Columbia Law School
Insider Reviews
from students and alumni of columbia-law
Columbia Law was an amazing experience that I don’t regret. Faculty and administration were top notch in my estimation, though the opinions of some of my peers differ slightly and I do believe I had an above-average experience. I think a lot of law school is what you make of it, and my impression is that Columbia is much less coddling than some of its peers. You have to know what you want out of your law school experience, or at least be open to finding your own path. The administration and faculty are there to support you, but ultimately self-confidence, self-possession, and self-awareness go a long way — probably further at Columbia than anywhere else.
Alumni
An elite institution worthy of its reputation with an acclaimed faculty that actually teaches. Very competitive particularly given its rep as a Wall Street feeder. Law school social life is generally a misnomer to begin with but any school in Manhattan is a place to be.
Alumni
Eh, hated it. Didn’t really learn anything useful to the practice of law, but I suppose that might be the fault of the institution itself. Got a job, so I guess on balance I’m happy. There are cool people at CLS, but they’re mostly too busy studying all the time.
Great firm placement; good clerkship prospects in NYC. School is very oriented toward placing students in big law.
Alumni
If you want to go into BigLaw on the corporate/biglitigation side, this place is for you. If you want to be a well-rounded lawyer, someday open your own shop, be a prosecutor, well this place has a good reputation so that will be helpful, but it won’t give you the training you need.
Alumni
The school doesn’t have its clerkship advising as well organized as some of its competitors so if you’re looking to clerk like I was, it’s very helpful to find a mentor who can help you through the process, potentially a student a year ahead of you or a faculty member if you have a particularly strong relationship.
Alumni
What needs to be said? If you want a top-teir legal education in NYC you have two choices, and Columbia comes out as the slight favorite every year. Faculty is friendly, brilliant, and generally approachable. Facilities are top notch. If the clinical program got just a bit larger and became a focus of the school rather than one option among many, I would say that CLS would blow the doors off NYU.
Alumni
If you can get in, it’s worth paying 3 years of CLS tuition just for the name. It will open doors for you in New York, the U.S. and the world. Don’t expect a ton of career counseling. You will be expected to go to a Big Law firm whether you like it or not. (But don’t forget: students at most other law schools in the country would kill to be in that position). People freak out about grades during 1L at CLS, but don’t worry: like I said, you’re going to go to a firm anyway. A high number of surprisingly normal people go to CLS (the gunners would probably say there’s a high number of slackers). Social life is enjoyable if you’re into that sort of thing. Administration is very flexible with allowing you to take courses at Columbia undergrad or NYU, create your own club, study abroad, etc.
Alumni
CLS is a big law factory. They kind of point everyone in that direction. Even clerkships seem like kind of an afterthought.
2L
You will be funneled into the Early Interviewing Program (for big firms) even if you want to do public interest/government. It takes a lot of willpower and research/planning (or an off-the-cuff attitude) to opt out.
2L
Administration and student services are adequate but should not be expected to do anything for you unbidden. Every other resource and possible advantage are here in spades, though. Just know ahead of time what to expect and hold yourself (rather than the school) accountable for getting it done.
2L
Amazing place, don’t listen to the haters on forums. Great people, a very “campus” feel for a NYC school, and incredible job prospects. This past year (Class of 2013), over 330 students found biglaw SA jobs at the Early Interview Program. That’s 330 out of a total class size of 436, assuming a handful didn’t want a private sector 2L summer job, that’s more than 80% success rate. Life is still good in the T6 schools.
2L
Columbia is trying to get its act together in regards to public service and government work. I still feel that if you want to pursue that path, you have to make your own opportunities, whereas if you want to work for a firm, all you have to do is show up. The good news is that so few of my classmates end up pursuing PI/government work that the Office of Social Justice Initiatives will give you personalized attention and help.
1L
Despite the reputation that CLS sometimes gets on websites like ATL, the students here are quite friendly and social. Every law school will say that they are “collegial” – it actually happens here.
1L
Has a bit of a commuter school mentality which can be good or bad depending on what you want. Students are intense and career focused.
2L
It’s a great school. The class of ’13 is a little bit gunnery, because we all entered during the recession, but everyone here is awesome. The quality of the professors and opportunities to interact with them in my field of study is unparalleled. Oh, and the course selection is astounding.
2L
It’s big, so it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle, especially since most people will end up happy at graduation. Most of us are paying nearly sticker for three years, so I wish there was more information and guidance with respect to money management: What do we do with our summer earnings? How do we best take advantage of IBR and LRAP? Should we focus on paying off loans, or maintain a more balanced portfolio?
3L
It’s like a puppy mill, but full of un-cuddly, un-adorable students.
3L
Living in New York is awesome because lots of my non-law school friends live here, but it’s also good to have classmates you like hanging out with as well. Some of my professors are fantastic, but some are more focused on their research. I think that’s how it is at all the top schools, based on what I’ve heard though. In terms of career advice and job search, I have no complaints. There are lots of resources available – the career services offices is split between private and public sector and they both give ample advice and support.
1L
That the school takes a ton of transfers, thus diluting the value of the degree and hurting our job opportunities.
2L
You’ll get a job with a top 100 firm as long as you have some level of social skills and don’t finish in the bottom 20%. Unfortunately 20% of the class finishes at the bottom and the rest have no social skills.
2L
Despite it’s reputation as a center for cut-throat gunners, Columbia is not a competitive institution. Students want to do well, but the competition is not outwardly manifested. Similarly, Morningside Heights is not a ghetto. While it is outside the heart of Manhattan, it is a generally charming place with ample green space and relatively easy access to the majority of what Manhattan has to offer. Academically, however, Columbia is misleading. Despite a faculty-student ratio of 9.2:1, you are unlikely to ever have such an intimate class. The majority of courses at Columbia are also corporate-focused. That’s to be expected, of course, given the degree to which major law firm practice is focused on securities, corporate law, and the like, but Columbia quite often seems to ignore the existence of other legal practice (e.g., Employment Law) beyond a few cursory offerings. That being said, opportunities abound with the right initiative. Professors will open their arms to you provided you put forth the effort to find them (which often requires a lot of work) and clinical opportunities and externship opportunities are extensive for those looking for hands-on experience. Finally, Columbia’s brand management is excellent, and will open a number of doors for you in your quest for employment.
3L
