Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar Honors: Recognizing Superior Academic Achievement in Law

The Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar honors designation is a unique form of academic recognition bestowed upon law students. Unlike traditional Latin honors or membership in the Order of the Coif, Columbia Law School grants Stone Scholar honors at the end of each academic year, recognizing exceptional performance during that specific year.

Origins and Purpose of the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar Designation

The Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar honors designation was established in 1946 in memory of Chief Justice Harlan Fiske Stone, an alumnus of the law school as well as a former member of its faculty and dean of the school from 1910-1924. The award is a tribute to his legacy as an inspiring educator and influential figure in American legal history. The purpose of the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar honors is to recognize "superior academic achievement".

Harlan Fiske Stone: A Legacy of Legal Excellence

Harlan Fiske Stone's life and career embody the principles of legal excellence and public service that the Scholar honors seek to promote. Born in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, on October 11, Stone grew up in Amherst, Massachusetts. Stone graduated from Amherst College, where he played on the football team and became acquainted with fellow student and future President Calvin Coolidge, who would later nominate Stone to the Supreme Court.

Stone's career included:

Graduation from Columbia Law School.
Service as Dean of Columbia Law School.
Service as attorney general.
Appointment to the Supreme Court, where he served as both Associate Justice and Chief Justice.

Stone was an inspiring educator who championed the increasingly popular “case” method, teaching courses in trusts, contracts, mortgages, criminal law, and property.

Read also: Colleges: Fiske Guide

Eligibility Criteria for Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar Honors

Stone Scholar honors are awarded at the end of each year in recognition of "superior academic achievement". To qualify for this prestigious recognition, students must meet specific academic criteria. These requirements ensure that only those who have demonstrated exceptional dedication and mastery of legal studies receive the honor.

The specific requirements include:

Earning at least 15 graded law credits.
Receiving no grade lower than B-.
Maintaining an academic average for the year at or above 3.410. The Law School calculates the GPA for this purpose internally.

Meeting these requirements demonstrates a student's commitment to academic excellence and their ability to excel in the rigorous environment of law school.

The James Kent Scholar Honors Designation

In addition to the Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar honors, Columbia Law School also bestows the James Kent Scholar honors designation. The James Kent Scholar honors designation was established in 1923, named for James Kent, the first Professor of Law on the Columbia faculty.

Other forms of recognition

The law school has a number of awards that it grants for excellence in particular subjects or skills. The Faculty of Law has established a system of academic honors to recognize outstanding academic achievement. These honors, which are noted on a student’s official transcript, are awarded at the end of each academic year based on a student’s performance during that year. Honors system in place beginning with LL.M. Class of 2023/E.LL.M. Class of 2024/J.D. Class of 2025.

Read also: Alluring POV Coeds

Academic Honors

Highest Honors for students in the top 2% of their respective class based on GPA.
High Honors for students in the top 10% of their class based on GPA
Honors for students in the top 40% of their respective class based on GPA

To be considered for any of the honors listed above, a student must earn at least 15 letter graded law credits toward their degree during an academic year. Note that honors are calculated based on GPA as it compares to students in the same class year (i.e., a 1L student’s GPA is compared against the GPA distribution of the 1L class). Only grades earned in Law School classes (i.e., not in other divisions of the University nor while enrolled in an exchange program at another school) are used in calculating honors. No student will receive honors for a year that includes a grade of "Incomplete."

To be considered for Highest Honors, High Honors, or Honors, a student must earn at least 15 letter graded law credits toward their degree during an academic year.

Faculty may choose to recognize the single best student in a class with an enrollment of 30 or more with Special Honors for Outstanding Performance in a Class. This designation is awarded at the instructor’s discretion, and the instructor is free to choose whether to award the prize in a given course or a given semester.

Cumulative Honors

J.D. students who receive High or Highest Honors in each of the academic years in which they are enrolled at Columbia Law School are awarded the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Prize at graduation. J.D. transfer students who enroll at Columbia Law School at the beginning of their 2L year are eligible to receive the Ginsburg Prize if they receive High or Highest Honors in both their 2L and 3L years. The John Ordronaux Prize is awarded annually to the J.D. student who has achieved the highest GPA in the graduating class. The Walter Gellhorn Prize is awarded annually to the LL.M.

Students must be in full-time residence at the Law School for the entire academic year in order to be eligible for honors. Students participating in approved study abroad programs remain in full-time residence at the Law School and can be considered for honors if all other criteria for honors are met. Grades earned in courses taken outside Columbia Law School (e.g., other divisions of the University, NYU Law School as part of the CLS-NYU Exchange Program, other law schools while a visiting student, study abroad programs) will not be factored into honors GPA calculations. Students participating in joint degree programs can only be considered for honors during the academic years in which they are resident in the Law School for both the fall and spring semesters.

