SLU, Cornell Law School team up on early admission program

St. Lawrence University (SLU) says it’s partnering with the law school at Cornell University on a law early admission program (LEAP). 

The program will enable high-achieving undergraduates to attain their undergraduate and law degrees in six years instead of the traditional seven, St. Lawrence University said in a Sept. 9 announcement.

“We are excited to offer Laurentians the opportunity to leverage their liberal arts education in one of the nation’s top law programs,” St. Lawrence University President Kathryn Morris said. “I’m confident our interdisciplinary curriculum and supportive faculty advisors will prepare students well for the rewarding pursuit of a law degree.” 

To qualify for LEAP, students “must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement” and place within the 80th percentile of their class, St. Lawrence said. After completing an accelerated undergraduate curriculum — including all requirements for their intended major — admitted students will matriculate for their first of three years of law school at Cornell. 

This arrangement builds on an existing partnership between the two universities, St Lawrence University noted. In 2016, the institutions established the St. Lawrence University-Cornell Law School Scholarship to support eligible St. Lawrence graduates upon admission to the J.D. program at Cornell. 

Like the scholarship, Cornell will be responsible for selecting qualified candidates for law-school admission.  Advising for students interested in pursuing LEAP can begin as early as their first year on campus. 

Students will also have opportunities to connect with members of the university’s alumni network to explore careers in all facets of the legal field. In addition to one-on-one alumni mentoring, the St. Lawrence Center for Career Excellence also facilitates SLU Connect programs during school breaks, allowing students to take week-long networking trips in cities across the country.