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Students

Student Organizations and Publications

In addition to the many student organizations at Cornell Law School, law students participate in the following organizations with an international focus:

Cornell International Law Journal

Founded in 1967, the Cornell International Law Journal is one of the oldest and best-known of the professional journals devoted to international and comparative law.

Each year approximately seventy J.D. and graduate law students publish three issues with articles by leading scholars, practitioners, and government officials, and shorter pieces written by student editors on current issues of international or comparative law.

The Journal also hosts, and publishes the proceedings of, an annual symposium on current international or comparative law topics co-sponsored by the Berger International Legal Studies Program. Read more.

International Moot Court Competitions

Law Students at Cornell have many opportunities to participate in international moot court competitions. Under the auspices of the Berger Program, Cornell regularly sends teams of students to participate in competitions, including the Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition, the Niagara Competition (for U.S. and Canadian schools), the Toronto Moot Court Competition (for first-year law students), and the Wilhelm Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition, in Vienna.

In February of 2000, Cornell Law School hosted the Mid-Atlantic Regional Jessup Moot Court Competition. That same year, the Cornell team advanced from the regional competition to the international competitions in Washington, D.C.

Herbert W. Briggs Society of International Law

Approximately sixty to eighty students participate in this student-run organization each year, which was named in honor of one of Cornell's best-known public international law teachers and scholars. In cooperation with the Berger Program, the Briggs Society is involved in the following activities:

Sponsors a number of field trips and events designed to bring J.D. and LL.M. students together throughout the year.

  • Promotes student interest in international and comparative law at Cornell Law School.
  • Co-sponsors many events in the international and comparative law speaker series.
  • Works in conjunction with the career office and the alumni office in planning special events to introduce students to career opportunities in international law.
  • Coordinates with the Moot Court Board on international moot court competitions such as the annual Jessup International Moot Court competition.

Cornell Advocates for Human Rights

Cornell Advocates for Human Rights (CAHR) provides students with an opportunity to actively promote human rights issues around the world. CAHR

  • Sponsors guest speakers and other events.
  • Builds relationships with nongovernmental organizations to provide students with pro bono research and advocacy opportunities.
  • Lobbies the CLS administration to provide more educational opportunities in the field of human rights, including the establishment of a human rights clinic.
  • Works with the careers services office to provide students with information on summer and permanent work opportunities in domestic and international human rights.

Cornell LL.M. Students Association

In 1998, the LL.M. candidates formed their own student-run association, the Cornell LL.M. Students Association. The LL.M. Students Association, in conjunction with the Berger Program, sponsors special events with the LL.M. Students, such as a field trip to the United Nations in conjunction with the Briggs Society of International Law, and other social and academic events. The association also coordinates activities and events with the Cornell Law Students Association, the principal student-run organization at the school. Read more (pdf).

Cornell European Law Students Association (CELSA)

In 1999, several J.D. and LL.M. students with an interest in Europe formed the Cornell European Law Students Association to enhance and showcase the strong European presence at Cornell Law School. CELSA sponsors events to bring European and non-European students together and encourage dialogue on important issues facing Europe today.