New York Law School

General Info

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New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The Law School was founded in 1891 by a group of faculty, students, and alumni of Columbia Law School led by their founding dean, Theodore William Dwight, a prominent figure in the history of American legal education. Dwight and his fellow trailblazers broke away from Columbia College to protest teaching methods they did not support. They established New York Law School in Lower Manhattan?where it has remained ever since?in the heart of the city?s legal, financial, government, and corporate headquarters. In 1894, the Law School established one of the nation?s first evening divisions in order to provide an alternative to full-time legal studies. New York Law School quickly achieved success. In 1892, after only a year in operation, it was the second-largest law school in the United States; by 1904, it was the largest. It experienced steady growth in its early years, that was only interrupted for one year when the school closed during World War I. During these early years, the Law School saw some of its most famous alumni graduate. The Law School was forced to close a second time from 1941 to 1947, for the duration of World War II. After reopening, the Law School started a new program that was influenced by a committee of alumni headed by New York State Supreme Court Justice Albert Cohn. This led to accreditation by the American Bar Association in 1954; continued growth led to membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 1974.

Contact information

New York Law School Admissions

New York Law School is considered a Somewhat Competitive law school, which accepts only 55% of its applicants. Comparatively, Newyork is Significantly Higher than the average cost for law school.

Applications Offers Matriculated
Class of 2028 2752 1506 (54.72%) 305 (11.1%)
25% Median 75%
GPA 2.88 3.24 3.48
LSAT 149 152 154

Tuition And Financial Aid

In-State Resident Non-Resident
Full Time $49,240 $49,240
Part Time $37,880 $37,880

Living Expenses

  • Living on-campus: $23,663
  • Living off-campus: $23,663
  • Living at home: $10,623

Important Dates

  • Early Decision 1: N/A
  • Early Decision 2: N/A
  • Regular Decision: 07/01
  • Application Fee: N/A

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New York Law School COMPARISON TOOL

New York Law School

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New York Law School Community

New York Law School is considered to have a Somewhat Favorable student to faculty ratio. The average class size for 1L sections is approximately Above Average compared to other law schools. Student diversity at Newyork is Average.

Student body

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Faculty Statistics

  • Full Time: 50
  • Part Time: 68

Faculty

  • # Female Faculty: 46
  • # Minority Faculty: 12

Ratio

17.9 Students

1 Faculty

Housing Options

  • On Campus Housing: Yes
  • Graduate Housing: No
  • Law Specific Housing: Yes

New York Law School Curriculum

The size of 1L sections affects the quality and consistency of teaching in law schools. Generally with smaller 1L section sizes, students receive more individualized attention. New York Law School 1L section size is 11% smaller than law schools in New York and 12% larger than all PRIVATE law schools.

1L Section Size Comparison

New York Law School: 166
New York Average: 184
PRIVATE School Average: 146

Positions Available in Advanced Courses

  • Simulation Courses: 991
  • Faculty Supervised Clinics: 285

Students Involved in Advanced Activities

  • Field Placements: 188
  • Law Journals: 298
  • Moot Court/Mock Trials: 0

Attrition Rates

  • First Year: 20.8%
  • Second Year: 1.4%
  • Third Year: 0.0%
  • Fourth Year: 0.0%

New York Law School Employment

Deciding to attend law school requires a large financial investment with the goal of securing employment upon graduation. The New York Law School class of 2023 had an employment rate of 86% with 1% pursuing an additional degree.

Employment Comparison

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In 2023, 93.8%% of students reported their employment status 9-months after graduation.

Type of Employment

  • Law Firms: 39.0%
  • Business: 40.0%
  • Government: 10.0%
  • Public Interest: 5.0%
  • Academia: 1.0%
  • New York: 81%
  • New Jersey: 10%
  • Connecticut: 1%

Bar Passage Rates

  • Reporting: 93.8%
  • First Time Takers: 387
  • Average School: 72.7%
  • Average State: 78.6%
  • Pass Difference: -5.9%

Top Bar Jurisdiction

  • New York: 78.6%
  • Passed: 264 of 363 (72.7%)
  • State Average: 78.6%
  • Difference: -5.9%