CANTON – St. Lawrence University has entered a partnership with Cornell Law School to collaborate on a Law Early Admission Program (LEAP), which will enable high-achieving undergraduates to attain their undergraduate and law degrees in six years instead of the traditional seven.

"We are excited to offer Laurentians the opportunity to leverage their liberal arts education in one of the nation's top law programs," says St. Lawrence President Kathryn A. Morris. "I'm confident our interdisciplinary curriculum and supportive faculty advisors will prepare students well for the rewarding pursuit of a law degree."

To qualify for LEAP, students must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and place within the 80th percentile of their class. After completing an accelerated undergraduate curriculum, including all requirements for their intended major, admitted students will matriculate for their first of three years of law school at Cornell.

This understanding builds on an existing partnership between the two universities. In 2016, the St. Lawrence University-Cornell Law School Scholarship was established to support eligible St. Lawrence graduates upon admission to the J.D. program at Cornell.

"I was already leaning toward Cornell, but the scholarship really put it above other schools for me," says Phil Duggan '15, a 2021 graduate of Cornell Law School. "It helped me afford to live in Ithaca, but more importantly, it has given me the freedom to pursue other passions without having to worry as much about paying off loans."

Like the scholarship, Cornell will be responsible for selecting qualified candidates for law school admission. Advising for students interested in pursuing LEAP can begin as early as their first year on campus, ensuring they understand expectations for the accelerated undergraduate portion of the program, feel confident in their path to law school, and know how to take advantage of every opportunity St. Lawrence provides before they matriculate at Cornell.

"Successful lawyers are sound critical thinkers, adaptable, and able to see arguments from multiple perspectives," says Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs Karl Schonberg. "Drawing from experiences in the classroom and beyond-whether participating in clubs or pursuing St. Lawrence-connected internships-students hone each of these skills and more while gaining practical experience throughout their four years here."

Students will also have opportunities to connect with members of the University's top-ranked alumni network to explore careers in all facets of the legal field. In addition to one-on-one alumni mentoring, St. Lawrence's Center for Career Excellence also facilitates SLU Connect programs during school breaks, allowing students to embark on week-long networking trips in cities across the country.