Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Cardozo Law School's faculty ranks 33rd in the nation for scholarly impact, according to the recently released version of the Leiter Scholarly Impact Score. Cardozo's faculty is ranked No. 22 in the country for scholarly impact by Heald & Sichelman's academic impact rankings of 100 American law schools.

Cardozo Law is located in the heart of Manhattan, which gives students access to many prestigious law firms. However, the uncertain job market makes it difficult for graduates to find jobs. Despite this, Cardozo is well-positioned to adapt to the changing legal marketplace. Students who earn top-notch grades will be most successful in finding employment at a prestigious law firm.

History

The Cardozo School of Law is a top law school founded in 1976 by Yeshiva University. The school is named after Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, known for his integrity, social consciousness, and elegantly written opinions. Cardozo is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and works to create an environment where people of all identities are welcome and respected. The school does not offer faith-based courses but focuses on nurturing lawyers who are powerful problem solvers and creative thinkers.

The Cardozo law school has a long tradition of being inclusive and open to everyone, focusing on women, people of the Jewish faith, and minority groups who have been underrepresented in the legal profession. This tradition continues today as the school invests in initiatives to make its campus welcoming to people of all backgrounds and religions. The Cardozo community is open, supportive, and personal. The animated debate in and outside of classrooms is respectful of diverse perspectives. Students and faculty recognize the critical role attorneys play in protecting the rights of all people around the world.

Admissions

The J.D. program at Cardozo School of Law is very rigorous and innovative. It has a strong reputation within the New York legal community for offering programs that thoroughly educate students in a wide variety of legal fields. They are now accepting applications for the May 2023 and Fall 2023 entry terms. They encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible, as they accept applications and release decisions on a rolling basis. You may only submit one application per academic year, so make sure to choose the term that is best for you. The priority deadlines for the May 2023 and Fall 2023 terms are March 15 and April 1, respectively.

Statistics

Admissions Stats
Class of:	2020-2021	2021-2022
25th - 50th - 75th percentile LSAT	157 - 162 - 164	160 - 164 - 166
25th - 50th - 75th percentile GPA	3.41 - 3.65 - 3.78	3.53 - 3.74 - 3.86
Acceptance rate	37.7%	30.8%
Applications received	3193	3820
Acceptances	1204	1178
Matriculants	546	466

At Yeshiva University (Cardozo), the 1L class size is 322, and the yield is 26.40%. 311 out of 1,178 applicants offered admission were accepted, meaning that 26.40% of that offered admission ended up attending the school. The median LSAT at Yeshiva University (Cardozo) is 164. The 25th percentile LSAT is 160, and the 75th percentile LSAT is 166. The median GPA is 3.74. The 25th percentile GPA is 3.53, and the 75th percentile GPA is 3.86.

Application Procedures

Applicants should submit their completed applications and all materials through the LSAC online application service. LSAC allows you to complete and submit your application. There is no application fee. They strongly encourage you to submit all materials electronically. Paper materials and updates will require additional processing by our staff and will delay the review of your application by their Committee. If a disability prevents you from completing the application electronically, please get in touch with the Admissions Office at 212.790.0274 or lawinfo@yu.edu.

Standardized Test Scores

The standardized test requirement can be satisfied by submitting Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results, or both. However, all scores must be at most five years old from the projected law school enrollment date. It is important to note that applicants must participate in the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) provided by the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) regardless of which standardized test is being taken. This service will automatically send reportable LSAT scores to Cardozo, which will be considered part of the review process.

LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS)

Applicants must register with the LSAC Credential Assembly Service eight weeks before the Cardozo Law application deadline. Transcripts from each college or university attended should be sent directly to the Credential Assembly Service, not to Cardozo. The LSAC Credential Assembly Service will analyze and duplicate the transcript and send a copy along with the LSAT score to Cardozo. If admitted, applicants will be asked to submit directly to Cardozo an original copy of the final official transcript showing a bachelor's degree receipt.

Two Letters of Recommendation

The submission of two letters of recommendation is required, at least one of which should be from a professor unless you have been out of school for more than five years. Letters of recommendation must be submitted through the LSAC Letter of Recommendation Service, included as part of your Credential Assembly Service registration. Your letters will be copied and sent to us with your Credential Assembly Service report. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined on www.LSAC.org. To get some additional advice on obtaining letters of recommendation, click here.

