2021
CONTENTS 2
Pass the Bar. Get a Great Job.
3
Message From the Dean
4
Queens, the World’s Borough
5
Our Powerful Alumni Network
6
Pathways to the Profession
8
Our Curriculum & Faculty
10
Academic Centers
12
Learn by Doing
14
Global Opportunities
16
Making a Difference. Public Service
18
Student Life
20
A Diverse and Inclusive Community
22
Admissions and Financial Aid Information
24
Visit Us
25
Mission
Pass the bar. Get a great job. Students get individualized attention from their first semester on, so they can identify a career pathway that interests them and pursue related coursework and activities. The first year begins with a Student-Alumni Career Conference allowing students to learn about different practice areas directly from alumni. The conversation continues throughout the first year in our Professional Development course required for all 1Ls. To complement this unique approach to career development, the upper-level curriculum has been designed around different career paths. Students build on their required foundation courses with advanced classes, bar-related classes, drafting courses, clinic work, internships, externships, and co-curricular activities like trial and appellate advocacy. St. John’s Law partners with bar review leader BARBRI to offer students an unmatched level of legal education and professional support that includes automatic access to BARBRI’s bar review and other critical academic success resources as part of the law school curriculum. This provides you with integrated bar prep from day one and cost-savings post-graduation. • Students will get early access to their bar prep program, as well as MPRE, 1L mastery series, and other resources available in bar tested subjects • Students will get to practice with bar questions in each subject area, as faculty will have a bank of over 1000 multiple choice questions available in every subject area tested on the bar exam • Bar prep course post-graduation will be free, as the cost is included in their academic success fee All of this develops practical skills and targeted expertise so St. John’s Law students graduate profession-ready to pass the bar. 2 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
New York City
#2
In full-time, long-term, bar-required, and JD-advantage jobs
New York State
#3
In overall employment (behind only Columbia and NYU)
97%
89%
3% above the statewide pass rate on the July 2019 NY Bar Exam
Ultimate two-year bar passage rate
United States
#29 at 91% In full-time, long-term, bar-required, and JD-advantage jobs
94% Overall employment
MESSAGE From the DEAN Why law? It’s a question that family, friends, and advisors have likely asked you. Maybe you’ve even asked it yourself. As a lawyer, as an educator, and as dean of St. John’s Law for over a decade, it’s a question I think about, and talk about, often. While there is no single, right answer, one that I return to again and again is: Law matters. Law matters. Recent events put that truth in sharp focus, as a global pandemic upended lives and livelihoods and as protestors nationwide called out systemic racism and racial injustice in their many forms. For each and every issue that individuals and communities care about—racism, immigration, climate change, criminal justice, political reform, religious liberty, freedom of expression, and so many others—law is at the center. And, because law matters, lawyers matter. It is lawyers who have the ability—indeed, the license—to use the power of the law to bring about justice. At St. John’s Law, you’ll find a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community of students, professors, and administrators who are here to help you become a highly skilled lawyer who matters to your clients, to your colleagues, to your profession, and to society. These pages will introduce you to the Law School. You’ll read about the many ways we prepare you for success: from teaching you the fundamentals of legal analysis, legal doctrine, and legal writing to offering you a range of hands-on learning opportunities to build on that foundation as you solve real-world legal problems. You’ll also read about our distinctively successful approach to our students’ career development. From day one you’ll partner with a career counselor to identify and pursue a career path that excites and engages you. We’re proud to share outcomes that matter most to our students, and that illustrate the great value of a St. John’s Law degree. Our bar passage and full-time employment rates continue to be among the highest in New York and the entire country. And we remain one of the most affordable private schools in the state. As you read about some of the impressive lawyers in our worldwide alumni family, you’ll see how a St. John’s Law degree can help you achieve at the highest levels at law firms, in public service, and in business. Wherever they practice, St. John’s lawyers understand how and why law matters, and they use their knowledge and skills to ensure that justice is truly accessible and available to all. I look forward to connecting with you as you explore how St. John’s Law can put you on the path to a rewarding and meaningful career, and I invite you to connect with us by sitting in on a law class remotely, talking to our current students and faculty, and continuing the conversation with our admissions team. Warm regards,
Michael A. Simons Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics @DeanMikeSimons
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 3
QUEENS
BOTANICAL GARDEN
The World’s Borough
S
t. John’s Law is a New York City institution, and our Law School community reflects the richness and diversity of our dynamic metropolitan home. The Law School sits on the gated campus of St. John’s University in Queens, New York, the city’s most diverse borough and one of the world’s most diverse urban spaces. The 100-acre campus has a park-like feel with green lawns, flowers and fountains, and majestic views of the Manhattan skyline. Mix in neighborhoods that regularly top ‘hottest places to live’ lists; world-class shopping; fan-favorite sports teams; pulsating nightlife; a vibrant art scene; and an incomparable array of cuisines from all over the world, and it’s no wonder that the popular Lonely Planet guide named Queens its number one travel destination! Public transportation is convenient to campus and quickly takes you to Manhattan, the hub of international legal practice and commerce. Right outside our front door is easy access to the world’s preeminent law firms, businesses, government agencies, court systems, shopping, and entertainment.