For students graduating in May, academic year honors determinations are made a week or two after Commencement. For continuing students, honors calculations are made on a weekly basis during June and late July, once all grades have been submitted. To capture late grade submissions, a final honors calculation for the academic year just ended is made during the last week in July. Students cannot receive academic honors for a year that includes a grade of incomplete.

Impact of Gifts on Columbia Law School

Donors making a cash gift at one of the below levels during a fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) are recognized for their generosity as Harlan Fiske Stone Society members. The Harlan Fiske Stone Society Award is presented each year at a reception to honor an individual who has demonstrated what it truly means to be a loyal supporter of the Law School-leadership in annual giving, volunteerism, civic engagement, and contributions to and achievements within the legal profession.

Gifts can be directed to support:

Dean’s Discretionary Fund
Faculty support
Student support
International and LL.M. programs
Public service and public interest law
Library and infrastructure
And other initiatives

Planned gifts give back, allowing you to take sizable income, capital gains, and estate deductions on your taxes. If you choose to include Columbia Law School in your estate plan, please contact the Development team at 212-854-2680. We would like to recognize your generosity by welcoming you to the Kent Affiliates, the Columbia Law School branch of the 1754 Society.

The Harlan Fiske Stone Society

We invite you to join the Harlan Fiske Stone Society and reaffirm your commitment to the future of Columbia Law School. Membership strengthens our community and draws upon a collective sense of purpose that connects the legal academy and the application of the law in the global community. Your gifts have a direct impact on our educational mission and reinforce our aspiration to be the leading center for legal education in the world.

Endowed Funds at Columbia Law School

The Law School has the following endowed professorship, library, lecture, scholarship, fellowship, and prize funds.

