Columbia Law School Viewbook 2022

“YOU

WISELY QUESTION

WISELY QUESTION

LIFE AT COLUMBIA LAW

LOCATION ADVANTAGE

YOU ARE HERE Live and study in Morningside Heights on Manhattan’s historic Upper West Side, a friendly neighborhood with a college-town vibe. All first-year law students are guaranteed housing in apartments managed by Columbia, and most live on campus for all three years. From campus, you are only a walk or subway ride away from endless experiences in New York City. law.columbia.edu/community-life/your-campus-your-city

SUBWAY TIME FROM CAMPUS

15 minutes to: Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts 20 minutes to: Midtown, Broadway, Madison Square Garden, and Times Square

25 minutes to: New York Public Library and Greenwich Village 30 minutes to: Grand Central Terminal, High Line, Whitney Museum, SoHo, and Tribeca

40 minutes to: Chinatown, Wall Street, One World Trade Center, and Lower Manhattan courthouses

WORK AND PLAY

Legal Life

From campus, it’s just a short trip to your externship with the United Nations or a federal court, your internship at a district attorney’s office or the national headquarters of the ACLU or NAACP, or your job interview at a top law firm or NGO.

Green Spaces

Get outdoors and explore Manhattan’s iconic parks—all 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 river 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 diverse and inclusive 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 intelligence, creativity, determination, and empathy. They will be your allies, mentors, and lifelong friends. law.columbia.edu/community-life

“People care a lot about the work they are doing and give their best with everything they do. . . . My experience has been incredibly collegial—from individuals sharing outlines and notes when I missed classes for moot court competitions to the mentors I have gained.”

KODJO KUMI

’21

QTPOC, CG, BLSA, CLWA, CRELS: Behind the acronyms, you’ll make friends, make connections, and make a difference.

Choose from more than 85 student organizations and 14 journals.

BOLDLY REASON

BOLDLY REASON

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

Columbia Law School’s Beyond the Casebook lunch series offers 1Ls the opportunity to discuss timely, relevant issues outside the classroom. Faculty join small groups of students in dialogue about legal, moral, and societal concerns; the series also hosts events organized around faculty research and publications.

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 argue the case orally in front of a panel of judges. You may also participate in one of 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 Critical Legal Thought and Law and Contemporary Society.

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 the 2022–2023 and prior academic years. You can expect some changes to be made. Visit the online curriculum guide to explore the complete, up-to-date list of courses along with descriptions of the curriculum and other programs, including externships, clerkships, moot courts, independent study, and law journals.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, REGULATION, AND PUBLIC POLICY

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), Constitutional War Powers (seminar), Congressional Oversight— Past, Present, and Future (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Community Advocacy Lab Clinic; Externship on the Federal Government: Semester in Washington, D.C.; Center for Constitutional Governance

CORPORATE, BUSINESS, AND TRANSACTIONAL LAW

The complex relationships among boards, banks, investors, management, and other stakeholders create a shifting legal landscape for businesses— which demands lawyers who are agile advisers, strategists, dealmakers, and problem solvers.

SAMPLE COURSES

Antitrust and Trade Regulation (lecture), Deals Workshop (simulation), Black Letter Law/White Collar Crime (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Center on Corporate Governance, The CLS Blue Sky Blog, In-House Counsel externship, Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership

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

Trial Practice (simulation), International Criminal Law (colloquium), Criminal Investigations (lecture)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual, Social Change and Community-Based Lawyering externships, Criminal Defense Clinic

ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY

Protecting the environment requires leveraging tools that exist in nearly every area of the law. The law not only shapes how governments, corporations, and NGOs address threats to the planet and humanity; it also empowers at-risk groups.

SAMPLE COURSES

Climate Change Law and Policy (lecture), Environmental Practice (externship), Food Systems and U.S. Environmental Law (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment, The Earth Institute at Columbia University

DATA ANALYTICS

Technology is revolutionizing the practice of law and the administration of justice. Today’s lawyers need fluency with cuttingedge technological tools, the skills to compile and analyze large data sets, and the ability to interpret findings for a broad audience.

SAMPLE COURSES

Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Surveillance Law (seminar); Litigation, Economics, and Statistics (lecture); Law, AI, and Other People’s Money (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

The Data Science Institute at Columbia University; The Columbia Science and Technology Law Review; Society for Law, Science, and Technology

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

Gender Justice (lecture), Meanings of Motherhood: Legal and Historical Perspectives (lecture), Domestic Violence Prosecution (externship)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, Studio for Law and Culture

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND TECHNOLOGY

Columbia Law School faculty are at the forefront of discussion on potential antitrust action against the online giants. The reach of internet-based businesses has given rise to debate over whether Big Tech firms engage in unfair competition and monopolistic behavior.

