Cross-Registration for Non-Law Students

Instructions for Non-Law Students Wishing to Register for a Law Course

The Law School’s Office of Registration Services will accept requests for cross-registration only during the application periods. You will be sent an email notifying you whether or not you can be registered for a Law course during the Decision Notification period. 

The Cross-Registration Request Form for Spring 2026 will be active for 24 hours, from Thursday, January 22 at 8:00 a.m. - Friday, January 23 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.

All request forms require the instructor’s approval, but the approval does not guarantee a seat in the course.

  • Acceptance into a law course is based on seat availability and eligibility criteria, and priority will be given to Law students.
  • Decisions and processing of all cross-registration request forms will be made on a first-come-first-serve basis.
  • Final approval is at the discretion of the law school.

Please Note:

  • ONLY students enrolled as full-time Columbia University Graduate degree candidates can apply to cross-register.
  • REGISTRATION AS AN AUDITOR IS NOT PERMITTED FOR ANY LAW COURSE and INFORMAL AUDITING FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO CLASS SESSIONS IS NOT ALLOWED.
  • All students are expected to take Law exams as scheduled. Students who have exam conflicts must reschedule the non-Law School exam. Failure to complete an exam will result in an automatic grade of F.
  • Only letter grades are available for Law courses: A, B, (both with plus and minus) C, and F; there is no Pass/Fail grading option.
  • Enrollment in Law School seminars is capped at 20 or fewer students.

Law courses with six (6) or more open seats are listed below:

CourseCourse NameInstructorsDayTimeLocationCredits
L6536-1Bankruptcy LawMann, RonaldT/W/R9:10 am - 10:30 amJGH 1074
L6038-1Climate Change Law and PolicyGerrard, MichaelM/W2:50 pm - 4:10 pmJGH 1063
L8703-1Consumer FinanceGillis, TaliaM/W10:10 am - 12:00 pmWJWH 2094
L6341-1Copyright LawGinsburg, Jane C.M/T/W10:40 am - 12:00 pmJGH 1054
L6232-1Corporate FinanceMyers, MinorM/W6:20 pm - 8:10 pmJGH 1033
L6231-1CorporationsCoffee, Jr., John C.M/T/W10:40 am - 12:00 pmJGH 102a4
L6109-1Criminal InvestigationsLivingston, Debra A.M/T/W/RM/W 8:00 am - 9:30 am & T/R 8:00 am - 9:05 amWJWH L1073
L6249-1European Union Law and InstitutionsBradford, AnuM/W1:20 pm - 2:40 pmWJWH 1033
L6425-1Federal CourtsKent, AndrewM/W8:40 am - 10:30 amJGH 1034
L6256-1Federal Income TaxationRaskolnikov, AlexM/T/W1:20 pm - 2:40 pmJGH 1044
L6391-1Financial InstitutionsMenand, LevT/R8:40 am - 10:30 amJGH 1044
L6276-1Human RightsFlaherty, MartinT/R2:50 pm - 4:10 pmJGH 102a3
L6040-1International Environmental LawHorsch, RichardW6:20 pm - 8:10 pmJGH 102a2
L6269-1International LawDamrosch, Lori FislerT/R1:20 pm - 2:40 pmWJWH 3103
L6272-1Land UseOstrow, Ashira PelmanT4:20 pm - 7:20 pmWJWH 2093
L6071-1Law and DevelopmentPistor, KatharinaT/R9:10 am - 10:30 amWJWH 2083
L6474-1Law of the Political ProcessGreene, JamalT/R1:20 pm - 2:40 pmJGH 1033
L8615-LEC-1Nonprofit Law and PolicyPozen, DavidT/R9:10 am - 10:30 amJGH 1053
L8206-LEC-1Nonprofit Law, Taxation, and ManagementSchizer, David M.T/R1:20 pm - 2:40 pmJGH 1013
L6338-1PatentsOuellette, LisaM/W8:40 am - 10:30 amJGH 1054
L6363-1Professional Responsibility in Public Interest, Government, and Pro Bono PracticeRubenstein, KathleenM/W9:00 am - 10:30 amWJWH 3103
L6922-1Real Estate Finance and TransactionsHorowitz, Steven; Mesard, NicoleM/W9:10 am - 10:30 amWJWH 2073
L6333-1Refugee, Migration and Citizenship Law: A Comparative PerspectiveBenhabib, SeylaT/R4:20 pm - 5:40 pmWJWH 4163
L9383-1S. International Humanitarian LawRona, GaborT4:20 pm - 6:10 pmWJWH 1032
L9246-LEC-1US International Tax LawDvornic, Tijana; Oosterhuis, PaulW/RW 4:40 pm - 6:10 pm & R 10:40 am - 12:00 pmWJWH 2083

Updated 1/21/2026

  1. Select Law courses from the Columbia Law School Course Guide or the Columbia University Directory of Classes.
  2. Fill out the Cross-Registration Request Form for Spring 2026, open from Thursday, January 22 at 8:00 a.m. - Friday, January 23 at 8:00 a.m. EDT.
  • Each student will only be able to submit one request form for a maximum of two courses.
  • The request form will require you to attach email approval from the instructor. Requests without approval will not be processed.
  1. Registration Services will email you during the Decision Notification period with the result of your request.
  2. Approved applicants will be registered for the course at the Law School and will receive proof of their registration. This proof must be submitted to the student's home school to complete the final registration process with the University.

Students who cross-register for Law courses will be given access to LawNet and to the course web page, usually within two (2) business days of their registration.

Who can take a Columbia Law School Course?

Students enrolled as full-time Columbia University Graduate degree candidates.

How many courses can Non-Law students take?

Up to two Law courses per term and not more than four Law courses during their entire Columbia course of study.

What courses can Non-Law students take?

Most Lecture and Seminar courses are available for Cross-Registration, pending instructor approval.

  • Non-Law students CANNOT TAKE the following:
    • J.D. foundation courses (Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Property, Torts)
    • LL.M. foundation courses (Introduction to American Law, American Constitutional Law, American Contract Law)
    • Clinics and Externships
    • Legal writing
    • Research

How do I drop a Law School course?

Students wishing to drop a Law class must email the Law School’s Office of Registration Services and notify their home division in order to complete the drop. Drops initiated at the student’s home division or in the University’s Student Services Office will not be honored by the Law School, and in such cases students risk receiving the grade of F (failure) for the Law course. 

REGISTRATION AS AN AUDITOR IS NOT PERMITTED FOR ANY LAW COURSE and INFORMAL AUDITING FOR MORE THAN ONE OR TWO CLASS SESSIONS IS NOT ALLOWED.

NOTE: The policies of the host school apply for all cross-registrations, so if you are considering taking a Law course, please check carefully the Law School’s policies, including registration (adding and dropping courses), exams, and submission of written work.