CONTENTS 2
Outcomes that Matter Most
4
Queens the World’s Borough
6
A Powerful Alumni Network
8
Pathways to the Profession
10
Academic Centers
12
Faculty Focus
14
Innovative Curriculum
16
Learn by Doing
18
Global Opportunities
20
Make a Difference
22
Student Life
24
A Diverse and Inclusive Community
26
Admissions and Scholarships
29
Visit Us
YOU BELONG HERE!
OUTCOMES that MATTER MOST
A
t St. John’s Law, we’re focused on your success. That’s why you’ll have your own career counselor from day one to help you identify a professional path that interests you, choose right-fit courses and activities, and pursue exciting job opportunities.
At the start of your first year, you’ll attend our annual Student-Alumni Career Conference, where you’ll meet St. John’s Law graduates and learn about their work in different practice areas. The conversation continues in our 1L Professional Development course. As you continue your legal studies, you’ll benefit from an upper-level curriculum designed around different career pathways. You’ll gain practical knowledge taking advanced classes; build key lawyering skills in clinics, internships, and externships; and learn the art of advocacy through the Law School’s co-curricular trial and appellate programs. When the time comes for you to prepare for the bar exam, we’ve got you covered. St. John’s Law partners with bar review leader BARBRI to offer students unmatched support. As part of your tuition, you get: Early access to BARBRI’s acclaimed bar prep program, including the 1L mastery series, MPRE guides, and other resources in bar-tested subjects Practice questions in each subject area tested on the bar exam A bar prep course that starts right after graduation These are just some of the ways that St. John’s Law makes your success our top priority, and helps you achieve outcomes that matter most to you.
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ABOVE the New York and national averages for employment and bar passage AGAIN!*
96%+ ultimate, 2-year, bar pass rate
91% 2020 bar pass rate
88%+ overall employment
83%+ full-time/long-term/ bar-required/J.D.-advantage employment *for the most recently reported data as of August 17, 2021
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QUEENS the WORLD’S BOROUGH
S
t. John’s Law is a New York City institution, with a Law School community that’s as richly unique as Queens, our “hometown” and the city’s most diverse borough. St. John’s 100-acre campus has a park-like feel with green lawns, flowers and fountains, and majestic views of the Manhattan skyline.
Mix in nearby neighborhoods that regularly top ‘hottest places to live’ lists; worldclass shopping; fan-favorite sports teams; pulsating nightlife; a vibrant art scene; and an incomparable array of global cuisines and it’s no wonder that the popular Lonely Planet guide has 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.
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A POWERFUL ALUMNI Network
A
s a St. John’s Law student, you’ll have the support of 16,000+ dedicated alumni who are success stories. They include state governors and other influential politicians; distinguished judges, including New York’s Chief Judge, Janet DiFiore; leaders of preeminent international law firms and corporations; pioneering global entrepreneurs; and directors of nonprofit organizations. 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, 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.
Pamela McCormack ‘96
Ladder Capital
Adam Hakki ‘97 Naffie Lamin ‘17
Kelly Porcella ‘07
Shearman & Sterling Michael DiOrio ’02
Natalie Ko ‘17
Desta Hailu ‘18
Nick Berg ‘17
Charles Akinboyewa ‘19
Ralph Carter ‘14
St. John's Law alumni work across legal and business sectors and settings. This is just a small sampling of alumni who work together at firms, offices, and organizations.
