The Associates-in-Law Program is designed for individuals seriously considering a career in legal academia. The Law School actively assists Associates-in-Law in establishing their academic careers. Associates are encouraged to pursue research during the year, and are invited to attend workshops and seminars on the same basis as full-time faculty. Each Associate is assigned office space in the Law School and has the full use of the University libraries and research facilities.
Absent special circumstances, Associates serve for two years. Associates must be in residence at Columbia for approximately nine months each year, from early August until the beginning of May.
During the fall term, some of the Associates teach legal writing to J.D. students in seminar sections. Under the supervision of Professor Philip Genty, who directs the first-year program, Associates have an opportunity to develop their teaching skills through the assignment of written problems of their own design.
Also during the fall term, four Associates assist in the teaching of legal research and writing to the foreign-trained LL.M. candidates in conjunction with the introductory course taught by Professor George Fletcher, “A Comparative Introduction to American Law.” A thorough grounding in civil law is important to this position.
Although Associates may pursue graduate study leading to the LL.M. or the J.S.D. degree, admission to and enrollment in the Graduate Program is not a requirement of selection for an Associateship. Whether or not an applicant wishes to be considered for admission to a graduate degree program, he or she should use the Application for Admission to Graduate Legal Studies to apply for an Associateship.
A list of published works and/or works in progress should be included if applicable, and all Associate applicants should include a brief proposed research agenda. Applicants should also be sure to include a brief statement regarding relevant teaching experience and teaching aspirations, and submit a writing sample as part of the application.
In 2011–2012, Associates will receive a yearly $46,000 stipend plus fringe benefits, including subsidized housing or housing location assistance, and a tuition exemption. In addition, all Associates who spend the bulk of the summer between their first and second year in the program working on their research are eligible for a fellowship amounting to ten percent of their stipend.
Columbia University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications by qualified women and minority candidates for these positions.
J.S.D.–Associates receive two-year appointments and remain in residence for two academic years. During the first year, they enroll in the J.S.D. Workshop. In the fall term of both academic years, they serve as Associates. The spring terms and intervening summer are available for research on the doctoral dissertation. J.S.D. candidates may enroll in additional courses or seminars relating to their particular interests.
By completing suitable writing, a J.S.D. candidate can earn the LL.M. degree while in residence (see the requirements for the LL.M. by Writing under “The LL.M.-Associate Program,” below). The candidate has five academic years from completion of residence requirements to finish the dissertation and the oral defense and thus qualify for the J.S.D. degree (see the “J.S.D. Program” tab for more information). Applicants for the J.S.D.–Associate Program must comply with the requirements for application to the J.S.D. Program, including submitting a dissertation proposal.
LL.M.-Associates receive 6 points of academic credit for their fall semester teaching responsibilities, and take another 4 points of work in that semester either as supervised research, coursework, or a combination of the two. LL.M.-Associates therefore are registered for a minimum of 10 points in the fall semester and are expected to take a minimum of 10 points in the spring semester as well. The spring semester points are usually earned through a combination of courses, seminars and supervised research. LL.M.-Associates undertaking supervised research must identify and secure the agreement of a faculty member to act as Faculty Supervisor for each research and writing project, and should register for “Associate Writing Credit” instead of “Supervised Research” or “Research for the LL.M. Degree.”
LL.M. Associates can earn their degree in one of the following ways:
1. In the same manner as other LL.M. candidates, i.e., by taking a regular course load of 24 points, of which a maximum of 8 points may consist of writing credit (see the “LL.M. Program” tab at left for more information);
2. Entirely on the basis of research and writing (LL.M. by Writing). By the end of the second year of the Associateship, the Associate must produce a very substantial publishable piece of original research and writing that is equivalent to a lead article in a law review. The article’s conformity to the magnitude and quality of this requirement shall be determined by a Faculty Supervisor and a second faculty reader not previously involved in the Associate’s research. The Associate must identify and secure the agreement of a faculty member to act in the capacity of Faculty Supervisor, and must produce a detailed outline of the research project during the spring semester of the first year of the Associateship. Associates who earn the LL.M. by Writing will not be graded on a letter basis for their writing but rather on a credit/fail basis; or
3. Through a combination of coursework and more than 8 points of research and writing credit for a total of at least 24 points. The Associate must identify and secure the agreement of a faculty member to act in the capacity of Faculty Supervisor for each research and writing project. The Associate and her/his Faculty Supervisor(s) must determine the appropriate number of points to award to each project and must arrange an appropriate timetable for its (their) accomplishment. Associates who earn the LL.M. by combining coursework and writing will earn letter grades for their coursework but not for the writing, which will be graded on a credit/fail basis.
Associates need not be candidates for a degree. Non-Degree Associates' fall semester responsibilities are identical to those of LL.M.-Associates and J.S.D.-Associates, but they are not required to undertake any particular program of study. The expectation is that non-degree Associates will spend their non-teaching time engaged in full-time research and writing, although they are also welcome to register for or audit courses and seminars.
Professional Responsibility and Academic Integrity
Legal education is generally a passageway to careers of service in law, either in private practice or in a public capacity. The standards of responsibility for that service are high and exacting. In part, the appreciation of these responsibilities is gained by habit and example; the Law School helps to form these professional attitudes as an integral part of the education it provides.
The responsibilities of law students are of course different from those of lawyers. Yet in a real sense professional responsibility begins upon entering law school. Students are regarded, and should regard themselves, as committed to integrity and effectiveness in the legal profession. That commitment requires consideration, honesty and fair dealing in academic enterprises, in the Law School community, and in personal and professional relations outside the Law School. The Columbia Law School demands this rigorously of faculty and students alike.
Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Graduate students who commit plagiarism or other acts of academic dishonesty are subject to expulsion from the program. The issue of academic integrity is addressed at various points during the admission and orientation process, and students are therefore expected to become thoroughly familiar with Columbia's requirements in this area.
Download Application Instructions and Application Checklist
To download a PDF version of the complete application instructions and application checklist, click the attachment below (Adobe Reader software required).