2,339,150
Residents
108.53
47.8% 120
FOREIGN BORN
135+ LANGUAGES SPOKEN
25
STATE, CITY, AND NATIONAL PARKS
WORLD’S FAIR SITE AND UNISPHERE
4 14
PUBLIC BEACHES MUSEUMS
1,000 S OF RESTAURANTS As of 2017*
Square Miles
COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN
serving delicious food from around the world 4 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
10 BEER GARDENS
Q 2
MAJOR U.S. AIRPORTS
3
MAJOR SPORTS VENUES:
Home to U.S. Open Tennis Championships
Home to Major League Baseball’s New York Mets
For Horse Racing Fans
Our POWERFUL ALUMNI Network
S Alain V. Massena ’00
Lisa Chun ‘00
Massena Law, P.C. Alumni of Color Chapter President
CCO, Global Head of Compliance, MIO Partners, Inc.
t. John’s Law first opened its doors in 1925, and for almost a century our graduates have gone on to use their law degrees to achieve at the highest levels in the legal profession, politics, business and the not-for-profit sector. As a St. John’s Law student, you’ll have the support of 16,000+ alumni who are success stories. They include state governors and other influential politicians; distinguished judges, including New York’s current Chief Judge, Janet DiFiore; leaders of preeminent international law firms and corporations; pioneering global entrepreneurs; and not-for-profit leaders.
Managing Partner, New York Office, DLA Piper
‘21 0 i ’2 mn on u l A iati oc ent s s A sid Pre
Michelle Johnson ‘05
Senior Counsel, Production and Entertainment Content, Vox Media, LLC.
Elisa D. Garcia C. ‘85
Chief Legal Officer, Macy’s, Inc.
Photo: Brigitte Lacombe
Richard F. Hans ’93
Terry Winter ‘88
Executive Producer and Writer (The Sopranos, Boardwalk Empire, The Wolf of Wall Street, Vinyl)
Their influence extends from New York City, across the globe, and back home to St. John’s, where they support our students as adjunct professors, as advisors to student organizations, as guest lecturers, as program participants, as mentors to our students, as donors to the Law School, and as employers. Your education at the Law School will set in motion a life in the law that will be dynamic and sustaining for years to come. If our past graduates are any measure, your options will be limited only by your aspirations.
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 5
PATHWAYS to the Profession Caroline Fish ‘18
North Carolina
St. John’s School of Law
1L Summer
Activities & Honors* Center for International and Comparative Law Fellow Executive Articles Editor, New York International Law Review Staff Member, St. John’s Law Review Pro Bono Service Award
New York City
Legal Intern, U.S. Attorney’s Office, E.D.Mo.
START!
Anjelica Mantikas ‘18 Activities & Honors*
*Related to practice pathway
Staff Member, Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development Student Director, Public Interest Center Spring Break Volunteer, RAICES, San Antonio, TX Member, Moot Court Honor Society Member, Coalition for Social Justice
Teaneck, NJ
Alysha Preston ‘16 Activities & Honors* Fellow, Intellectual Property Law Center Senior Articles Editor, St. John’s Law Review Writing Fellow, Law School Writing Center Member, Intellectual Property Law Society
1L Courses
Civil Procedure Constitutional Law Contracts Criminal Law Introduction to Law Lawyering Legal Writing Property Torts
1L Summer
Law Clerk, Federal Public Defender’s Office, N.D. Tex. (Summer Public Interest Fellow)
1L Summer
Judicial Intern, Hon. Robert J. Miller, N.Y. App. Div. (2d Dept.)
New York City Sam Wiles ‘19 Activities & Honors* Coca-Cola Scholarship Staff Member, St. John’s Law Review Blog Editor, Labor Relations and Employment Law Society
6 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
1L Summer
Intern, New York State Courts, Commercial Division
2L Courses
Labor Law Labor & Employment Arbitration Judicial Externship (EDNY)
3L Courses
2L Courses
International Criminal Law International & Foreign Legal Research International Law International Law Legal Practicum Internship, International Criminal Court, The Hague
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 7
Immigration Law International Law Colloquium
2L Summer
Pro Bono Intern, DLA Piper Europe Summer Associate, DLA Piper U.S.
2L Courses
Administrative Law Advanced Child Advocacy Clinic Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Child Advocacy Clinic Evidence International Law Professional Responsibility
Post Grad!
Krantz Fellow, DLA Piper (One Year Dedicated Exclusively to Pro Bono Matters) Litigation Associate, DLA Piper
3L Courses
2L Summer
Intern, Child Advocacy Clinic Law Clerk, Pardalis & Nohavicka PC
2L Summer
Legal Summer Intern, Apple Inc.
Immigration Law International Criminal Law International & Foreign Legal Research International Law Colloquium National Security Law St. John’s Bread and Life Clinic
Post Grad!
Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow, Make the Road New Jersey
2L Courses
Introduction to Intellectual Property Survey Course Business Organizations Copyrights Complex Litigation Colloquium in the Law: Intellectual Property Extern, Garvey Schubert Barer Extern, Atlantic Records
3L Courses
Drafting Contracts Trial Advocacy
3L Courses
2L Summer
Ahmuty, Demers & McManus
Labor Relations Intern, Liberty Coca-Cola Employment Discrimination Drafting Federal Civil Practice Wage & Hour Law
Post Grad!
