Overview
Applicants
5,877
Acceptance Rate
20%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.70
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
391
Test Scores
LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
(enrolled students)
168 - 174
Deadlines
Application Deadlines
February 15
Application Process
Rolling Admissions
Yes
Application Fee
$85
CAS Service Used
Yes
Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No
Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes
Deferred Admission
Yes
Other Admission Factors
Selectivity Rating
Faculty Information
Student/Faculty
7:1
Total Faculty
291
35
Female
10.7
Underrepresented Minorities
Students Say
Columbia Law School is a very exciting and dynamic place. The curriculum is very heavy on legal theory with a dash of practical, just for show, and the breadth of course offerings is staggering. There are countless centers and programs specializing in everything from law, media, and the arts to European legal studies to tax policy to gender and sexuality law. Getting on a journal is remarkably noncompetitive. Being in New York affords the opportunity to participate in almost any internship you could imagine. Programs in international law and intellectual property law are reportedly excellent. Columbia is also a corporate lawyer factory and the best place in the country for budding transactional lawyers. Public interest law is yet another strong suit here. Students who are involved are a bit clique-ish but, if you are in the clique, youll have access to a wealth of opportunities as well as a tremendously generous loan repayment assistance program.
The unbelievable, unmatched faculty at Columbia is amazing across the board. Columbia does a good job mixing the young, relatable rising superstars with older, more practiced professors. Virtually all of them make class interesting, and theyre the number-one reason to come to CLS (besides the prestige, of course). Professors also make a huge effort to be approachable and are happy to give career-related advice or answer questions. The administration isnt as beloved. Happier students note that there are some really caring people on staff. However, the general sentiment seems to be that management is somewhat disdainful.
When the time comes to find a real job, employment prospects are unbeatable and the alumni network is extraordinarily strong. Career Services is very helpful in offering support in a variety of capacities. Columbia boasts a high placement rate in big law firms and the opportunities for working in prestigious government and sought-after public interest positions are unparalleled. Its Columbia, candidly explains a 2L. The name buys you a lot. About the only complaint we hear is the contention that the employment focus is a little too New Yorkcentric.
The facilities here are far from great. Everything is very modern and the building is serviceable and clean, but it is ugly. Classrooms arent terribly comfortable, and Theyre not as pretty as what youll find at other Ivy League law schools. The library is one of the best in the country as far as the resources on offer are concerned, but its aesthetic is absolutely hideous, says an appalled 2L.
The unbelievable, unmatched faculty at Columbia is amazing across the board. Columbia does a good job mixing the young, relatable rising superstars with older, more practiced professors. Virtually all of them make class interesting, and theyre the number-one reason to come to CLS (besides the prestige, of course). Professors also make a huge effort to be approachable and are happy to give career-related advice or answer questions. The administration isnt as beloved. Happier students note that there are some really caring people on staff. However, the general sentiment seems to be that management is somewhat disdainful.
When the time comes to find a real job, employment prospects are unbeatable and the alumni network is extraordinarily strong. Career Services is very helpful in offering support in a variety of capacities. Columbia boasts a high placement rate in big law firms and the opportunities for working in prestigious government and sought-after public interest positions are unparalleled. Its Columbia, candidly explains a 2L. The name buys you a lot. About the only complaint we hear is the contention that the employment focus is a little too New Yorkcentric.
The facilities here are far from great. Everything is very modern and the building is serviceable and clean, but it is ugly. Classrooms arent terribly comfortable, and Theyre not as pretty as what youll find at other Ivy League law schools. The library is one of the best in the country as far as the resources on offer are concerned, but its aesthetic is absolutely hideous, says an appalled 2L.
Career overview
% of graduates who are employed within ten months of graduation
98%
% of job accepting graduates providing useable salary information
100%
Career Services
On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
Yes
On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes
# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
750
Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Large international corporate law firms, federal judges, federal government agencies, and public interest organizations.