Nathan Baker Professorship of Law (1981) A gift in honor of Nathan Baker, who dedicated fifty years of his life to the practice of trial advocacy, from Robert C. Baker and Gerald H.
Simeon E. Baldwin Professorship (1896 and 1927) A gift and bequest of Professor Simeon E. Baldwin, B.A.
Alexander M. Bickel Professorship of Public Law (1979) Gifts from various individuals, news organizations, and others in memory of Sterling Professor Alexander M.
Jacquin D. Bierman Professorship of Taxation (1998) A gift from Jacquin D. Bierman, J.D.
David Boies Professorship of Law (2003) Established in honor of David Boies, a member of the Yale Law School Class of 1966, distinguished trial and appellate lawyer, by his friends and partners.
Helen and Bernard Brandes Professor of Law (2024) Established by a bequest from Bernard E.
Guido Calabresi Professorship (2006) Established through a bequest of Ralph Gregory Elliot, B.A. 1958, LL.B. 1961, to honor Guido Calabresi, B.S. 1953, LL.B. 1958, M.A.Hon.
The George W. and Sadella D. Crawford Professorial Lectureship (1997) A fund supporting either a professorship, a fellowship, or a lectureship. Established through a generous bequest from Dr. Charlotte Crawford Watkins, Ph.D. 1937, of Washington, D.C., professor of English at Howard University, in memory of her father, George W. Crawford (LL.B. 1903), 1877-1972, a child of former slaves who became a founding signatory of the NAACP and a trustee of Talladega College.
William Nelson Cromwell Fund (1949) Bequest of William Nelson Cromwell, Esq., of the New York bar, income to be used for the general purposes of the Law School.
Elizabeth K. Dollard Professorship of Law, Medicine, and Psychiatry (1990) Established by a gift from the Elizabeth K. Dollard Charitable Trust, in memory of Elizabeth K. Dollard, J.D.
William O. Douglas Clinical Professorship of Law (1989) A gift from Mrs. Gordon B. Tweedy and Mr. and Mrs. Tweedy’s daughters, Clare Tweedy McMorris, Ann Tweedy, and Margot Tweedy, in memory of Gordon Bradford Tweedy, B.A. 1929, LL.B. 1932, on the occasion of the anniversaries of his graduation from Yale College and Yale Law School, and in honor of the Honorable William O. Douglas, M.A.
Doyle/Winter-YLS Democracy and Dialogue (2020) Established by a gift from Michael A. Doyle, LL.B. 1962, and Bunny Winter, to support the teaching and research activities associated with the Michael A.
The John M. Duff, Jr. Professorship (2004) Established in recognition of gifts by John M. Duff Jr., LL.B.
Allen Duffy/Class of 1960 Professorship (1990) Created through the generosity of David A. (J.D. 1960) and Betty Jones and members of the 1960 graduating class, on the occasion of their thirtieth reunion, to honor the memory of deceased classmate Allen Duffy, J.D.
Joseph M. Field 1955 Professorship of Law (2005) Established by a gift from Joseph M. Field, LL.B.
Macklin Fleming Professorship of Law (1999) Established by a bequest from Macklin Fleming, B.A. 1934, LL.B.
Martin R. Flug ’55 Faculty Support Fund (2016) Established by a gift from Martin R. Flug, LL.B.
Lafayette S. Foster Professorship (1903) Bequest of the Honorable Lafayette S. Foster, to found a professorship of English common law.
John A. Garver Professorship (1927) A gift and bequest of John A. Garver, B.A.
Maurice R. Greenberg Visiting Professorship (2006) Established by a gift from David Boies, LL.B. 1966, and Mary M. Boies, in honor of Maurice R.
Walton Hale Hamilton Professorship (1965) Gifts in memory of Professor Walton Hale Hamilton, M.A. Hon.
The Sam Harris Professorship of Law (1983) A gift in memory of Sam Harris, LL.B.
Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld Professorship of Jurisprudence (1958) A gift in memory of Professor Wesley Newcomb Hohfeld, M.A. Hon.
Howard M. Holtzmann Professorship of International Law (1997) Established by gifts from Howard M. Holtzmann, B.A. 1942, J.D. 1947, a distinguished lawyer and jurist in the field of international arbitration and dispute resolution, and from his friends, on the occasion of Judge Holtzmann’s fifty-fifth reunion in Yale College, and fiftieth in Yale Law School.
Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Professorship (1985) A gift in honor of the Honorable Nicholas deB. Katzenbach, LL.B.
Knight Chair in Constitutional Law and the First Amendment (1997) Established by a grant from the John S. and James L.
Arthur Liman Professorship (1996) Established by the friends of Arthur L. Liman, LL.B.
Augustus E. Lines Professorship of Testamentary Law (1908) A bequest of Augustus E.
Henry R. Luce Professorship of Jurisprudence (1955) Gift from Henry R. Luce, B.A. 1920, M.A. Hon.
Myres S. McDougal Professorship (1998) Gift of Paul C. Tsai, LL.M. 1954, J.S.D. 1957, together with friends and former students, in memory of Myres S. McDougal, J.S.D. 1931, Associate Professor of Law, 1934-39; Professor, 1939-44; William K.
Walter E. Meyer Professorship of Property and Urban Law (1965) Gift in memory of Walter E. Meyer, B.A. 1901, from the Walter E.
