St. John’s University School of Law
The information on this page was provided by the law school.
Official Guide to ABA-Approved JD Programs
The JD Program
St. John’s University School of Law is a New York City institution, and our Law School community reflects the richness and diversity of our dynamic metropolitan home.
Since 1925 our graduates have gone on to use their law degrees to achieve in every corner of the legal profession and the business world. Our alumni 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; and pioneering global entrepreneurs.
Our graduates are smart, hard-working and practice-ready. To prepare you to thrive in the profession, we teach you the fundamentals of legal analysis, legal doctrine, and legal writing and then give you a range of opportunities to build on that foundation as you solve real world legal problems hands on.
We're focused on your success.
Gain the Skills and Knowledge You Need to Be Practice-Ready Starting Day One
The innovative offerings at St. John’s Law include
- hundreds of externships and internships in and around New York City,
- dozens of advanced classes teaching the art and science of case preparation, corporate transaction, and dispute resolution,
- 11 academic centers spotlighting faculty scholarship with real-world impact,
- 10 in-house and partner clinics that put students to work in the field,
- 8 student-run journals that explore today’s pressing legal issues, and
- 3 outstanding cocurricular programs that sharpen and showcase advocacy skills
…all at one outstanding school.
Externship Program
Access New York City’s unrivaled legal and business community through our externship program that offers a range of placements, such as
- Day Pitney LLP
- District Attorney’s Offices
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Estee Lauder Companies
- Farrell Fritz, P.C.
- Federal Trade Commission
- Jazz at Lincoln Center
- National Labor Relations Board
- New York City Law Department
- New York State Attorney General’s Office
- Shearman & Sterling LLP
- US Attorney’s Offices
- US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- US Securities and Exchange Commission
Centers
Get direct access to leading scholars and practitioners by participating in our academic centers:
- Center for Bankruptcy Studies
- Center for International and Comparative Law
- Center for Labor and Employment Law
- Center for Law and Religion
- Center for Trial and Appellate Advocacy
- Hugh L. Carey Center for Dispute Resolution
- Intellectual Property Center
- Mattone Family Institute for Real Estate Law
- Public Interest Center
- Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights
- Writing Center
Clinics
Build practical, hands-on skills doing real legal work for New Yorkers in need through our in-house and partner 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
Journals
Research, write, and become a published author as a member of one of our student-run journals:
- St. John’s Law Review
- American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review
- Journal of Catholic Legal Studies
- Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development
- New York International Law Review
- Commercial Division Online Law Report
- N.Y. Real Property Law Journal
- Admiralty Practicum
Cocurricular Programs
Participate in local, national, and international competitions that grow your dispute resolution and advocacy skills in our cocurricular programs:
- Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute
- Moot Court Honor Society
- Dispute Resolution Society
Global Programs
Explore the law in its global context through the range of global programs we offer:
- Dean’s Travel Study Program
- International Practica
- Rome Summer Program
- University of Glasgow Exchange Program
JD and Graduate Programs
Gain a competitive edge in the dynamic legal marketplace in our joint-degree programs:
- Accounting (JD/MBA and JD/MS)
- Bankruptcy (JD/LLM)
- Business Administration (JD/MBA)
- Government and Politics (JD/MA)
- Professional Studies (JD/BS)
Continue your legal education and build marketable skills in our graduate programs for US and foreign-trained attorneys:
- Bankruptcy
- Transnational Legal Practice
- US Legal Studies
Student Life
Diverse and Inclusive Community
Welcoming. 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. 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.
Our students celebrate and share their diverse heritages, identities, and interests as members of student-run shared identity groups. See our website for a full list and more information.
Student Organizations
Our welcoming culture defines St. John's Law and sets us apart. You will find camaraderie and kinship as a member of one or more of the student organizations coordinated by the Law School's Student Bar Association. Through dozens of student organizations, you can develop your professional network with peers, find support and friendship, and learn from alumni and experts. Student life is thriving! Visit our website for a full list of organizations.
Housing
The University maintains a group of townhouses exclusively for law students and incoming students do get priority.
Career Placement and Bar Passage
Learn more about career placement at
St. John’s University School of Law
Admission Decisions: Beyond the Numbers
The School seeks to identify and select a diverse group of talented students who will succeed not only at St. John's, but continue our tradition of excellence in the legal and business worlds. Numerous scholarships are available for admitted students. There is no separate application for scholarship consideration and scholarships range from partial to full tuition.
Applicants should recognize that Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores and undergraduate GPAs are important factors in the admission process. Accordingly, in reviewing applications, we focus primarily on the demonstrated qualities and proven skills we deem essential for academic success and intellectual stimulation at St. John's.
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, the nature and difficulty of the applicant's course of undergraduate studies; the 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; and personal obstacles that may have interfered with the realization of the applicant's full potential and personal achievements.
Admitted Applicant Profile
