Collegial. That is how Law School students describe the community at Cornell. With approximately 200 students per class, you are likely to know most of them.
At Cornell, you will find a rigorous and vibrant intellectual community in which students view one another as colleagues instead of competitors. What makes us unique among top law schools is that the entire range of options will be available to you in a supportive, collegial environment.
Cornell Law School’s student diversity organizations are important links to a network of information and support. With the backing of the Law School, they work separately and together to present workshops, seminars, panel discussions, conferences, and moot-court competitions.
In recent years, student organizations have held professional development “boot camps” in which minority students learn about career options, network with seasoned lawyers, and participate in mock interviews.
Cornell Law student organizations offer networks of support including:
- Asian American Law Students Association
- Black Law Students Association
- Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Allies Students Association
- Latino American Law Students Association
- Native American Law Students Association
- South Asian Law Students Association
- Women’s Law Coalition
- Women of Color Collective
The sense of community here extends well beyond the walls of the Law School. Our affiliation with a large, Ivy League college (Cornell University) also benefits Law School students. Students are encouraged to attend special events held for invited speakers and entertainers as well as the University’s unsurpassed athletic, dining, and library facilities.
Some say the City of Ithaca is what binds the Cornell community together. Ithaca is small yet cosmopolitan and offers an eclectic variety of restaurants, shopping venues, and outdoor activities for students to enjoy when not in the classroom. Ithaca has received many accolades from national publications for its quality of life, and because most Cornell Law students live off-campus, many of them learn to call the neighborhoods of Ithaca home.
JOIN A SUPPORTIVE NETWORK
When you enroll at Cornell Law you join more than a student body. You become part of a vibrant alumni network that stretches across the globe and into every field of legal practice and you will gain a support system of peers, mentors, and potential future employers.
That support starts before your first semester at the Law School even begins. Each year we award over $10 million in scholarships to new and returning students. Nearly half of Law School students receive scholarship assistance with average awards of more than $20,000 per year. While a majority of Cornell Law School graduates join private law firms, some choose lower-paying public-interest or public-sector positions. These graduates become eligible for one of the most generous loan-forgiveness programs in the nation. The Financial Aid Office can help you understand your options and choose the best way to finance your education.
As a student, you will have an academic support director, as well as options for counseling by upper-level students. You will also have access to resources for technical assistance, physical and mental health care, and spiritual outreach. No matter what your need, you will always have somewhere to turn.
The Career Services Office, Public Service Office, and Office of Judicial Engagement will work with you during your years at the Law School through graduation and beyond. By the time you leave Cornell, you will have the tools you need to make a favorable impression on prospective employers, and you will have access to the following:
- Workshops on resume and cover letter writing, interview techniques, and networking
- Job postings available only to Cornell Law students
- Career information library including directories, books, and other print and electronic publications
- One-on-one job search counseling
- Programs and panels on various types of law practice
- Job fairs held on campus and across the country
- Alumni “shadow” and mock interview programs