Edward J. Phelps Professorship (1887) A gift of Junius S. Morgan, and his son J. Pierpont Morgan, LL.D. 1908, in honor of Professor Edward J.
Alfred M. Rankin Professorship of Law (1991) Gifts in honor of Alfred M. Rankin, B.S. 1936, LL.B. 1939, a distinguished practicing lawyer for more than fifty years and a leader in civic affairs in Cleveland, Ohio, from his wife, Clara Taplin Rankin, and his son, Alfred M. Rankin Jr., B.A. 1963, LL.B.
Florence Rogatz Visiting Professorships (1994) A fund established through a generous bequest from Pat Herman Winokur in memory of her parents, Florence Rogatz Herman, LL.B. 1923, and Alexander C.
Oscar M. Ruebhausen Professorship of Law (2005) Established by a bequest of Oscar M. Ruebhausen, LL.B.
Sidley Austin-Robert D. McLean ’70 Visiting Professorship (2006) Established by gifts from the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, family, and friends to honor Robert D. McLean, LL.B.
Robert R. Slaughter Professorship of Law (1998) A grant from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation in memory of Robert R. Slaughter, B.A. 1945, LL.B.
Gerard C. and Bernice Latrobe Smith Professorship (1993) A chair in international law, diplomacy, and cross-cultural studies. Established in honor of Ambassador Gerard C. Smith, LL.B.
John Thomas Smith Professorship (1964) Gift in memory of John Thomas Smith, LL.B.
Charles F. Southmayd Professorship (1913) A gift in memory of Charles F. Southmayd, LL.D. 1884, from his sister, Emily F.
Potter Stewart Professorship of Constitutional Law (1989) Established through the generosity of family, friends, and former law clerks to honor the memory of the Honorable Potter Stewart, LL.B. Supreme Court, 1958-81.
Leighton Homer Surbeck Professorship (2000) Established to honor Homer Surbeck, Yale Law School Class of 1927 and founding member of the law firm of Hughes, Hubbard & Reed, by Margaret Surbeck, his wife.
William K. Townsend Professorship (1925) Gifts in memory of Professor William K. Townsend, LL.B. 1874, a member of the faculty between 1881 and 1907, from his son, George H. Townsend, B.A.
Gordon Bradford Tweedy Professorship of Law and Organization (1980) A gift in honor of Gordon Bradford Tweedy, B.A. 1929, LL.B. 1932, from members of his family, to establish a joint professorship between the Law School and the School of Management.
Anne Urowsky Fund (2008) Established by a gift from Richard J. Urowsky, B.A. 1967, J.D.
Robert W. Winner Professorship (1999) An endowed chair in Law and Humanities or Law and Public Policy, created by the gift from a member of the Yale Law School Class of 1938 who was a close friend and business partner of Robert W.
J. Skelly Wright Professorship (2008) Established by a bequest of Mrs. Helen Wright and gifts from former law clerks and friends, to honor the life and career of James Skelly Wright, LL.D. Hon.
Simeon E. Baldwin Fund (1927) Bequest of Simeon E. Baldwin, B.A.
Burton H. Brody Fund (1998) Gift from Burton H. Brody, B.S. 1945W, J.D.
Shirley Oakes Butler Fund (1987) Bequest of Shirley Oakes Butler, LL.B.
Ann F. Cudahy Fund for Law and Business Policy (1975) Gift from the Patrick and Anna M. Cudahy Fund, in memory of the wife of Richard D. Cudahy, LL.B. 1955, president of the fund.
Sherman Day Fund (1948) Bequest of Sherman Day, B.A.
Harold Depew Fund (1966) Gift from Harold Depew, LL.B.
Albert B. Dick Fund (1921, 1923, 1927) Gift from Albert B. Dick, of Chicago.
Gregg L. Engles ’82 Fund (2008) Established by a gift from Gregg L. Engles, J.D.
Martin F. Ernst Fund (1960) Bequest of Martin F.
Allen B. Forbes Fund (1921) Gift from Allen B. Forbes, LL.B.
Gerald R. Ford Program in Law and Public Policy (1980) In honor of President Gerald R. Ford, LL.B.
Sol and Lillian Goldman Deanship at Yale Law School (2004) Established by a gift from the Sol Goldman Charitable Trust and the Lillian Goldman Charitable Trust to support the deanship.
Goldman Fund for International Initiatives at Yale Law School (2005) Established by a gift from Lloyd M. and Victoria A.
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Fund for International Initiatives (2006) Established by the Horace W.
Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Fund II (2008) Established by the Horace W.
Charles E. Hodgdon Fund (1969) Bequest of Ernest F. Hodgdon, LL.B. 1909, son of Charles E.
Harvey L. Karp Fund (1987) Established by a gift from the Harvey L.
Eugene and Gloria Landy Fund for the Study of Corporate Law (2015) Established by a gift from Eugene W. Landy, LL.B.
Carol L. and Eugene A. Ludwig Flex-Faculty Fund (2016) Established by Dr. Carol L. Ludwig and Eugene A. Ludwig ’73 J.D.
William W. Meyer Fund (1969) Bequest of William W. Meyer, M.A. 1912, LL.B.
James T. Moran Fund (1937) Bequest of James T. Moran, LL.B.
Charles M. Nathan 1965 Fund for the Study of Corporate and Commercial Law at Yale Law School (2006) Established by Charles M. Nathan, LL.B.
