ABA Required Disclosures - Cornell Law School

ABA Required Disclosures - Cornell Law School
About Cornell Law School
ABA Required Disclosures
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Consumer Information
Graduate Employment Data
Policies
Consumer Information
Graduate Employment Data
Policies
Cornell Law School is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654, 312-988-6738.
Consumer Information
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Click here to view the current academic calendar.
Cornell University
Myron Taylor Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
Website:
www.lawschool.cornell.edu
2026
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Click here to view the Course Catalog.
Click here to view curricular recommendations and degree requirements.
In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications for admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for any jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission by contacting the jurisdiction. Addresses for all relevant agencies are available through the National Conference of Bar Examiners.
New York State Skills Competency Requirement Plan (PDF)
Graduate Employment Data
2025
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2025: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2025 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
2024
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2024: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2024 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
2023
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2023: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2023 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
2022
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2022: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2022 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
2021
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2021: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2021 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
2020
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2020: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2020 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
2019
ABA Graduate Employment Data For Class Of 2019: Ten Months After Graduation
Class Of 2019 Ten Months After Graduation (Pdf)
Entering Class Statistics
ABA Standard 509 Information Report
Policies
Click here to view the policy on student complaints relating to ABA Program of Legal Education Standards.
It is our intention to provide reasonable accommodations for students with qualifying disabilities. The procedures for applying for an accommodation(s) due to such a disability apply to classroom accommodations, exam accommodations, and accommodations relating to our building.
Students who believe they are entitled to an accommodation should communicate with the Dean of Students (J.D. students), the Assistant Dean for Graduate Legal Studies (LL.M. students), or the Assistant Dean for International Programs (Exchange students) as soon as possible. In order to make decisions based upon an individual’s specific situation, it may take some time for the Law School’s Administrative Committee to determine what is appropriate and fair. If at all possible, you should initiate the process in the spring or early summer before your matriculation, or, if later, as soon as the disability arises.
Upon arrival in Ithaca, you should arrange for an appointment with Student Disability Services at Cornell University. They can offer you advice and guidance on the services available to students at the University. In the alternative, you may wish to schedule a phone appointment before your arrival. To schedule an appointment with Student Disability Services, call +1 607-254-4545 or write to
sds_cu@cornell.edu
Students requesting disability accommodations must submit disability documentation and a Request for Disability Services and Accommodations Form to initiate the accommodation process. The form and guidelines for disability documentation are available at the Student Disability Services website,
. All documentation must be current and comprehensive in order to determine eligibility for accommodations in a law school environment.  This documentation should be in writing and should be from a physician who is familiar with your diagnosis and treatment. In cases of learning disabilities, a full psycho-educational report including aptitude and achievement tests reflecting all the test and subtest scores and a description of test procedures is required. (Student Disability Services may give you additional instructions.)  The report should be prepared by a professional qualified to diagnose a learning disability. The report should make written recommendations based upon your needs for accommodation in a law school environment.
Student Disability Services is satisfied that your documentation is sufficient, a written recommendation regarding possible accommodations for your disability will be sent to the Law School’s Administrative Committee. Due to the academic calendar, the Committee must have the written recommendation by the beginning of the fourth week of the Fall semester or, if later, as soon as the disability arises. Therefore, it is important that you contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. This recommendation is a precondition to action by the Law School’s Administrative Committee on any request for an accommodation.
In addition to a written recommendation, the Law School’s Administrative Committee will also need to receive a copy of the medical documentation. The Administrative Committee may request additional documentation or may request that your physician speak directly with the Law School Dean of Students. The Administrative Committee may also ask that you be evaluated by another medical professional.
We also ask you to make a written request regarding any specific type of exam accommodation or other academic accommodation which you believe to be appropriate. In this regard, please tell us the accommodations which you have been granted in college and graduate school, and on standardized tests including the LSAT and the SAT.
While your prior testing history and other accommodation history is relevant to our determination of reasonable accommodations in Law School, it is important that you realize that we will not necessarily agree to grant the particular accommodations which you have been given in the past. Only after the Administrative Committee has thoroughly considered your request for an accommodation will we be able to arrange for what we believe to be a reasonable and appropriate accommodation, given your disability and the essential components of our academic program. It is important for you to realize that an important feature of that program is the comparative grading of students based on examinations that are time-pressured, competitive, and occasionally stressful.