Intellectual Property & Technology Associate, Baker McKenzie
Post Grad!
Associate, The Boyd Law Group, PLLC (Founded By: Patrick Boyd ‘00)
Our Curriculum & FACULTY
Our #1 focus at St. John’s Law is helping each and every student achieve success in their career. That’s why we designed an approach to student career development called Pathways to the Profession.
Pathways to the Profession
W
e start your legal education with a rigorous grounding in legal analysis, legal doctrine, and legal writing, and create opportunities for students to learn by doing. You’ll learn the fundamentals of practicing law while developing the specialized knowledge and skills new lawyers need to succeed in a rapidly evolving legal profession. In your second year, you’ll choose from a wide array of core elective courses representing a range of career pathways. And in your final year, you’ll continue to focus on practice-oriented courses. All along the way, you’ll learn how to draft motions, briefs, memos, and other documents that are the cornerstones of realworld legal practice. Our innovative curriculum prepares you to make immediate and positive contributions in a range of business settings as a capable problem solver and as a strong and effective advocate. In the classroom, our faculty of dedicated teachers and accomplished scholars fosters our students’ analytical abilities and lawyering skills. Outside the classroom, many of our professors are leaders who have written the book in their areas of interest and expertise. Whether exploring and commenting on civic matters, criminal law, statutory construction, consumer rights, or intellectual property law, our faculty members bring legal theory alive in ways that make a real impact in the world. Learn more about faculty media mentions, activities, and achievements at our Faculty Scholarship Blog stjlawfaculty.org.
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{Sheldon A. Evans} Assistant Professor of Law
Sheldon A. Evans joined the Law School faculty in 2018, after working as a litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP and clerking in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit. As a practitioner, he handled a number of immigration matters pro bono. Professor Evans’s current research and writing focuses on criminal law and procedure, with weavings of constitutional interpretation, legal history, and public policy. His article, “Categorical Nonuniformity,” will appear in the Columbia Law Review and was accepted for presentation at the prestigious Stanford/Harvard/Yale Junior Faculty Forum.
Administrative Law and Public Policy Bankruptcy Civil and Commercial Litigation Civil Dispute Resolution and Mediation Civil Rights Clerkships Consumer Law Commerical, Corporate, and Securities Law Criminal Law Entertainment and Sports Law Environmental Law Family Law and Children’s Law Health Care Law Human Rights International Legal Practice Intellectual Property Labor and Employment Law Prosecution Real Estate Tax Law Trusts and Estates
Discover the career path that interests you with tailored guidance from your own career counselor starting day one through graduation and beyond. Build your knowledge in rigorous classes that teach the fundamentals of the law and practical lawyering skills so you graduate profession ready. Gain experience hands-on through our clinics, externships, journals, advocacy teams, and dispute resolution program. Connect with our extensive 16,000+ alumni network, spanning New York City, across the country, and around the world. Our alumni don’t just give back as donors and as mentors, they enthusiastically champion and employ St. John’s Law students and graduates.
Juris Doctor Degree Requirements* 89 earned credit hours (35 in required courses; 54 in elective offerings) First-Year Courses 2021 Pre-Fall Intersession (August 2021) Introduction to Law
Fall 2021
Civil Procedure Contracts Legal Writing I Professional Development Torts (or Property)
Pre-Spring Intersession (January 2022) Lawyering
Spring 2022
Criminal Law Constitutional Law Legal Writing II Professional Development Property (or Torts)
Upper Division Requirements Core Electives
Students must successfully complete at least five of the following courses: Administrative Law Business Organizations Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Evidence Tax—Basic Federal Personal Income Trusts & Estates
Other Electives Students select from hundreds of offerings Professional Responsibility Scholarly Writing Requirement
The Scholarly Writing Requirement is intended to ensure that all students compose at least one scholarly writing for which they must analyze, synthesize, organize, and present legal material.
Experiential Learning Requirement Foundations: Lawyering–Introduces students to the lawyering skills, other than writing, required of lawyers, with a focus on client counseling, interviewing, and negotiation. Advanced Practice Writing–Ensures that all students attain proficiency in the type of practical writing assignments attorneys perform regularly. Applied Skills–Designed to ensure that all students attain proficiency in lawyering skills, in addition to drafting, in a real or simulated context, and could be satisfied through Clinic, Externships, Practicum, Pro Bono Scholars Program, Advanced Interviewing and Counseling, Advanced Trial Advocacy, Deposition Practice, Mediation: Representing Clients, Negotiation, or Trial Advocacy.
Joint Degree Programs Accounting: J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.S. Bankruptcy: J.D./LL.M. Business Administration: J.D./M.B.A. Government and Politics: J.D./M.A. Health Care Administration: J.D./M.P.A.
Journals
A Unique Approach to the First Year St. John’s Law 1Ls gain a competitive advantage by beginning practical skills training during the first year through an innovative set of courses. Introduction to Law A pass/fail two-week course prior to your fall classes that will give you the tools to be a successful law student. You’ll learn to read and brief cases, interpret statutes, and practice the fundamentals of legal writing. Lawyering A one-week immersion into the real skills that lawyers use including mediation, negotiation, and client interviewing. Professional Development A year-long course to help you develop your professional identity and skills. You will learn about career options, resume and cover letter writing, and job search timelines, techniques and strategies. The class will also cover academic success strategies as well as professionalism and ethics.
