Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Name	Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Established	1976
Parent	Yeshiva University
Dean	Melanie Leslie
City	New York City
State	New York
Country	United States
Website	law.yu.edu

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. It is a private law school located in New York City and is a division of Yeshiva University. Founded in 1976, it is named for the esteemed U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo. The school is known for its strong programs in intellectual property law, alternative dispute resolution, and Jewish law, and is recognized for its innovative clinical education.

History

The school was established in 1976 by Yeshiva University, with its first classes held in the fall of that year in a building on the university's Washington Heights campus. Its founding dean was Monrad G. Paulsen, a renowned scholar of family law and legal ethics. The school was accredited by the American Bar Association in 1979 and became a member of the Association of American Law Schools in 1982. In 1983, it moved to its current location in Greenwich Village, establishing a permanent presence in downtown Manhattan. Throughout its history, it has developed a reputation for embracing new and emerging fields of legal study, such as cyberlaw and biotechnology law.

Academics and programs

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, as well as several Master of Laws programs, including concentrations in intellectual property law and comparative legal thought. Its Fashion Law Institute was the first of its kind in the United States. The school is also home to the highly ranked Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution. The Jacob Burns Institute for Advanced Legal Studies supports scholarly research, while the Cardozo Data Law Initiative explores issues at the intersection of big data and the legal system. The school's Bet Tzedek Legal Services clinic provides pro bono legal assistance to the community.

Centers and institutes

Cardozo houses numerous specialized centers that drive its academic mission. The Cardozo Intellectual Property and Information Law Program is a nationally recognized hub for scholarship in copyright law, trademark law, and patent law. The Center for Rights and Justice focuses on social justice and human rights advocacy. The Indie Film Clinic provides legal services to independent filmmakers. Other notable centers include the Florence Rogatz Visiting Lecturer Program, which brings prominent jurists like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to campus, and the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal, a leading publication in the field.

Campus and location

The main law school building is located at 55 Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village, New York City, adjacent to Union Square. The facility houses the Cardozo Law Library, moot courtrooms, and the Cardozo Pub. The school also utilizes the nearby Brookdale Center on Yeshiva University's Brookdale Campus for additional student residences and administrative offices. Its location in one of the city's major legal and commercial districts provides students with proximity to federal courts, major law firms, and influential non-governmental organizations.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty has included prominent scholars such as constitutional law expert Michel Rosenfeld and biotech ethics pioneer Lori Andrews. Distinguished visiting professors have included Judge Pierre N. Leval of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Its alumni, known as Cardozo Lawyers, hold influential positions worldwide. Notable graduates include television host and legal commentator Star Jones; former White House Counsel Kathryn Ruemmler; New York State Supreme Court Justice Eileen A. Rakower; and filmmaker Judd Apatow. Many graduates have also become partners at major firms like Davis Polk & Wardwell and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Rankings and reputation

The school is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the United States, particularly for its specialty programs. Its dispute resolution program is frequently ranked in the top five nationally by U.S. News & World Report, and its intellectual property law program is also highly regarded. The school is known for its selective admissions and strong bar passage rates for graduates taking the New York State Bar Examination. Its journals, such as the Cardozo Law Review and the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution, are widely cited in legal scholarship and by courts, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

Category:Yeshiva University Category:Law schools in New York City Category:Educational institutions established in 1976