Your Future
“We train versatile professionals to forge a just society— leaders who are intellectually adventurous, emotionally intelligent, and actively engaged in solving the world’s problems.” GILLIAN LESTER DEAN AND THE LUCY G. MOSES PROFESSOR OF LAW
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Your Academic Life
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Your City
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Your Community
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Your Career
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Our Curriculum
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Financial Resources
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Dates and Deadlines
The world looks to Columbia Law. For more than 160 years, the unique confluence of our unparalleled location, intellectual vitality, and innovative spirit has prepared Columbia graduates to guide society forward.
Be ready when the world looks to you. Live in the world’s most dynamic city. Learn from top-notch legal scholars deeply engaged with real-world issues. Connect with exceptional classmates and a global alumni community. Lead the way through a fulfilling career in any field you choose.
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To study at Columbia Law School is to immerse yourself in an intellectually challenging environment with all the benefits of a great university. Your classes will be taught by professors who are leading authorities in their fields of study. You will develop practical lawyering skills by participating in clinics, externships, simulations, and policy labs. You will find opportunities to collaborate with scholars and practitioners to tackle real-world challenges through data science, advocacy, and litigation. You will learn to think critically and responsibly about the law and its impact on individual lives, judicial institutions, and global affairs.
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“You need a faculty that values what’s going on in the real world and that is interested in building places of reflection about the law. Columbia excels in making the connection between the classroom and practice.” PROFESSOR OLATUNDE JOHNSON LEGISLATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS EXPERT
AREAS OF STUDY
Columbia Law professors are leading voices in the national conversation about the political and legal dynamics of the administrative state. At a time when the limits of federal, state, and private-sector authority—and the role of government itself—are being debated, our faculty members are Administrative Law producing important and Public Policy research that illuminates constitutional and statutory frameworks; the roles of Congress, the executive branch, and the judiciary; and questions about separation of powers. The Center for Constitutional Governance explores these issues in a range of policy areas, including health care, civil rights, immigration, financial regulation, and national security.
Columbia Law School has a proud history of promoting justice and equality in the United States and around the world. Our faculty and alumni have had pivotal roles at social justice and human rights organizations, such as the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Amnesty International. Our robust Civil Rights and course offerings cover a range of Human Rights Law issues, such as critical debates within the field of intersectionality studies and human rights reparations under domestic and international law. Through the Immigrants’ Rights Clinic and the Human Rights Clinic, as well as other experiential opportunities, students gain an up-front view of how the law can remedy systemic problems through impact litigation, direct-service representation, policy initiatives, and grassroots advocacy.
HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTE
Founded in 1998, the Human Rights Institute (HRI) is one of the oldest and largest law school human rights centers in the world. An anchor for the human rights community at Columbia Law, HRI advances international human rights through education, advocacy, fact-finding, research, and scholarship. Partnering with communities and organizations, HRI promotes justice and accountability for human rights violations, strengthens human rights law and institutions, and builds collective power. For example, students have traveled to the Central African Republic to help a nongovernmental agency document war crimes and advocated on behalf of sexual assault survivors in Papua New Guinea.
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Studying in one of the world’s financial capitals, Columbia Law students gain a deep understanding of corporate, securities, and transactional law. Taught by professors with unrivaled expertise and deep connections Corporate, Securities, to top New York and Transactional Law practitioners, students analyze the most pressing legal and organizational issues in both domestic and international spheres and in contexts ranging from multibillion-dollar enterprises to small businesses and nonprofit organizations. At Columbia, the tradition of studying developments in corporate law is brought to life by groundbreaking scholarship in areas such as bankruptcy, securities regulation, mergers and acquisitions, white-collar crime, and antitrust law, among others. Columbia’s Ira M. Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership and the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy are hubs, hosting visiting scholars and sponsoring an array of events that bring to campus leading professionals from the worlds of business, law, and government.
The Law School is forging new paths in the teaching, scholarship, and practice of environmental law. The curriculum includes courses on U.S. environmental law, Environmental Law international environ mental law, climate change law, energy regulation, environmental issues in business transactions, natural resources law, and animal law. Through the Environmental Law Clinic, students gain experience representing local, regional, and national organizations dealing with environmental challenges. Our Sabin Center for Climate Change Law works to create and advance legal responses to global climate change. A frequent collaborator with Columbia University’s renowned Earth Institute, the Sabin Center also offers students the opportunity to work as interns and research assistants.
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“I chose Columbia Law because it presented an opportunity for a top legal education in an amazing city. In addition to having a rich curriculum that covers a wide array of legal topics, Columbia has knowledgeable faculty members who are approachable and willing to chat about their research with interested students.” ALEXIS DANIELLE CAMPBELL ’20
With courses covering the cultural and historical contexts of LGBTQ rights, queer theory, family law, and sexual rights claims in domestic and international contexts, Columbia is at the forefront of the study of gender and sexuality law. The Law School’s Center for Gender Gender and Sexuality Law and Sexuality Law develops new approaches to complex issues facing identity-based social justice movements. Columbia Law is also home to the country’s first clinical program focused on issues of gender and sexuality law, which provides students with opportunities to participate in impact litigation, legislative work, and community advocacy projects.