Research, write, or become a published author on a student-run journal: St. John’s Law Review Journal of Catholic Legal Studies American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development New York International Law Review Commercial Division Online Law Report New York Real Property Law Journal
Co-curricular Programs Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute Moot Court Honor Society Dispute Resolution Society
*The above is an overview only. Complete details of academic requirements can be found in the Student Handbook at www.stjohns.edu/law/student-services/law-student-handbook.
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 9
ACADEMIC CENTERS Engage with leaders in the profession and world-class scholars addressing timely legal issues through our 11 academic centers. Center for Bankruptcy Studies
The Bankruptcy Center encompasses all aspects of academic life at the Law School — a journal, moot court competition, specialized course offerings, clinic, internships, externships, and more. The Center’s student-run journal, the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, is the leading scholarly journal on bankruptcy law. The Center also hosts the Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition—the largest single-site appellate moot court competition in the nation and the only bankruptcy moot court competition. The Career Development Office has a bankruptcy career specialist who excels in federal clerkship placements. Students can pursue a traditional two semester LL.M. in Bankruptcy or a special one semester LL.M. in bankruptcy as either a St. John’s student or 3L transfer.
The Center for International and Comparative Law (CICL) promotes the study of international and foreign legal systems as a means for addressing pressing global problems. Through the broad range of curricular offerings, study abroad programs, experiential learning opportunities, and the participation of students in scholarly work, CICL helps prepare students for practice in a globalizing legal profession. CICL hosts regular academic symposia on international and comparative legal issues. 2L and 3L students have the opportunity to be a CICL fellow where student fellows work closely with professors on research projects and have the opportunity to be published. CICL oversees the publication of the New York International Law Review (NYILR), a student-edited journal of the International Law Section of the New York State Bar Association.
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The Center for Labor and Employment Law is a forum where students, practitioners and scholars come together to explore the practice and theory of labor and employment law. Students Center for Labor and gain a strong foundation for this work through the Law Employment Law School’s comprehensive labor and employment law curriculum A Distinguished History. A Visionary Future. that includes classes and externships in the public and private sectors. They also have the opportunity to engage with labor and employment law professionals at a range of conferences, symposia, workshops and other programs hosted by the Center each year. With the generous support of alumni and friends, the Center provides hands-on opportunities for students to gain practical skills, relevant experience, and professional connections through scholarships, fellowships, networking events and competitions.
The Center for Law and Religion (CLR) at St. John’s School of Law provides a forum for the study of law and religion from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives. CLR hosts academic conferences, colloquiums, workshops and other programs, such as its 3-year initiative, “The Tradition Project,” on a wide range of subjects related to law and religion. Its guests and speakers have included Pope Francis, the late Justice Antonin Scalia and Justice Samuel Alito of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as many prominent academics, judges, journalists, and others interested in law and religion. CLR coordinates the Law School’s law and religion curriculum. It also hosts the Law and Religion Forum, a blog on recent law and religion scholarship and news, and Legal Spirits, a podcast series on law and religion issues in the courts. The directors receive assistance from CLR’s student fellows in its regular operations.
Advocacy is both an art and science. Great advocates weave together the law of evidence and procedure with the traditional tools of persuasion. At St. John’s Law, we have a long history of producing great trial and appellate advocates. The Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy highlights St. John’s Law’s commitment to producing the next generation of outstanding advocates. The Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy is home to students, faculty, alumni, and friends interested in advocacy of all forms: civil and criminal; trial and appellate; federal, state, and global. Current students can take advantage of our innovative curriculum, participate in our nationally-ranked trial advocacy and appellate advocacy co-curriculum programs (#8 nationally), and network with our faculty and alumni. The director is assisted by student fellows of the Center, who undertake research and support the Center’s events.
The Hugh L. Carey Center educates aspiring lawyers and accomplished practitioners in the essential values and effective skills necessary to resolve clients’ legal problems in today’s practice of law. In today’s legal reality, most lawsuits are settled and fewer than five percent go to trial. To practice effectively today, a lawyer must not only know how to resolve his client’s legal problems in court, but also how to negotiate settlements out of court. Whether you are interested in a career in international law, corporate, bankruptcy, criminal, labor and employment, public interest, family, intellectual property or have not yet decided your practice area of choice, the Hugh L Carey Center for Dispute Resolution will educate you about the problem-solving advocacy and dispute resolution skills you will need to become an effective lawyer in both the domestic and global arenas of today’s legal practice. The Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution at St. John’s Law offers courses, conferences, clinics, student organizations, co-curricular activities, and the annual national Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon competition (jointly with Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) that make the Law School a leader in the growing field of alternative dispute resolution.
The Intellectual Property Law Center provides students opportunities to connect with and learn from leading legal authorities in the intellectual property (IP) field through events, networking, and practical experience. Courses cover patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrecy, privacy, and many more key topics relating to this dynamic area of the law. The school supports two IP student organizations, the Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) and the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Society (EASL). The Center hosts symposia, conferences, and roundtable discussions to give students opportunities to interact with leading attorneys and industry insiders. The Center hosts a biennial Intellectual Property Law Colloquium, which is a visiting speaker series that allows students to hone their critical and analytical skills through deep engagement with cutting-edge legal scholarship, presented by the authors themselves. The Center also helps students secure externships, summer internships, and employment in a wide variety of IP, entertainment, fashion, and related areas.