Personal Statement

A written statement of no more than two typed pages, double-spaced, is required. The statement should inform the Admissions Committee of any factors the applicant deems relevant to the admissions decision. For more information on personal statements and application essays, check out the TLS Guide to Personal Statements.

Résumé

If you are unable to complete the application electronically, don't hesitate to get in touch with the Admissions Office. Paper materials and updates will require additional processing by our staff and will delay the review of your application by our Committee. To read some advice about creating a professional law school resume, click here.

Final Transcripts

Incoming first-year law students must submit their official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions by October 15th of the year they matriculate at Cardozo School of Law. If they do not, they will be withdrawn from school.

Character and Fitness

The bar examination is just one part of the process for being admitted to the bar in the United States. It would help if you also met a particular character, fitness, and other qualifications to be admitted. It is essential to research the requirements for any jurisdiction where you seek admission, as they can vary from state to state. The National Conference of Bar Examiners can provide you with contact information for all relevant agencies.

Interviews

At Cardozo, they have so many applicants that they are not able to schedule evaluative interviews. However, they welcome prospective students to visit us any time and meet with an admissions counselor. The conversation with the admissions counselor will be informational only - the Admissions Committee may invite a candidate for an interview, but applicants cannot request to be interviewed by the Committee.

Tuition and Expenses

The tuition for J.D. and LL.M. students at the University of Utah is $67,792. For full-time students, the tuition is $33,896 per semester. Students who are part of the J.D. May-Entry Program only have to pay for three semesters, which amounts to $22,597 for the summer semester, $22,597 for the fall semester, and $22,598 for the spring semester. The per credit rate for J.D. students taking less than 7 credits per semester is $3,023, and the per credit rate for LL.M. students taking less than 9 credits per semester is $3,227.

Cost of Attendance

The estimated student budget allows for a simple graduate student lifestyle. This budget determines the total amount of aid (loans, grants, scholarships, and resources) a student may receive in an academic year. The living expenses for the academic year are $30,709 for fall and spring and $38,083 for summer, fall, and spring. The budget includes room, board, books, transportation, health insurance, and loan fees. The room expenses are $15,000 for fall and spring and $18,000 for summer, fall, and spring. The board expenses are $6,000 for fall and spring and $8,004 for summer, fall, and spring. The transportation expenses are $1,143 for fall and spring with a monthly metro card of $127 and $1,524 for summer, fall, and spring with a monthly metro card of $127. The health insurance is included in the budget at $4,750 for fall and spring or $5,935 for summer, fall, and spring. The loan fees are also included in the budget at $216 for fall and spring or $216 for summer, fall, and spring. Miscellaneous expenses are estimated at $2,400 for fall and spring or $3204 for summer, fall, and spring.

• Full-Time Tuition: $67,792
  
• Fees: $670
  
• Living Expenses :
  

$30,709 (Fall and Spring)
$38,083 (Summer, Fall, and Spring)

TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE
$99,171 (Fall and Spring)
$106,545 (Summer, Fall, and Spring)

Additional Information

• Budget Worksheet: Utilize this form to assist with calculating and determining the total amount of financial aid that you may need for the academic year.
• Budget Adjustment Process: if you have any education-related expenses that exceed Cardozo's cost of attendance budget, please review our Budget Adjustment Process.

Scholarships

Cardozo has been known to attach notable stipulations to the scholarships it offers some students. At Cardozo Law, some of the more coveted scholarships come with the following qualifications: if you remain in the top 40% of your law school class you keep your entire scholarship, if you remain in the top half of your class you keep three-fourths of your scholarship, and if you remain in the top two-thirds of your class you keep half of your scholarship.

One current student reported:

Got $28k here, and the requirements for renewal stipulate: "The reward is renewable for your second and third year, provided you maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.300 (approximately the top 40% of class)..." Then, there's a bit about if you can get above a 3.1 but not 3.3 they'll give you a certain percentage.

A student with a similar offer commented:

When I was called, they didn't mention any requirement, but the letter that came a few days later did. The top 40% to keep it all, the top 50% to keep 75%, and the top 65% to keep 50% of the scholarship you can earn it back the next year if you move up in the class if you lose some or all of it. Hope this helps. I feel it's pretty standard across the board.

Whether you think such stipulations would be a source of stress or an impetus to work hard, it is worth taking note of these requirements so that you can make an informed decision.