Duane Morris Reshma Shah ‘11
Michael Ferri ‘16 John Coster IV ‘15
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Andrew Farrell ‘18 Lauren Bisogno ‘20
Olayemi Olurin ‘18
ThTheLegal The LegalAid AidSociety Society
Brooklyn Staten Island
Allie Cabibbo ‘19
Thomas Ridges ‘98 Christopher Eaton ‘15
Chanel Smith ‘15
NYC District Attorneys’ Offices
Bronx
Jessica Wang ‘21
Manhhattan
Queens
Sharlene Disla ‘19
Ashley Rocque ‘20
Hannah Yu ‘09
Leighanne Daly ‘18
Allyson Rivard ‘20 Lisa Schreibersdorf ‘84
Gabrielle Pretto ‘09
Ronald Singh ‘05
JPMorgan Chase
Matthew Cleaver ‘21
Brooklyn Defender Services
Ashley Kloepfer ‘11
Maryanne Kaishian ‘15 Janet Squitieri ‘87 Adam Myren ‘19 Christine Kummer ‘16 Vince La Padula ’02
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PATHWAYS to the PROFESSION
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lready know the area of the law that interests you? Great! Have no clue? That’s great, too! At St. John’s Law, we’ll help you discover a pathway to the profession that’s just right for you. With knowledge gained in foundational classes and focused electives, experience built in clinics and internships, skills honed through journals and co-curriculars, and the support of our Career Development Office and alumni community, you’ll chart your path to a fulfilling career.*
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
*Related to practice pathway
Activities & Honors* 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
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1L Summer
Intern, New York State Courts, Commercial Division
2L Courses
Labor Law Labor & Employment Arbitration Judicial Externship (EDNY)
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. 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
3L Courses
2L Courses
International Criminal Law International & Foreign Legal Research International Law International Law Legal Practicum Internship, International Criminal Court, The Hague
2L Summer
Pro Bono Intern, DLA Piper Europe Summer Associate, DLA Piper U.S.
Post Grad!
Krantz Fellow, DLA Piper (One Year Dedicated Exclusively to Pro Bono Matters) Litigation Associate, DLA Piper
2L Courses
Administrative Law Advanced Child Advocacy Clinic Appellate Advocacy Moot Court Child Advocacy Clinic Evidence International Law Professional Responsibility
Immigration Law International Criminal Law International & Foreign Legal Research International Law Colloquium National Security Law St. John’s Bread and Life Clinic
2L Summer
Intern, Child Advocacy Clinic Law Clerk, Pardalis & Nohavicka PC
3L Courses
Immigration Law International Law Colloquium
2L Summer
Legal Summer Intern, Apple Inc.
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
*All information current as of student’s graduation
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)
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ACADEMIC CENTERS
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hrough the Law School’s 11 academic centers, you’ll engage with leading practitioners and scholars who are addressing real-world legal issues.
Center for Bankruptcy Studies The Center for Bankruptcy Studies encompasses specialized courses, a 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 prestigious Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition and helps to coordinate the Law School’s unrivaled LL.M. in Bankruptcy program. Interested in clerking for a judge? St. John’s Law has a bankruptcy career specialist who excels in federal clerkship placements.
Through curricular offerings, study abroad programs, and experiential learning opportunities, St. John’s Center for International and Comparative Law (CICL) helps you prepare for today’s global practice. CICL hosts academic symposia, and upper-level students can apply to become CICL fellows who work closely with professors on research projects and on their own scholarly work. CICL also oversees the publication of the New York International Law Review (NYILR), a student-edited publication of the New York State Bar Association’s International Law Section.
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Center for Labor and
Employment Law A Distinguished History. A Visionary Future.
The Center for Labor and Employment Law (CLEL) offers a dynamic forum for exploring the practice and theory of labor and employment law and oversees a curriculum that includes courses and fieldwork. Through CLEL, you’ll engage with labor and employment professionals at conferences, symposia, workshops, and other programs. With the generous support of CLEL alumni and friends, you’ll also have a range of opportunities to gain practical skills, work experience, and professional connections.
Our Center for Law and Religion (CLR) fosters the study of law and religion from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives. CLR hosts conferences, colloquiums, workshops, and other programs. Guests and speakers have included Pope Francis, Justice Samuel Alito and the late Justice Antonin Scalia of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as prominent academics, judges, and journalists. In addition to coordinating the Law School’s law and religion curriculum, CLR produces the Law and Religion Forum blog and the Legal Spirits podcast with help from its students fellows.
The Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy supports the Law School’s commitment to producing the next generation of outstanding courtroom lawyers. It’s home to students, faculty, alumni, and friends interested in all forms of advocacy: civil and criminal; trial and appellate; federal, state, and global. You can take advantage of the Center’s innovative curriculum, participate in its nationally-ranked trial and appellate advocacy programs, and network with its faculty and alumni. The director is assisted by student fellows, who undertake research and support the Center’s events.
Whatever practice area you’re interested in, the Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution will help you build the problemsolving, advocacy, and dispute resolution skills you need to be an effective lawyer today. The Carey Center is home to the studentled Dispute Resolution Society and offers a full suite of courses, conferences, and co-curricular activities. Along with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Carey Center organizes and hosts the annual Securities Dispute Resolution Triathlon competition. Together, these offerings make the Law School a leader in the growing field of alternative dispute resolution.
Through the Intellectual Property Law Center’s (IPLC) programs and initiatives, you’ll connect with, and learn from, leading authorities in the field. Courses cover patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrecy, privacy, and more key topics. The IPLC and its affiliated student groups—the Intellectual Property Law Society and the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law Society—host symposia, conferences, and roundtable discussions throughout the year. As a participant in the biennial Intellectual Property Law Colloquium, you’ll engage deeply with cutting-edge legal scholarship. The IPLC can also help you secure externships, internships, and employment in a wide variety of IP, entertainment, fashion, and related areas.
If you’re looking to use your legal education to help underserved and marginalized individuals and communities, the Law School’s Public Interest Center (PIC) is here for you. Along with its student group, the Public Interest Law Student Association, PIC organizes service and training days as well as the annual Public Interest Auction, which raises funds for Summer Public Interest Fellowships, spring break service trips , and other public interest initiatives at St. John’s Law. PIC’s Pro Bono Scholars Program allows students to devote their last semester of study to pro bono service and take the bar exam early, in February. PIC can also help you secure externships, internships, and employment in the public interest.
For over two decades, the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights has been a force at St. John’s Law, conducting legal studies, research, and outreach on matters affecting the rights of underrepresented people. Students on its Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development (JCRED) address pressing social and political issues. And its affiliated student group, the Coalition for Social Justice, facilitates discussions and explorations of racial and social justice. To further its mission, each year the Center offers its Ron Brown Scholarship to a select group of incoming students who have overcome economic, social, or educational disadvantage.
Writing Center The Mattone Family Institute for Real Estate Law prepares aspiring real estate attorneys for practice through exceptional academic programs, unique career development opportunities, and special events You’ll broaden your knowledge of real estate issues while gaining practical experience and expanding your professional networks. The Mattone Institute coordinates the Law School’s innovative real estate law curriculum, which includes advanced courses taught by leading practitioners. It also sponsors a Real Estate Law Fellowship Program, which gives upper-level St. John’s Law students a unique opportunity to pursue a unified course of study in real estate law with an annual stipend.
The Law School’s Writing Center will help you develop your research and writing skills and excel in law student writing competitions on a range of topics—from administrative law to religious freedom, from labor law to women’s rights, and from intellectual property to gun control. Some competitions offer generous cash prizes 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.
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FACULTY FOCUS
I
n the classroom, our faculty of dedicated teachers will foster your analytical abilities and lawyering skills. Outside the classroom, our professors are accomplished scholars who have written the book in their areas of interest and expertise.
Whether exploring and commenting on criminal law, online content moderation, statutory construction, consumer rights, intellectual property law, or other timely topics, our faculty members bring legal theory alive in ways that make a real impact in the world. Building and supporting a distinguished faculty that reflects and represents a diversity of backgrounds, areas of scholarly interest, and teaching perspectives and approaches is a priority at St. John’s Law.
