Stoll Program for Law & Society
"The skills I learned as an expert witness on Cornell’s mock trial team are ones I use every day as a legal writer that supports experts applying for citizenship and work authorization in the United States."
Kahn Branch ‘16
Legal Writer at Erickson Immigration Group
Preparing for a career in law at Cornell
The pathway to getting into law school can take many forms and law schools do not require a specific undergraduate major to qualify you for admission. A liberal arts education like you receive at Cornell will allow you to acquire a wide variety of skills that will prepare you for further studies. You can explore subjects such as philosophy, anthropology, and sociology to better understand the human psyche for criminal law, international relations, or business management provide a great base for pursuing business law. With One Course At A Time you'll have the opportunity to try many things and hone in on the ones that interest you most.
How can the Stoll Program for Law & Society help you?
The Stoll Program supports all students, from those who walk in the door knowing they want to go to law school to those who have no desire to become lawyers yet want to understand how the legal system might apply to their future careers.
For those of you who know you want to go to law school, advice from our pre-law advisors will help make you a good candidate. Faculty Director, Meghan Yamanishi, also offers an in-person prep course for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) for nothing more than the cost of materials (~$275). Similar courses often cost more than $1,500.
And even if you don’t know if law school is right for you, the Stoll Program can help you figure it out. We can cover the costs of internships around the country and connect you with alumni happy to answer your career questions. Our Pre-Law Honors Society also provides a place for you to connect with other students asking the same questions that you have.
What makes pre-law at Cornell different?
Pre-law at Cornell is active, dynamic, and a college priority. We are constantly working with students to plan new pre-law opportunities. Want to see what our pre-law program does during a typical semester? Take a look at a recent pre-law newsletter!
Additionally, the block plan provides a unique opportunity to prepare for law school. Our alumni who attend law school often relay that they found law school easier than their peers because of the time management skills they developed on the block plan.
Finally, Cornell has a nationally competitive mock trial program that helps students learn how to advocate for themselves and others. Haven’t heard about mock trial before? Visit our mock trial page for info, videos, and pictures.
Your path to law school starts here
Cornell has a long history of preparing its graduates for the rigors of law school and for success as legal professionals. Consistent with the best advice of law schools themselves, Cornell has no formal "pre-law" major. Instead, we provide guidance on how to develop the skills you will need to succeed in law school within the context of a liberal arts education. We also provide guidance and support throughout the law school admissions process.
What does pre-law look like at Cornell?
Explore how pre-law might look for you at Cornell, please note that there is no “correct” path to law school and pre-law activities will vary for every student.
First-year: exploring
Your first year is your opportunity to explore what interests you about the law. Talk about Supreme Court cases with other students in our Pre-Law Honors Society. Work with our Civic Engagement Office to find volunteer opportunities. We also recommend meeting with our pre-law advisors to figure out how to take courses that will develop the critical thinking, reading comprehension, and writing skills you will need for law school.
Sophomore year: engaging
During your sophomore year, you can build on the exploration you did as a first-year student. Take some of our law-specific courses, such as Constitutional Law, Employment Law, or President Brand’s course exploring the legal system (Nature, Functions & Limits of the Law). Set up job shadows with local lawyers through the Berry Career Institute. Join our LEADS program.
Because applying to law school is a two-year process, we also recommend you set up an appointment during the spring semester of your sophomore year with our pre-law advisor to make sure you are ready to hit the ground running at the start of your junior year. How do you set up an appointment? Use HandShake→Pre-Law/Government, Law & Politics Career Cluster→Pre-Law Advising to select an available appointment time.
Junior year: planning
Junior year is a good time to decide if you want to go to law school immediately after you graduate from Cornell or if you would like to take some time off. If you decide you want to go to law school the fall after your graduation, you will want to work with the Berry Career Institute to identify law schools that interest you and figure out how to finance your law school education. You will also want to take Professor Yamanishi’s LSAT Prep Course so you are prepared to take the LSAT during the summer before your senior year. The prep course runs from Block 4 through Block 8. Sessions are approximately two hours each and are designed to work with Cornell's block schedule.
Junior year is also a great time to find an internship that allows you to work with the law. The Berry Career Institute can connect you with internships that focus on public interest law or help you develop the networking skills you will need to land an undergraduate internship with a law firm. Our students have done both in recent summers. Keep in mind that we also provide funding to support students who decide to do internships.
Senior year: succeeding
If you plan to attend law school the fall after your graduation from Cornell, you should start preparing your application during the summer between your junior and senior years. During this summer, connect with faculty about letters of recommendation, update your resume, and start working on your personal statements.
Want to work for a few years before attending law school? The Berry Career Institute can help you develop the skills you will need to find your next job. We can also connect you with prestigious fellowships that will sometimes provide funding for law school.
Whatever you decide, we recommend that pre-law seniors meet with us once a block during the fall semester of their senior year. Just go to HandShake→Pre-Law/Government, Law & Politics Career Cluster→Pre-Law Advising to select an available appointment time.
Pre-law advising continues after Cornell
Cornell continues to help alumni with law school applications long after they have graduated from Cornell. We are also happy to connect law students and other alumni in the legal field with internship and job opportunities. Simply email the pre-law program director to set up an appointment.