The kinds of students who choose to study at a small law school nestled in the middle of the Finger Lakes are the kinds of people comfortable forging their own paths. With about 600 J.D. students, Cornell Law School is a close-knit, collegial community of learners. We like to think of ourselves as serious, but not stuffy. Elite, but not elitist.
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More than 160 courses offered
The Right Size
A s timulating i n t e llec tual c ommunity
Our small student body means you can interact with your classmates in a supportive and friendly environment.
Our collegial nature will encourage you to become an effective communicator and team player—essential qualities for success as a lawyer.
sets us apart. Students sense it from the moment they step on campus. You’ll discover it in the classmates who stay up late helping you study for a big exam. In the law review
Cornell Law is a place where students learn from one another, not just from their professors. Here, you’ll find a rigorous and vibrant atmosphere in which students view one another as colleagues, rather than competitors.
colleagues who push you to do your best work. And in the mentors who encourage you to study abroad, join a new club, or apply for a prestigious judicial clerkship.
“Cornell wasn’t the law school I was expecting. People are very genuine here.”
At Cornell, community is more than just a catchphrase. Our care for one another is what
MICHAEL INCOMING JD STUDENT 2016
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O R I E N TAT I O N ’ S HOFFMAN CHALLENGE COURSE:
Entering members of the Class of 2018 learn important lessons about teamwork on the high ropes course.
The Right Size
L e a rn f r o m t o p - n o t c h a n d accessible faculty
Cornell Law faculty are more than faces in a lecture hall. They are mentors, advisors, and professional role models. Our faculty members are prolific and nationally recognized scholars of the law. Many are the authors of the leading law casebooks in the subjects they teach. They have advanced degrees in more than a dozen different disciplines, from the humanities to the social sciences. And they have practiced law for firms, corporations, or government, and have served as legal advisors from the municipal to federal level.
They have chosen Cornell because they are fully committed to the teaching and intellectual pursuits of the Law School. Our faculty members are available full time for teaching, research, and professional service. This abundance of research and knowledge engenders a lively exchange of ideas— and provides hands-on experiential opportunities for law students to serve as research assistants.
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The Right Size
G e t t o k n o w your professors
With a low student-to-faculty ratio, you’ll have more opportunities to interact with your professors than at most top law schools. In this relaxed setting, you can access faculty for support to meet your educational goals, collaboration on academic projects, and even friendships that will enrich your law school experience.
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8.5 to1 student -tofaculty ratio
The Right
Location A v i b r a n t local c ulture
We’ve been named the best college town by several national publications. When you visit Ithaca, you’ll soon see why.
The Finger Lakes region is home to more than 100 wineries and dozens of craft breweries.
The backdrop to the Cornell Law School experience is Ithaca, a beautiful and cosmopolitan small city in the Finger Lakes region of New York State.
There are over 150 waterfalls within 10 miles of Ithaca.
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THE ITHACA COMMONS:
One of the most vibrant pedestrian malls in the United States; it features local shops, restaurants, and even hosts concerts.
The Right Location
High quality of life
L I VA B I L I T Y
One of the most culturally progressive small cities in America, Ithaca has received numerous accolades for having a high overall quality of life. Area rent and living expenses are below the national average. And numerous campus and local events are inexpensive or free. Whether you have a car or not, living in Ithaca is easy. Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) bus service serves Cornell students by offering frequent routes to stops just steps away from Myron Taylor Hall.
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ARTS
Ithaca has plenty to keep you entertained. We’re a hub for music, fine arts, theater, museums, and more. Whether you want to watch a Broadway-caliber play or an independent film, catch a performance by a national recording artist at the State Theatre or a homegrown entertainer on the Ithaca Commons, or attend an opening at an art gallery or the Museum of the Earth, you’ll find what you’re looking for here.
FOOD
Ithaca is known as a culinary hotspot, with more restaurants per capita than New York City and over 100 vineyards in the surrounding Finger Lakes region. A thriving farm-totable movement has local chefs and farmers working together in sustainable (and delicious) ways. It’s no wonder some call Ithaca a “foodie paradise.” Sample local produce and international food at the Ithaca Farmers Market. Or make a stop at one of our local craft breweries or cideries.
