why cornell law essay

why cornell law essay

Why Cornell Law School?

1. Introduction

Arguably, the basic premise of the law school experience is to learn to think like a lawyer. The study of law involves not only the acquisition of specific skills and knowledge, but also a broad exploration of the process of legal reasoning itself. Thus, the first thought that comes to my mind when considering a legal education at Cornell is the school’s commitment to the fundamental ideals of the legal profession. Any great law school provides the tools for its students to learn the law and think critically, but the outstanding institutions well, they make lawyers. We can begin to speak of a lawyer, in the sense of a learned counselor, who has the ability to make a difference in the world, only after he has developed a sound base of legal knowledge, an ability to think through complex issues, and a sensitivity to the ethical dimensions of his practice. These are the ideals of the legal profession. This is the type of person I strive to become, and this is the type of lawyer I hope Cornell will help me to realize.

2. Prestige and Reputation

The faculty’s scholarly excellence has a significant influence on the students. They consistently rate the intellectual experience at the Law School as excellent. Due to the exceptional skills and accessibility of the professors, students have the opportunity to engage in scholarship that is at the forefront of a wide range of legal subjects. This can be seen in the high student participation in faculty-supervised independent writing projects, participation in law reviews, and the abundance of public presentations and discussions of faculty works.

Following in the tradition of Cornell University, the Law School has a proud history of scholarly achievement. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Cornell is one of only 68 private universities in the United States that holds the dual status of “very high research activity” and public service. No other law school can claim a similar record over the past 25 years. Among other measures of scholarly distinction, faculty members have appeared on the entry lists of the five leading casebooks in four different subjects: civil procedure, contracts, criminal law, and torts. This is a reflection of powerful teaching and scholarship. An analysis of law review article citations found that Cornell faculty members are the 15th most cited among law professors over the past 25 years. In addition, two faculty members are public international lawyers who have served as counsel to the International Court of Justice.

3. Exceptional Faculty

To our faculty, scholarship is not secondary to teaching, nor is it seen as fulfilling a mere prerequisite. Engaging in research is something that they are passionate about and wish to implement in order to address fundamental issues in their fields of expertise. Research is also seen by many as a means to contribute to society at large. This commitment is reflected in the fact that half of our faculty’s salaries are funded by research grants, as opposed to the typical donor-funded endowment. More than a third of our faculty are the editors of major academic journals in their subjects, while individually and collectively they have played a major role in shaping legal policy around the world. Finally, there is a great sense of collegiality and shared values among our faculty that have enabled them to mentor our students and to educate them inside and outside of the classroom in ways that will prepare them to take leadership roles in their communities and the profession.

Cornell Law School’s faculty is a powerhouse of legal scholarship and teaching, and for a single reason—our one-faculty system. In this system, all faculty, who are tenured and tenure track, are engaged in both teaching and research. All play a role in our governance and are expected to impact the broader communities of law and learning, whether it be locally, nationally, or internationally. Our faculty are more collegial and less competitive than those in most law schools because of the absence of a two-faculty system of research faculty and teaching faculty. It is because we have such a distinguished research faculty that our law school has been able to maintain a substantially smaller faculty-to-student ratio.

4. Diverse and Supportive Community

It is vital for us to embrace diversity and contribute to creating a community that is inclusive and welcoming. Cornell Law prides itself on being supportive of its students. Our students collectively agree that one of the largest draws to the Cornell Law School is the environment and the feeling of unity amongst students. The community is highly diverse and very supportive of all of its members. Construction of Olin Library and Myron Taylor Hall has been completed and will provide the services and support needed for our community to pull together as well as room for it to grow. We also have a multitude of student organizations, a few that are listed below: The Black Law Students Association, Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, Latino American Law Students Association, Native American Law Students Association, and the OUTLaw organization. The law school community is thus a great environment for a person of any background to continue their education. This mission of creating an inclusive and supportive community directly ties in with one of the core values of the school, which is egalitarianism. As part of that mission, the Dean of Students Office has committed itself to ensuring that every student enjoys a thriving and dynamic life outside the classroom. Office staff serve as a useful resource for students and help develop programs that enhance the academic and social experience of our students. From the very first day, students will experience the sense of unity amongst our community members and will interact with alumni and faculty to form lifelong friendships and a network, which will further add to this enriched experience.

5. Extensive Career Opportunities

Cornell Law students look forward to starting their legal careers, and the Law School offers a multitude of resources to help students make a smooth, successful, and fulfilling transition from student to lawyer. With the OCS’s assistance, students have the opportunity to network with alumni through Cornell Connect, and participate in a variety of programs and events on campus such as employer information sessions. Through reciprocity in CAYL and various job fairs both on and off campus, students can learn about legal markets in other regions of the country. In addition, the OCS has valuable resources for international students seeking employment in the United States and American students looking for opportunities abroad. The alumni of Cornell Law School have pursued a wide array of careers in many different geographic locations. This diverse group of people is a valuable resource for our students and the OCS regularly facilitates alumni networking and mentoring opportunities. Finally, the OCS is well-prepared to assist students interested in pursuing judicial clerkships.