SAMPLE COURSES

Free Expression and Social Media (seminar), Arts and Entertainment Law (externship), Copyright Law (lecture)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts; Science, Health, and Information Clinic; Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic

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), Labor Rights in a Global Economy (seminar), Sports and the Law (lecture)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic, Civil Litigation externships

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

Comparative and International Law Workshop (seminar), European Union Law and Institutions (lecture), Law and Authoritarianism (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Smith Family Human Rights Clinic; 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

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 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); Lawyer Leadership: Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading Change (seminar); Lawyers and Leaders (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Davis Polk Leadership Initiative, Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership, Center for Public Research 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

Law and Neoliberalism (lecture); The Law, Politics, and History of U.S. Trade Policy (seminar); Constitutional History of American Empire (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 in Latin America (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

Mediation Clinic, Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration, Criminal Defense 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); September 11, The Trump Administration, and the Rights of Non-Citizens (seminar); Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Surveillance Law (seminar)

SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES

National Security Law Program, National Security Law Society, Knight First Amendment Institute

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

Abolition: A Social Justice Practicum (practicum), Refugee Law and Policy (lecture), Racial Justice Advocacy 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 SOCIAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES

(SJI)

SJI 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, SJI 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-interest-financing

Columbia offers specialized programs, fellowships, support, and resources for students interested in pursuing careers in public interest/public service. For example, 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 more financially practical for graduates.

280

members of the Class of 2022 exceeded the 40-hour pro bono requirement.

31,000+ hours of pro bono service were performed by Class of 2022 students.

Spring Break Pro Bono Caravans (remote and in-person) took place throughout the United States and overseas in 2022.

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 felt it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend such an incredible law school. It pushed me outside my comfort zone and opened up so many doors. I participated in the Native American Law Student Association Moot Court, and that was a really great learning opportunity. The most important part of law school was learning to think like an attorney.”

KATIE

BROSSY ’05, SENIOR COUNSEL IN THE AMERICAN INDIAN POLICY AND REGULATION PRACTICE AT AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD

CLINICS

law.columbia.edu/academics/experiential/clinics

Columbia’s clinics put you in the role of an attorney, providing legal assistance to individuals, communities, and organizations that would not otherwise have access to high-quality representation. Under the supervision of dynamic full-time faculty, you’ll work with clients to understand their goals and develop critical legal skills and ethical judgment.

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.

STUDY ABROAD AND INTERNATIONAL DUAL DEGREES

law.columbia.edu/study-abroad-international-dual-degrees

Choose from more than two dozen international study options offered by some of the world’s major centers of legal scholarship.

■ 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.

■ Supplement your legal studies by spending a semester abroad at one of Columbia’s partner institutions.

study, either at Columbia University’s graduate

institutions. Options include 10 dual degree

Columbia University, a three-year accelerated J.D./MBA

four-year J.D./MBA

Columbia Business School, and the option to design

own dual or joint degree program (contingent on approval from both schools).

MINDFULLY LEAD

MINDFULLY

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 startup, or an international NGO, your Columbia Law education positions you for success and prepares you to lead. Columbia Law career advisers in offices dedicated to the private sector, public interest/public service, and judicial clerkships provide counseling that continues through your time in law school and beyond graduation. law.columbia.edu/careers

“ I want my professional body of work to matter, and Columbia Law School consistently graduates professionals who go on to impact the shape and form of our society in a variety of disparate but uniquely important ways.”

KIERA LYONS ’24

PUBLIC INTEREST/ PUBLIC SERVICE

law.columbia.edu/careers/public-interest

The Office of Social Justice Initiatives 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 Career Services and Professional Development 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-clerkships

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 Clerkships 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/academicscholars-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

“Columbia helped me build a career from which I have found great satisfaction, in large part because my work has brought me together with people who have a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and specialties.”

LUCY LANG ’06, NEW YORK STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL

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.

FINANCIAL RESOURCES

law.columbia.edu/financial-aid

Columbia Law School awards grant assistance primarily on the basis of demonstrated financial need. The Financial Aid Office 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.

Columbia University admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the university. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender (including gender identity and expression), pregnancy, religion, creed, marital status, partnership status, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, military status, or any other legally protected status in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other university-administered programs.