Once we have received: (a) written recommendations from Student Disability Services, regarding any suggested accommodations, (b) copies of your disability documentation, (c) a written request from you which includes your accommodation history, and (d) any additional information requested by the Administrative Committee, the Committee will consider the request and respond. In almost all cases, we have been able to give a student written notice of exam accommodations within two to three weeks of receiving all of the appropriate material. However, this is not always possible and the committee will respond as soon as it is able to complete its comprehensive review of the request as well as the supporting documentation.A student should not discuss his/her need for classroom or exam accommodations directly with a particular law faculty member, unless asked by the Dean of Students on behalf of the Committee to do so. The Administrative Committee may on occasion feel it is appropriate to discuss a particular accommodation request with an individual faculty member.
If the specific accommodations that you requested are denied, you may appeal that decision to the Dean of the Law School. The Dean will review each appeal to determine whether in his or her judgment the Committee’s determination is clearly erroneous, and, if it is, then the Dean may make a judgment on what accommodations are reasonable or whether further information is needed.
If you wish to request an accommodation on bar examinations, you must direct your request to the state or states to which you are applying for admission. Each state has its own procedures for bar admission.
Cornell University has an enduring commitment to support equality of education and employment opportunity by affirming the value of diversity and by promoting an environment free from discrimination. Cornell Law School is committed to Cornell University’s policy affirming equality of opportunity: No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, marital status, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status. If you feel that you have been discriminated against or harassed by a member of the university community, you have the right to file a discrimination complaint under Cornell Policy 6.4, which is available at
. You may also contact the Dean of Students Markeisha J. Miner (
law.dos@cornell.edu
; +1 607-255-5839); Assistant Dean for Graduate Legal Studies, Aimee Houghton (
ah895@cornell.edu
; +1 607-255-5185); or the Law School Director of Human Resources who is the designated harassment advisor for Cornell Law School, Liz Flint (
es232@cornell.edu
; +1 607-255-2101).
Dean’s Notice about Professional Conduct Code
Dean’s Notice about State Bar Registration
Necessary Technology
Here are the things you need to be prepared for class:
1. A computer with a video camera. Refer to
Law IT’s computer recommendations for students
2. Reliable internet. Test your speed at speedtest.net or fast.com
3. Headphones/earbuds with a microphone. Please do not rely on the built-in speakers in your computer. It can cause disruptive feedback, and echoing.
4. The latest version of Zoom’s Desktop Client. Follow
these
instructions to make sure you are ready. You need to make sure you are on the latest version to utilize the features we will be using for class.
5. Please update your Zoom profile with your photo. This can be done at
Preparing for Class
1. If you have never joined a Zoom call before,
please review this tutorial
2. Please find a quiet place that you can use for the entire class session.
3. Use headphones as your friends/neighbors/roommates may be attending a different class at the same time.
4. While the Zoom “virtual background” feature is a fun feature to play with, do so on your own time and not in class; if you do use it, use your good judgment with a plain, nondescript background. (Keep in mind that it can be distracting to others and distort your image; if that’s the case the instructor may ask you to turn it off.)
5. Find the right lighting. Dress as if you were going to class. Use a location that you are comfortable with others seeing.
6. Restart your computer before the first class to avoid any glitches.
Joining a Class Session
When signing in for class, make sure to sign in with your
Cornell account
. To make sure you sign in with your Cornell Account, choose “Sign in with SSO” >> Type “Cornell” >> and login to your Cornell Account with your netID and password.
It is very important you sign in with your Cornell Account because this is the account we may use to assign you to breakout rooms for team activities and take attendance.
Join class 5-10 minutes early
. “Technical difficulties” are not an excuse for being late — you should have all tech issues worked out before class.
Zoom will log attendance and the time you join and leave the virtual class.
Zoom links will be provided through Canvas – do not lose them. To find your recurring class link, click on “Zoom” in the Canvas navigation bar.
During Class
Class participation is expected (and in most cases, required). You should come to class prepared and ready to engage.
Mute yourself when you are not speaking. Background noise is distracting.
Be prepared to unmute yourself or be unmuted by the host at any time.
You will be required to have your video camera on at all times to effectively engage with your professor and classmates. It should be set up so participants can see your face at eye level with the camera. If you have concerns about keeping your camera on, please speak with your professor or the Dean of Students Office (
law.dos@cornell.edu
).
Use the chat function in Zoom to ask questions in class or click “raise hand” if you’d like to be called on.
Do
not
share your screen unless you are asked to do so (be aware that it will be shared with the entire class).
We are going to try our best to keep everything in the Zoom environment to limit distractions. You may also have PowerPoint or adobe open for class materials.
It is very obvious when someone is using their phone or other apps on their computer while on a video call. It is not acceptable to be surfing the web, answering emails, watching videos, or anything else not related to class content.
