
The First Amendment Clinic
The Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic’s dual mission is to teach students important aspects of the First Amendment and to vigorously defend its clients’ First Amendment rights. Through coursework and cutting edge First Amendment litigation and advocacy, students gain theoretical and practical skills while achieving the best possible outcomes for its clients. The Clinic houses the Local Journalism Project, an innovative initiative that provides focus to the Clinic’s work on behalf of local and community news outlets and journalists.
Recent News
Burlington City Council Declines to Pass Troubling Ordinance After Clinic Intervention
July 14, 2025 - The Cornell First Amendment Clinic recently stepped in to object to two proposed amendments to the Burlington City Code of Ordinances that would have threatened the First Amendment rights of residents of Burlington, Vermont. At its meeting on December 9, 2024, Burlington City Council members voted against one of those amendments, with some echoing the […]