Michael A. Simons Dean and John V. Brennan Professor of Law and Ethics
Teaching 1L Criminal Law
“The success of our graduates is what defines St. John’s Law, and that success comes from the strength of our faculty, who are outstanding scholars, dedicated teachers, and experienced lawyers. The eight faculty members we’ve added in the past four years reflect our commitment to building on that strength for years to come.” —Dean Michael A. Simons
@DeanMikeSimons
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WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST FACULTY MEMBERS!
Sheldon Evans @prawfsevans777
Renée Nicole Allen Catherine Baylin Duryea @profallentweets @C_Duryea_Prof
MARISSA JACKSON SOW @MarissaEsque
ADRIÁN E. ALVAREZ @AdrianEnrique00 Adrián E. Alvarez joined the faculty in Spring 2021 as an Assistant Professor of Law. He earned his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in Public Affairs from Princeton University, and a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. He was a federal judicial law clerk in the Western District of Texas right out of law school. He then practiced as a plaintiffs' civil rights attorney before joining the nonprofit Children’s Law Center, where he was a staff attorney and, later, a senior staff attorney. Professor Alvarez returned to his law school alma mater as Practitioner-in-Residence in the Disability Rights Law Clinic and as an Adjunct Professor of Law. At St. John’s, he will teach Professional Responsibility, Introduction to Lawyering, and a Disability and the Law seminar.
Marissa Jackson Sow comes to St. John’s as an Assistant Professor of Law and as a director of the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights. She holds a B.A. from Northwestern University, a Master of Laws, with merit, from the London School of Economics, and a J.D. from Columbia University. After law school, Professor Jackson Sow clerked for judges in the Eastern District of New York and the Sixth Circuit. She then taught in the Lawyering program at NYU Law before launching a career in public service. She served as General Counsel in the New York City Mayor’s Office for International Affairs and as Deputy Commissioner for Community Relations at the New York City Commission on Human Rights. Professor Jackson Sow will be teaching Property, Introduction to Lawyering, and Civil Rights courses at St. John’s Law.
Kate Klonick @Klonick
Anna Roberts @ProfARoberts
Courtney Selby @lawcls
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INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM
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e start your legal education with a rigorous grounding in legal analysis, legal doctrine, and legal writing. You’ll learn the fundamentals of practicing law while developing the targeted knowledge and skills new lawyers need to succeed in an ever-evolving legal profession.
In your second year, you’ll choose from a wide array of elective courses representing a range of career pathways. And in your final year, you’ll continue to focus on practice-oriented courses. Along the way, you’ll learn how to draft motions, briefs, memos, and other documents that are the cornerstones of real-world legal practice. Plus, you’ll have a wide range of opportunities to gain hands-on experience in the field. Our innovative curriculum prepares you to make immediate and positive contributions in a range of settings as a capable problem solver and a strong and effective advocate.
FIRST-YEAR COURSES
UPPER DIVISION REQUIREMENTS
SCHOLARLY WRITING REQUIREMENT
Pre-Fall Intersession (August 2022) Introduction to Law
Core Electives You must successfully complete at least five of the following courses:
This requirement is intended to ensure that you compose at least one scholarly writing for which you must analyze, synthesize, organize, and present legal material.
Fall 2022 Civil Procedure Contracts Legal Writing I Professional Development Torts (or Property)
Administrative Law Business Organizations Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Evidence Tax—Basic Federal Personal Income Trusts & Estates
Pre-Spring Intersession (January 2023) Lawyering
Other Electives You can select from hundreds of offerings to enhance learning in their areas of interest.
Spring 2023 Criminal Law Constitutional Law Legal Writing II Professional Development Property (or Torts)
Professional Responsibility In this course, you’ll learn how to practice law and serve your clients according to the rules of professional responsilbilty that all lawyers must follow.
JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS Accounting: J.D./M.B.A. and J.D./M.S. Government and Politics: J.D./M.A. Bankruptcy: J.D./LL.M. Health Care Administration: J.D./M.P.A. Business Administration: J.D./M.B.A. 14 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING REQUIREMENT Foundations: Lawyering Pursuant to this requirement, you’ll gain the lawyering skills, other than writing, required of lawyers, with a focus on client counseling, interviewing, and negotiation. Advanced Practice Writing This requirement ensures that you’ll attain proficiency in the type of practical writing assignments attorneys perform regularly. Applied Skills Designed to ensure that you attain proficiency in lawyering skills, in addition to drafting, in a real or simulated context, this requirement can be satisfied through our Clinics, Externships, Practicum, and Pro Bono Scholars Program as well as our Advanced Interviewing and Counseling, Advanced Trial Advocacy, Deposition Practice, Mediation: Representing Clients, Negotiation, or Trial Advocacy courses.
NEW CLASSES FOR 2021-2022! Advanced Topics in Real Estate Law This seminar changes topics every time it’s offered to handle cutting edge issues in real estate law taught by leading practitioners, including case studies and simulated transactions. Civil Rights Advocacy This course introduces critical reading and persuasive writing through the persuasive briefs from major civil rights cases. Comparative Freedom of the Press This seminar raises and discusses contemporary issues regarding freedom of the press in the United States and around the world. Disability and the Law This seminar delves into the ways in which the legal system deals (and has dealt) with people with disabilities in such areas as employment, public accommodations, and interactions with government and government funded agencies (e.g., prisons, health care facilities, etc.).
Professional Responsibility: Criminal Advocacy Professional Responsibility is a required course for graduation and tested on the bar exam. This course is specifically designed to fulfill those requirements for students interested in becoming prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys. The Racial Contract Building upon learning in Property, Contracts, and Constitutional Law, this class explores the role of contracts in creating and perpetuating race and racial hegemony within the United States and globally. Space Law This course explores international and domestic law regulating activity from the air/atmospheric boundary to the moon, asteroids, and other celestial bodies in our solar system.
Feminist Theories & Judgments This course examines a variety of judicial writings through the lenses of feminist legal theories to identify inherent gender assumptions and power hierarchies and evaluate whether the outcomes would have been different through a feminist perspective. Law, Policy, and the Literature of Black Authors This offering explores and challenges preconceived ideas with the aim of achieving a deeper understanding regarding the impact of the law and legal policy on Black/African Americans through a semester-long book club. Music & The Movement: Race, Rhythm, and Social Justice This seminar explores Black American social justice movements through the lens of music and the legal and historical context for music during the period in with the music was created.
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LEARN by DOING
A
t St. John’s Law, you’ll have many opportunities to learn the law hands on in our in-house and partner clinics, through our co-curricular advocacy and dispute resolution programs and competitions, and with our expansive externship offerings.
CLINICS
CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS
As a student in any of the Law School’s four in-house and six partner clinics, you’ll work on real legal matters as advocates for marginalized, underrepresented, and underserved New Yorkers. Clinics provide free legal representation under the supervision of clinical professors and practicing attorneys.
Dispute Resolution Society
In-House Clinics Child Advocacy Clinic Criminal Defense Clinic Consumer Justice for the Elderly: Litigation Clinic Securities Arbitration Clinic
Partner Clinics Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic Economic Justice Clinic Prosecution Clinic Refugee and Immigrant Rights Litigation Clinic Tenants’ Rights Advocacy Clinic
Hone your courtroom advocacy and dispute resolution skills through our co-curricular offerings and in a range of competitions: The Dispute Resolution Society (DRS) aims to meet the demand for practical education in the constantly developing field of alternative dispute resolution. DRS helps St. John’s Law students hone their negotiation, mediation, and arbitration skills through events, seminars, and intra-school competitions held at St. John’s and in external competitions hosted locally, nationally, and internationally.
Moot Court Student members of the Moot Court Honor Society sharpen their written and oral advocacy skills, argue cutting-edge appellate issues, and compete in a range of internal and external competitions. They also engage with top legal professionals, including celebrated St. John’s alumni and other esteemed practitioners and judges.
