Brooklyn Law School

Since 1901, Brooklyn Law School has been educating promising law students in a range of fields, from torts to civil liberties to intellectual property, calling upon its “expansive network in New York City” to connect with alumni and field training opportunities. Today, the diverse school consists of 1,000 students who have access to more than 200 courses and a curriculum that blends classroom academics (with a special emphasis on legal research and writing) with experiential learning. The renowned clinical program is designed to leave graduates with a comprehensive set of professional skills—every student must take at least one clinic or externship to graduate—which means Brooklyn Law is “known for producing great practical lawyers.” Plus, students find these clinical opportunities to be “highly encouraged and fairly prestigious [while offering] great networking.” One adds, “The clinics are an incredible addition to help with the practice side and experience.” Another goes on to say, “The legal writing team is excellent in providing a firm background in legal research and drafting, which makes acclimating to summer jobs far easier.” For added innovation, the school incorporates Hybrid In-House Clinics, which are seminars taught by instructors working at an outside office or agency. In each seminar, the students act as the lawyer, having the chance to perform in situations that range from the Housing Rights Clinic or a Prosecution Clinic at the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.

The “simply brilliant” Brooklyn Law professors “are from prestigious backgrounds and careers.” But perhaps equally important, they enjoy “engaging students and passing on their passion for the law.” The school's “classroom experience is excellent,” but the professor's passion extends beyond that: They are “always … happy to meet outside of class for discussions or extra help.” One shares, “I have been thoroughly impressed with the scholarship of the majority of my professors.”

Being in New York City's largest borough puts Brooklyn Law within blocks of some of the busiest courts, law offices, and government agencies in the country, and “the school cultivates great relationships with the local state and federal court systems” to the point where “many intern during the summer or [a school] semester.” Facilities-wise, the library “is currently being renovated [to be] top-notch,” and “the library staff and other administrators are helpful and friendly.” Another student says, “You can tell that the administration is thoughtful about the students and the faculty.” As the cherry on top of a solid city education, Brooklyn Law's 23,000-strong alumni network spans the globe and “is involved and enthusiastic about helping students get jobs, find careers, and attend events as both guests and lecturers.” Overall, the school's “strong presence in big law and vast network in the New York City area is something to be proud about.”

“Extracurricular activities and honor societies are highly active at the school,” so most social activities take on an academic or career-shaping tint. Still, “most students are friendly and cooperative” rather than cutthroat. The honor societies (such as Moot Court, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and the Journals) “all host social events to bring their cohort together as a community,” and the school provides “good student affairs programs and mental health support.” These “strong extracurricular programs” place an “emphasis on student involvement,” and “student organizations are also generally effective at providing networking opportunities.” Here, “students are willing to work together,” so “camaraderie is strong amongst … section groups.” The school's location is near the transit hubs of Downtown Brooklyn, which “makes it really easy to access other parts of Brooklyn and anywhere in Manhattan.” But for those who don't want to travel, “there are many bars, restaurants, and other fun activities nearby.” Similarly, students find that Brooklyn housing (as opposed to Manhattan) provides “a lot more space and a relaxed neighborhood feel.”