Rapid advancements in technology, media, entertainment, and science have made intellectual property (IP) one of the most challenging, exciting, and controversial areas of contemporary law. Columbia Law offers traditional courses Intellectual such as Copyright Law, Patents, Property Law and Trademarks, as well as specialized courses focusing on internet law, communications policy, law and the arts, and privacy and the Constitution. Because of our New York City location, many seminars are taught by some of the world’s most prominent arts and IP lawyers. Our strengths in IP are bolstered by the Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts and by experiential offerings such as the Arts and Entertainment Law and Copyright Dispute Resolution externships.
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“Scholars are more useful the closer they are to the facts of the world. New York City—a major market for commerce, communications, and science— is fertile ground for scholarship and practice in IP law and technology.” PROFESSOR TIM WU AUTHOR OF THE CURSE OF BIGNESS: ANTITRUST IN THE NEW GUILDED AGE
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Columbia Law is an established leader in international and comparative law. Members of our faculty helped craft postwar institutions such as the United Nations, created the modern legal framework for global human rights law, and pioneered the study of foreign legal systems. International and Today the Law School is Comparative Law at the forefront of think ing and policy behind issues of security, armed conflict, global human rights, trade, international arbitration, migration, global governance, and international finance, among other areas. Our centers and programs with a regional focus (including Chinese, European, Israeli, Japanese, and Korean Legal Studies) engage and host leading thinkers, scholars, and activists; take on pressing policy issues; and enable students to collaborate with faculty on cutting-edge research. In addition, our close ties with other law schools around the world enable students to study abroad as part of the J.D. experience.
Our national security law curriculum exposes students to the challenges facing government officials and policy advocates today. Many of our faculty members have held high-level government posts on both sides of National Security Law the political aisle, allowing them to articulate the demands and difficulties U.S. officials face while balancing domestic law with national security issues and foreign policy concerns. Our National Security Law Program coordinates offerings in this area. Popular courses include Intelligence Law, Military Law and the Constitution, and National Security Investigations and Prosecutions. Students can join the National Security Law Society, which fosters close connections with faculty and practitioners through events and networking opportunities.
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STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
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COUNTRIES
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INTERNATIONAL DUAL-DEGREE PROGRAMS
“Cybersecurity is an area where interdisciplinary research and the search for solutions are critical because the problems are partly technical, they are partly political, and they are partly legal. At Columbia we have thinkers from all of those disciplines coming together.” PROFESSOR MATTHEW WAXMAN FACULTY CHAIR, NATIONAL SECURITY LAW PROGRAM
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RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
Columbia Law School’s vibrant intellectual life fosters a rich exchange of ideas, both in and out of the classroom. Students work with faculty on research that advances the understanding and application of law in the United States and around the world.
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CENTERS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING
Center for Chinese Legal Studies
Center for Israeli Legal Studies
Center for Constitutional Governance
Center for Japanese Legal Studies
Center for Gender and Sexuality Law
Center for Korean Legal Studies
Center for Institutional and Social Change
Center for Public Research and Leadership
Center for International Commercial and Investment Arbitration
Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity
Columbia Center for Contemporary Critical Thought
Kernochan Center for Law, Media, and the Arts
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
National Security Law Program
Human Rights Institute Ira M. Millstein Center for Global Markets and Corporate Ownership
Program in the Law and Economics of Capital Markets Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Our faculty are the leading scholars and thinkers in their fields. Their work shapes policy and influences the world’s most powerful public and private institutions. The Law School’s specialized research centers and programs also bring students together with renowned theorists, practitioners, CEOs, judges, and policymakers to address a wide range of contemporary issues, from Brexit to reproductive rights. Our centers regularly convene conferences and symposia— often hosting leaders from government agencies, law firms, and NGOs— and provide students with opportunities to serve as research assistants and co-authors on pressing issues of the day. Columbia’s student-run law reviews and specialized journals, many of which are the top publications in their areas, enable students to immerse themselves in scholarship of the highest quality.
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“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.” PROFESSOR BERT HUANG VICE DEAN FOR INTELLECTUAL LIFE
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JOURNALS AND LAW REVIEWS
The American Review of International Arbitration Columbia Business Law Review Columbia Human Rights Law Review
Columbia Journal of Asian Law Columbia Journal of Environmental Law Columbia Journal of European Law Columbia Journal of Gender and Law
Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems The Columbia Journal of Law & the Arts Columbia Journal of Race and Law
Columbia Journal of Tax Law Columbia Journal of Transnational Law Columbia Law Review The Columbia Science & Technology Law Review
PUBLIC INTEREST AND GOVERNMENT
At Columbia Law School, we believe that 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. Our faculty members are renowned scholars with extensive experience in public interest and government service. They design courses and seminars that equip students with innovative approaches to advocate for social justice as well as impart substantive knowledge of the law. In addition to the robust curriculum, students have opportunities for fellowships, research, and hands-on work in public service. Columbia is home to important research centers, such as the Center for Public Research and Leadership, highly regarded academic journals like the Human Rights Law Review, and pro bono initiatives such as A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual, a guide for prisoners to pursue claims pro se. Student organizations help the community flourish by hosting service projects and events and coordinating mentoring programs. And the newly created, three-year Public Interest/Public Service Fellows Program provides special opportunities for peer and faculty mentoring, connecting with practitioners and alumni, and end-to-end career counseling to prepare fellows for the competitive public service jobs market. Our diverse public interest community is anchored by our Social Justice Initiatives (SJI) office. SJI brings leading advocates to campus and provides support to students and graduates in pursuing public sector career and professional development opportunities. SJI also administers our Guaranteed Summer Funding program, which provides funding for summer internships in the public sector, and counsels students who want to take advantage of Columbia’s generous Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
Students have opportunities to volunteer at public interest organizations and work on research projects in the United States and abroad. Right: Students traveled to Alaska to provide free legal services to an organization serving low-income residents. Below: A team of students and faculty worked with scientists to investigate human rights abuses in the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea.