The Mattone Institute, the Law School’s focal point for real estate law, is dedicated to preparing aspiring real estate attorneys for practice through exceptional academic programs, unique career development opportunities, and extraordinary special events. The Mattone Institute oversees a robust calendar of programs and events for students interested in real estate I N S T I T U T E law, including conferences, site visits, roundtable discussions and networking events, which enable students to broaden their knowledge of real estate issues and expand their professional networks. The Mattone Institute also organizes real estate law externships and internships, which allow students to bolster their real estate law credentials and gain valuable practical skills experience. The Mattone Institute coordinates the Law School’s innovative real estate law curriculum, which includes advanced courses taught by leading practitioners. In addition, the Mattone Institute sponsors a Real Estate Law Fellowship Program, which provides selected 2L and 3L students a unique opportunity to pursue a unified course of study in real estate law and an annual monetary stipend.
Mattone
The Public Interest Center (PIC), organizes opportunities for students to use their education to better serve their communities. Each year, PIC organizes service and training days for students to help out in their communities through both legal and non-legal work. PIC is responsible for organizing the Public Interest Auction each year. The proceeds from the auction are used to fund the Spring Break Service Trips as well as the Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program. The Spring Break Service Trip allows students to take an alternative spring break by giving back to a community in need of legal services. In the past, St. John’s has traveled to Texas, Puerto Rico, and Louisiana to provide communities with pro bono legal assistance. The Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program provides a stipend to selected students who have chosen to dedicate their summer to pro bono work. The Center also hosts the Pro Bono Service Project, which awards students who have exemplified exceptional dedication to pro bono work throughout law school with recognition at graduation. PIC is home to the Pro Bono Scholars Program at St. John’s Law. The program allows students to devote their last semester of study to performing pro bono service and take the bar exam early, in February. The Center also helps students secure externships, summer internships, and employment in a wide variety of public interest fields.
The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights, focuses on issues of diversity and inclusion through discussions, events, and publications. The Center offers a select for CIVIL RIGHTS group of incoming law students the Ron Brown Scholarship, which helps students who have overcome economic, social or educational disadvantage and to support them financially and academically, while nurturing an interest in equality, civil rights, and social justice. The Center oversees the publication of the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development (JCRED). Each year students in JCRED are given academic credit and recognition for their articles on social and political issues in the legal sphere. The Center also partners with the student-led affinity groups and the Coalition for Social Justice to host events to discuss issues of diversity and inclusion at St. John’s Law, in the U.S., and around the world, including: After Charlottesville: Shaping Boundaries for the Expression of Polarizing Ideas, Family Separation at the Border, Gender in America, and #MeToo.
RONALD H. BROWN
CENTER
Writing Center
The Law School’s Writing Center assists law students in developing their research and writing skills, blue booking, outlining, grammar, and conciseness. The Writing Center also helps law students enter and win writing competitions. Each year, St. John’s Law students excel in writing competitions and winners have received scholarships, publication, and recognition. There are competitions on virtually every topic: from administrative law to religious freedom, from labor law to women’s rights, from intellectual property to gun control. Some offer cash prizes (as much as $10,000) and others publish the winning papers. No matter what the prize, winning a writing competition is a great way to hone your writing skills, explore a new area of law, and enhance your resume.
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 11
LEARN by DOING
T
hrough any of the Law School’s ten inhouse and partner clinics, you’ll work on real legal matters as advocates for New York City’s poor and underserved. A law school clinic is a program providing services to various clients and hands-on-legal experience to law school students. Clinics are directed by clinical professors and practicing attorneys. Legal clinics do pro bono work and provide free legal services to clients. The Law School’s in-house clinics operate as a non-profit law firm on the 2nd floor of the school.
10 Clinics Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic Child Advocacy Clinic Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic Criminal Defense Clinic Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic Economic Justice Clinic Prosecution Clinic Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic Securities Arbitration Clinic Tenants’ Rights Advocacy Clinic
“Our clinics are the last stop for many New Yorkers. Without our assistance, most of our clients would go unrepresented, without any meaningful access to the courts. Clinic students begin to realize the importance of their work in representing the rights of those who lack any power in society. We take a holistic approach to client representation, striving to meet client needs beyond the initial legal problem presented, as well as the needs of the larger community. We work to have a wider social impact, to educate community members about their rights under the law, and to listen to them so we can address their concerns and challenges.”
