Difference between revisions of "Columbia Law School"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | The teaching of law at Columbia began with the hiring of jurist [[James Kent]] as Columbia College's first law professor in [[1793]]. Kent left in [[1798]] to pursue other projects. A formal law school was established in [[1858]] under the leadership of [[ | + | The teaching of law at Columbia began with the hiring of jurist [[James Kent]] as Columbia College's first law professor in [[1793]]. Kent left in [[1798]] to pursue other projects. A formal law school was established in [[1858]] under the leadership of [[Theodore Dwight]]. It occupied a soaring gothic structure on Columbia's [[Midtown campus]]. With the move to [[Morningside Heights]] in the late 19th century, the law school moved into [[Kent Hall]] and, subsequently, to Jerome Greene Hall across [[Amsterdam Avenue]]. Kent Hall still bears the markings of a law school, particularly on its library's stained glass windows. |
| − | The school probably reached its high point during the first half of the 20th century. Both [[Theodore Roosevelt|Theodore]] and [[Franklin Roosevelt]] were students there, though neither graduated. Prominent scholars of the legal realist movement, including [[Karl Llewellyn]] and [[Felix Cohen]], were also associated with the school. In recent years there have been fears that it has been losing out to downtown rival [[NYU]], with which it is virtually tied in the [[US News]] rankings. The departure of notable professors such as [[Jeremy Waldron]] has been seen as an indication of its relative decline. | + | The school probably reached its high point during the first half of the 20th century. Both [[Theodore Roosevelt|Theodore]] and [[Franklin Roosevelt]] were students there, though neither graduated. Prominent scholars of the legal realist movement, including [[Karl Llewellyn]] and [[Felix Cohen]], were also associated with the school. |
| + | |||
| + | In recent years there have been fears that it has been losing out to downtown rival [[NYU]], with which it is virtually tied in the [[US News]] rankings. The departure of notable professors such as [[Jeremy Waldron]] has been seen as an indication of its relative decline. Some say the deanship of [[David Schizer]] may have instigated divisiveness within the faculty; others claim departing professors are simply upset the school places an emphasis on teaching. | ||
== Historical photos == | == Historical photos == | ||
Revision as of 16:12, 18 February 2008
| Columbia Law School | |
| |
| Established | 1858 |
| President | {{{President}}} |
| Dean | David Schizer |
| Degrees | JD, LLM, JSD |
| Enrollment | 1,300 |
| Website | www.law.columbia.edu |
Columbia Law School, the most corporate of elite law schools in the US, occupies Jerome Greene Hall, one of the ugliest buildings in Columbia's ensemble. Students slave away in its library at odd hours.
History
The teaching of law at Columbia began with the hiring of jurist James Kent as Columbia College's first law professor in 1793. Kent left in 1798 to pursue other projects. A formal law school was established in 1858 under the leadership of Theodore Dwight. It occupied a soaring gothic structure on Columbia's Midtown campus. With the move to Morningside Heights in the late 19th century, the law school moved into Kent Hall and, subsequently, to Jerome Greene Hall across Amsterdam Avenue. Kent Hall still bears the markings of a law school, particularly on its library's stained glass windows.
The school probably reached its high point during the first half of the 20th century. Both Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt were students there, though neither graduated. Prominent scholars of the legal realist movement, including Karl Llewellyn and Felix Cohen, were also associated with the school.
In recent years there have been fears that it has been losing out to downtown rival NYU, with which it is virtually tied in the US News rankings. The departure of notable professors such as Jeremy Waldron has been seen as an indication of its relative decline. Some say the deanship of David Schizer may have instigated divisiveness within the faculty; others claim departing professors are simply upset the school places an emphasis on teaching.
Historical photos
A lounge in Kent Hall for law students in the 1950's
The law library ca. 1900, when the collection was housed in Low Library
The law school library on Columbia's Midtown campus
The law school building on the Midtown campus ca. 1860
An 1891 montage of the Midtown campus law school, prepared for a celebration of the career of Theodore Dwight
External links
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| Affiliated Institutions |
| Barnard • Jewish Theological Seminary • Teachers College • Union Theological Seminary |
| Defunct Schools |
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