69%
OF THE CLASS OF 2019 EXCEEDED COLUMBIA’S PRO BONO REQUIREMENT
29,758
HOURS OF PRO BONO SERVICE PERFORMED BY CLASS OF 2019 STUDENTS
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SPRING BREAK PRO BONO CARAVANS IN 16 U.S. CITIES AND FOUR OTHER COUNTRIES
“Columbia has perhaps the most generous LRAP program, and that alone is going to allow me to do what I am passionate about: Go straight into public service.” SUZ KROEBER ’21
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Experiential learning is infused into every piece of our curriculum; it’s a fundamental way we ensure that students become proactive, effective, and ethical lawyers. From clinics and externships to simulations, labs, and workshops, experiential learning is central to a Columbia Law education. Our moot court program gives students experience with timely issues in social justice, environmental, intellectual property, and gender identity law. Under the guidance of full-time faculty members or distinguished practitioners, students gain hands-on training that prepares them for leadership roles in a variety of settings, including firms, nonprofits, government agencies, and academia.
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EXTERNSHIPS
Arts and Entertainment Law Civil Litigation: Employment Constitutional Rights in Life and Death Penalty Cases Copyright Dispute Resolution Criminal Appeals Criminal Prosecution: District Attorney’s Office, Manhattan/Brooklyn Domestic Violence Prosecution Federal Appellate Court Federal Court Clerk: EDNY, SDNY Federal Prosecution: U.S. Attorney’s Office, EDNY, SDNY Government: Semester in Washington, D.C. Holistic Defense With the Bronx Defenders Immigration Defense Immigration Law and the Family Court In-House Counsel Knight First Amendment Institute Law, Power, and Social Change Lawyering for Social Justice (Pro Bono Scholars Program) Neighborhood Defender Services of Harlem Community Defense New York Attorney General’s Office: Financial Enforcement and Economic Justice, Social and Environmental Justice Representing NYC: New York City Law Department Trusts and Estates United Nations
30+
POLICY LABS AND SIMULATIONS, INCLUDING
Advanced Bankruptcy: Deals and Issues in the Current Environment Appellate Advocacy Bioethics Mediation Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy Counseling the Digital Innovator Deals Workshop Entrepreneurship Environmental Issues in Business Transactions IP Transactional Practice: Counseling, Negotiating, and Drafting Law and Finance in Theory Law and Theatre Negotiation Workshop Practicing International Law Real Estate M&A and Restructuring Deals Workshop Trial Practice
“The clinic allows students to combine the role of being a counselor for individual clients with being an advocate for systemic policy change. That’s exciting.” PATRICIO MARTÍNEZ LLOMPART ’18 CHALLENGING THE CONSEQUENCES OF MASS INCARCERATION CLINIC PARTICIPANT
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CLINICS
Adolescent Representation Challenging the Consequences of Mass Incarceration Community Advocacy Lab Entrepreneurship and Community Development Environmental Law Health Justice Advocacy Human Rights Immigrants’ Rights Lawyering in the Digital Age Mediation Sexuality and Gender Law
YOUR UNIVERSITY
As a student at Columbia Law School, you will have access to the vast curricular and extracurricular resources of a historic Ivy League university. You will study side by side with students and scholars from around the world. In taking courses at other Columbia graduate schools, you will have the opportunity to leverage your law school education and to pursue alternative legal careers in the arts, diplomacy, finance, journalism, public health, technology, or urban planning. You will learn from renowned professors in an environment where innovation, excellence, and integrity are core values. Students have a multitude of other interdisciplinary options through events and study with the Data Science Institute, the Earth Institute, the Knight First Amendment Institute, and additional university centers.
JOINT-DEGREE PROGRAMS
Columbia University’s outstanding graduate and professional schools provide Columbia Law students with abundant opportunities to engage in interdisciplinary study and collaboration. Joint-degree options in addition to those below are available on an ad hoc basis. Business School MBA, three- and four-year programs Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation M.S. in urban planning Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Ph.D. in select programs Journalism School M.S. Mailman School of Public Health M.P.H. School of International and Public Affairs M.I.A., M.P.A., and special programs School of Social Work M.S.W. School of the Arts M.F.A. in theatre management and producing
Above: George and Amal Clooney (center), co-presidents of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, launched the TrialWatch initiative at the Law School in 2019. Bottom left: Justice LuĂs Roberto Barroso of the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court at an event co-sponsored by the Columbia Law School Brazilian Association and the Parker School for International and Comparative Law.