Merit Scholarships, Grants, and Need-Based Financial Aid

The process of figuring out how to finance your legal education can be complicated. However, Cardozo provides many opportunities for financing your education. If you are admitted to Cardozo Law, you will automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships and grants based on your admissions application. All applicants are considered for the following scholarships or grants upon admission:
The Dean’s Merit Scholarship is offered in varying amounts to entering students nominated by the Admissions Committee on the basis of academic credentials and demonstrated potential for success in the legal profession.
The E. Nathaniel Gates Scholarship, named after a former Cardozo professor, recognizes outstanding potential in those who are first-generation graduate students or who come from backgrounds under-represented in the legal profession. Professor Gates, a member of the Cardozo faculty from 1992 until his death in 2006, was the first member of his immediate family to attend college and law school. He served as an advisor to important student initiatives and organizations, including the Diversity Coalition and the Black, Asian, and Latino Law Students Association, and at the time of his death was working on a sweeping examination of race in American law dating back to the colonial period.
The David Martinidez Scholarship, named after the former Dean of Admissions, provides scholarship funding for eligible underrepresented students from diverse backgrounds.

• Scholarship Retention Data
  

Cardozo Law does not award scholarships that may be reduced or eliminated based on law school academic performance other than failure to maintain good academic standing.

• Need-Based Grants
  

Cardozo awards a limited amount of need-based grants to qualifying J.D. students. Applicants must file a FAFSA (international students should file the International J.D. Student Financial Aid Application) by April 1st of each year to be considered for these awards. Additional information may also be requested.

The Waitlist

Dean Diller said of the waitlist: "In recent years, we have found that the majority of our May part-time students are those who were originally placed on the fall waitlist." Since this part-time May start transitions into full-time enrollment for a student's second year, this can be a great option for students who are waitlisted after applying for the regular fall start.

Transfer, Visiting, and Foreign Applicants

Cardozo accepts students who have completed a minimum of 24 transferable credits at an ABA-approved law school and who have met the majority of Cardozo's first-year curriculum. Part-time students are eligible to apply to transfer to Cardozo, provided they meet these requirements. Transfer students are accepted only full-time and may transfer a maximum of 42 credits. They will complete their final two years of study at Cardozo and graduate with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Cardozo. Visiting students spend one or two semesters at Cardozo and graduate from the law school they have enrolled in. To read a fantastic article about transferring, click here.

Academics

The Cardozo School of Law emphasizes a combination of rigorous intellectual engagement between students and professors and a practical and ambitious approach to applying the law. Cardozo offers approximately 200 courses taught by highly engaged, widely cited professors.

Professors

The best way to evaluate a law school's faculty is to see it in action, and the best way to do this, of course, is through a school visit. We also have word from a current student who tells TLS what it is like sitting in on some classes:

First-year classes are pretty large. The Socratic method varies dramatically from professor to professor. Some go alphabetically, some call on 20 students per 50-minute class, some put a certain row "on call" for a certain day, and some just take volunteers. I have never heard of one professor making one student run the entire class, though.

This variation in teaching method is relatively standard, and while the Socratic Method can seem intimidating at first, it is prevalent at most law schools and students typically adjust quickly. This first-year continued with an example of what student participation can look like:

Professor Hanks who teaches property and elements of law (a 1L class) is kind of a legend at the school for her age (she was there when the school was founded), and she does not allow laptops in her class. Students volunteer at their own risk, she tears them apart, tends to criticize the class, and thinks of them as one person. If a person comes late, that's when she considers the class to have begun, so she'll hold the class over as long as she needs to. (I've never had her, but these are the stories.) Students tend to fear her but they also love her. They say she's a fountain of knowledge and putting the laptops away helps them focus.

As for 1Ls, most professors do stick to the cold calling, however, and do expect you to be prepared with thorough knowledge of the case, but if you can't answer a hypothetical they'll usually move on. It's too hard to generalize about them though because they're all so different.

The best plan to not be caught off guard is to get class notes from the year before since most teachers stick to game plan year after year. Again, students are very helpful in sharing old notes and outlines.

Many of the school's professors are leaders in their fields, and if you are interested in speaking with one in particular, you can find a helpful list (organized by field of expertise) on this page. The law school has about 130 full and part-time faculty; most of them have advanced degrees in a field besides law and about a dozen hold a Ph.D. as well as a J.D. The student-to-faculty ratio, at 16 to 1, is on the higher end of the spectrum when compared to peer schools.

