On a blue-skied Friday, nearly 800 freshly minted legal minds filled the South Lawn at Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus for the Law School’s Class of 2026 graduation. Families crowded College Walk, clutching iced coffees from Joe Coffee down the block, as students in Columbia blue robes lined up under the shade of the campus’s iconic elms.

The Class Day ceremony, held May 17, kicked off just after 10 a.m. with faculty and deans leading the procession past Butler Library. Cheers erupted from the 116th Street gates as students snapped cap-and-gown selfies, many already fielding congratulatory texts about clerkships and job offers. “I’m headed to Legal Aid in Brooklyn,” said graduate Kayla Jimenez, one of dozens planning to stay in the city. “It feels good to walk out these gates and be able to give back to New York.”

The crowd included grads bound for everything from white-shoe Midtown firms to criminal courts in the Bronx. Dean Gillian Lester’s keynote speech touched on the city’s urgent need for legal talent, especially with housing and immigration cases surging uptown and in Queens. “You’re stepping into a city that needs you,” Lester told the class, her voice ringing over the lawn.

After the ceremony, clusters of families spilled onto Amsterdam Avenue, some ducking into Tom’s Restaurant for celebratory brunch. By early afternoon, the blue-robed crowd had thinned, but a few grads lingered on Low Steps, soaking up sun and the last moments of student life before bar prep starts in June.

The new legal cohort joins a city in flux—housing courts are jammed, asylum cases are up, and this spring’s warm-up has brought fresh waves of activism to campus. For Columbia’s Class of 2026, the next chapter starts here, between Broadway and Riverside.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many graduates were in Columbia Law School’s Class of 2026?

Nearly 800 students graduated from Columbia Law School’s Class of 2026.

When and where was the Columbia Law School graduation ceremony held?

The ceremony was held on May 17 on the South Lawn at Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus.

What types of legal jobs are Columbia Law graduates taking in New York City?

Graduates are heading to roles at Legal Aid, white-shoe Midtown firms, and criminal courts in the Bronx.

What issues did Dean Gillian Lester highlight in her keynote speech?

Dean Lester emphasized the city’s urgent need for legal talent, especially for housing and immigration cases.

What is the next step for Columbia Law graduates after the ceremony?

Most graduates will begin preparing for the bar exam starting in June.

Editorial Transparency. A first draft of this story was produced with AI-assisted writing tools, then reviewed for accuracy and tone by the named editor before publication. More on our process: Editorial Policy.