You will be removed from the class if you are being disruptive. This will count as an absence. Remember also that all Cornell policies, codes of conduct, academic integrity, and professional conduct remain in force.
Other
Virtual attendance is required and your attendance record is dependent on you joining each session live. All attendance policies still apply to virtual classrooms.
You may be recorded during each session.
For any students who have accessibility issues with this new online format, please follow Cornell policy and raise the issue with the Dean of Students (JDs) or Graduate Legal Studies (LLMs) Offices.
If a professor chooses not make a recording available to the entire class through Canvas (like the class link, these will be found under “Cloud Recordings” under the “Zoom” heading), you can request a link to the recording through the
Course Video Recording Request Form
[1] Many thanks to our Cornell Tech colleagues for creating these guidelines and allowing us permission to use them for the Ithaca campus. These guidelines are designed to improve the distance learning experience and provide a productive virtual classroom experience for everyone. There will certainly be iterations and things we learn along the way, and we will revise these guidelines accordingly. Please also note that your instructors may have class-specific instructions that differ from or supplement these guidelines.
Standards for Professional Conduct
Code of Academic Integrity (Law School Code of Honor)
University Code of Conduct
Click here to view the Law School Postering Policy.
Click here to view the Responsibilities of Full-Time Faculty.
Transferring to Cornell Law School (1) Students transferring into Cornell Law School from another ABA approved law school may receive up to 32 credit hours toward the 84 credit hours required for a JD degree. The amount of credit is determined by the Registrar and depends upon the particular courses taken by the transfer student.
Students at Cornell Law School who are enrolled in the JD program may receive up to 6 credits of advanced standing for work done at other ABA-approved law schools, including work done in summer and winter session programs. Transfer credit will not be given unless the work done is completed at the C or better level. Such work must be approved in advance by the Dean of Students.
More information about the transfer process can be found at
www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/jd-faq/
(2) The Law School has a number of formal programs through which participating students are eligible to receive advanced standing credit of up to 24 credit hours for satisfactory work completed. The list of participating institutions with which the Law School has written agreements for transfer dual degree credit can be found at
This link
contains more information about the law school’s exchange programs. J.D. students may earn up to 12 credits for a semester abroad.
Click here to view PDF.
Withdrawals and leaves of absence:
A student may withdraw from the law school at any time by submitting a written notice of withdrawal to the Law School Registrar. Subject to the provisions of paragraph D (2) below, the withdrawal is effective on the date the written notice is received by the Registrar. A student who withdraws from the Law School is not entitled to return.
All students are eligible to request a leave of absence from the Law School by submitting a written petition to the Law School Administrative Committee c/o the Law School Dean of Students. The petition should describe in detail the circumstances surrounding the request. For a copy of the Law School’s leave of absence policy and for procedures for return, including procedures for reentry following a health leave of absence, write or call the Law School Registrar at 255-3628.
Tuition refund policy:
Amounts personally paid for tuition may be refunded if the student requests a leave of absence or withdrawal from the Law School. The date of the written request will determine the tuition liability for the semester. Previously matriculated students who terminate their registration with the university during a fall or spring semester in this manner will be charged tuition from registration day through the date of their request as follows: first six days of the semester (including registration day), no charge; seventh day of the semester, 10 percent; second week, 20 percent; third week, 30 percent; fourth week, 40 percent; fifth week, 60 percent; sixth week, 80 percent; seventh week to the end of the semester, 100 percent.
First-time matriculates will be charged tuition from the university registration day through the date of their request as follows: first six days of the semester (including university registration day), no charge; seventh day of the semester, 10 percent; second and third weeks, 20 percent; fourth week, 30 percent; fifth and sixth weeks, 40 percent; seventh week, 50 percent; eighth and ninth weeks, 60 percent; tenth week to the end of the semester, 100 percent.
Repayment policy:
Students receiving financial aid from Cornell University or the Law School who withdraw or take a leave of absence during a term will have their aid reevaluated, possibly necessitating repayment of a portion of aid received. Repayment to aid accounts depends on the type of aid received, government regulations, and the period of time in attendance. Students with questions should consult with the Law School’s director of financial aid.
Return of Federal/Title IV Funding – Calculation:
This policy applies to students who withdraw, are administratively withdrawn, are approved for a leave of absence for longer than 180 days, or are academically dismissed from Cornell Law School. Refunds for these students are determined according to the following policy:
The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the federal financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and for students enrolled at Cornell Law School federal educational loan programs applicable to Law School.
A student’s withdrawal/leave of absence date is:
a)
The date the student began the Law School’s withdrawal process or officially notified the Law School of intent to withdraw; or
b)
The student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically related activity; or
c)
The midpoint of the period of enrollment for a student who leaves without notifying the Law School.