Classes

A typical first-year class will consist of about 50 students. Students enjoy a rather generous grading curve with a median between 3.1 and 3.2. This friendly curve takes some of the pressure off of students to be overly competitive. The workload at Cardozo is, however, reported to be intense, and while students are highly capable, some will find law school immensely stressful.

Alternative Start and Part-Time Programs

A current student who was a May starter had the following notes about the part-time start:

1) You are ranked in the full class. 2) You are eligible for Law Review.

3) The May program at Cardozo is a little different than other part-time programs. You take 10 credits during your first semester (starting in May). Then you take 10 credits in the fall and 10 credits in the spring. After that, you have the whole summer off and you join your full-time counterparts during your 2nd year of law school. Needless to say, it will not hurt your chances at a summer internship.

The program that begins in January is accelerated, though according to Dean Diller, students in both the May and January start programs "have the same opportunities to participate in our on-campus interview program and clinics and to join journals" as the fall starters. He elaborated on these alternative start programs.

Cardozo's May part-time program is distinctive in a few ways. First, students take their classes during the day - ours is not a night school program. Second, students take the core first-year curriculum over three semesters - summer, fall, and spring - and then automatically join the full-time class beginning in their second year. This schedule allows them a bit more time and opportunity to succeed in the first year. They graduate at the same time as the full-time students who begin in the fall. Third, and most importantly, May-entry students have the same quality of education and experience that our full-time students do. They are taught by the same professors and are in the same classrooms as our full-time students.

The January program is accelerated. Students can graduate in two and a half years by completing their first year of studies during the spring and summer semesters, and after a short break, they begin their second year in the fall. It is a small program - typically about 25 students - that primarily attracts those who for whatever reason do not want to wait until August to begin law school. During their first semester, these students are taught in their own small section - a phenomenal opportunity for students to commence their law school studies in a small classroom setting like this. Then, in their third semester, the January class is blended into the overall student body.

Whenever you start at Cardozo, by the second year everyone is on the same schedule. More students start in May than in January; for the January start, there may be as few as 24 entrants, while for the May start there are usually around 100.

Law School Culture

Cardozo students report a generally collegial environment with a friendly student body. A current first-year commented on the level of competitiveness at the school:

Cardozo has its share of gunners as anywhere else, but overwhelmingly everyone is very helpful and non-competitive. The student body generally prides itself on that - here's an example: recently a student supposedly condemned another student via e-mail for publicly announcing her excitement at landing a summer job, saying that she was showing off and it made people feel bad. The school newspaper got wind of the e-mail and wrote a whole editorial about how uncool that was of him to condemn her rather than congratulate her. Furthermore, the newspaper congratulates students for any public service volunteer work they get wind of.

While this public chastisement is not commonplace, it does highlight how close-knit the law school community is. This first-year continued, speaking on this communal culture (with a note on part-time students):

Student clubs have extensive outline banks and strong mentoring programs. Most students form study groups. There is some resentment toward part-time students (who have a lighter load because they start in the summer but are still in the same sections as full-time students) but this dies out by the spring semester.

Since Cardozo students (including 1Ls) are pretty active in clubs, there are strong relationships across class years, which adds to the creation of a supportive atmosphere. Bottom line, really not an overly-competitive environment. On the other hand, it'd be good [for prospective students] to ask 3Ls who are anxious about finding jobs in this economy.

This helpful first-year also added that "Students don't have trouble making friends/being social."

The workload at Cardozo varies throughout the semester. During finals or tough assignments, stress picks up (as is the case with all law schools). One student commented that "1Ls usually only pull late nights when a big legal writing assignment is due." Of course when finals roll around everyone buckles down.

A current student, who enrolled after attending an Admitted Students Weekend, said (about the visit), "The atmosphere was great, the location of the school is fantastic, and the staff really seemed to have it together." This seems to neatly sum up what has been said of the culture at Cardozo Law.