—Ann L. Goldweber 12 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
Professor and Director of Clinical Legal Education Director of the Consumer Justice for the Elderly Litigation Clinic
100s of Externships* ALM Media BOC International (USA) Holdings Inc. Brooklyn Defender Services Disability Rights New York District Attorney’s Offices (Brooklyn, Nassau, New York, Queens, Richmond, Westchester) DLA Piper Federal Trade Commission Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Girl Scouts of the USA National Labor Relations Board New York City Law Department New York State Attorney General’s Office New York State Courts New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department Roc Nation Sony Corporation of America The Estee Lauder Companies The Legal Aid Society The Safe Center Long Island United Nations Development Programme United States Attorney’s Office (EDNY and SDNY) United States Bankruptcy Court United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit United States Court of International Trade United States Department of Justice United States District Court (EDNY and SDNY) United States Environmental Protection Agency United States Securities Exchange Commission Over 75 percent of the class of 2020 completed clinics or externships and ALL students who wanted to participate in a clinic or externship were able to. *Sampling
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 13
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES The law is a global profession, and there’s no better place to learn the law than New York City, the gateway to the world and the home of St. John’s Law for almost a century. We’ve designed our curriculum so you can learn how law is practiced in different transnational settings and explore diverse legal systems up close. Offerings include: • Courses in international and comparative law taught by St. John’s faculty members with expertise in the field • Summer study abroad program at St. John’s beautiful Rome campus, located in the heart of one of the great cities of Europe • Semester-long international practica at international organizations: UN agencies, NATO, and international criminal tribunals • Academic exchange programs with the University of Glasgow School of Law, Sorbonne University, and Tsinghua University • Dean’s Travel Study Program combines travel abroad, academic lectures, meetings with local lawyers, audiences with business leaders, and tours of historical sites during the school break, all to give participants a broader and a deeper understanding of the host country’s prevailing legal culture.
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In
University of Glasgow Glasgow, Scotland Exchange Program
Mons, Belgium The Hague, Netherlands International Practicum
Sorbonne University Paris, France Exchange Program
Tsinghua University Beijing, China Exchange Program
Rome, Italy Summer Study Abroad Program
St. John’s Law students, past and present, represent countries across the globe. • J.D.s • LL.M.s • Both J.D.s and LL.M.s Dean’s Travel Study Program Destinations:
Scotland 2013
Spain 2014
Ireland 2015
Israel 2016
China 2017/18
Belgium | France 2019
Brazil | Uruguay 2020
INTRODUCTION 2021 l 15
MAKE a DIFFERENCE Public Service D
o you want to help others, ensure that government works for its citizens, or change the world? St. John’s Law has a long, successful history of preparing students for work in public service, in professional roles as diverse as: Assistant District Attorneys, U.S. Attorneys, Attorneys General, and Corporation Counsel Local, State, and Federal Judges and Law Clerks Elected Officials Law Enforcement Officers Military Service Members Government Agency Personnel And we give you ample support and opportunities on your path to public service through: Dedicated Career Counselors Specializing in Public Service Robust On-campus Interviews Full-Year Prosecution and Defense Clinics Our Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Live NYS Court Sessions Held in Our Belson Moot Court Room U.S. Supreme Court Justice Visits and Visiting Jurists Program Federal Scholars Summer Internship Program
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“Working in public service is to be part of something that is larger than yourself, and to perceive yourself and your profession as having a broader purpose.” —Hon. Janet DiFiore ’81, ’17HON Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals
and the State of New York
Public Interest
Hundreds of students provided thousands of hours of public interest support in 2019-2020
40,000+ hours in clinics
30,000+ hours of pro bono work
Ashleigh Kashimawo
Director of Public Interest Programming
Lawyers working in the public interest help underrepresented and marginalized people, and advocate for fair and effective laws and policies on their behalf. Generations of St. John’s Law graduates have made their mark serving the public interest in: Non-profit legal assistance organizations Non-governmental organizations Charitable organizations Educational institutions Government agencies Pro Bono matters With guidance from our Director of Public Interest Programming, Ashleigh Kashimawo, you’ll benefit from a range of offerings, including our: In-House and Partner Clinics Public Interest Center Public Interest Fellowship Program Public Interest Auction Public Interest Lecture Series Pro Bono Week Service Days Pro Bono Trainings Spring Break Service Trips Whatever career path you chose, we encourage you to use your law degree to serve justice. That is the lawyer’s calling. At St. John’s Law, you’ll find a range of opportunities to answer it, to be successful, and to experience the immense reward of making a difference. INTRODUCTION 2021 l 17
STUDENT LIFE
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aw schools have personalities, too. Our welcoming, open culture defines St. John’s Law and sets us apart. Your learning with faculty and other students will extend beyond the classroom to study groups, brown bag lunch meetings, open-door faculty and administrative offices, informal gettogethers, and pickup soccer games. You’ll also find camaraderie and kinship as a member of one or more of the student organizations coordinated by the Law School’s Student Bar Association. St. John’s Law students are part of a true campus community. You can take advantage of all the academic, recreational, and cultural resources that St. John’s University has to offer, including the fitness center, yoga classes, music and theater performances, spectator sports, and religious services. The University maintains a group of townhouses exclusively for law students. The Law School also provides resources to students seeking off-campus housing. Student life is thriving at St. John’s Law. Come see for yourself!
