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Key people at New York University School of Law.
New York University School of Law delivers comprehensive legal education through its Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Juridical Science programs, including interdisciplinary and dual degrees. It integrates global, business, and public interest law, fostering critical thinking and practical skills. The institution prepares versatile legal professionals for diverse roles and challenges.
Founded in 1835, NYU Law is the first law school in New York City and the oldest continuously operating in New York State. Its inception addressed the critical demand for structured legal training in a rapidly expanding urban center. This historical commitment to scholarship and professional development consistently shapes its trajectory, emphasizing its foundational role.
NYU Law serves aspiring legal professionals, from future attorneys to public policy leaders. Its vision centers on shaping the future of law by preparing graduates for excellence across practice, public service, and ventures. The institution equips students with intellectual and ethical frameworks to effectively navigate and influence the complex global legal landscape.
New York University School of Law (NYU Law) is not a company but a prestigious academic institution and the oldest law school in New York City, founded in 1835 as part of New York University.[1][2][4] It offers JD, LL.M., and JSD degrees to 1,413 full-time students (2022 enrollment), with a faculty of 393, ranking 8th (tied) in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report and achieving a 94.9% bar pass rate in 2023.[1][6] NYU Law emphasizes academic excellence, innovative legal education, public service through over 40 clinics, experiential training via its first-year Lawyering Program, and global perspectives, preparing students for leadership in law, policy, and public interest work.[3][6]
The school pioneered the "course method" of legal instruction, was among the first to admit women in 1890, and continues to lead in practical skills, interdisciplinary studies, and support for underrepresented groups, funding summer work in government and nonprofits.[2][3][6]
NYU Law was established on June 2, 1835, by Benjamin Franklin Butler, then U.S. Attorney General, at the request of New York University's council, making it the oldest surviving law school in New York State and one of the oldest in the U.S.[1][2][4] Butler submitted a "Plan for the organization of a law faculty," defining a three-year course of study taught via the innovative "course method," which became the national standard; instruction began in 1838 with Butler as the first principal professor.[1][2]
Key evolutions include absorbing the Metropolitan Law School in 1895 for an evening division, relocating to 40 Washington Square South in Greenwich Village in 1951 under Dean Arthur T. Vanderbilt, and establishing the Root-Tilden-Kern Scholarship for public service that year. Admission standards rose in the early 20th century, requiring one year of undergraduate study by 1924 and two by 1926 per American Bar Association guidelines.[1][2]
NYU Law influences the tech ecosystem indirectly through its expertise in intellectual property, entertainment, internet, and technology law, via dedicated journals like the NYU Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law and clinics addressing digital policy, innovation, and regulatory challenges.[5][6] It rides trends in AI governance, data privacy, fintech regulation, and tech antitrust, training lawyers who shape policy amid rapid tech evolution—such as global data flows and platform accountability—where timing is critical due to escalating U.S.-EU regulatory alignment and Big Tech scrutiny.[3][6]
Market forces like interdisciplinary demand favor NYU Law's global curriculum and clinics, producing alumni who advise startups, venture firms, and regulators, thus influencing ecosystem standards for ethical tech deployment and innovation-friendly laws.[5][6]
NYU Law will likely expand its lead in tech-law intersections, launching more clinics on AI ethics, cybersecurity, and blockchain amid 2020s regulatory booms. Trends like interdisciplinary JD-MBAs and global LL.M. programs will amplify its role in training tech ecosystem leaders. Its influence may evolve toward greater impact on policy think tanks and international arbitration, solidifying its pacesetting status from 1835 origins into a hub for tomorrow's legal innovators.[3][6]
Key people at New York University School of Law.