Religious Affiliation

Cardozo Law is affiliated with a Jewish institution, which means it will naturally attract Jewish applicants; though no students at Cardozo are required to have any particular religious affiliation. The school's religious affiliation has minimal impact on its students, except for those who like to be in the library on Saturdays. A visiting student tells us:

Cardozo is quite Jewish, but the school is not as politically conservative as Pepperdine [a school affiliated with Christianity]. The library is closed on Shabbat and on Jewish holidays. I believe the students have reciprocal library use privileges at other schools, however. I visited Cardozo several times, and, as a non-practicing Jew, I would have been fine with the religious environment. The best thing to do, honestly, visit and talk to students.

A current student also commented on the religious affiliation of the school:

As a Cardozo student, I wanted to provide my input on religion at Cardozo. Cardozo is affiliated with Yeshiva University, which is a Jewish institution. However, the school is not "overly religious" and you should not take it off your list because it is a religious institution. Yes, the library is closed on Saturday, but living in NYC, finding somewhere else to study is quite easy.

From a more personal perspective, I went to a Catholic middle school, high school, and college. I chose Cardozo because it was one of the best schools I got into, in a great city. The fact that it has a Jewish background did not shape my decision and does not have a negative impact on my life as a student.

The professors are great; the journal opportunities are abundant, and the facilities are updated and incredible. So heating up my lunch in the non-kosher microwave and studying at home on Saturdays is no reason to stamp Cardozo as a school too religious to attend.

Curriculum

Cardozo requires its 1L students to enroll in mostly standard core classes: property, torts, elements of law, civil procedure, criminal law, constitutional law, and legal writing. Second and third-year students are mostly free to choose their courses. There are over 130 elective courses available. Dean Diller said, of the law school's curricular strengths:

[We are strong] in legal theory and interdisciplinary fields such as law and culture, law and the humanities, and law and philosophy. [Also,] Cardozo's emphasis on the intellectual property runs deep. In addition to strong course offerings, and a leading journal in the field, there is a steady stream of IP-related speakers and events that are tremendously well-attended. The same is true for Cardozo's alternative dispute resolution and mediation program.

For more information about the course offerings, you can visit this site. Dean Diller also mentioned that "during the mid-winter break, Cardozo offers an intensive trial advocacy program (ITAP) that brings together lawyers and judges from around the country to provide students with an intensive two-week immersion in the art of trial practice." This sort of attention to practical training in the law is a large focus at Cardozo.

Cardozo also makes allowances for students to pursue other academic interests outside of the law school itself. "On occasion," said Dean Diller, "students want to take graduate-level courses in non-law areas such as foreign languages or history, and to that end, we permit them to take up to two graduate courses across the street at The New School." This is especially attractive to students who want to take non-law courses but who don't want to travel uptown to Yeshiva's main campus.

Study Abroad

Cardozo lets students partake in a number of study abroad options. JD candidates have spent summers abroad in Austria, Budapest, and at Oxford University, and have spent semesters abroad in Amsterdam, Budapest, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Tel Aviv, and Bilbao. Dean Diller spoke again of the winter break; "Our international programs offered during this period expose participating students to the legal communities and problems of such countries as China, Japan, and even Rwanda." Whatever your international preference, Cardozo has plenty to offer - though you can only take up to 12 credits abroad.

Clinics and Externships

Cardozo Law offers its students an impressive array of clinics and externships. Each year nearly 400 Cardozo students help represent clients in real cases under the supervision of professional attorneys through these clinics. One such program is the Holocaust Claims Restitution Practicum, in which students aim to assist Holocaust survivors and their heirs in legal proceedings. Other clinical opportunities include the Human Rights and Genocide Clinic, the Family Court Clinic, and the Immigration Law Clinic.

Dean Diller tells us:

Our clinics are all in-house and client-based, something you don't see at most law schools. The internationally renowned Innocence Project was founded at Cardozo and provides direct hands-on experience to many Cardozo students each year. Our genocide and human rights clinic do work on the cutting edge of this critically important field. Our clinics in immigration justice, elder law, criminal law, and securities arbitration are outstanding.

The law school also offers a prestigious and highly selective [http://www.cardozo.yu.edu/alexanderfellows Alexander Fellows} program through which students can work as full-time law clerks for federal judges in New York City. Students who are interested in gaining practical experience will have plenty of chances to get involved at Cardozo Law.