Trial Advocacy The Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute (PTAI) offers St. John’s Law students a singular range of opportunities— from trial training programs to internal and external trial competitions—to build their courtroom advocacy skills and to learn to think, act, and speak like trial attorneys.
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EXTERNSHIPS*
JOURNALS
As a St. John’s Law student, you can gain invaluable work experience through our externship program. Here’s just a sampling of our externship placements in New York City and beyond:
Research, write, or become a published author on a student-run journal:
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 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
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
*Over 75% of the Class of 2020 completed clinics or externships and all students who wanted to participate in a clinic or externship did.
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GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES
T
he 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. 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 with international organizations and judicial bodies Academic exchange programs in partnership with the University of Glasgow School of Law, Sorbonne University, and Tsinghua University Dean’s Travel Study Program that combines travel abroad, academic lectures, meetings with local lawyers and business leaders, and tours of historical and cultural sites for an immersive learning experience over the school break Come to St. John’s Law for a legal education that will open doors to a world of opportunity!
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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
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MAKE a DIFFERENCE
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t St. John’s Law, we fully support and champion your desire and drive to make a difference in the lives of others and in communities near and far through public service and work in the public interest.
PUBLIC INTEREST Lawyers working in the public interest advocate for underrepresented and marginalized individuals and communities. Generations of St. John’s Law graduates have made their mark serving the public interest in: Legal services 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 have ample opportunities to learn about, and experience, public interest work through 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 Ashleigh Kashimawo Director of Public Interest Programming
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Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program Whatever career path you chose, we encourage you to use your law degree to uplift others and serve justice. That’s the lawyer’s calling.
PUBLIC SERVICE Do you want to ensure that government works for its citizens? Or otherwise change the world? St. John’s Law has a long, successful history of preparing students for public service roles, including: Assistant District Attorneys U.S. Attorneys Attorneys General Corporation Counsel Local, State, and Federal Judges and Judicial Law Clerks Elected Officials Law Enforcement Officers
Hundreds of students provide thousands of hours of public interest support annually
40,000+
hours in clinics
30,000+
hours of pro bono work* *most recent data on file
Military Service Members Government Agency Personnel And we give you ample support and opportunities on your path to public service through our: Prosecution and Criminal Defense Clinics Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy Visiting Jurists Program Federal Scholars Program Whatever public service role interest you, St. John’s Law will help you fullfil your calling.
“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
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STUDENT LIFE
O
ur welcoming 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 get-togethers, 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. Student life is thriving!
*
*The University maintains a group of townhouses exclusively for law students and incoming students get priority. 22 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review American Constitution Society Asian Pacific American Law Students Association Black Law Students Association Children’s Rights Society Coalition for Social Justice Commercial Division Online Law Report Corporate and Securities Law Society Criminal Law Society Dispute Resolution Society Entertainment, Art, and Sports Law Society Federal Bar Association Federalist Society First Generation Professionals Health Law Society Historical Society of the New York Courts Immigration Law Society Intellectual Property Law Society International Law Students Association Jewish Law Students Association Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development Labor Relations and Employment Law Society Latin American Law Students Association Law & Technology Society Moot Court Honor Society Multilingual Legal Advocates National Association of Consumer Advocates National Lawyers Guild New York International Law Review New York Real Property Law Journal OUTLaws and Allies Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute Public Interest Center Public Interest Law Students Association Real Property Law Society SJU Defenders St. John’s Law Review Student Bar Association Tax Law Society Transforming Justice Initiative Trusts and Estates Law Society Women’s Law Society
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DIVERSE and INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
W
elcoming. Inclusive. Caring. Students, faculty, alumni, and staff use these words again and again to describe St. John’s Law and the wider Law School community. We’re also a community that embraces and values diversity in its many forms. Under the guidance of Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Vernadette Horne, we work to recruit and retain a diverse student body, faculty, and staff. And we actively cultivate a campus atmosphere where respect is paramount. People argue their positions not only with passion and conviction, but with curiosity and compassion that builds bridges and bonds.