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Student Organizations Include: Admiralty Law Society American Constitution Society Animal Law Society Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) Black Law Student Association (BLSA) Catholic Law Students Association Children’s Law Society Coalition for Social Justice Corporate and Securities Law Society Criminal Law Society Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Society (EASL) Environmental Law Society Family Law Society Health Care Law Society Hellenic Law Students Association Historical Society of the New York Courts Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) International Law Students Association Irish Students Association Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) Labor Relations and Employment Law Society Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) Law and Entrepeurship Society Multilingual Legal Advocates National Association of Consumer Advocates OUTLaws and Allies Public Interest Law Student Association Real Property Law Society St. John’s Chapter of Federal Bar Society South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) The Federalist Society The Forum Transforming Justice Initiative Women’s Law Society INTRODUCTION 2021 l 19
A DIVERSE and INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
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elcoming. Inclusive. Caring. These are words used again and again by our students, faculty, staff, and alumni to describe St. John’s Law. Diversity is a proud St. John’s tradition. When St. John’s Law held its first classes in 1925, it earned an immediate reputation for its open doors—welcoming men and women of diverse economic, religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. As the local newspaper, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, explained, St. John’s was “virtually deluged with applications from men and women in all walks of life.” St. John’s student newspaper, The Torch, described the Law School’s first class as the most “democratic” in New York City, containing “every nationality, creed, cult, age, and section of the city.” That spirit remains strong today. The Law School sits on the St. John’s University campus in Queens, New York City’s most diverse borough and one of the world’s most diverse urban spaces. We work to recruit and retain a diverse group of students, faculty, and staff through formal diversity initiatives. And we actively cultivate a campus atmosphere where respect is paramount. People argue their positions with passion, conviction, and civility that builds bridges and bonds in our close-knit community. 20 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
The mission of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) is to provide a comprehensive academic, social, and professional support system to St. John’s Law students who identify as Asian or Pacific Islander. We prioritize our members’ professional development by presenting numerous opportunities in the form of internships, scholarships, and networking events, and fostering a deep sense of community through our mentorship program, volunteer work, and annual Lunar New Year reception held each spring. The mission of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) is to articulate and promote the professional needs and goals of black law students and instill a greater awareness of commitment to the black community. We seek to promote, foster, and encourage the academic well-being of black law students.
The Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) is committed to Latinx advancement in the legal profession. We strive to connect students with our broad network of Latinx lawyers and alumni, as well as promote diversity, leadership, and academic success.
The mission of OUTLaws & Allies is to foster awareness and advocacy for legal issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community, to promote a spirit of inclusivity and support among the Law School community, with the goal of identifying common ground and eliminating stigmas associated with the LGBTQ+ community throughout the legal profession.
St. John’s South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) strives to provide academic, social, and professional support for diverse students, while promoting South Asian culture and values to create an inclusive multicultural Law School community.
What Must Be Done
Our Faculty
For almost 100 years, animated by the Vincentian question, What must be done?, St. John’s Law has opened its doors to a wonderfully diverse student body.
We’re proud to have a faculty that reflects our diverse and inclusive Law School community. They are dedicated educators whose doors are always open to our students. And they are notable legal scholars and clinicians who are deeply committed to exploring and addressing issues of real-world significance and impact, including today’s most pressing social justice, racial justice, civil rights, and human rights matters.
Today, as one of the best law schools in New York City, with one of the highest graduate employment rates in the nation, we remain committed to being an engine of opportunity, particularly for the most traditionally underrepresented groups in the legal profession. With that firm commitment, we’re very pleased to announce the funding of two new support opportunities for students of color: Theodore T. Jones, Jr. Fellowship: Established in memory of Hon. Theodore T. Jones, Jr. ’72, ’07 HON, who built a thriving legal career that took him to the heights of public service on the New York State Court of Appeals, this fellowship provides Black students with support
over and above their other merit scholarship, including: books; a laptop computer and printer; a summer preparatory program; a 1L paid internship; funding to attend the annual National Black Law Student Association annual conference; and special access to alumni and academic support. Aequitas Scholarship: Named after the Latin concept of justice and fairness and the root of the modern English word “equity,” this partial scholarship is awarded to incoming students of color. This new funding is in addition to the support that our longtime full-tuition. This new funding is in addition to the support that our longtime full-tuition Ron Brown Scholarship Program offers students who have overcome economic, social, or educational disadvantage, as well as the numerous endowed scholarships that alumni and friends have established to build and sustain a more diverse and inclusive St. John’s Law.
St. John’s Law welcomes three new faculty members! (Right column down: Adrián E. Alvarez, Seema Mohapatra, Marissa Jackson Sow)
Written by students, alumni, faculty, and staff, the 20 essays presented here offer a curated collection of perspectives that, individually and collectively, aim to move our Law School, our community, and our profession forward in solidarity as we work to be actively anti-racist and to combat injustice in all its forms. INTRODUCTION 2021 l 21
ADMISSIONS and FINANCIAL AID Information
NOW ACCE PTING GRE!
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
OPTIONAL VIDEO INTERVIEW
We seek to identify and select a diverse group of talented students who will not only succeed at St. John’s Law, but who will continue our tradition of excellence in the legal and business worlds.
We offer an opportunity to complete an optional video interview after you submit your written application. This is a unique opportunity to provide additional information about yourself and to demonstrate personal attributes that may not be evident in your application.