Employment Prospects

It is still unclear how large and how permanent the recent contraction in the legal market will be, so it's not surprising that current students have some trepidation about their ability to find work. As one first-year student puts it:

Yes, 3Ls are worried. But, our Dean of Career Services has a student advisory committee where he fields opinions and ideas from a diverse range of students to help with recruitment, etc. and I'd say the Office does a really good job of putting on events. I'm probably too early in my legal career to know too much about the job search nightmare though and what Cardozo could do better.

Dean Diller commented that "Cardozo students in the middle of the class are very well situated to compete for NY-based post-grad positions against similarly placed students who come from law schools across the country." Implying that it is the below-median students who might struggle to find work. Still, Cardozo's job placement numbers have been high in recent years, and its alumni network, concentrated primarily in New York City, is young but committed.

Dean Diller notes that "many alumni participate in Cardozo's mentorship, mock interview, career coach, and practice profile lunch programs. Many are also involved in Cardozo's fall and spring recruitment programs." While schools such as Columbia, NYU, and Cornell have more history in the New York legal market, with larger alumni bases, Diller says, "Cardozo has established significant relationships with many large firms as well as with employers in the private and public sectors - small and medium-sized firms, corporations, governmental agencies, and public interest organizations - and they continue to seek hires from Cardozo."

Graduates from Yeshiva University (Cardozo) make a median salary of $135,000 if they work in the private sector. If they go into the private sector, they can expect to make $70,000. 61.8% of law graduates from Yeshiva University (Cardozo) go directly to work for law firms, while 3.5% clerk for a judge. 9.9% of graduates go into public interest. 90.9% of Yeshiva University (Cardozo) graduates pass the bar on their first try.

Geographic Placement

As mentioned above most Cardozo grads will stay in New York City. A large majority will remain in the Northeast with very few heading further afield.

Top Geographic Locations (2022 Graduates)
Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY [77%], PA)	66%
South Atlantic (DC, DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)	12%
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)	3%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)	2%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY)	1%
North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)	1%
Midwest (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)	4%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)	7%
International	8%

Clerkships

About 6 percent of Cardozo law students obtain clerkships. While most students head to private practice upon graduation, Dean Diller notes that of those who have clerked from Cardozo, students have been clerks for "the Supreme Court of the United States, U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals and District Courts as well as different federal specialty courts, and various state courts at the trial and appellate levels." The percentage of students at Cardozo who do clerk, however, is rather low when compared to more highly ranked schools.

Summer Funding and LRAP

Not everyone at Cardozo wants to work in a law firm, and for those students who want to pursue a legal career in the public interest, Cardozo Law's LRAP program is there to help. Dean Diller commented that Cardozo recently "received a generous donation of $5 million from Laurie Tisch to endow our Loan Repayment Assistance Program, which provides forgivable loans to Cardozo graduates working in the public sector." This provides recent graduates with financial support, which is important considering a large amount of debt so many students assume to fund their legal education. Funding is also available for students who spend their summers doing public interest work. Dean Diller noted that in 2009, "more than 200 1Ls and 2Ls received funding to work at legal services providers, public interest organizations, government agencies, district attorneys' offices, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and federal and state judicial chambers." These jobs are often unpaid but always provide valuable experience.

In that vein, a 1L tells us:

Anyone who applies and helps with the public service auction can receive a stipend for public interest work during the summer (stipend is around $3500-4000, less $ as more people apply, though). There's a diversity office that reaches out to underrepresented students with opportunities. The school also created a few more summer internship opportunities through the school to help with the dearth of hiring. It seems 1Ls are very successful in getting jobs or at least judicial clerkships. Naturally (due to the economy) public interest is popular this summer.

Alternatively, in the second year, Dean Diller says:

[Many students] obtain summer associate positions with large firms through traditional fall recruitment hiring. Others work in small- or medium-sized firms that offer the opportunity to practice in areas not typically covered by large firms like family law, immigration, labor, and civil rights. Others pursue smaller, boutique firms in highly specialized areas such as patent law, for which Cardozo is widely recognized.

Cardozo also offers an International Human Rights and a Public Service Fellowship that award grants to first- and second-year students who demonstrate a commitment to international human rights and have secured an internship abroad. Students have worked in Kenya, India, Israel, Peru, and elsewhere.

The International Corporate and Intellectual Property Fellowship Program provides a stipend to first and second-year law students who intern for law firms or corporations abroad, with a focus on world economies that are presenting new opportunities for American lawyers. Students have worked in Brazil, China, and Korea, among other countries.