Graduates Employed by Area
81%
Private Practice
6%
Judicial Clerkships
5%
Public Interes
4%
Government
3%
Business/Industry
Graduates Employed by Region
75%
Mid-Atlantic
8%
South
7%
Pacific
3%
International
3%
New England
2%
South West
1%
MidWest
Prominent Alumni
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Justice/U.S. Supreme Court
Brad Meltzer
Author
Brad Smith
Executive VP and General Council, Microsoft
Sheena Wright
President/CEO of United Way
Eric Holder
Attorney General of the United States
Dates
Financial Aid Rating
Mar 1
Application Deadlines
Apr 1
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$47,449
% Students Receiving Some Aid
75%
Expenses per Academic Year
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$21,738
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,575
Student Body Profile
Total Enrollment
1,234
Parent Institution Enrollement
30,304
Number of Foreign Countries Represented
45
Average Age at Entry
24
% International
11%
Demographics
32.00%
% Under-represented Minorities
100% are full time
0% are part time
48% female
52% male
Campus Life
Students Say
The population of future lawyers at Columbia is extremely diverse, generally young, and quite national. Students describe this place as a nerd paradise, full of geniuses who are brilliant and accomplished but surprisingly cool. There are spoiled brats, and awkward types, and public interest people, and friendly people, and inflated egos, and social people, reports a 3L. A few students say there is a divide between students of different economic and academic backgrounds. However, many others insist that personal circumstances dont matter at all. There isnt any sort of conspicuous divide between the student body on socioeconomic or geographic factors until you realize that most of the Ivy kids are terrible at beer pong, quips a 1L.
Academically, There is an atmosphere of [intensity] here. Students are constantly assessing how they stack up, which feeds into the collective neurosis. Some students assert that the struggle for top grades is pretty brutal. People in general are not happy to share notes, claims a 2L. They are, in fact, very secretive about their notes. Our reputation for gunning, competitive jerks is unfortunately true for about 5 percent of the class, laments a 1L. Other students tell us, People are extremely generous about sharing their outlines and studying together. If you miss a class, they say, your neighbors will e-mail you their notes without you even asking.
Columbias location in a safe, relatively quiet neighborhood on Manhattans Upper West Side provides few distractions when you are trying to study. When students put down their casebooks, though, they can take advantage of a vibrant student community. Youll be happy socially here unless you are a complete tool, promises a 2L. Everyone is fairly involved in all sorts of organizations. There are multiple lunch events every day, and theres some sort of lecture or panel or firm event with dinner almost every evening. There are plenty of students who want to party like its college, too, and no shortage of happy hours. Living in the Big Apple is also a massive plus. Its hard to explain the type of magnetic force this place can be unless youve lived here and worked here, reflects a 1L. New York City means students can do anything they please (with the free hours they have).
Academically, There is an atmosphere of [intensity] here. Students are constantly assessing how they stack up, which feeds into the collective neurosis. Some students assert that the struggle for top grades is pretty brutal. People in general are not happy to share notes, claims a 2L. They are, in fact, very secretive about their notes. Our reputation for gunning, competitive jerks is unfortunately true for about 5 percent of the class, laments a 1L. Other students tell us, People are extremely generous about sharing their outlines and studying together. If you miss a class, they say, your neighbors will e-mail you their notes without you even asking.
Columbias location in a safe, relatively quiet neighborhood on Manhattans Upper West Side provides few distractions when you are trying to study. When students put down their casebooks, though, they can take advantage of a vibrant student community. Youll be happy socially here unless you are a complete tool, promises a 2L. Everyone is fairly involved in all sorts of organizations. There are multiple lunch events every day, and theres some sort of lecture or panel or firm event with dinner almost every evening. There are plenty of students who want to party like its college, too, and no shortage of happy hours. Living in the Big Apple is also a massive plus. Its hard to explain the type of magnetic force this place can be unless youve lived here and worked here, reflects a 1L. New York City means students can do anything they please (with the free hours they have).
More Information
% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%
Admissions Office Contact
Contact
Nkonye Iwerebon
Dean of Admissions
Dean of Admissions
Address
435 West 116th Street, Box A-3
New York, NY 10027
New York, NY 10027
Phone
212-854-2674
Email
admissions@law.columbia.edu
