Law and Developmental Psychology (JD/PhD)
Graduate School, Law School
Program Description
Cornell University's Dual J.D./Ph.D. program in Law and Developmental Psychology will prepare the next generation of scholars who work on the interface between the law, psychology, and human development. Education at the Law School combines inspired teaching with cutting-edge scholarship in a close-knit and collegial intellectual community. Located in the College of Human Ecology, the Department of Human Development provides graduate students with world-class training in the general discipline of psychology, as well as focused training in one or more of its sub-areas of research: cognitive, social-personality, biological, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. The dual degree will provide Ph.D. students with the legal education that is necessary to conduct research and teach in this field at the highest level and will provide J.D. students with the research training that is necessary to practice and teach scientifically based law.
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: Ithaca, NY
Dual Program Requirements
The Cornell Dual Ph.D./J.D. in Psychology and Law is a 6-year (12-semester) program. The program is divided into three years of full-time Ph.D. study, two years of full-time J.D. study, and a blended year of Ph.D./J.D. study. Up to 12 semester credits from Graduate Field of Psychological Sciences and Human Development (PSYHD) work may be counted as electives toward the 84 credits that are required for the J.D.
Students must spend their first, second, and fifth summers conducting master’s and doctoral thesis research. All Ph.D. required core courses must be completed, and a research-based master’s thesis must be completed and defended in PSYHD, by the end of the second year. Upon completion of the fourth year, all J.D. core courses must be completed, and the “A” exam for the Graduate Field of Psychological Sciences and Human Development must be taken. During the sixth year, students complete and defend a research-based dissertation, and complete their remaining requirements for the J.D.
Law (J.D.) Program Requirements
Students must complete:
- 29 credits of required first year courses.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1L Fall Required Courses | ||
| LAW 5001 | Civil Procedure I | 3 |
| LAW 5021 | Constitutional Law | 4 |
| LAW 5041 | Contracts | 4 |
| LAW 5081 | Lawyering I | 2 |
| LAW 5151 | Torts | 3 |
| LAW 5101 | Professional Development: Lawyers in the Best Sense I | 0.5 |
| Total Hours | 16.5 | |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1L Spring Required Courses | ||
| LAW 5001 | Civil Procedure I | 3 |
| LAW 5061 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| LAW 5081 | Lawyering I | 2 |
| LAW 5121 | Property | 4 |
| LAW 5101 | Professional Development: Lawyers in the Best Sense I | 0.5 |
| Total Hours | 12.5 | |
- 55 additional credits of coursework are required. Of which:
- One course in LAW 6641 Professional Responsibility.
- One Writing course.
- Courses which meet this requirement vary each semester. Consult the class roster for more information.
- This course must be taken for a letter grade.
- This course must be at least three credits.
- Six Credits of Experiential Learning.
- Electives must come from the LAW subject. However, students may take up to 12 credit hours of graduate level coursework related to legal training outside of the Law School, subject to the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs during their second and third years.
- Students must adhere to the following restrictions when choosing elective coursework:
- no more than three credits of supervised writing per semester, for a total of 12 credits
- no more than three credits of supervised experiential learning, with a one semester enrollment limit
- no more than two credits of directed reading per semester, for a total of eight credits
- no more than two credits of supervised teaching per semester, for a total of eight credits
- no more than twenty total credits of externship over the four upper-class semesters
- no undergraduate coursework may be counted towards the JD without Dean's approval
- Students must complete a minimum 64 credits of regularly scheduled courses. Courses outside the regular schedule are:
- Externships, the Pro Bono Scholars program, directed reading, supervised writing, supervised teaching (including Lawyering Honors Fellows), supervised experiential learning, courses taught in other divisions, and practicums.
- Students are limited in their course load – they must be registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours each semester (to enroll in fewer credits, consult the Dean of Students). Students must have Dean of Students' approval to exceed 17 credits in any one semester.
Specialization Requirements
Specializations allow for the in-depth study of a single field. Students may specialize in any of the following fields:
- Advocacy
- Business Law and Regulation
- Conflict Resolution
- General Practice
- Law, Inequity and Structural Exclusion
- Public Law
- Technology and Law
Each specialization requires:
- 14 credit hours of coursework in the designated area.
- A writing course in the designated area
- This course must be taken for a letter grade.
- This course must be at least three credits.
- Up to 4 hours of an externship may be counted towards the specialization – based on the recommendation of the faculty member supervising the externship, with approval from the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
Students may only receive recognition for only one specialization. The Law School will grant a certificate after graduation.
Developmental Psychology (Ph.D.) Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 6
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: First Year
- Examination for admission to candidacy (A Exam): Spring of third year
- Defense of Dissertation (B Exam): Spring of fourth year
Field Specific Milestones
- Teaching required (2 courses minimum)
Course Requirements
- Course requirements are determined by the student’s Special Committee
- Enrollment in a GRAD research course or the equivalent field specific research course is expected of all students
- Proficiency in Statistics at the 5000 level or higher, or test out
- PSYCH 6001 Graduate Professionalism Seminar (In first year)
- 2 Didactic courses at the 5000 level or higher by end of 3rd year
Learning Outcomes
Law (J.D.) Learning Outcomes
- Possess knowledge of the substantive and procedural law required for effective participation in the legal profession. Graduates will be able to
-Identify and describe legal terms, concepts, theories, rules, and principles.
-Understand how the law operates in domestic and global contexts. - Engage effectively in legal research, analysis, and problem-solving in a time frame appropriate to legal practice. Graduates will be able to analyze common law and statutory authority independently and critically to
-Spot relevant issues.
-Identify controlling authority and accurately assess the weight of authorities.
