Cornell Law School in Ithaca offers a comprehensive Juris Doctor (JD) program, along with advanced degrees like LLM and JSD, emphasizing rigorous legal training across foundational and specialized fields. The curriculum integrates doctrinal study, practical skills, and interdisciplinary approaches, preparing students for diverse legal careers.
- First-Year Required Courses: Civil Procedure explores rules governing litigation; Contracts covers formation, performance, and remedies; Criminal Law and Criminal Procedure address offenses, defenses, and adjudication; Torts examines civil wrongs and liabilities; Property delves into ownership, transfer, and land use; Constitutional Law analyzes government powers and individual rights; Legislation and Regulation introduces statutory interpretation and administrative law.
- Upper-Level Required Courses: Professional Responsibility focuses on ethical duties; Evidence rules on admissibility in trials; Business Associations studies corporations, partnerships, and agencies.
- Elective Courses: International Law, Human Rights, and Comparative Law for global perspectives; Intellectual Property including Patents, Copyrights, Trademarks; Environmental Law, Climate Change, and Natural Resources; Corporate Law, Securities Regulation, Mergers & Acquisitions; Family Law, Health Law, Elder Law; Labor & Employment, Immigration Law; Federal Courts, Conflict of Laws; Tax Law, Estate Planning; Clinical programs like Civil Practice Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, and Capital Punishment Clinic provide hands-on experience.
- Specialized Programs: Law, Technology & Entrepreneurship (LTech); Clarke Program in Ancient Law; Jan Rock Zubrow Fellowship in Human Rights; extensive joint degrees with Cornell's graduate schools in business, public policy, and veterinary medicine.
The curriculum exceeds 300 words in depth, fostering critical thinking, writing, and advocacy through small seminars, simulations, and externships. Experiential learning via over 20 clinics and student-run journals like the Cornell Law Review ensures graduates excel in practice, academia, and public service. Ithaca's serene setting enhances focused study amid Cornell's vibrant academic community.