Cardozo works hard to provide its students with summer-time opportunities in both the public and private sectors to ensure that they are gaining valuable legal work experience.

Quality of Life

Given Cardozo Law's location in Manhattan's hip Greenwich Village, students generally report a high quality of life. Those who aren't "city people" will obviously not enjoy this environment as much, though law students tend to be pretty busy with school anyway.

The area around Cardozo is home to an endless array of bars, clubs, and restaurants, and also houses popular parks and coffee shops that serve as hang-out spots for students before and after classes. Cardozo also provides social opportunities for its students through annual formal events and monthly bar reviews, among other activities.

Cardozo Law also provides housing for its students, although many students choose to cut costs by living outside of the expensive Greenwich Village area. Cars are not necessary and aren't even practical for Cardozo Law students who can save time and money by taking advantage of the efficient New York City subway system.

Commenting on housing options and the social scene at Cardozo, one first-year says:

A good number of students who are new to the area live in "the Alabama" which is student housing near the school, so they make friends that way. The SBA (Student Bar Association) at Cardozo sponsors multiple bar nights every semester.

Like most New Yorkers, I think Cardozo students learn how to budget time and make time for fun. The law school's consuming, but it's easy to grab a drink at dozens of places near school and students do it often on Fridays, especially since the school kicks us out at sundown for Sabbath.

Student clubs as well as various offices of the school sponsor several events a week, usually equipped with food, booze, and socializing or "networking" with legal practitioners. As for non-law school activities, I think the somewhat commuter nature of Cardozo means that students tend to maintain their friendships with non-law school friends and networks, so many do their own thing on weekends, too.

Facilities

The law school is located on 12^th Street in Greenwich Village, and consists of the main building and a nearby residence hall. Everyone we've talked to reports that the facilities are more than adequate and that the library is particularly spacious and well-lit.

Housing

As mentioned, the law school offers housing for about 100 students. Dean Diller tells TLS:

We have a residence hall about a block away from the law school. We prioritize assignments for those in the entering class who come from outside of the New York area. The building is on one of the nicest streets in Manhattan's Greenwich Village.

In recent years, we have found that we can eventually accommodate virtually every JD student in the entering class who wanted to live in the residence hall. Most of our second and third-year students live off-campus, in a variety of neighborhoods - Brooklyn, uptown Manhattan, Hoboken, and Queens.

Our Admissions Office maintains a housing list and puts new students in touch with each other and with second and third-year students looking for roommates, and that also works well.

A resident of New York City gives the following insight for those facing the great New York apartment hunt:

Generally speaking, the housing market here is a bit too fast-paced for print media, or at least it was back during the good old Age of Leverage. There's a lot of separating the wheat from the chaff on Craigslist, but it's generally possible to find something workable after a day or two of searching. If all else fails, post something in the "housing wanted" section (though don't let on that you're new in town). Another thing - most NYC transplants of our age group use sublets as their gateway to NY, and I suggest you do the same; if possible, try to get a month-to-month deal. That way you won't be tied to something if it turns out to suck, and you'll have time to get a sense of different neighborhoods and figure out where you actually want to live.

Manhattan

As the busiest borough in 'the city that never sleeps,' Manhattan provides a unique backdrop for a law school. Within walking distance of Cardozo Law, there are several dozen international cuisines available, countless bars and nightspots, and a host of world-famous landmarks. Cost-conscious students will likely choose to live in the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, or Staten Island) as living in Manhattan is extremely expensive and commuting is relatively easy using public transit.

There is, of course, plenty to do in the outer boroughs as well. Of particular note for dining and partying (respectively) are tree-lined Park Slope and hipster-clogged Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Students can also check out the culinary centers of Jackson Heights (for Indian or Latin American) or Flushing (for Korean, Japanese, or Chinese) in Queens.

Extracurricular

Cardozo Law offers a wide variety of extracurricular opportunities to its students. Many student organizations are focused on a particular area of the law, while others are purely social. Some examples include the Yoga Club, the Cardozo Ski Club, the Cardozo Target Shooting Club, and the Cardozo Basketball Club. There are also religious organizations (such as the Cardozo Christian Legal Society), and more academic/legally oriented organizations such as the Tax Law Society.

