A Diverse and Inclusive Community

Welcoming. 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. 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.

“As a woman of color, lawyer, and legal educator, I understand that law schools are uniquely positioned to open doors for people who have faced barriers to achievement historically. A legal education can be transformational, and I know that St. John’s Law is dedicated to making a difference in and beyond the legal community as an agent of positive change.”

Kamille Dean Director of Diversity and Inclusion