Deborah L. Rhode Fund for Public Interest and Pro Bono Service (2005) Established by a gift from Deborah L. Rhode, B.A. 1974, J.D.
Jonathan P. Rosen ’70 Fund for Faculty Support (2004) Established by a gift from Jonathan P. Rosen, J.D.
Alfred E. Rosenhirsch Fund (1958) Gift from Alfred E. Rosenhirsch, B.A. 1925, LL.B.
Oscar M. Ruebhausen Professor Research Support (2005) Established by a bequest of Oscar M. Ruebhausen, LL.B. 1937 to support the Oscar M.
Oscar M. Ruebhausen Visiting Scholars (2005) Established by a bequest of Oscar M. Ruebhausen, LL.B.
Donald Schapiro (B.A. ’45, J.D. ’49) Faculty Fund (2014) Established by a gift from Linda Schapiro and friends, in memory of Donald Schapiro, B.A. 1945, J.D.
Orville H. Schell, Jr. Center Fund (1988) Established by gifts honoring Orville H. Schell Jr., B.A. 1930, from the John Merck Fund, his family, colleagues, and friends, to create the Orville H. Schell, Jr. Center for International Human Rights Law at Yale Law School.
Shibley Family Fund (1995) Established through a generous bequest from the late Raymond N. Shibley, LL.B.
Harry Shulman Fund (1957) Bequest of Harry Shulman, M.A. Hon.
Richard A. Siegal Dean’s Discretionary Endowment Fund (2020) Established by a gift from Richard A. Siegal, J.D.
John G. Simon Fund for Teaching and Research at Yale Law School (2007) Established by a gift from Robert C. Pozen, J.D. 1972, J.S.D. 1973, in honor of Professor John G.
The Soraya-Asef Legal Services Clinic Fund (2017) Established by Dr. Baha Asefzadeh and Dr. Michael S. Singer ’95 B.S., ’02 M.D., ’00 Ph.D. to provide operating support for Yale Law School clinics that represent clients or advocate on their behalf, with preference for clinics focused on immigration issues or refugee assistance.
John D. Spencer Fund (1961) Bequest of John D. Spencer, LL.B.
Harold G. and Brian R. Sterling Family Fund (2010) Established by a gift from Brian R. Sterling, J.D. 1985, and his father, Harold G. Sterling, J.D.
Streicker Fund for Student Research (1997) Endowment fund established by John H. Streicker, J.D.
Thomas Thacher Fund (1922) Established by a gift from Thomas Day Thacher, B.A. 1904, in honor of his father, Thomas Thacher, B.A. 1871, and later increased by gifts from Mrs. Thomas Thacher and Mrs. Thomas D.
George B. Thayer Fund (1941) Bequest of George B. Thayer, LL.B.
Cecil F. Travis (1972) Bequest of Cecil F. Travis, LL.B.
Gordon B. Tweedy Fund (1972) Gift from Gordon B. Tweedy, B.A. 1929, LL.B.
Stanley P. Wagman Fund (2005) Established by a gift from Harriett Gordon Wagman in memory of her husband, Stanley P. Wagman, J.D.
Wayland Memorial (1905) Gifts from friends of Francis Wayland, M.A. Hon.
Harry H. Wellington Dean’s Discretionary Fund for Faculty Support (2005) Established by a gift from Alan L. Wurtzel, LL.B.
The William B. Wolf, Jr. Fund on Women and the Law (2002) Established by Susan M. Wolf, J.D. 1980, her husband, Professor Gene Borgida, and their family in honor of her father, William B. Wolf Jr., LL.B.
Roger S. and Virginia Aaron Scholarship Fund (1999) Gift from the Aaron family, during the thirtieth reunion year of Roger S.
Carolyn E. Agger Endowment for Women in Law (1997) A fund established through the generous bequest of Carolyn E. Agger, LL.B. 1938, of Washington, D.C., a partner in the law firm of Arnold & Porter.
Davis and Bessie Albert Scholarship Fund (2008) Established by a bequest from the estate of Harry M. Albert, LL.B.
Albrecht Scholarship Fund (2020) Established by a bequest of Arthur Robert Albrecht, LL.B.
Marion G. and Fred W. Aley Scholarship (1983) A gift from Marion G. Aley, LL.B.
R. Bruce Allensworth Scholarship Fund (2008) Established by R. Bruce Allensworth, J.D. 1978, on the occasion of his thirtieth Law School reunion, for Yale Law School students, preferably J.D.
John Page Austin ’39 LL.B. Scholarship in Law (2011) Established by a gift from William G. Green, B.A. 1966, in honor of John Page Austin, LL.B.
James T. Babb Scholarship (1963) Gift in honor of James T. Babb, B.A. 1924, M.A. Hon. 1945, librarian of Yale University, established by the Steele-Reese Foundation.
Hugh H. Barber Memorial Scholarship (1972) Gift from Ronald Barber, in memory of his brother, Hugh H. Barber, LL.B.
Curtis H. Barnette Scholarship Fund (1999) Established by a gift from Curtis H. Barnette, LL.B. 1962. To be awarded based on the integrity, leadership, and academic and service performance of a student.
Thomas D. Barr ’58 Scholarship Fund (2008) Established by Cornelia H. Barr honoring her husband, Thomas D. Barr, LL.B.
Joseph W. [Frances Levinson (Mrs. Joseph W.) Beatman].
The Abraham, Eva, and Leonard Becker Scholarship Fund (2016) Established by the estate of Leonard H. Becker ’68 LL.B.
Edward R. Becker ’57 Scholarship (2009) Established by gifts from the Becker family, former law clerks, and friends of the Honorable Edward R. Becker, LL.B.
William John Beecher Scholarship (1924) Marguerite K. Beecher and Florence Beecher Budd in memory of their father, William John Beecher, LL.B.

tags: #harlan #fiske #stone #scholarship #requirements