Applicants should recognize that LSAT or GRE scores and undergraduate GPAs are important factors in the admission process. However, numbers alone might not entirely reflect an applicant’s ability to succeed in the study of the law, enhance the Law School’s educational environment, and deliver legal services in a professionally responsible manner after graduation. Therefore, the Admissions Committee will also consider, among other factors: Nature and difficulty of the applicant’s course of undergraduate studies Applicant’s entire undergraduate record, including ascending or descending trends in achievement Graduate work or degrees Significant extracurricular activities while an undergraduate or graduate student Community activities Work experience Personal obstacles that may have interfered with the realization of the applicant’s full potential and personal achievements
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS Application form Credential Assembly Service registration and transcripts LSAT or GRE score Personal Statement Letters of recommendation - professional or academic (2-3) Resume Optional Essay: Economic, cultural, or social factors that have been significant in your development and identity. 22 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
Two Early Decision programs: Honors Early Decision Program This early decision option is for students of high caliber with impressive achievements who are certain that St. John’s Law is their top choice. Those admitted through this program will become St. Thomas More Scholars and receive many benefits, including a full-tuition scholarship, the ability to work closely with a faculty advisor, and access to special events. The Honors Early Decision Program is highly competitive. Please note, the deadline is monthly, and awards will be distributed October 2020 through February 2021, provided the program does not reach capacity earlier. Decisions will be rendered by the last day of that same month. If you apply for the Honors Early Decision program and are not admitted, your application will then be considered during the regular admission cycle in the following months.
Regular Early Decision Program The Regular Early Decision (R.E.D.) Program is for students who are certain that St. John’s Law is their top choice. This program provides applicants a means of expressing to the Admissions Committee their commitment to attend St. John’s Law if admitted and gives applicants priority review and an expedited decision. There are no merit scholarships awarded to R.E.D. Program applicants. Applicants seeking a scholarship should not apply through this program.
FLEX PART-TIME DAY PROGRAM St. John’s Law offers a flexible and customizable four-year, part-time day program. We will work with you to develop an individual schedule that meets your needs. Schedules can include mornings only, afternoons only, or even a two day per week option.
I hope this viewbook has been informative, although it is really just a first glimpse at St. John’s Law. We are looking for a diverse group of accomplished students to apply. I encourage you to do so if you like what you’ve read so far. We aim to make our application process as streamlined as possible, but please call or email if you have any questions while applying. And, feel free to personalize your application after submission using the video interview link we email to you. We offer a variety of remote visit opportunities and individual appointments with an admisson counselor. You may reserve a space online at stjohns.edu/ law/visit, or schedule an individual appointment by emailing lawinfo@stjohns.edu or calling 718-990-6474. I look forward to learning more about you in your application. All the best,
Alicia Meehan Assistant Dean for Admissions & Recruitment
2020 Entering Class*
$20M+ awarded in scholarships 2020–2021
Scholarship Range 2020-2021 $10,000–$63,290
FINANCING YOUR EDUCATION All regular deadline applicants to St. John’s Law will be automatically considered for scholarships at the time of admission. No supplemental application is required to qualify for a scholarship and there is no specific LSAT or GRE score or undergraduate GPA required to be awarded a scholarship. Tuition for the 2019-2020 academic year: $63,290 full-time $47,480 part-time
3.62
160
(25th–75th)
(25th–75th)
22 States AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, NC, ND, NJ, NV, NY, OH, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Early Decision Deadlines Honors – October 1, November 1, December 1, January 1 and February 1
42% straight from college
42 Age Range
In addition to awarding scholarships to entering students, we offer academic achievement awards to students who place in the top 25% of their class at the end of every year. They can be granted in addition to a current scholarship to bring a student’s total financial aid up to half-tuition assistance.
LSAT median 152 – 162
GPA median 3.28 – 3.80
58% one or more years of work
29%
20
Students of Color
109
undergraduate colleges
43
undergraduate majors
Regular – January 6, 2021
Regular Application Priority Date March 15, 2021
2,499
applications
Transfer Application Priority Date December 15, 2020 (Spring) July 15, 2021 (Fall)
247
new 1st year JD students
47% women n
24
students born outside of the US
53% men *As of August 18, 2020
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VISIT US
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e invite you to learn more about St. John’s Law. You may speak with current students, faculty and administrators. We offer virtual open houses monthly and individual appointments. Check the schedule and reserve your place at stjohns.edu/law/visit. Contact us at 718-990-6474 or email lawinfo@stjohns.edu. We look forward to connecting with you!
STAY CONNECTED! FOLLOW US @ @stjlaw
@stjohnslaw
@StJohnsLaw
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@St. John’s University School of Law
Our MISSION Consistent with the Vincentian mission of St. John’s University, the Law School seeks to: Achieve academic excellence through a commitment to rigorous teaching, scholarly research, and innovative application of knowledge Foster a diverse community emphasizing respect for the rights and dignity of every person Engage students to search out the causes of economic and social injustice and to find adaptable, effective, and concrete solutions Endow graduates with the skills and values required for successful participation in a global legal community
Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity St. John’s University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex (including sexual harassment and sexual violence), sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, disability, religion, age, status in the uniformed services of the United States (including veteran status), marital status, status as a victim of domestic violence, citizenship status, genetic predisposition or carrier status in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Amendments Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI or Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. Annual Security & Fire Safety Report The University’s Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (ASR), which contains three years of campus crime and fire safety statistics and campus security policy and procedures, is available online at www.stjohns.edu/safetyreport. Upon request, prospective students may obtain a paper copy of the ASR by contacting the Department of Public Safety at (718) 990-1435
Office of Admissions | 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439 | 718-990-6474 | lawinfo@stjohns.edu | stjohns.edu/law/admissions