SHARED IDENTITY GROUPS Our students celebrate and share their diverse heritages, identities, and interests as members of student-run shared identity groups: The Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) provides a comprehensive academic, social, and professional support system to St. John’s Law students who identify as Asian or Pacific Islander.
The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) articulates and promotes the professional needs and goals of Black students at St. John’s Law and supports their academic well-being while instilling a greater awareness of commitment to the Black community.
JLSA
Jewish Law Student Association
LALSA
Latin American Law Students Association
Committed to Latinx advancement in the legal profession, the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA) at St. John’s Law strives to connect students with a broad network of Latinx lawyers and alumni while promoting diversity, leadership, and academic success. OUTLaws and Allies fosters awareness of, and advocacy for, legal issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community. As it promotes a spirit of inclusivity and support in the Law School community, the group works to identify common ground and eliminate stigmas associated with the LGBTQ+ community throughout the legal profession.
First Generation Law Students Association (FGLSA) supports, and provides a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space, for St. John’s Law students who are the first in their families to pursue a college or professional degree, as well as those from lower-income, working-class, or non-white-collar backgrounds.
St. John’s South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) provides academic, social, and professional support for diverse students, while promoting South Asian culture and values to create an inclusive multicultural Law School community.
The Jewish Law Students Association (JLSA) serves as a spiritual, academic, and social resource for the Jewish student body at St. John’s Law, helping to build a sense of community through programming of Jewish social, cultural, religious, and legal significance.
The Women’s Law Society aims to advance education, research, and self-development for women, with the ultimate goal of fostering equality and positive societal change.
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FUNDING AND SUPPORT St. John’s Law is committed to being an engine of opportunity, particularly for the most traditionally underrepresented groups in the legal profession. With that firm commitment, we offer the full-tuition Ron Brown Scholarship to competitive applicants who have overcome economic, social, or educational disadvantage. We are also able to offer numerous endowed diversity scholarships established by alumni and friends. In 2021, we added two new support opportunities for students of color: Theodore T. Jones, Jr. Fellowship Named for Hon. Theodore T. Jones, Jr. ’72, ’07HON, who built a thriving legal career that took him to the heights of public service, the Theodore T. Jones, Jr. Fellowship provides competitive Black applicants with support over and above their other merit scholarships. A fund of over $1 million, generated by gifts from alumni and friends, will provide fellowships for approximately 50 students over the next three years. 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 from underrepresented backgrounds.
“I aim to make diversity, equity, and inclusion prominent and significant in the minds of the students, faculty, and administration. It’s also important to me to foster a sense of belonging, create a supportive environment, and help the students feel heard and seen.” — Assistant Dean Vernadette Horne
Vernadette Horne Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
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ADMISSIONS and SCHOLARSHIPS
W
e seek a diverse group of talented students who will not only succeed at St. John’s Law, but will also continue our tradition of excellence in the legal and business worlds.
ADMISSIONS CRITERIA While LSAT or GRE scores and undergraduate GPAs are important factors, we don’t rely on numbers alone in our admission process. We also consider, among other things, your: Undergraduate record, including your major, course of study, and trends in achievement Graduate work or degrees Extracurricular and community activities Work experience History of facing and navigating life challenges
APPLICATION MATERIALS Application form Credential Assembly Service registration and transcripts LSAT or GRE score Personal statement Academic or professional letters of recommendation (2-3) Resume Optional essay about economic, cultural, or social factors that have been significant in your development and identity Optional video interview that supplements your written application and tells us more about you
EARLY DECISION PROGRAMS Honors Early Decision Program This highly competitive program is for outstanding applicants who are sure that St. John’s Law is their top choice. Successful applicants will receive a full-tuition St. Thomas More Scholarship, the opportunity to work closely with a faculty advisor, and access to special events, among other benefits. Please note: this program has monthly application deadlines, from October 2021 through January 2022. We distribute awards on the last day of each month until the program reaches capacity. If you’re not admitted to the Honors Early Decision Program, we’ll consider your application during the general admissions cycle.