Average one-bedroom prices and square footage*
$3, 044 NE W YO (78 R 4 S Q F T)
$2, 957 BO STO N (75
K C ITY
2 S Q F T)
*“Rental Reality” US News and World Report
31 DEGREES FA H R E N H E I T
Average daily high in January
ANN ARBOR
CHICAGO
ITHACA
MICHIGAN
ILLINOIS
NEW YORK
$2, 310 CH ICA GO (7 87
SQ
FT)
$1, 929 PH ILA DE (76 LP 2 S Q F T)
$1, 250 ITH AC A (7 50
HIA
SQ
FT)
4.5 hours from New York City and Toronto
ITHACA
Ithaca is within easy driving distance of New York City, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Getting to and from the Big Apple is a snap with many options for daily nonstop, premium bus service.
4 hours from Philadelphia 5.5 hours from Boston
NEW YORK CITY
The Right Location
S t u n n i n g n a t u r a l beauty
The natural world of Ithaca is breathtaking. You can easily escape your desk by hiking trails along the gorges, taking dips in waterfalls and lakes, biking on woodland paths, skiing down slopes and across fields, or picnicking in the area’s many state parks.
Cornell University overlooks Cayuga Lake, and many gorges and waterfalls are just steps from the Law School. Ithaca weather allows for a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from boating, swimming, and hiking in the summer to cross-country skiing and ice skating in the winter. When taking a break from your studies you can jog or bike on trails in one of Ithaca’s local or state parks.
Enjoy wine tasting year round and apple picking in the fall. Rent a kayak or take sailing lessons on Cayuga Lake. Visit an organic winery or farm. Or head eight miles north to Taughannock Falls, the tallest waterfall in the northeast. There’s no end to the ways you can explore and get active.
WAT K I N S G L E N S TAT E PA R K :
The most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks features breathtaking gorge trails that wind over and under a series of waterfalls.
The Right
Outcome S t a r t y o u r c a r e er
Upon graduation, Cornell Law students are fully prepared for the challenges of the legal landscape. Plus, they stand out in the employment marketplace.
IN 2016, WE RANKED:
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First in job placement among all New York State law schools Third in job placement among all law schools
97% of 2015 graduates employed
#3 in job placement among all law schools
Fifth in corporate leadership among all law schools First in Bar-pass rate in New York State (96.6%)
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$160,000 median full-time employee salary for Class of 2015
The Right Outcome
P o s i t i o n i n g y o u f o r s uc cess
96.6% of graduates from the Class of 2015 passed the New York State Bar
From the time you arrive on campus through graduation and beyond, Cornell Law will help you gain the skills you need to pursue your professional interests.
Working with the Career Services Office, you’ll get support in designing an individualized job-search strategy. We invest significant resources in connecting you with preeminent employers in both the private and public sectors through on-campus interviews and job fairs held across the country.
Ac cess to an esteemed c ommunity
Cornell is dedicated to teaching broad analytical thinking, encouraging students to look at issues from all sides. As you will discover, this approach will allow you to excel across a wide range of fields.
In addition to Cornell Law’s distinguished faculty and rigorous curriculum, students benefit from access to and mentorship from the school’s extensive and highly accomplished alumni network.
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The Right Outcome
U s e y o u r s kills for good
Cornell Law School graduates have served the nation and the world through careers in public interest law for more than 100 years. Scores of our alumni have emerged as leaders in social justice movements and government practice.
The Office of Public Service offers in-depth, one-on-one career counseling and provides help researching job opportunities, finding externships, networking with alumni, building résumés and cover letters, and developing interview skills. There are Public Interest Fellowship grants available for every first- and second-year student who chooses to spend the summer working in the public interest. Cornell Law has one of the nation’s most generous loan forgiveness programs for graduates who begin their careers in the public sector.
“Public service is at the heart of our identity. The legal profession has at its core a commitment to the rule of law, and at the center of the rule of law is access to justice.” E D U A R D O M . P E Ñ A LV E R ALLAN R. TESSLER DEAN AND PROFESSOR OF LAW
The Right Outcome
L e a r n e x perientially
The Law School’s academic curriculum allows you to integrate theory and practice with a variety of applied courses, clinics, and externship opportunities. In clinics, you’ll engage in all phases of client representation, including litigation planning, interviewing, counseling, legal drafting, negotiating, discovery, and trial and appellate advocacy. Our clinics serve clients across the globe and often allow students to travel abroad during the semester.