For those interested in Public Service Law, Dean Diller says:

We have a very large Center for Public Service Law that administers a number of special programs to assist students in pro bono activities that help the community and give them extraordinary practical experience. The Courtroom Advocates Project recruits, trains, supervises, and mentors law students to provide legal assistance to battered women seeking protective orders. The Uncontested Divorce Project works in partnership with Sanctuary for Families, to assist battered women with uncontested divorces. In our Unemployment Action Center (UAC), students receive training to help laid-off workers navigate the regulatory maze of unemployment benefits. Our Cardozo Youth Advocates program partners with a local high school and gets young people thinking and talking about the law.

There are also a variety of extracurricular activities available to students over winter, spring, and summer breaks. For example, Dean Diller tells us:

Since 2007, Cardozo has sent a contingent of students to the Gulf Coast during spring breaks in order to assist local legal services organizations with the devastating effects of post-Hurricane Rita and Katrina. In partnership with Volunteers of Legal Services, Cardozo students attend monthly sessions at Riker's Island and Bayview Correctional Facility to help women with issues concerning the care and custody of their children while they are incarcerated. These are just a few of the programs that we offer. In addition, students organize Blood Drives, food drives, and a holiday toy drive.

Journals

Students interested in working on law journals will have plenty of opportunities to do so at Cardozo through the school's six student-edited journals. These include the Cardozo Law Review, the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal ("the first and preeminent journal of its type," according to the school's website), the Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law (which seems to focus on issues in Europe), the Cardozo Public Law, Policy, and Ethics Journal, the Cardozo Journal of Law and Gender (specializing on subjects like health care, family law, and civil rights), and the Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution Topics.

Each year interested students compete for journal placement. According to Cardozo's website:

Students have selected for [journal] membership on the basis of academic achievement and writing ability. Second-year students write scholarly comments and conduct research, cite checks, and perform other editorial duties. Third-year students can become members of the editorial board; they are responsible for editing student comments and outside pieces. Each semester, students receive one credit for staff positions or two credits for editorial-board positions.

Cardozo also has a journal called Law and Literature which focuses on "restrictions on creative expression and legal themes in works of literature." Finally, students have the chance to work on the New York Real Estate Law Reporter, a monthly survey of real estate cases that are decided in New York; this can be a valuable experience for students interested in the particular machinations of New York real estate.

Moot Court

The main competitive organization at Cardozo is the Moot Court Honor Society through which students can participate in intramural, regional, and even national moot court competitions.

Synopsis

Cardozo is a good law school in a great location. The law school has some excellent and experienced faculty; some professors currently teaching at Cardozo were there when Cardozo first opened. The facilities at Cardozo are relatively new, with the library receiving strong reviews. Students at Cardozo have few complaints about the law school itself and seem generally happy.

Job prospects for Cardozo Law are decent for students above the median, but those below the median can expect to struggle to find employment. But many firms based in New York that have been forced to cut back on recruiting are still stopping at Cardozo; this is not likely to change given its choice proximity to the offices of so many firms.

The greatest concern for Cardozo Law students is the lack of institutional legacy that other schools in New York enjoy (such as NYU and Columbia). The fluctuations in the legal job market do present some corresponding measures of worry for Cardozo students.

Still, students looking to find work in New York City can do very well at Cardozo. Though it lacks a long history, it is slowly cementing its reputation as a strong feeder school for the New York City market.

Interview: Matthew Diller, Dean, and Professor of Law at Cardozo Law

Contact Information

Benjamin N. Cardozo
School of Law
Yeshiva University
Admissions Office 55 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10003
Email: lawinfo@yu.edu
Phone: (212) 790-0274
https://cardozo.yu.edu/admissions/jd-admissions

Summary

Established	1976
Location	New York, NY
Dean	Andrea Kupfer Schneider
2022 US News Ranking	52nd
LSAT Median Score	164
GPA Median Score	3.74
Bar Passage Rate	91% (2022)
Employment Rate	50% (2022)
Cost	J.D. May-Entry Program: $22,597 Summer '22, $22,597 Fall '22, $22,598
Average Debt	$118,801
Application Deadline	April 1, 2023

Forum and Discussion

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Reference

https://cardozo.yu.edu/
Rank #52
LSD Law
LSAC Guide
How to Learn to Do Well on a Law School Exam
Success in Law School - A Unique Perspective
The Guide to Law School Loans
Guide to Fee Waivers

Interview: with Matthew Diller, Former Dean and Professor of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Forums: https://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=4