-Apply governing rules to legally relevant fact patterns.
-Marshal relevant facts and governing rules to reach reasoned, well-supported conclusions that address the issues at hand.
-Employ deductive reasoning and analogy to devise strategies and solutions for complex legal issues in academic environments and in various practice settings. - Communicate effectively in both oral and written form as counselors and advocates. Graduates will be able to
-Identify appropriate audience(s) and tailor written and oral advocacy accordingly.
-Convey legally relevant information objectively and persuasively.
-Explain complex legal concepts orally and in writing in a manner that both members of the legal profession and the public can understand.
-Interact respectfully and effectively with persons of all backgrounds and levels of skill and training, demonstrating professionalism both in person and online.
-Write and speak clearly and concisely in a well-organized, well-reasoned manner.
-Assess complex fact patterns in a professional conversation, deposition, or oral argument and provide meaningful legal analysis during that discourse.
-Employ active listening skills. - Possess the practical skills fundamental to exceptional lawyering and client representation. Graduates will be able to
-Work effectively in teams and independently.
-Pose creative solutions to complex problems independently and through collaboration with peers, senior members of the profession, and interdisciplinary teams.
-Engage in culturally competent interactions in an increasingly global legal community connected across countries and cultures through technology, immersive study, and transnational practice.
-Appreciate the impact of their professional conduct and counsel in diverse professional settings, both formal and informal, in person and online.
-Reflect on and draw lessons from experience to improve their own performance and provide effective professional feedback to others.
-Arrange their affairs in a professional manner, including by meeting deadlines, keeping scheduled appointments, attending, and preparing appropriately for client and court meetings, and responding promptly to administrative offices, clients, and colleagues.
-Regularly reflect on their unique aptitudes and capacities and proactively consider how these capabilities align with the broad variety of legal skills and practice settings, taking timely and appropriate steps to seek support when necessary. - Conduct themselves with the highest moral and ethical standards. Graduates will be able to
-Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical rules and expectations which govern members of the legal profession.
-Apply those ethical expectations throughout their course of study and careers in interactions with courts, clients, and colleagues.
-Apply the law governing lawyers to resolve ethical, moral, and other professional dilemmas.
-Understand what the governing law is.
-Exercise with due care the role entrusted to them as officers of the legal system and public citizens, having special responsibility for the quality of justice.
Developmental Psychology (Ph.D.) Learning Outcomes
- Make an ongoing and substantial contribution to the discipline by demonstrating accomplishments in research.
- Demonstrate advanced research skills.
- Demonstrate good citizenship in the academic community in the areas of research, teaching, service, and leadership.
- Demonstrate ethical and responsible conduct of research.
Program Calendar
Law (J.D.) Program Calendar
Fall 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 24, 2026 | First Day of Instruction |
| September 7, 2026 | Labor Day - No Classes |
| October 10-18, 2026 | Fall Break |
| November 25-29, 2026 | Thanksgiving Break |
| December 3, 2026 | Last Day of Instruction |
| December 4-6, 2026 | Study Days |
| December 7, 2026 | First Day of Exams |
| December 18, 2026 | Last Day of Exams |
| December 18, 2026 | Last Day of Term |
Winter 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 4, 2027 | First Day of Term |
| January 4, 2027 | First Day of Instruction |
| January 17, 2027 | Last Day of Instruction |
| January 17, 2027 | Last Day of Term |
Spring 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 19, 2027 | First Day of Term |
| January 19, 2027 | First Day of Instruction |
| February 14-16, 2027 | February Break |
| March 27-April 4, 2027 | Spring Break |
| April 28, 2027 | Last Day of Instruction |
| April 29-May 2, 2027 | Study Days |
| May 3, 2027 | First Day of Exams |
| May 14, 2027 | Last Day of Exams |
| May 14, 2027 | Last Day of Term |
Summer 2027
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| June 1, 2027 | First Day of Term |
| June 1, 2027 | First Day of Instruction |
| June 18, 2027 | No Classes |
| July 4-5, 2027 | No Classes |
| July 31, 2027 | Last Day of Instruction |
| July 31, 2027 | Last Day of Term |
Developmental Psychology (Ph.D.) Program Calendar
The Developmental Psychology (Ph.D.) follows the Standard Academic Calendar.
Admissions
Law (J.D.) Application Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Fall: The application and all supporting documents must be submitted through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) by the following deadlines:
- Early Decision: January 1
- Regular Decision: March 1 (Priority Deadline); July 1 (Final Deadline). We strongly encourage regular decision applications to be submitted by March 1.
- Transfer or Visitor applications: July 1
Note: Binding early decision applicants and 3+3 Accelerated Pathway Scholars admitted without an LSAT score who subsequently take the LSAT will be subject to admission reconsideration. In the event admission is rescinded, any seat deposited paid will be refunded.
Requirements Summary
A complete application consists of the following:
- Register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)
- Complete the LSAT, GRE or GMAT
- Submit your electronic application through LSAC
- Submit transcripts to LSAC for processing
- Submit letters of recommendation to LSAC for processing
Admissions Contact Information
Email: jdadmissions@cornell.edu
Phone: (607) 255-5141
Website: https://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/
Developmental Psychology (Ph.D.) Application Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Fall, December 1; no spring admission
Requirements Summary
- all Graduate School requirements, including the English language proficiency requirement for all applicants
- three recommendations
Most successful applicants have an undergraduate major in a social science field, but students of high ability may be admitted regardless of undergraduate background.
Admissions Contact Information
Email: pac34@cornell.edu
Phone: 607-255-4661
Campus Address: G201 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall
Website: https://psychology.cornell.edu/graduate-admissions-requirements-phd