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
News Coverage of Clinic’s Lawsuit Protecting First Amendment Rights in New York City
January 12, 2026 - The Clinic’s new First Amendment lawsuit, seeking to establish important legal rights for protestors in New York City’s many “privately owned public spaces,” or POPS, attracted widespread attention. Here is a selection of some of the news coverage: Suit Argues for Free Speech in Privately Owned Public Spaces, THE CITY NYC’s Private-Public Spaces Are at […]