Law School Policies and Procedures Governing Leaves of Absence

Note: A student must receive the J.D. within 84 months of beginning law study.

The expectation of the Law School is that, once a student begins his or her studies, they will complete the degree program in the standard length of time (e.g., three years for a J.D. student). However, in appropriate cases, a Cornell law student in good academic standing may apply for a leave of absence prior to completing the degree, such leave to take effect immediately upon completion of the semester in which the application is made. (Only in extraordinary circumstances, e.g., those involving severe medical/psychological problems, will permission be given for a leave to begin during the course of a given semester.)*
To apply for a leave, a student must submit a written petition to the Administrative Committee describing the reasons for the leave. In the event a student is incapacitated due to medical/psychological problems, a petition for a leave of absence may be submitted by a parent, spouse, or any other person designated by the student in advance.
In extraordinary circumstances, e.g., where the student’s conduct has been unusually disruptive to the Law School or University community or where the student’s conduct suggests that remaining in school poses a significant risk to the health or safety of the student or others in the Law School or University community or a significant risk of disruption to the Law School or University environment, the Dean, in consultation with the Administrative Committee, may require the student to take a leave of absence.
Leaves are typically granted for one year only. Where the leave begins during a given semester, the student would normally be expected to return at the beginning of that same semester the following year. Prior to the expiration of the leave, a student may request, in writing, a one-year extension of the leave. Only in extraordinary circumstances will a leave be extended beyond two years, and decisions to extend a leave beyond two years may be made only by the Dean in consultation with the Administrative Committee. Only in extraordinary circumstances will a student who has already taken one leave of absence be granted a second leave of absence.
If a leave of absence is granted, the Law School and/or the University will maintain jurisdiction over the adjudication of any Law School and/or University disciplinary action involving the student. A student may be required to participate in the adjudication of the disciplinary action while on leave.
In certain circumstances, the Committee may attach written conditions to the leave. For example, where a leave of absence is requested for health reasons, the leave may be conditioned on counseling or health treatment while on leave of absence or other requirements appropriate to the conditions giving rise to the leave.
Before the end of the semester in which the leave is scheduled to expire, the student must notify the Administrative Committee that they expect to return to school at the beginning of the following semester. Included in the notification must be a statement that the student has not been charged with any crime during the period of the leave or, if a student has been charged with a crime, the full details of the incident(s) leading to the charge. If conditions have been attached to the leave, the student must demonstrate that such conditions have been satisfied.
As a general matter, a student will not be permitted to resume his or her studies unless the Administrative Committee is satisfied that the student has the ability to complete law school and the judgment and integrity to function as a member of the profession. For example, in the event that the leave of absence was granted due to health reasons, the Administrative Committee must be satisfied that the problems which precipitated the leave are resolved and that the student is able to handle all of the physical or emotional stress, as applicable, of attending law school, and that there is no significant risk of danger to the student or others or of disruption to the Law School or University environment. The Committee may require the student to make available relevant health records, to permit the Committee to communicate directly with the student’s physicians or counselors, and, in appropriate circumstances, to undergo additional health evaluation.
Reentry may be conditional. For example, a student may be required to engage in regular and ongoing medical, psychiatric or psychological treatment when specifically related to the conditions giving rise to the leave if the Committee believes that, without such ongoing treatment, the individual will not be able to function effectively as a student or will pose a significant risk to the health or safety of himself or others or a significant risk of disruption to the Law School or University environment.
If the Administrative Committee determines that the student will not be permitted to return to the Law School, that decision may be appealed to the Dean of the Law School. The Dean’s decision will be final.
The Law School may modify its leave policy in light of experience and consistent with the law.
To request a health leave please email or make an appointment here or by email with the Health Leaves Coordinator, who will work with you to facilitate consultations between you, your healthcare provider, Student Disability Services, and the Law School before granting a Health Leave of Absence. You can review the current Cornell University Health Leave of Absence policy
Tech LLM Students should contact their Program Director and/or Cornell Tech Student & Academic Affairs before commencing the above process.

* This language is not intended to discourage interested students from applying for a leave of absence during the early weeks of a semester. Any student at any time with an interest in a leave of absence is encouraged to speak with the Dean of Students Office whenever the need arises during the semester.