Columbia Law School James Kent Scholars

Honoring Academic Excellence

A Legacy of Legal Luminaries

Established in 1923 by the Faculty of Law to honor James Kent, the first Professor of Law at Columbia Law School appointed in 1793, the James Kent Scholars program recognizes students who have achieved the highest academic distinction.

WEB Students who maintain high honors status, typically ranking within the top two to eight percent of their class during any year of their law school tenure, are eligible for this prestigious honor.

Degree candidates who have consistently excelled in their coursework and earned James Kent academic honors for outstanding academic achievement are celebrated for their dedication and scholarship.

Recognizing Future Legal Leaders

WEB James Kent, an influential jurist who served as a New York Supreme Court Justice and Chief Justice, left an indelible mark on the legal profession.

WEB Ryan Santicola 16 LLM, who was named a Columbia Law School James Kent Scholar in recognition of his exceptional academic record, is a testament to the program's legacy of cultivating exceptional legal minds.