The determination of the student’s withdrawal/leave of absence date shall be made by the Law School.
Determining the amount of Title IV funds to be returned:
Refunds on all allowable charges including tuition and fees will be prorated on a per diem basis based on the number of days in attendance as a proportion to the number of days in the term or period of enrollment, up to the 60% point in the semester. There are no refunds after the 60% point in time, as the federal regulations view the aid has been “100% earned” after that point in time. A worksheet for this calculation and examples can be requested from the Law School Financial Aid Office.
More details are available at
Policies and Procedures Governing Leaves of Absence
The expectation of the Law School is that, once a student begins his or her studies, he or she will complete the degree program in the standard length of time (e.g., three years for a J.D. student). However, in appropriate cases, a Cornell law student in good academic standing may apply for a leave of absence prior to completing the degree, such leave to take effect immediately upon completion of the semester in which the application is made. (Only in extraordinary circumstances, e.g., those involving severe medical/psychological problems, will permission be given for a leave to begin during the course of a given semester.)*
To apply for a leave, a student must submit a written petition to the Administrative Committee describing the reasons for the leave. In the event a student is incapacitated due to medical/psychological problems, a petition for a health leave of absence may be submitted by a parent, spouse, or any other person designated by the student in advance. In extraordinary circumstances, e.g., where the student’s conduct has been unusually disruptive to the Law School or University community or where the student’s conduct suggests that remaining in school poses a significant risk to the health or safety of the student or others in the Law School or University community or a significant risk of disruption to the Law School or University environment, the Dean, in consultation with the Administrative Committee, may require the student to take a leave of absence.
Leaves are typically granted for one year only. Where the leave begins during a given semester, the student would normally be expected to return at the beginning of that same semester the following year. Prior to the expiration of the leave, a student may request, in writing, a one year extension of the leave. Only in extraordinary circumstances will a leave be extended beyond two years, and a decision to extend a leave beyond two years may be made only by the Dean in consultation with the Administrative Committee. Only in extraordinary circumstances will a student who has already taken one leave of absence be granted a second leave of absence.
If a leave of absence is granted, the Law School and/or the University will maintain jurisdiction over the adjudication of any Law School and/or University disciplinary action involving the student. A student may be required to participate in the adjudication of the disciplinary action while on leave.
In certain circumstances, the Committee may attach written conditions to the leave. For example, where a health leave of absence is requested, the leave may be conditioned on counseling or medical treatment while on leave of absence or other requirements appropriate to the conditions giving rise to the leave.* This language is not intended to discourage interested students from applying for a leave of absence during the early weeks of a semester. Any student at any time with an interest in a leave of absence is encouraged to speak with the Dean of Students whenever the need arises during the semester.
Before the end of the semester in which the leave is scheduled to expire, the student must notify the Administrative Committee that he or she expects to return to school at the beginning of the following semester.  Included in the notification must be a statement that the student has not been charged with any crime during the period of the leave, or if a student has been charged with a crime, the full details of the incident(s) leading to the charge. If conditions have been attached to the leave, the student must demonstrate that such conditions have been satisfied.
As a general matter, a student will not be permitted to resume his or her studies unless the Administrative Committee is satisfied that the student has the ability to complete law school and the judgment and integrity to function as a member of the profession. For example, in the event that the leave of absence was granted due to medical/psychological reasons, the Administrative Committee must be satisfied that the problems which precipitated the leave are resolved and that the student is able to handle all of the physical or emotional stress, as applicable, of attending law school, and that there is no significant risk of danger to the student or others or of disruption to the Law School or University environment. The Committee may require the student to make available relevant health records, to permit the Committee to communicate directly with the student’s physicians or counselors, and, in appropriate circumstances, to undergo additional medical/psychological evaluation.
Reentry may be conditional. For example, a student may be required to engage in regular and ongoing medical, psychiatric or psychological treatment when specifically related to the conditions giving rise to the leave if the Committee believes that, without such ongoing treatment, the individual will not be able to function effectively as a student or will pose a significant risk to the health or safety of himself or others or a significant risk of disruption to the Law School or University environment.
If the Administrative Committee determines that the student will not be permitted to return to the Law School, the decision may be appealed to the Dean of the Law School.  The Dean’s decision will be final.
The Law School may modify its leave policy in light of experience and consistent with the law.
Please note that when a student requests a health leave of absence, the Law School works closely with the staff of Cornell Health. Details of the Voluntary Leave of Absence for Health Reasons policy are available online at
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