14 CLINICS:
Asylum and Convention Against Torture Clinic
Global Gender Justice Clinic
Capital Punishment Clinic
Juvenile Justice Clinic
Child Advocacy and Attorneys for Children
Labor Law Clinic
Criminal Defense Farmworker Legal Assistance International Human Rights Clinic Estate Planning Clinic
Advocacy for Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Communities Clinic New York State Attorney General Clinic Securities Law Clinic
Family Law Clinic
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71% of the Class of 2015 took at least one clinical course
The Right Outcome
Gain a global outlook
Understanding diverse cultures and legal systems is a critical skill in our increasingly globalized world. Cornell Law School is an exceptional place to master international and comparative law.
Cornell Law School has a long history of, and strong institutional emphasis on, international and comparative legal studies. We maintain our international focus to this day through a robust collection of international and comparative law degree programs, study abroad opportunities, oncampus programs, and exchange programs for foreign nationals interested in studying at Cornell.
ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID
Admission to Cornell Law School is highly competitive. However, we do not evaluate candidates solely by their numbers. We also take into consideration extracurricular and community activities, life experience, work background, and recommendations. We subscribe to Cornell’s long-standing tradition of affirmative action, and members of traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are encouraged to discuss their relevant background. You may apply to Cornell Law School by visiting www.lsac.org.
FINANCIAL AID PROCEDURES
Applicants for merit and need-based scholarship must complete the Cornell Law School Scholarship Application at www.lawschool. cornell.edu/admissions/ tuition/applying_for _aid.cfm. Applicants for federal loans must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www. fafsa.gov (Cornell Law School’s Title IV code is 002711). Need-based scholarship applicants are required to complete the CollegeBoard CSS Profile at http://css. collegeboard.org. All scholarship application information must be received by April 15. We evaluate merit and need-based scholarship prior to enrollment.
the end of their first year, may qualify for transfer to Cornell Law School. Applications must be complete by August 1.
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2016–2017 A P P L I C AT I O N A N D FINANCIAL AID DEADLINES
Binding Early Decision Round I: November 1 (LSAT not later than October test) Binding Early Decision Round II: January 8 (LSAT not later than December test)
TUITION AND EXPENSES
Tuition: $61,400 Student Activity Fee: $85 Room: $11,250
Regular Decision: February 1
Board: $5,516
Transfer: August 1
Books and Supplies: $1,100
Financial Aid: April 15
Personal/Travel: $5,000 Cornell Health Insurance Fee: $350 Loan Fee: $220 Total estimated tuition and expenses: $84,921. For more information, visit www.lawschool. cornell.edu/ admissions/tuition/ tuition_expenses.cfm.
TRANSFER APPLICANTS
Applicants who have a strong academic record at their current ABA accredited law school, and are in good academic standing at
C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N
We invite you to call or email the appropriate office regarding admissions and financial aid, career placement, alumni, or any general questions you may have.
CORNELL EQUAL E D U C AT I O N A L AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY S TAT E M E N T – N O N D I S C R I M I N AT I O N POLICY
Cornell University has an enduring commitment to support equality
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of education and employment opportunity by affirming the value of diversity and by promoting an environment free from discrimination. Cornell Law School is committed to Cornell University’s policy affirming equality of opportunity. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX may be referred to the Director of the Office of Workforce Diversity, Equity, and Life Quality, Cornell University, 160 Day Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853-2801 (T: 607-255-3976; TDD: 607-255-7066).
Š 2016 Cornell Law School n Produced by: Communications Department, Cornell Law School n Imagery: Mihai Andritoiu, Mike Blaney, Nina Hien, Joseph Cheng Wai Hok, Bruce Hutchison, iioannou, JLA Photography, Shannon Williamson, sborisov, ZoneCreative and the photographers of Cornell Marketing Group: Robert Barker, Matt Fondeur, Lindsay France, Jason Koski, Kevin Stearns and Luke Walker.
“Our aim should be to keep instruction strong, standards high, and so to send out a fair number of well-trained, large-minded, morally based lawyers in the best sense.” ANDREW DICKSON WHITE CORNELL UNIVERSITY’S FIRST PRESIDENT
Juris Doctor Degree Program Ge n e ral I n f o r m at i o n www. l aws ch oo l . c o r n e l l . e du