Looking Back at 135 Years of New York Law School
Change can be difficult.
In 1890, Theodore Dwight, one of the most influential legal educators of the 19th Century, resigned as Warden of the law school of what was then Columbia College. Since 1858, Dwight had dominated formal legal education in New York City. He created the “Dwight Method,” under which students read legal treatises, were examined on legal principles and their application, and, after two years, earned an LL.B. By the time he resigned, the school had over 600 students and was the largest law school in the United States.
But Dwight’s success at training lawyers was not enough for those Columbia trustees determined to transform the college into a university. They looked instead to Harvard, then the nation's only university law school. Harvard distinguished itself through a new method of teaching, which started with students reading cases and then, through in-class discussion, constructing the principles behind them. When Columbia’s president hired a Harvard Law School faculty member to convert the law school’s methodology to the new model, Dwight resigned, and his colleagues, George Chase and Richard Petty, resigned shortly thereafter. In that fateful year of 1891, New York Law School (NYLS) was founded with the avowed aim of preserving the “Dwight Method.”
It turned out, however, that teaching methodology was not the defining feature of the new institution. Indeed, the faculty eventually published teaching materials that emphasized reading cases. What made NYLS different was its never-abandoned mission of making legal education accessible to New Yorkers. While the “reformed” Columbia Law School deliberately scheduled classes during the first two years of study at times that made it impossible for students to both work and attend school, NYLS continued a teaching schedule that aimed to enable students to do both. The founding of NYLS’s Evening Division in 1894 exemplified that commitment to opening doors for all who were willing to work toward becoming skilled and ethical members of the legal profession.
For 135 years, NYLS has been an integral part of City life, training lawyers whose commitment to the rule of law is essential to a place that, in many ways, contains the entire world within itself. The Law School has done that successfully by never standing still and never deciding that what is cannot be improved. And that will not change.
“Always remember that we are a part of a 135-year-old community of strivers, dreamers, and doers; they didn’t sit back, but instead jumped off the sidelines and took charge, shaped the city and world around them, and held each other accountable. Our community succeeds because of our New York values that reflect diversity, creativity, doggedness, and an inclusive approach that fuels us to work hard and to be innovative and resilient in empowering every client and community we serve.”
Anthony W. Crowell
Dean and President; Professor of Law; Director, Center for New York City and State Law
The history of NYLS is one shaped by resilience. Much like the City itself, the Law School has repeatedly persevered through periods of disruption and transformation. Time and again, the School has prevailed, with each chapter of growth laying the foundation for the institution we know today:
1918
NYLS temporarily closes during World War I, interrupting a steady period of expansion. After reopening just ahead of the 1920s, enrollment and institutional prominence grow alongside the development of the legal profession.
1941–1947
The Law School closes during World War II due to wartime pressures and the military draft. When it reopens in 1947, the institution must rebuild nearly from scratch. Enrollment is small, resources are limited, and legal education itself is changing rapidly in postwar America.
1964
After a period of provisional accreditation, NYLS is fully accredited by the American Bar Association.
1972
NYLS joins the Association of American Law Schools. Trustees authorize an expansion of the full-time faculty, admission standards rise, and enrollment grows to 1,200 students.
1990
The Mendik Library and Ernst C. Stiefel Reading Room open, creating a central academic hub for the campus.
“I came back to New York City just to attend NYLS because I want to pursue public interest law, specifically to be a trial attorney. When you say ‘NYLS’ in the area of Soho, Tribeca, or anywhere in the southern border of Manhattan, everybody knows where you go. To be able to go to a school that has a reputation before you even have to say your name means more than anything.”
Robert Millman ’27
“Studying at New York Law School has been a dynamic experience. I find myself surrounded by the energy of the courts, city government, and the people advocating for meaningful change. As a Wilf Impact Scholar, I’ve been able to meet and learn from lawyers across every sector, helping me imagine more possibilities for my own path. Being here has made my education feel connected, purposeful, and full of opportunity. I am thankful for this experience, and look forward to continuing my education, and making a difference for all New Yorkers.”
Francesca Perrone ’27 Evening
“I'm finishing my first year in law school, and it’s a cool thing to see that there's a capstone happening and we get to be a part of it. I never saw myself in law school, so being here during such a monumental moment is awesome.”
Kathia Paz ’29 Evening
From elective office, government service, and the bench to business, culture, and civil rights, NYLS graduates have left their mark on New York City, the nation, and the legal profession. Their achievements over the last 135 years reflect individual success as well as the Law School's longstanding commitment to preparing lawyers to serve their communities in many different ways.
Building public policy
From City Hall to Washington, D.C., NYLS graduates have been helping to develop public policy for generations.
