Cody Jacobs

Cody Jacobs

Lecturer


BA, University of South Florida in Tampa
JD, Georgetown University Law Center
LLM, Temple University Beasley School of Law


Biography

Cody Jacobs joined the Lawyering Program at Boston University School of Law in 2019. He has been teaching legal research and writing for four years, most recently as a visiting assistant professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, and prior to that as an Abraham L. Friedman Fellow at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law where he earned an LLM in legal education. Before his time at Beasley, he was a clinical teaching fellow at SUNY Buffalo School of Law, where he taught a civil legal services clinic for military veterans.

Prior to entering academia, Mr. Jacobs spent a year as a staff attorney at the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence in San Francisco. There, he tracked Second Amendment litigation, edited amicus briefs for Second Amendment cases, provided testimony for California lawmakers on firearms-related bills, and represented the organization in local and national media appearances. From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Jacobs was an associate in the Los Angeles office of Sidley Austin LLP, where his practice focused on products liability and other complex commercial litigation. His pro bono work included a class-action challenge to prolonged immigration detention that helped hundreds of immigration detainees secure bond hearings. For his work on that case, he received the ACLU of Southern California’s Access to Justice Award in 2012 and was named an Attorney of the Year by California Lawyer magazine in 2014. Before starting his practice at the firm, he was a Sidley Austin Pro Bono Fellow in fall 2010, working at the ACLU of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Mr. Jacobs’ research focuses on civil procedure, firearms policy and the Second Amendment, and the intersection between those areas and tort law—particularly products liability litigation. His articles have been published in several top law journals including the University of Chicago Law Review, Southern California Law Review, and the UCLA Law Review.

In addition to his LLM, Mr. Jacobs graduated magna cum laude and Order of the Coif from Georgetown University Law Center. At Georgetown, he was the writing director for the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy and served as a law fellow, mentoring first-year students in legal research and writing. He earned a BA with honors in political science, graduating cum laude from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Publications

Scroll left to right to view all publications

  • Cody Jacobs, Guns in the Private Square 2020 University of Illinois Law Review (2020)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, The 'Other' Market 92 Temple Law Review (2020)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, In Defense of Territorial Jurisdiction 85 University of Chicago Law Review (2018)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, The Second Amendment & Private Law 90 Southern California Law Review (2017)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, The Stream of Violence: A New Approach to Domestic Violence Personal Jurisdiction No. 2016-18 Temple University Legal Studies Research Paper (2016)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, If Corporations Are People, Why Can’t They Play Tag? 46 New Mexico Law Review (2016)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, End the Popularity Contest: A Proposal for Second Amendment 'Type of Weapon' Analysis 83 Tennessee Law Review (2015)
    Scholarly Commons
  • Cody Jacobs, A Fork in the Stream: The Unjustified Failure of the Concurrence in J. McIntyre Machinery Ltd. v. Nicastro to Clarify the Stream of Commerce Doctrine Draft (2013)
    Scholarly Commons

In the Media

Scroll left to right to view all in the media posts

  • BU News Service April 9, 2025

    A Flash Point over Gun Control: Can Massachusetts’ Strict Firearms Law Survive the 2026 Ballot?

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • BU Today March 28, 2025

    SCOTUS Upholds Biden-Era Ghost Gun Regulations in a “Qualified” Decision

    Cody Jacobs is interviewed.
    read more

  • The Boston Globe November 12, 2024

    Mass. Democrats Championed a New Gun Law. It’s Drawn a Wave of Backlash from Pro-Gun Groups and Voters.

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • BU News Service October 22, 2024

    Healey’s Emergency Preamble on New Gun Legislation Sparks Conversation

    Cody Jacob is quoted.
    read more

  • WBUR October 9, 2024

    Furious with New Mass. Gun Laws, Opponents Take Fight to Court and the Public

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • The Boston Globe October 1, 2024

    N.H. Gun Owners Can Carry Firearms Without a License. What Happens When They Bring Their Guns to Mass.?