Your City
When you come to Columbia Law School, you become a New Yorker. You will find your home in the world’s most diverse and vibrant city—the crossroads of culture, finance, advocacy, media, and law.
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YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Home is Morningside Heights on Manhattan’s historic Upper West Side, a friendly community with the vibe of a traditional college town. You will run into classmates and professors at the biweekly farmers market or at one of the countless restaurants in nearby Harlem. You can find tranquility and recreational opportunities at one of the three magnificent parks surrounding Columbia’s iconic campus. Everything you need for a full life is within walking distance.
YOUR OPPORTUNITIES
During your school year, venturing beyond Columbia by bus, bike, or subway is easy. It’s a short trip to your externship at 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.
YOUR LEISURE TIME
Attend a Broadway show, a concert at Lincoln Center, or a basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Go with your classmates for brunch in Brooklyn or shopping in SoHo. Spend the day at the ocean or enjoy a ski weekend in upstate New York or Vermont.
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“Having the opportunity to learn, grow, explore, and begin my legal career in such an intellectual and cultural hub has been such a unique and fulfilling experience.” MICHAEL JOSEPH PURCELL ’19
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Columbia Law School fosters an ethos of inclusion and collaboration in a supportive, student-centered environment. Your remarkable classmates and professors will inspire you with their fierce intelligence, enlighten you with their unique perspectives, and impress you with their determination to make a difference. You will find allies, mentors, professional colleagues, and lifelong friends.
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YOUR CLASSMATES
Columbia Law School students have a zeal for learning, a commitment to excellence, and a resolve to effect change in the world. They are endlessly curious, imaginative, mindful, and resourceful. Their broad range of backgrounds and experiences is integral to the social and intellectual life of our community.
Student Profile 48% 40%
WOMEN
STUDENTS OF COLOR
12% INTERNATIONAL
200+ COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
100+ UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS
8.3% OF STUDENTS HAVE A GRADUATE DEGREE
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LANGUAGES SPOKEN/READ
REGIONAL BREAKDOWN
46
STATES + D.C.
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COUNTRIES ACROSS SIX CONTINENTS
AS REPRESENTED BY THE ENTERING CLASSES OF 2016, 2017, AND 2018 IN ATTENDANCE DURING THE 2018–19 ACADEMIC YEAR
“I have made lifelong friends at Columbia— people who will be a part of both my professional and personal life after I graduate. The collegial atmosphere of the entire Law School community is a great thing to see.” SHIV PATEL ’19
“Being a part of the legacy of Columbia Law School is amazing. I am now amongst a cohort of leaders and change makers and people we study in history books.” PATRICIA OKONTA ’18 (LEFT)
“Coming from a small liberal arts college, where everyone is collaborative and knows one another, I was surprised at how similar it felt here. The tone is set from the top, and it trickles down that Columbia is a place where everyone is going to succeed.” SABRINA SINGER ’18
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STUDENT LIFE
You will have myriad opportunities to bond with your extraordinary classmates. Students come together for study and sports, for parties and pro bono work, and for exploration of New York City. You will make connections and friendships that will enrich, and likely define, your Columbia Law experience.
85+
S TUDENT GROUPS, INCLUDING
American Constitution Society Asian Pacific American Law Students Association Black Law Students Association Columbia International Arbitration Association Columbia Law and Entrepreneurship Society Columbia Law Couples and Family Association Columbia Law First Generation Professionals Columbia Law School Military Association Columbia Law School Women’s Association Columbia Law Students for Disability Rights Columbia Society of International Law Federalist Society Latinx Law Students Association Middle Eastern Law Students Association National Security Law Society Native American Law Students Association OutLaws (LGBTQ+ student organization) OWLS (Older and Wiser Law Students) Public Interest Law Foundation Queer and Trans People of Color Society for Immigrant and Refugee Rights South Asian Law Students Association
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From top: the Dean’s Cup basketball game, the Law Revue, and the Paul Robeson Gala.
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Your Career
A Columbia Law School education prepares you to lead. Whether you envision yourself at a law firm, a district attorney’s office, a startup, or an international NGO, your Columbia degree positions you to succeed.
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GUIDING YOUR FUTURE
Columbia Law career advisers are with you from the beginning, providing career and professional development counseling that continues through your time in law school and beyond graduation. Our extensive alumni network and close connections with leading employers provide unrivaled access to a world of opportunities. Our office of Social Justice Initiatives (SJI) serves as the hub for career advising, pro bono opportunities, and an array of events to support students and alumni interested in public interest law and government service. SJI helps stuPublic Interest Law and dents apply for fellowGovernment Service ships and offers stipends for first- and second-year students to work for public interest organizations and government agencies. SJI regularly invites leading public servants and social justice advocates to speak on campus and hosts networking events and career skills workshops.
Columbia Law’s Office of Career Services and Professional Development helps students and graduates explore opportunities in top law firms and businesses around the world. From global firms to boutique firms, from multinational corporations to Silicon Valley startups, our counseling team will assist you in developing a career road map tailored to your goals, Private Sector passions, and geographic preferences. From editing résumés to conducting mock interviews, they will guide you every step of the way. Over four days each summer, through our Early Interview Program, the most prestigious law firms interview our students in New York City and other major legal centers.
