The Campaign for Columbia Law Raises $325 Million, Exceeding Goal

More than 12,000 alumni and friends contributed to the Campaign, which makes possible significant enhancements to initiatives, including faculty and student support, experiential learning, and the library.

The Campaign for Columbia Law A Force in the World

Today, Columbia Law School announced the successful culmination of The Campaign for Columbia Law. The five-year fundraising initiative raised $325 million—exceeding the original target of $300 million—to bolster support for students and faculty, expand experiential learning opportunities, and reimagine the Law Library. 

“The extraordinary success of The Campaign for Columbia Law enables us to more effectively meet the challenges of the moment, confidently entrust to future generations the responsibility to lead, and ensure that the Law School remains at the forefront of legal education globally,” says Gillian Lester, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law. 

A force for democracy change resolution community prosperity cooperation justice The Future

Launched in October 2017, the ambitious campaign presented Columbia Law School as “A Force in the World” and spotlighted Columbia Law graduates and faculty who have helped advance society in areas such as civil, international, and human rights; financial regulation; and national security. 

“The momentum we have built during the Campaign will carry forward in the years ahead, as we continue to prioritize support for students with the highest levels of financial need, newly recruited faculty whose research is helping to inform the public debate, and the library renovation project, which is expected to commence in 2024,” says Dean Lester.  

The Campaign prioritized four areas and realized significant accomplishments in each, including: 

  • Students: Created 104 endowed student scholarships—50 of which were made possible by the Jerome L. Greene Scholarship Challenge. Increased median 1L financial aid award by more than 125% since 2015, while also holding tuition growth to historically low levels. Expanded support for public interest/public service programming and financial support, including unparalleled investments in the Loan Repayment Assistance Program
     
  • Faculty: Recruited 23 full-time faculty members, 48% of whom are women and 43% of whom identify as persons of color. Established 12 named professorships, adding more than $40 million to the endowment earmarked for faculty. 
     
  • Experiential Learning: Hired six new full-time clinical faculty members who have created new, cutting-edge clinics. Launched innovative new experiential courses, externships, and field-based learning opportunities, and expanded the number of seats for students in courses that give them valuable, hands-on legal skills. 
     
  • Law Library: Raised $25 million to date, including a lead gift from Alia Tutor ’00, to support a transformative renovation and reimagination of the Law Library. The renovation will increase seating capacity by up to 70% and represents one of the largest capital investments in the institution’s history.

The campaign was co-chaired by Alison Ressler ’83, partner at Sullivan & Cromwell; Brad Smith ’84, Microsoft’s vice chair and president; and Kathy Surace-Smith ’84, senior vice president of NanoString Technologies. Until his death in 2018, media entrepreneur and philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest ’58 served as honorary co-chair. 

“Our community is a force for democracy, for change, for resolution, for prosperity, and for justice,” says Dean Lester. “Thanks to our extraordinary supporters, Columbia Law will be a Force for the Future.”

Gillian Lester, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law

“The Campaign for Columbia Law allows us to meet the challenges of the moment and confidently entrust to future generations the responsibility to lead. With your support, we proceed together—a vibrant and ambitious community inspired by common purpose and endlessly driven to tackle the challenges that lie beyond the horizon. Thank you.”

Gillian Lester, Dean and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Law
Faculty Support

Faculty Support

—23 faculty recruited—48% women, 43% persons of color
—12 new endowed professorships
—$40M added to Law School endowment corpus earmarked for faculty

Student Support

Student Support

—104 new endowed scholarships
More than 125% increase in median 1L financial aid award
—All-time low year-over-year tuition increases
More than 50% increase in annual support for public interest, including endowment for PI/PS Fellows Program and historic investments in LRAP

Experiential Learning

Experiential Learning

Hired 6 new clinical faculty members who have established cutting-edge clinics
—Launched innovative courses and field-based learning opportunities, and expanded the number of seats in clinics and externships
Human Rights Clinic and 2 clinical professorships endowed

Library

Library

—$25M raised to date to renovate and reimagine the Law Library
Renovation will increase seating capacity by up to 70%
One of the largest capital investments in the institution’s history

Raised $325M exceeding our $300M goal

When we launched The Campaign for Columbia Law in 2017, we set an ambitious goal: Raise $300 million to attract and support faculty, expand student access, grow experiential learning opportunities, and create a new vision for the Law Library. 

Five years and more than 12,000 donors later, we’ve exceeded that target, thanks to support from our global community. We look forward to seeing the impact of our collective contributions on the Law School for years to come. 

Campaign Co-Chairs Alison Ressler ’83,  Brad Smith ’84, and Kathy Surace-Smith ’84 
Kiera Lyons ’24

“I want my professional body of work to somehow matter, and Columbia Law School consistently graduates professionals who shape our society in a variety of disparate but uniquely important ways.”

Kiera Lyons ’24
Malik Simmons ’25

The legal mechanism is an extraordinary tool, with a great potential for lawyers to have a positive impact on the world around them. Being a part of that  change is why I chose to come to Columbia  Law School.”

Malik Simmons ’25