Program Description
With the degree awarded by the Law School, this one-year program is tailored to practicing attorneys or recent law graduates who desire to be at the center of New York City’s ever-evolving technology ecosystem and at the intersection of law, technology and entrepreneurship.
Cornell Tech Program Policies (Full-Time Program)
- Cornell Tech campus policy indicates that students enrolled in full-time masters programs are required to maintain a minimum of 12 credits of enrollment each semester. Students are advised to enroll in an average of 15 credits each semester, unless your program requirements notes otherwise, to ensure progression towards degree completion. This policy does not apply to students enrolled in Cornell Tech’s part-time programs (CS and LLM).
- Students may not enroll in more than 20 credits per semester without program director approval, which will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.
- Students must receive a passing grade to receive credit. Audited electives do not count toward any graduation requirement.
- All students must receive a B or higher in TECH 5900 or TECH 5910/TECH 5920/TECH 5930.
- All required classes must be taken for a letter grade. At least 3 credits of law electives must be taken for a letter grade. Any other courses may be taken graded or S/U.
- A student will be placed on informal probation if, at the close of the first semester of law study, the student’s merit point ratio is less than 2.50. If this happens, the student must meet with the Program Director prior to continued enrollment.
- Please note Curricular Practical Training credits (TECH 5999) does not count towards graduation/degree requirements.
- Candidates for the Cornell Tech LL.M. degree shall be graded in accordance with the same standards as J.D. candidates, with the mean grade calculated separately for J.D. students and Cornell Tech LL.M. students in any particular class. Cornell Tech LL.M. students may not take required courses on an S/U basis unless those courses are offered S/U only.
Cornell Tech Program Policies (Part-Time Program)
- Students must receive a passing grade to receive credit. Audited electives do not count toward any graduation requirement.
- All students must receive a B or higher in TECH 5900 or TECH 5910/TECH 5920/TECH 5930.
- All Studio courses must be taken for a letter grade.
- All required classes must be taken for a letter grade. At least 3 credits of law electives must be taken for a letter grade. Any other courses may be taken graded or S/U.
- A student will be placed on informal probation if, at the close of the first semester of law study, the student’s merit point ratio is less than 2.50. If this happens, the student must meet with the Program Director prior to continued enrollment.
- Please note Curricular Practical Training credits (TECH 5999) does not count towards graduation/degree requirements.
- Candidates for the Cornell Tech LL.M. degree shall be graded in accordance with the same standards as J.D. candidates, with the mean grade calculated separately for J.D. students and Cornell Tech LL.M. students in any particular class. Cornell Tech LL.M. students may not take required courses on an S/U basis unless those courses are offered S/U only.
Program Information
- Program Mode of Delivery: In Person
- Program Location: New York City, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 33 (Full-Time and Part-Time options)
Program Requirements (Full-Time)
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LAW 6470 | High Growth Corporate Transactions | 2 |
| LAW 6512 | Intellectual Property Law | 3 |
| LAW 6568 | Internet Law, Privacy and Security | 3 |
| Employment Law (or) | |
| Employment Law Fundamentals | |
| LAW 6893 | Technology Transactions | 2 |
| LAW 6896 | Technology Transactions II | 2 |
| LAW 5311 | Introduction to Entrepreneurial Finance: Firm Valuation and Term Sheets | 1 |
| LAW 6146 | AI Law and Policy | 3 |
| TECH 5900 | Product Studio | 4 |
| TECH 5910 | Startup Studio | 3 |
| or TECH 5920 | BigCo Studio |
| or TECH 5930 | PiTech Impact Studio |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 8 |
| 3 | 1 |
Program Requirements (Part-Time)
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| LAW 6470 | High Growth Corporate Transactions | 2 |
| LAW 6512 | Intellectual Property Law | 3 |
| Employment Law ( or) | |
| LAW 6146 | AI Law and Policy | 3 |
| Employment Law Fundamentals | |
| LAW 6893 | Technology Transactions | 2 |
| LAW 6896 | Technology Transactions II | 2 |
| LAW 5311 | Introduction to Entrepreneurial Finance: Firm Valuation and Term Sheets | 1 |
| TECH 5900 | Product Studio | 4 |
| TECH 5910 | Startup Studio | 3 |
| or TECH 5920 | BigCo Studio |
| or TECH 5930 | PiTech Impact Studio |
| 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 6 |
| 3 | |
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
Admissions
Application Requirements and Deadlines
Application Deadlines
Please visit the Cornell Tech Master of Laws (LL.M.) website to view application deadlines.
Requirements Summary
To be considered, all applicants must provide the following in their online application:
- Online Application: You must submit a completed Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship online application. Please note that this application is separate from other Cornell Law School programs, and our applications are not transferable. Cornell Tech is not on LSAC.
- Résumé: Your resume must list your professional history, academic background, and any skills or activities that are relevant to your admission into this program. Please limit your resume to two pages.