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YOUR NETWORK: MORE THAN
27,000 ALUMNI IN
119
COUNTRIES
Right: EBay CEO Devin Wenig ’91 met with students after giving a talk about his career in technology law.
“Columbia shaped and enriched my life in ways that I am still realizing and continuing to appreciate.” ERIC HOLDER JR. CC ’73, LAW ’76 82ND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES
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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. At Columbia, we have a staff dedicated solely to clerkship counseling. They offer a variety of programs in which judges, Clerkships faculty, and alumni share information about clerkship opportunities and experiences. In any given year, at least 100 Columbia Law School graduates begin judicial clerkships around the country.
For graduates seeking careers in the legal academy, our Careers in Law Teaching Program provides training and expert guidance. Professors work with Academic Careers students and graduates to develop their individual research agenda and scholarship in preparation for an academic career. Our semester- and year-long postgraduate fellowship programs allow fellows to participate in the intellectual life of the Law School and serve as a springboard for prestigious jobs at leading law schools around the world.
RECENT GRADUATE TEACHING PLACEMENTS
Boston College Law School Brigham Young University Law School Columbia Law School Georgetown University Law Center The George Washington University Law School Harvard Law School King’s College London Princeton University University of California Berkeley School of Law University of Pennsylvania Law School University of Richmond School of Law University of Texas at Austin School of Law University of Washington School of Law Wake Forest University Law School Washington College of Law at American University William and Mary Law School
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98%
OF 2018 GRADUATES EMPLOYED 10 MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION
Law Firm 81.6% Public Interest 5.9% Government and Clerkships 10.2% Business 2%
“I would not have had the opportunities I was privileged to experience without the dedicated contingent of Columbia professors in my corner.” ALYSSA BARNARD ’15
Barnard, an associate at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, served as clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’59 in 2019. Previously, she clerked for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
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Columbia Law School offers innovative courses in both emerging and traditional areas of law. The faculty continually develop new seminars and workshops to address urgent legal issues and to prepare students for the complexities of lawyering in an increasingly globalized world.
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FIRST-YEAR FOUNDATION CURRICULUM Civil Procedure
Students are introduced 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. This course also covers pleadings, discovery, pretrial adjudication, pre- and post-trial motions, and remedies such as injunctions and punitive damages. Constitutional Law
This course explores the architecture of the Constitution, the American tradition of judicial review, and theories of constitutional interpretation and enforcement. Students learn about the individual and group rights afforded by the Constitution, its amendments, and two centuries of judicial interpretation, and they consider the foundations of constitutional consent, authorization, and limitations on states and the federal government, including separation of powers. Contracts
Contract law examines the nature of promises. Students 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. The legal doctrines governing contracts are also discussed in light of theories of justice, economic analysis, and other frameworks for evaluating public policy. Criminal Law
Defining and administering the penal code is at the forefront of policy debates across the United States. This course considers crimes and defense strategies in light of the purposes of punishment (e.g., deterrence or retribution), the application and adjudication of law by the judicial system, and the role of criminal sanctions in modern society. The course also addresses the intersection of criminal law with criminology, jurisprudence, and social theory. Foundation-Year Moot Court
To help students develop the core skills of legal practice, such as writing and delivering an argument, the Foundation-Year Moot Court requires each student to write a legal brief and argue the case orally in front of a panel of judges. Students also may choose to participate in one of many approved extramural moot court competitions in specialized areas of law, such as international or intellectual property.
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Legal Methods I and II
Legal Methods I offers an intensive introduction to the legal system and case analysis. All students take Legal Methods I, and each section shares a virtually uniform curriculum. Legal Methods II builds on that introduction, exposing students to important legal methods and jurisprudential, ethical, social, or cultural perspectives relevant to different areas of the law. Students have the opportunity to choose which section of Legal Methods II they take, depending on their own intellectual and professional interests. Legal Practice Workshop I and II
In the fall semester, students are given intensive 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, in the spring, emphasizes appellate advocacy. Students research, write, and argue an appellate brief through the Foundation-Year Moot Court program or one of the alternative extramural competitions. 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. This course examines the history and theory of ownership, government regulation, and the legal devices for allocation and development of resources. Questions about ownership of intellectual property (such as artistic and digital creations) are considered, and emerging issues, such as the ownership of body parts and cyberspace, are also explored. Torts
Tort law focuses on the common-law doctrines and precedents that assign duties of care and liability for noncontractual wrongs. This course considers negligence, the role of custom, malpractice, emotional and economic harm, causation, strict liability, products liability, nuisances, damages, defenses, and alternatives to litigation.
