Dear Alumni and Friends:
At Cornell Law School, we are guided by a belief that law is not static but evolves with the world around it. Our mission is to prepare lawyers who are not only skilled in their craft but also ready to lead in times of change. The stories in this issue of Forum reflect that mission at its best, highlighting how our community is shaping the law’s response to some of society’s most pressing challenges.
In environmental law, we are building a program for the future. Beginning in the 1970s, Cornell taught environmental law through the dedication of individual faculty members. Now we’re expanding that tradition into a full-fledged academic program, with plans for a hands-on clinic. With the addition of Assistant Professor Leehi Yona, the Gearns & Russo Faculty Fellow of Environmental Law, and Adjunct Professor Allison Chatrchyan, Cornell Law now offers a comprehensive curriculum that bridges science, policy, and advocacy. Our students are already making their mark, as seen in the recent amicus brief they helped prepare for an international tribunal on climate change—a case that may set a global precedent.
This momentum has been made possible by the generosity of alumni such as Mary Gail Gearns ’85 and David Russo ’85, whose endowment supports the future of environmental law at Cornell. Their gift continues our land-grant tradition of applying the law in service to humanity and the planet we share.
That same commitment to public purpose is evident in the work of our First Amendment Clinic, featured in this issue for its leadership in defending free speech and a free press. Since its founding in 2018, the clinic has expanded from a small pilot program into a nationally recognized initiative that now represents clients in multiple states and supports a thriving Local Journalism Project. Under the direction of Mark Jackson ’85 and Heather Murray ’13, the clinic’s attorneys and students have safeguarded small community news outlets and ensured that citizens retain access to truthful, independent reporting. In an era when misinformation and polarization threaten democratic institutions, our students are learning what it means to stand up for the rule of law and for the rights that sustain democracy.
These experiences are powerful lessons in professional identity, and they connect directly to another of our defining initiatives: the new Professional Development Course for 1Ls. For the first time, every student begins law school by taking an oath of professionalism—a symbolic and substantive commitment to ethical integrity, equitable participation, and community belonging. The course integrates wellness, communication, and mentorship into the first-year curriculum, ensuring that students develop not just as lawyers, but as professionals who know how to communicate, collaborate, and lead. It’s not enough to be brilliant in the classroom. You also have to be grounded, tested, and professional.
Together, these three stories tell a larger story about Cornell Law School today. They show how we are expanding our reach while deepening our core commitments to excellence in teaching, to public engagement, and to preparing lawyers who embody both competence and conscience.
We live in a time of rapid change, where technology, climate, and democracy itself are all under strain. Yet I remain optimistic, because our faculty, students, and alumni continue to prove that the law remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for good. Thank you for being part of that work and for helping us build the future of legal education.
In community,
Jens David Ohlin
Allan R. Tessler Dean and Professor of Law
law.dean@cornell.edu
