Greetings from Myron Taylor Hall,

As I write this, we are a little more than halfway through the fall term and I am pleased to share that our students are thriving and our community is strong. The pandemic continues to affect the way we teach and learn, but rest assured that the Socratic Method is alive and well here, as are innovative new instructional methods pioneered in the remote classrooms last year and refined for in-person learning.

The newest class of 1Ls is without a doubt the best-credentialed group in the history of the Law School, with outstanding grades and a median LSAT of 171, a full three points higher than the classes that preceded them.  At the other end of the educational journey, our 3L class has strong early employment numbers, with students set to join the profession in big law, clerkships, and public service upon graduation.

We are deeply proud of and grateful to the faculty who teach those students.  A visit to our news page will find stories of groundbreaking scholarship on juries, successful impact litigation by our First Amendment Clinic, and professors and their students teaming up to help Afghan refugees.

One other piece of news: The Law School, and the University as a whole, has recently launched a comprehensive fundraising campaign. Learn more about Cornell’s Campaign To Do The Greatest Good by watching the launch video and visiting the campaign website greatestgood.cornell.edu. You’ll hear from some extraordinary Cornellians united with a shared purpose to make a lasting difference in the world.

An important lesson of my first months as the Allan R. Tessler Dean of Cornell Law School has been the vital role that an informed and connected alumni community plays in the success of this institution.  Alumni who serve as teachers and mentors to our students, hire our graduates, advocate on our behalf, and who support us financially are helping to ensure the continued excellence of Cornell Law School.  I suspect that if you are reading this, you are among those great alumni who have helped your alma mater in the last year. On behalf of all of us: thank you.

Sincerely,

Jens David Ohlin
Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law