Regular Early Decision Program If you’re certain that St. John’s Law is your first choice, you can express that commitment by applying through our Regular Early Decision (R.E.D.) Program. R.E.D. Program applications get a priority review and an expedited decision. We don’t award merit scholarships to R.E.D. Program applicants. So, if you’re seeking a scholarship, please don’t apply through this program.
PART-TIME FLEX DAY PROGRAM St. John’s Law offers a flexible and customizable four-year, part-time day program. We’ll work with you to customize a schedule that meets your needs, including mornings only, afternoons only, or a two day per week option.
APPLICATION DEADLINES Early Decision Honors Early Decision: October 1, November 1, December 1, and January 1 Regular Early Decision: January 6, 2022
Application Priority Date March 1, 2022
Transfer Spring 2022 Start: December 15, 2021 Fall 2022 Start: July 15, 2022 26 | STJOHNS.EDU/LAW
3.62 162
GPA median LSAT median 3.39 – 3.79 155 – 164 (25th–75th)
(25th–75th)
26 States AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MT, NC,NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX, VA, WV
46% straight from college 54% one or more years of work
39 Age Range
2021 Entering Class*
DIVER SIF THE L YING E PROFE GAL SSION
37%
19
Students of Color
118
undergraduate colleges
44
undergraduate majors
2,836
applications
17
50% women n
students born outside of the US
266
new 1st year JD students
*As of August 17, 2021
50% men
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SCHOLARSHIPS Law school is a major financial undertaking, and we help students make that investment in themselves and their future career by offering a range of scholarships. They include generous awards for entering students and scholarships given to upper-level students based on academic achievement. We’ll consider you for a scholarship automatically when you apply to St. John‘s Law. You don’t need to supplement your application or qualify with a particular LSAT score or undergraduate GPA. But note: If you’re seeking a scholarship, please don’t apply through the Regular Early Decision (R.E.D.) Program.
2021-2022 TUITION Full-Time Program $65,500
Part-Time Flex Day Program $49,140
FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS St. Thomas More Scholarship Ron Brown Scholarship Dean’s Scholarship
PARTIAL TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS Alumni Scholarship Aequitas Scholarship
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT Theodore T. Jones, Jr. Fellowship
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$27M+ Awarded in scholarships 2021-2022 (for all students not just incoming)
$10,000–$65,500 scholarship award range for 2021-2022
VISIT US Learn more about St. John’s Law! We offer open houses monthly, and both in-person and virtual tours weekly. You can also make individual appointments, including a Zoom with a current student or admissions officer. Reserve your spot at stjohns.edu/law/visit. Greetings! I hope you enjoyed this first look at St. John’s Law. I invite you to reach out to me and the Admissions Office team to learn more about the Law School and all it has to offer. Please call or email us with any questions or to schedule a virtual or an in-person visit. When you’re ready to apply to join our diverse and accomplished student body, you’ll find the process straightforward and streamlined. If you need any help along the way, we’re here for you. And, after you complete your written application, you can submit an optional video interview to help us get to know you better. I look forward to connecting with, and supporting, you as you explore your interest in St. John’s Law. All the Best,
Alicia Meehan Assistant Dean for Admissions & Recruitment
Contact us at 718-990-6474 or lawinfo@stjohns.edu to set up a call. We look forward to connecting with you!
FOLLOW US @ @stjlaw
@stjohnslaw
@StJohnsLaw
@St. John’s University School of Law
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Office of Admissions | 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY 11439 | 718-990-6474 | lawinfo@stjohns.edu | stjohns.edu/law/admissions 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