St. John's University School of Law

St. John's University School of Law. Founded in 1925 in the Borough of Brooklyn, it is the law school of St. John's University (New York). The school moved to its current campus in Queens in 1955 and has developed a strong reputation in areas like trial advocacy, legal writing, and Catholic social teaching. It is consistently ranked among the top law schools in the New York metropolitan area and is known for its extensive network of alumni in the New York State court system and major law firms.

History

The institution was established in 1925 with the support of the Vincentian Fathers in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Its early growth was shaped by figures like Dean William T. Dalton and it quickly became a feeder for the city's legal profession. A significant transition occurred in 1955 when the school relocated to the university's main campus in the Jamaica section of Queens, facilitated by a donation from the New York Racing Association. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, the law school expanded its facilities, most notably with the construction of the Belson Moot Court Room and a major library addition. Its historical commitment is reflected in its early acceptance of women in law and its enduring connection to the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree, as well as several Master of Laws programs including those in Bankruptcy Law, Criminal Justice, and Transnational Legal Practice. It runs a highly-regarded study abroad program at its campus in Rome, located near the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. The curriculum emphasizes practical skills, with the school's trial advocacy team frequently winning national competitions like the National Trial Competition. Other notable programs include concentrations in Real Estate Law and Intellectual Property Law. The school maintains a strong bar passage rate for the New York State Bar Examination and its graduates are employed at institutions ranging from the New York County District Attorney's Office to Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Campus

The law school is situated on the Queens campus of St. John's University (New York), specifically in the Bent Hall and Sullivan Hall complex. The modern facility houses the Kathleen and Joseph A. R. Torre Law Library, one of the largest private law libraries in the New York City region. The campus features the state-of-the-art Belson Moot Court Room, used for intramural competitions and hosting events like the Robert H. Jackson Lecture Series. The location provides students with proximity to major legal hubs including the Queens County Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and numerous government agencies in Kew Gardens.

Notable faculty and alumni

The faculty has included prominent scholars such as former dean and Federal Rules of Evidence expert Michael M. Martin, and Constitutional law professor John Q. Barrett, the biographer of Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson. Distinguished alumni span the judiciary, government, and private sector. They include former United States Attorney General and Governor of New York Robert Abrams, former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Sol Wachtler, and former Majority Leader of the New York State Senate John J. Marchi. Other notable graduates are New York State Supreme Court Justice Laura Taylor Swain, television host Star Jones, and former Commissioner of the National Football League Paul Tagliabue.

Law journals and publications

The school's flagship publication is the St. John's Law Review, a highly-cited journal that often features symposia on topics like securities regulation and federal courts. Students also publish the St. John's Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development and the New York International Law Review. These journals regularly host events with speakers from institutions like the American Civil Liberties Union and the United Nations. The school's scholarly output is further supported by the Center for Law and Religion, which publishes the Journal of Catholic Legal Studies.

Clinical programs and centers

Students gain hands-on experience through in-house clinics such as the Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic, the Immigration and Refugee Assistance Clinic, and the Economic Justice Clinic. The school is also home to several research and policy centers, including the Center for Labor and Employment Law, which collaborates with organizations like the American Arbitration Association. The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development, named for the late United States Secretary of Commerce, focuses on issues affecting underserved communities. These programs often partner with entities like the Legal Aid Society and the New York City Law Department.