FIRST-YEAR ELECTIVE COURSE OPTIONS First-year students are able to choose one elective course during the spring semester. Recent offerings have included the following: Corporations
Law and Contemporary Society
Empirical Analysis of Law
Law and Legal Institutions in China
Federal Income Taxation
Lawyering for Change
Ideas of the First Amendment
Legislation and Regulation
International Law
Transnational Litigation
Labor Law
UPPERCLASS CURRICULUM The following list of courses and seminars constitutes the course of study originally approved by the Faculty of Law for the academic years 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. You can expect some changes to be made. To view the official and updated course of study, please consult our online curriculum guide (law.columbia.edu/courses), where you will find comprehensive descriptions of the curriculum, special programs, law journals, and opportunities for independent study, community externships, court clerkships, and moot court experiences. Administrative Law and Public Policy Administrative Law Advanced Administrative Law Energy Regulation Health Law Information Privacy Land Use State and Local Government Law Topics in Education Law Unfair Competition and Related Topics in Intellectual Property
Commercial Law American Contract Law Commercial Finance Contracts and Economic Organization
Seminars: Adolescence Democracy and Distribution Food Law and Policy The Future of Administrative Law: Regulatory Innovation and Judicial Review Intelligence Law Mental Health Law Regulation and Intermediation: Unearthing Old Ideas to Address New Challenges The Roberts Court
Constitutional Law Advanced Constitutional Law: First Amendment Advanced Constitutional Law: Separation of Powers Comparative Constitutional Law Constitutional Governance Constitution and Foreign Affairs Federal Courts Ideas of the First Amendment Law of the Political Process Military Law and the Constitution Modern Constitutional Interpretation and Scholarship
Civil Procedure and Dispute Resolution Conflict of Laws Courts and the Legal Process Evidence International Commercial Arbitration Mass Torts Seminars: Advanced Civil Procedure: Scholarly and Lawyerly Perspectives Advanced International Commercial Arbitration Advanced Negotiation Workshop Advanced Trial Practice Aggregate Litigation Complex Litigation Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy Construction Industry Law: Transactional Practice, Dispute Avoidance, and Resolution Electronic Evidence and Discovery Workshop Interplay of Civil and Criminal Law Negotiation Workshop Patent Litigation Pretrial Commercial Litigation Science and the Courts Thinking Like a Litigator Trial Practice
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Seminars: Antitrust in Action Contract Theory and Commercial Practice Contracts, Collaboration, and Interpretation International Bankruptcy and Insolvency Technology and Venture Capital
Seminars: Advanced Constitutional Law: Reading the Constitution American Jurisprudence: Judicial Interpretation and the Role of Courts Church and State Congress in American Foreign and Defense Policy The Constitution Constitutional Design in Post-Conflict Democracies Constitutional War Powers The Crisis of Constitutional Democracy Current Issues in Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Illiberal Constitutionalism and the Future of Constitutional Democracy Law and Regulation of Social Media Legal Interpretation Media Law Political Theory and the First Amendment September 11 and the Rights of Noncitizens Social and Legal Regulation of Firearms Supreme Court
Corporate Law Advanced Corporate Law Advanced Corporate Law: Mergers and Acquisitions American Corporate Law Antitrust and Trade Regulation Bankruptcy Law Capital Markets Regulation Complex Deal Structuring: Spin-offs and IPOs Corporate Finance Corporate Finance and Valuation Corporate Reorganization and Bankruptcy Corporations Deals Financial Crises, Regulatory Responses Financial Statement Analysis and Interpretation International Securities Regulation Litigation, Economics, and Statistics Mergers and Acquisitions Regulation of Financial Institutions Seminars: Advanced Bankruptcy: Deals and Issues in the Current Environment Advanced Antitrust: Issues in Contemporary Competition Law and Policy Advising Complex Corporations Architecture of Financial Regulation Becoming a Trusted Advisor: The Role of the General Counsel in the Modern Multinational Corporation Black Letter Law/White Collar Crime Capital Markets: Developments, Structure, and Policies Catastrophe: Avoiding Regulation Contemporary Corporate Law Scholarship: Reading Group Corporate Governance Corporate Governance and the Public Corporation Deals Litigation Deals Workshop Deals Workshop: Acquisition and Corporate Finance Deals Workshop: Dealmaking in Mergers and Acquisitions Deals Workshop: Energy Industry Restructuring Deals Workshop: Mergers and Acquisitions Transactions Deals Workshop: Public Mergers and Acquisitions
Deals Workshop: Transactional Legal Strategies Entrepreneurship Environmental Issues in Business Transactions FinTech Innovation and the Transformation of Financial Services: Business Models, Regulatory Structures, and Policy Issues The Framework of Global Financial Regulation Global Challenges of Inside Counsel Governance of Financial Reporting Issues on Global Regulatory Reform Nonprofit Institutions Nonprofit Law and Policy Organizational Misconduct Private Capital Securities Regulation Strategic International Commercial Transactions Criminal Law and Procedure Advanced Criminal Law: The Death Penalty Comparative Criminal Procedure Criminal Adjudication Criminal Investigations Federal Criminal Law The Jurisprudence of Crime: Interdisciplinary Perspectives Seminars: The American Bail System Criminal Law and Neuroscience Internal Investigations International Criminal Investigations Internet and Computer Crimes National Security Investigations and Prosecutions Policing the Police Sentencing Social Science and the Criminal Justice System Topics in Criminal Prosecution and Defense Victims’ Rights Environmental Law Climate Change Law and Policy Environmental Law International Environmental Law Seminars: Advanced Climate Change Law Energy Industry Restructuring Food Systems and U.S. Environmental Law Natural Resources Law
JANUARY TERM Every January, before the beginning of the spring semester, Columbia Law School offers a range of intensive one-week courses on cutting-edge legal topics. January Term, or J-Term, is a time for students to explore areas of the law that may not be part of their regular course of study. Classes are designed by full-time faculty to be pedagogically innovative and provide experiential learning opportunities. Offerings have included Bioethics Mediation; Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy; Financial Methods for Lawyers; Social Justice Advocacy; and the Technology, Business, Law, and Policy of AI.