- Personal Statement:
*A note about AI: Cornell Tech does not prohibit the use of generative artificial intelligence (ChatGPT, Bard, etc.) to assist with the preparation of personal statements or statements of purpose; however, use of any AI tool must be disclosed and properly cited. The content of the Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement must be truthful and accurate.
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In an essay that is 700 words or fewer, please describe your reasons, qualifications, and goals for applying for the Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Law, Technology, and Entrepreneurship. Please specifically address the following points if applicable (double-spaced, 12-point font):
• Your academic, professional, and legal experience, including especially any experience with technology law.
• Your entrepreneurship experience, including either any startup or business experience of your own, or experience advising entrepreneurs or startups.
• What would you contribute to the broader Cornell Tech community?
• How do you believe this program and degree would help you further your career goals?
- Letters of Recommendation:
- Applicants are required to submit two professional letters of recommendation. For applicants who have recently graduated, one academic recommendation letter is acceptable in lieu of one of the two professional letters. Your letters of recommendation should come from a current or former manager or supervisor who is familiar with your work in a professional capacity. If applicable, one letter (but not both) may come from a client or, for recent graduates, a professor or other academic who has had the opportunity to see your work, such as a club advisor, coach, or clinic instructor. One or both recommendation forms or letters of recommendation should come from a current or former manager, supervisor, or someone who has worked with you in a professional capacity. We advise that you do not choose clients, co-founders, or colleagues to write your recommendation. The second recommendation may come from a professor or other academic who has had the opportunity to see your work, such as a club advisor, coach, or clinic instructor. In each recommendation form or letter of no more than 700 words, your recommenders should speak to your academic and interpersonal abilities, technical aptitude, and/or professional experiences in tech, your experience working on teams, and any areas of improvement. Two letters are required, but you may submit an additional letter if you believe it strengthens your candidacy for the program. Please ensure that these letters are sent from a professional email address. This is to maintain the integrity and credibility of the recommendations. Note: Recommendation letters submitted after the deadline date will be moved to the next round.
- Academic Records or Transcripts: You must provide all academic records or transcripts from each previously attended university and proof of graduation from a Bachelor’s program (if this is not indicated on the transcript). While we do not require official transcripts at the time of application, you may send any official transcripts to Cornell Tech admissions electronically or via postal service. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the academic institution.
- International Students:
- Cornell Tech requires that transcripts from colleges and universities outside the U.S. and Canada undergo a course-by-course evaluation by an expert academic credential evaluator in the United States. Students are responsible for paying all fees for such evaluations and making arrangements with the credential evaluation company to send and receive their documents.
- Cornell Tech will accept evaluations from:
- Evaluations may be sent electronically (preferred) or via postal mail. You may also upload a copy through your Status Portal.
- Note: The admissions committee requires this evaluation prior to reviewing your application for an admissions decision.
- Language Test Scores (International Students Only):
- A high level of English proficiency is needed to complete the General LL.M. program. While all applications will be reviewed regardless of ESL scores, successful applicants typically meet the minimum language test score requirement. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident of the US, Canada (other than Quebec), UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand or have not studied full-time for at least two consecutive years at a college or university in one of these countries, you must submit a valid TOEFL score of minimum 100 or IELTS score of minimum 7.0 overall band. Please note that we do not accept MyBestScores. Official test scores are not required at the time of submitting your application. However, all students who are accepted to the program will need to report their official scores to Cornell Tech for verification.
To report your scores:
TOEFL Testing Code: 2098
IELTS: Cornell University Cornell Tech
*Please note we do not accept MyBestScore Results
Waivers: To see if you qualify for an English test waiver, please read Cornell Law School’s Application Requirements.
The English language proficiency requirement may be waived if the applicant meets at least one of these criteria:
- Is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, or a citizen of the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Canada (except Quebec).
- At the time you enroll at Cornell, you have studied in full-time status for at least two academic years within the last five years in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, or with English language instruction in Canada or South Africa. Even if English was the language of instruction at your school, if you did not study in one of these countries, you are not exempt from the requirement. You must submit a transcript that shows you attended college in one of the designated locations, and that your academic program was at least two years in length.
If you have any questions about the English language waiver or would like to confirm whether or not you qualify, please contact Cornell Tech Admissions at admissions@tech.cornell.edu.
- Note about NY State Bar Exam: For most foreign-trained students, the Cornell Tech LL.M. will not, by itself, qualify graduates to sit for the New York State bar examination. Please note that these requirements vary according to your background and the current bar examination requirements, so we cannot counsel applicants prior to their admittance into the program. Applicants must submit their application by the priority round to be considered for the third-semester option.
- Application Fee: A non-refundable application fee of $95 must be submitted with the online application.
- Note: GRE and LSAT scores will not be considered or accepted.
Admissions Contact Information
Website: Cornell Tech - Master of Laws (LL.M.) Application
