First and foremost, what is the value of being in CULSR?
First, membership in CULSR is an extremely clear signal of legal interest to law schools, which is a key consideration during the law school review process (law schools want to see that you’re actually interested in law, after all). On this note, CULSR writers can customize their articles to a specific field of interest, which can assure a law school that a student legitimately has an interest in a certain type of law. For example, a Chemical Engineering student hoping to become an intellectual property (IP) lawyer could write IP-related articles in CULSR and reference these in their law school applications.
Second, CULSR conveys a desire to improve one’s writing skills. Considering law school is known for being all about “reading and writing,” our organization helps prepares members for law school (and if not law school, strong writing is invaluable in any career).
Third, as we consistently hear from alumni, skills gained in CULSR (such as learning how to utilize the legal database LexisNexis) translate directly to law school.
Fourth, due to the four-tier structure of the organization, there are significant opportunities for upward mobility and leadership. Our 2023-2024 E-Board is proud to continue the tradition of having sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Fifth, membership in our Review provides signficant value even after leaving Cornell. Law schools– and even law firms– commonly ask CULSR alumni about their time in our organization. CULSR’s 2019-20 Co-Editor-in-Chief, Matthew Chakov (Cornell ILR ‘20; Harvard Law ‘25) said:
“When I applied to Harvard Law School, my interviewer and I actually discussed my time in CULSR at length. I was able to discuss the leadership and writing skills I developed while serving as Editor-in-Chief as well the work I published in the Review. Now, as a 2L student who just finished the on-campus interview process with law firms, nearly all of these law firm interviewers asked me about my time in CULSR and the work I had published. From my experience, both law schools and law firms are definitely impressed that both that an undergraduate law review exists and the breadth of work I was able to undertake on the Review!”
What are the typical credentials of CULSR Editors (the individuals who work with 3-5 Staff Writers each semester)?
By nature of CULSR’s four-tier bureaucratic structure, all Editors themselves have previously written articles for CULSR. Thus, Editors themselves know legal writing styles such as issue-rule-application-conclusion (IRAC) structure, as well as the overarching writing process from idea-to-article. Further, the majority of Editors are upperclassmen who have undertaken rigorous writing courses during their time at Cornell, and in turn pass down their knowledge to their Staff Writers. Lastly, it is not uncommon for CULSR editors to hold prestigious writing and/or legal awards. Derek Jiang ‘25 came in first place– out of 5,000+ entries– for the Bill of Rights Institute’s “We the Students” Essay Contest. Or, CULSR alumna Cassidy McKee ‘23 was even admitted to Harvard Law School’s Junior Deferral Program when concurrently serving as a CULSR Managing Editor, as well.
How does CULSR’s writing process actually work?
Linked here is a 3-page guide that details “CULSR’s 9-Step Writing Process” throughout the course of a semester. If a Staff Writer satisfactory completes all nine steps by the stated deadlines, their article will at a minimum be included in our online review.
Though CULSR asks all Staff Writers to write every semester they are in our organization (exlcuding study abroads, credit internships, etc.), active members are expected to write— and finish— at least one article every academic year (in other words, every two semesters) starting with the semester a member joined CULSR. Exceptions to this rule can be made for extenuating circumstances, such as a student who takes medical leave.
For Staff Writers who aspire to become Associate Editors and join our Executive Board, it is strongly recommended to write every semester that one is a member within CULSR.
Barring prior approval from our Executive Board, you will receive an email notification that you have withdrawn your membership from the organization. From this point on, you are no longer a member.
Short answer: It depends. Generally, accepted cohorts have historically tended to range from 10-15 Staff Writers per Fall semester and 3-6 per Spring semester.
Long answer: The number of accepted Staff Writers per semester cohort depends on a number of factors, such as (1) the number of Associate Editors and Managing Editors available to mentor Staff Writers, (2) the number of Staff Writers currently in CULSR, (3) our Executive Board’s desire to maintain either low or high Staff Writer-to-Editor ratios, (4) the grade distribution of our organization (ex. having many Staff Writers about to graduate), and (5) the semester in question (i.e. either Fall or Spring).
No. In CULSR’s history, we have never had a single-digit acceptance rate. CULSR affirms our desire to create equal access to professional opportunities and resources.
This being said, there are also inherent constraints on our organization that regrettably prevent us from accepting all applicants. Given that the focus of our organization consists of editors mentoring Staff Writers throughout the legal writing process, this is obviously a time-intensive, individualized process. Our organization has historically been unsustainably overextended when having more than 10+ editors; we have also found that assigning more than 4-5 Staff Writers per editor results in overburdening the editor to a point where they cannot adequately support their writers.
Legal research, writing, attention to detail, and critical thinking are all key legal skills gained from CULSR membership.
In terms of technical skills, we offer a LexisNexis training every semester that bolster writers' ability to conduct legal research using case law. Many alumni report that this has given them a “leg up” during their 1L year.
Approximately 8-10 double-spaced pages is standard. However, with an editor’s prior approval, some articles have also gone 10-14 pages, as well.
The legal format Issue-Rule-Application-Conclusion (IRAC) is a common article structure. However, there are always articles each semester that do not follow this format, such as ones exploring legal theory from a specific philosopher.
Yes! Every semester, both Co-Editor-in-Chiefs offer “meet and greet” opportunities before CULSR’s application is due. These opportunities typically are multi-hour open sessions where candidates can drop-in and ask any questions (or even just say hello!). Other E-Board members typically also offer drop-in “meet and greet” sessions, as well.
CULSR often partners with other legal, and legal-adjacent, organizations on campus to sponsor legal-related events.
Further, members of CULSR are often members of other legal organizations on-campus, such as pre-law fraternities, policy and law centers, and Cornell Law School clinics; members are frequently members of non-legal organizations, as well!
Not at all! CULSR welcomes writers of all years and backgrounds. In fact, unlike many other law organizations on campus, CULSR has consistently accepted juniors– and even seniors– into our organization.
Cornell Law School’s Law Review is a graduate-level law review, whereas our law review is at the undergraduate level. Our organization is currently working on partnering with Cornell Law School’s Law Review to bring in guest speakers!
CULSR is proudly composed of majors across the academic spectrum, which in turn allows us to produce a variety of legal articles. In fact, CULSR’s E-Board member Derek Jiang ‘25 is actually a Chemical Engineering major. Majors from less-common pre-law paths are especially encouraged to apply.
CULSR strongly reiterates the importance of our DEI statement, and we fully recognize that applicants may be coming from backgrounds where there were limited opportunities to improve one’s writing. Further, we also recognize that students may be coming from backgrounds where English is not their first language, as well. This is why we require a statement of interest in our application; indeed, a prospective applicant could even mention this as a reason for wanting to join CULSR in the first place. CULSR fully welcomes applications from all backgrounds, and further, affirms our desire to create equal access to professional opportunities and resources.
Yes. However, please note that the exchange student must be actively enrolled at Cornell University for the semester they are applying to CULSR.
While CULSR is pleased that students of all ages are engaging with the legal writing process, we do not accept submissions outside of Cornell undergraduates who are active members of CULSR. This is an organizational policy, and we do not make exceptions.