Image 01 Image 03

Author: William A. Jacobson

Profile photo

William A. Jacobson

William A. Jacobson is a Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School.

He is a 1981 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1984 graduate of Harvard Law School. At Harvard he was Senior Editor of the Harvard International Law Journal and Director of Litigation for the Harvard Prison Legal Assistance Project.

Prior to joining the Cornell law faculty in 2007, Professor Jacobson had a highly successful civil litigation and arbitration practice in Providence, Rhode Island, concentrating in investment, employment, and business disputes in the securities industry, including many high profile cases reported in leading newspapers and magazines.

Professor Jacobson has argued cases in numerous federal and state courts, including the Courts of Appeal for the First, Fifth and Sixth Circuits, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

Professor Jacobson has a national reputation as a leading practitioner in securities arbitration. He was Treasurer, and is a former member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association, a professional organization of attorneys dedicated to protecting public investors. He frequently is quoted in national media on issues related to investment fraud and investor protection, and in the past has served as one of a small number of private practice attorneys who trained new arbitrators for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Professor Jacobson is co-author of the Securities Arbitration Desk Reference (Thomson-Reuters), updated annually.

Professor Jacobson is frequently quoted in the media on political and legal topics, has authored many Op-Eds in major publications, and appears on television and radio to discuss politics and the law.

A more complete listing of Professor Jacobson's professional background is available at the Cornell Law School website. The views expressed here are his own and not those of any employer or organization,

The best way to reach Prof. Jacobson is by e-mail here.

The demand for a recount, at taxpayer expense, by JoAnne Kloppenburg has produced almost no change in the vote count after six days of counting, but has cost taxpayers several hundred thousand dollars already.The Prosser Recount committee has a handy way of keeping track of...

Update - Vote in Senate will be Wednesday at noon.  See updated post, Senate To "Go To War" Today Over Jack McConnell Nomination. ------------------I have posted frequently about John J. "Jack" McConnell, Jr., nominated for an open seat to the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island. ...

Hearing the news of Osama bin Laden's death brought forward many emotions and memories.One of those memories for me was the story of Johnny "Mike" Spann, from Winfield, Alabama, the first American killed in the Afghanistan war, on November 25, 2001.Spann was a CIA operative,...

Taken by reader Scott in North Raleigh, NC, while stopped at a red light (thanks for humoring me).Scott says it's one of the first time's he's agreed with a Tar Heels fan.  Hey, maybe this has brought us all together:--------------------------------------------Related Posts:Bumper Stickers - The SeriesFollow...

Back to reality.  Osama bin Laden is still dead, and the economy still stinks, Teen joblessness may hit record this summer: A record-low one in four U.S. teenagers will land a summer job in the coming months as a result of a still-poor job market...

Recent change noted (h/t Sister Toldjah)--------------------------------------------Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Nate Silver at the NY Times, addressing the inevitable question as to how the success of the bin Laden operation helps Obama's electoral chances, does not see a long term electoral advantage arising from the killing of Osama bin Laden:Yes, this is going to help...

So reports Jake Tapper of ABC.Apparently bin Laden's compound was identified positively in March, and the military wanted to drop a dozen or so guided bombs and reduce the compound to ashes.  According to Tapper, Obama passed on the request because there would have been...

Multiple news reports state that Obama will announced that Osama bin Laden is dead and the U.S. has the body.To be updated when the details are announced.This is a time of joy.Comments are open.Updates:  Obama gave his statement (my paraphrase):   U.S. killed bin Laden.  Week...

Congratulations to our very own Kathleen McCaffrey, who has been named one of only five Bartley Fellows by the Wall Street Journal.A copy of the announcement by Paul Gigot is here:Kathleen McCaffrey, from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, is a rising senior at Cornell University with a major in...

I missed the introductory video (below) shown just before Obama's speech at the White House Correspondents' Dinner last night, because the cable networks did not cut in until he began to speak.The video was called to my attention by Ben Smith's column, in which Smith made...

Barack Obama's speech at the White House correspondents' dinner last night was small and petty.  Watch it below, and compare it to similar appearances by George Bush.Bush, who was under attack from the media, academia and the entertainment industry on a scale which makes the "birther"...

Do you realize how long I have been waiting for this?Spotted yesterday in Ithaca:My reaction?  No comment.--------------------------------------------Related Posts:Bumper Stickers - The SeriesFollow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTubeVisit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!...

Michelle Malkin has an update on her cousin, Marizela Perez, who has been missing for two months.  Today is her 19th birthday.Unfortunately, there is no news or leads.Michelle discloses that the family has not received cooperation from Jack in the Box Corporation for suveillance video at...