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Gender and Sexuality Law Advanced Family Law: Prenups, Property Distribution, and Alimony in Divorce Family Law Gender Justice Seminars: Domestic Violence and the Law Health Care Drug Product Liability Litigation Reproductive Rights and Practices Seminars: Bioethics Mediation Drugs, Law, and Policy Genetics and the Law Jewish Law and Ethics: Biomedical Ethics Private Law, Public Health: Uses and Limits of Tort Law for Advancing Public Health Human Rights Civil Rights Human Rights Public Health Law and Social Justice Refugee Law and Policy Seminars: The Defense of Freedom of Expression Around the World: The Role of the Advocate Human Rights at Home: Advancing U.S. Social Justice Human Rights Reparations Under Domestic and International Law International Criminal Courts: Progress, Problems, and Prospects Managing Human Rights Socioeconomic Rights: Theory and Practice Transitional Justice Intellectual Property and Technology Computers, Privacy, and the Law Copyright Law Law in the Internet Society Patents The Technology, Business, Law, and Policy of AI Trademarks Seminars: Authors, Artists, and Performers Counseling the Digital Innovator Current Issues in Copyright Federal Court Litigation: Trademark and Copyright Intellectual Property in the Digital Age IP Transactional Practice: Counseling, Negotiating, and Drafting Law and Theatre Law and the Music Industry Law and Visual Arts Law in the Age of Digital Platforms
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Interdisciplinary Legal Studies Anthropology and the Law Behavioral Law and Economics Data and Predictive Coding for Lawyers Law and Economics Law and Finance in Theory and Practice Sports and the Law Seminars: Algorithms and the Law Biases and Behavioral Economics in Legal Institutions Economics, Law, and Public Policy Freedom: Individual, Political, and Academic International Banking and Finance: The Challenges Theater of Change: Artistry, Law, and Activism International and Comparative Law African Legal Theory, Law, and Development Brexit: Reading Group Colloquium in Global Business Law Commercial Arbitration in a Global Economy Comparative Constitutional Studies Comparative Corporate Governance Comparative and International Antitrust European Union Law and Institutions Geopolitics of Law and Conflict on the Korean Peninsula Global Constitutionalism International Arbitration in Latin America International Business Transactions International Commercial Arbitration International Criminal Law International Investment Law and Arbitration International Law International Taxation Issues on Global Regulatory Reform Japanese Law, Society, and Economy Jurisprudence of War Law, Development, and Emerging Politics in Africa: Reading Group Law and Legal Institutions in China The Law of Genocide Law of the WTO Refugee, Migration, and Citizenship Law: A Comparative Perspective Rebuilding Government Transnational Litigation Seminars: Art, Cultural Heritage, and the Law China in U.S. Courts Contemporary Challenges to the International Laws of War Drafting and Negotiating Cross-Border M&A Transactions Enforcing International Law Extractive Industries and Sustainable Development Fighting Corruption in Sports Foreign Direct Investment and Public Policy Geopolitics of Law and Conflict on the Korean Peninsula International Economic Migration International Humanitarian Law
International Human Rights Advocacy International Investment Arbitration International Lawyering for Governments International Trade Regulation Issues Labor Rights in a Global Economy Practicing International Law Russia in the International Order Topics in Jewish Law Transnational Business and Human Rights U.S. Civil and Criminal Enforcement of International Cartels Labor and Employment Law Disability Law Labor Law Seminars: Employment Discrimination Litigation Legal History and Philosophy American Constitutional History American Legal History Civil Liberty and Segregation in 20th-Century America English Legal History Ideas of the First Amendment Law and Philosophy Legal Theory Workshop Nuremberg Trials and War Crimes Law Seminars: Animal Law Biblical Jurisprudence Contemporary Critical Thought Extraterritorial Constitutional Law: History, Theory, Doctrine Foundations of Practical Thought Jewish Law and Business Ethics Law and Philosophy The Legal History of American Slavery Native American Law Problems in Philosophy of Law Sovereignty, Human Rights, Judicial Review Legal Profession and Professional Responsibility Advanced Lawyering in the Digital Age Ethics on the Edge: Business, Nonprofit, Government Lawyer Leadership: Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading Change Professional Responsibility Professional Responsibility Issues in Business Practice Professional Responsibility Issues in Public Interest Practice Professional Responsibility for the Transactional Lawyer Professional Responsibility in Criminal Law Professional Responsibility in Global Business Professional Responsibility: Representing Business Organizations Workshop in Briefcraft
Seminars: Advanced Federal Prison Litigation Advanced Legal Research Techniques Advanced Negotiation Workshop Appellate Advocacy The Changing World of Large Law Firms Exploring the Role of the General Counsel Law Firm Financial Management Law, Justice, and Reflective Practice Lawyer Leadership: Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading Change Legal and Ethical Obligations in Complex Litigation  Professional Responsibility: Becoming a Lawyer Representing Nonprofit Organizations: A Lawyering Skills Simulation Course Trial Skills: Immigration National Security Law National Security Law Terror and Consent Seminars: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, and Surveillance Law National Security Law and Policy: Case Studies Property, Real Estate, and Trusts and Estates Real Estate Development Real Estate Finance Trusts and Estates Seminars: Advanced Real Estate Transactions Drafting and Negotiating Commercial Real Estate Documents Drafting Wills and Trusts Real Estate M&A and Restructuring Deals Workshop Racial, Economic, and Social Justice Educational Equality: The Role of Law Immigration Law Law, Culture, and Notions of Justice Seminars: Access to Justice: Current Issues and Challenges Adolescence Civil Rights Lawyering in the Modern Era: Theory and Practice Critical Race Theory Workshop Law and Policy of Homelessness Schools, Courts, and Civic Participation Structural Change in Public Education Policy and Social Change Lab Vision, Action, and Social Change Taxation Corporate Taxation Federal Income Taxation International Taxation Partnership Taxation Taxation of Financial Instruments Seminars: Tax Deals Workshop
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Financial Resources FINANCING YOUR LEGAL EDUCATION Admissions decisions at Columbia Law School are made without regard to an applicant’s financial need.