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • Associated Press August 22, 2024

    Gun Rights Activists Target New Massachusetts Law with Lawsuit and Repeal Effort

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • BU Today August 13, 2024

    Will the New Massachusetts Law on Ghost Guns, Assault Weapons, and Gun-Carrying Pass Legal Muster?

    Cody Jacobs is interviewed.
    read more

  • BU Today February 27, 2024

    Can Civilians Own Automatic Weapons? Supreme Court Takes Up the Issue of Bump Stocks

    Cody Jacobs is interviewed.
    read more

  • Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly January 5, 2024

    For Gun Rights Advocates, a ‘Bruen’ Bonanza

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • Boston Globe June 8, 2022

    Supreme Court Decision Could Unravel Key Plank of Vaunted Mass. Gun Safety Law

    Cody Jacobs is quoted.
    read more

  • Patch March 23, 2022

    2022 Natick Candidate Profile: Cody Jacobs For Select Board

    Cody Jacobs to run for the Select Board.
    read more

  • MetroWest Daily News December 9, 2021

    With Eye on Transparency, Cody Jacobs Joins Natick’s Select Board Race

    Cody Jacobs is featured.
    read more

  • Patch November 17, 2021

    New Natick Select Board Candidate Enters 2022 Race

    Cody Jacobs is featured.
    read more

  • Boston Globe October 4, 2021

    Mass. Must Be Proactive to Protect Public Safety

    An opinion authored by Cody Jacobs.
    read more

  • View All Articles

Activities & Engagements

No upcoming activities or engagements.

View All Activities & Engagements

Courses

LAW JD 602

Lawyering Skills 1

3 credits

Provides training in legal research, legal writing, oral advocacy, client interviewing, and client counseling through simulations of real-world legal disputes.


FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M1, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Claire Bishop Abely
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M10, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Cody Jacobs
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M11, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Kathleen Luz
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M12, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Jarrod F. Reich
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M13, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Reiner
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M2, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Marni Goldstein Caputo
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M3, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Laura E. D’Amato
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M4, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Cody Jacobs
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M5, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Kathleen Luz
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M6, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Jarrod F. Reich
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M7, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Reiner
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M8, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Marni Goldstein Caputo
FALL 2025: LAW JD 602 M9, Sep 2nd to Dec 19th 2025
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Laura E. D’Amato
LAW JD 603

Lawyering Skills 2

3 credits

Provides training in legal research, legal writing, oral advocacy, client interviewing, and client counseling through simulations of real-world legal disputes.


SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M1, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Claire Bishop Abely
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M10, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Cody Jacobs
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M11, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Kathleen Luz
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M12, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Jarrod F. Reich
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M13, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Reiner
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M2, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Marni Goldstein Caputo
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M3, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Laura E. D’Amato
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M4, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Cody Jacobs
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M5, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Kathleen Luz
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M6, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Jarrod F. Reich
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M7, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 11:45 am 12:40 pm 3 Reiner
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M8, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Marni Goldstein Caputo
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 603 M9, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
Mon,Wed 10:40 am 11:35 am 3 Laura E. D’Amato
LAW JD 868

Moot Court

0 credits

The second component of the First Year Research and Writing requirement is participation in the J. Newton Esdaile Appellate Moot Court Program in the spring semester. Students conduct research, draft a brief and present a case in oral argument before a panel of moot-court judges made up of faculty, lawyers and students.


SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M1, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Claire Bishop Abely
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M10, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Cody Jacobs
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M11, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Kathleen Luz
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M12, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Jarrod F. Reich
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M13, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M2, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Marni Goldstein Caputo
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M3, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Laura E. D’Amato
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M4, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Cody Jacobs
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M5, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Kathleen Luz
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M6, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Jarrod F. Reich
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M7, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M8, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Marni Goldstein Caputo
SPRG 2026: LAW JD 868 M9, Jan 12th to Apr 22nd 2026
Days Start End Credits Instructors Bldg Room
ARR 12:00 am 12:00 am 0 Laura E. D’Amato