Tuition $69,896 Fees $2,569
Therefore, grant applications are reviewed only after a student has been admitted. If you are interested in grant assistance, you must complete your application as early as possible so that it can be evaluated soon after you have been admitted. Students admitted under the Early Decision Plan are reminded that they should not expect to be notified of their financial aid package before the end of March, at the earliest.
Room and Board $19,947
We strongly recommend that all applicants file the required forms no later than February 15, even if they have not yet received an offer of admission.
Total expenses, including tuition and student fees, are estimated at $101,345. Budget components are adjusted annually.
The Law School awards grant assistance primarily on the basis of demonstrated financial need. However, there are a number of fellowships that are not based on need that are awarded at the time an applicant is admitted to the Law School. There is no separate application for these fellowships. Each year a substantial portion of the entering class receives a Law School grant in the form of a partial tuition waiver. However, the majority of law students utilize educational loans to finance their expenses in whole or in part.
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2019–2020 TUITION AND EXPENSES
Books and Supplies $1,500 Personal Expenses $4,000 Health Insurance $3,433
THE LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Columbia Law School’s Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) supports Columbia J.D. graduates who pursue public interest and public service careers by providing them with financial assistance to service the educational debt they assumed while at the Law School. In addition to the traditional LRAP, participants may elect to participate in both the Columbia Law School LRAP and the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. All Columbia J.D. graduates in qualifying employment are entitled to its generous assistance, and there is no salary cap. In some cases, graduates who demonstrate exceptional dedication and potential for contribution to the public good are awarded public interest fellowships, which provide enhanced loan repayment assistance to the fellows. For more information, please visit law.columbia.edu/finaid.
LRAP SUMMARY
Participants are not expected to contribute to annual loan payments if their calculated income is less than $55,000. Graduates may elect to participate in the Columbia Law School LRAP, the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, or a combination of the two programs.* raduates may join the G program up to seven years after graduating. RAP loans are partially L forgiven from years three to five and fully forgiven on an annual basis in years five to 10. Spousal educational debt service up to $10,000 may be included in the repayment formula. LRAP participants with dependent children are eligible for an allowance of up to $10,000 per child. Program eligibility provisions are available for graduates on parental leave or in part-time employment. *Please consult with the LRAP administrator for complete LRAP terms and limitations.
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In the Heart of It All
Kara, can we leave “Close to It All”?
New York is the epicenter of law, business, and culture—federal courthouses, the financial exchanges, and myriad museums, theaters, and restaurants. At Columbia Law you can dive in to a world of new experiences, all easily accessible via subway, bus, or even bicycle. We invite you to meet with Admissions representatives in person or on the phone, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pick up a map to guide you on a campus tour, or sit in on a class in your area of interest—a schedule of those open to visitors is available at our office and on our website. We look forward to meeting you. 1125 Amsterdam Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10025 T 212.854.2674 | admissions@law.columbia.edu Learn more about visiting at law.columbia.edu/admissions/jd/visit. 50
APOLLO THEATER
COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL
Morningside Park
Riverside Park LaGuardia Airport
Central Park AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
LINCOLN CENTER
Newark Liberty International Airport TIMES SQUARE PENN STATION
GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL UNITED NATIONS Queens
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE 2ND CIRCUIT
Brooklyn
U.S. DISTRICT COURT (SDNY)
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE
U.S. DISTRICT COURT (EDNY)
John F. Kennedy International Airport
“As a proud alumna and having served as dean of admissions for more than 15 years, I can say with certainty that Columbia is a very special place to pursue a legal education: We provide exceptional legal training to remarkable students in an incomparable location.” NKONYE IWEREBON ’93 DEAN OF ADMISSIONS
OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS
Mailing address: 435 West 116th Street, Box 4004 New York, NY 10027 Office location: 1125 Amsterdam Avenue, 5th Floor New York, NY 10025
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 universityadministered programs.
2019–2020 Dates and Deadlines Early Decision November 15, 2019 Financial Aid February 15, 2020 Regular Decision February 15, 2020 Transfer July 15, 2020
For more information, please visit law.columbia.edu/admissions/jd/apply.
law.columbia.edu/admissions/jd