Selected deceased alumni whose work helped shape public life and policy:
- Bainbridge Colby (Class of 1891) served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson and proclaimed the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment.
- Francis Burton Harrison (Class of 1897) represented New York in Congress and proposed the Harrison Narcotics Tax Act (1914), which later influenced the Pure Food and Drug Act.
- Robert F. Wagner Sr. (Class of 1900), United States Senator from New York from 1927 to 1949, was a principal architect of New Deal labor legislation and modern labor protections, including the National Labor Relations Act.
- John Purroy Mitchel (Class of 1901) served as New York City Mayor between 1914 and 1917 and became a nationally recognized anti-corruption reformer.
- Stanley M. Isaacs (Class of 1904) became a leading figure in New York City government and an influential advocate for public housing reform.
- Ferdinand Pecora (H’1958) served as Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking and Currency, where he led the investigation into the causes of the 1929 economic crash.
- Frederic S. Berman (Class of 1951) served as New York City's Rent and Housing Commissioner and played a critical role in passing the City's rent stabilization law.
- Myles J. Ambrose (Class of 1952) led the Office of Drug Abuse Law Enforcement, the precursor to today’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
That tradition continues today through NYLS's role as a gathering place for discussion of public affairs and public policy. Through the Center for New York City and State Law, the Law School regularly brings together elected officials, policymakers, and scholars to examine issues affecting New York City and State and the country as a whole. In the Spring 2026 semester, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg visited campus to discuss public safety and criminal justice, while First Deputy Mayor Dean Fuleihan joined a conversation on the complexities of developing New York City's budget. The Center also hosted programs on housing policy, transportation, congressional leadership, and ethics in government.
Championing justice and public service
For generations, NYLS graduates have devoted their careers to diplomacy, civil rights, and public advocacy.
Selected deceased alumni whose careers helped advance justice and the public good:
- James W. Gerard (Class of 1892) served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany during World War I.
- Lloyd Griscom (Class of 1895) represented the United States as Ambassador to Italy and Brazil and as Minister to Japan, Persia, and the Ottoman Empire.
- Raymond Blaine Fosdick (Class of 1908) served President Woodrow Wilson in several capacities before becoming President of the Rockefeller Foundation.
- David T. Wilentz (Class of 1917) was the former New Jersey State Attorney General and prosecuted the famous Lindbergh baby kidnapping trial in 1935.
- Leo Cherne (Class of 1934) advised Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and George H.W. Bush, chaired the International Rescue Committee, and, in 1984, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- Hon. Sybil Shainwald (Class of 1976) was a pioneering women's health advocate whose litigation advanced social justice and women's rights nationally and globally.
Public service remains central to NYLS’s mission. Throughout Spring 2026, the Law School hosted conversations examining criminal justice, public service, and the role lawyers play in strengthening democratic institutions. U.S. Magistrate Judge Carla Freedman ’88 joined Professor Anna G. Cominsky ’05 for a discussion on prosecution, criminal justice, and careers in government service, while Anthony T. DiPietro ’98 came to speak with students about litigation, accountability, and advocacy on behalf of vulnerable clients. At the Law School’s 134th Commencement Exercises, Charles J. Maikish ’74 received the President’s Medal for his decades of public service within the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center. NYLS also welcomed leaders from organizations supporting state attorneys general across the country for a conversation about the rule of law and the responsibilities of the legal profession.
Influencing culture
Many NYLS alumni have stepped outside the bounds of traditional legal practice to influence American culture through literature, media, and entertainment.
Selected deceased alumni whose achievements influenced popular culture:
- Wallace Stevens (Class of 1903) became one of America's most celebrated poets.
- Elmer Rice (Class of 1912) emerged as an influential playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner.
- Walter Dukes (Class of 1960) set an NCAA Division I rebounding record before starring with the Harlem Globetrotters and in the NBA.
- Marvin Powell (Class of 1987) was a five-time Pro Bowler with the New York Jets and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Among the School's most recognizable living alumni is Judge Judy Sheindlin ’65, whose television career brought justice system processes to millions of viewers around the world. Entrepreneur Richard LaMotta ’75 invented the Chipwich ice cream sandwich sold in stores across the globe. Alumni such as Charles Phillips Jr. ’76, a leader in the technology industry, and Marc Lasry ’84, a prominent investor and business executive, have influenced the changing ways people communicate, consume information, and experience entertainment and sports. Similarly, Zygi Wilf ’74 and Vincent Viola ’75––through their ownership and leadership of major franchises––have contributed to the culture around professional sports. Together, these alumni and others illustrate how NYLS graduates continue to leave their mark in American culture and everyday life.
Driving business and industry innovation
Over 135 years, NYLS graduates have played influential roles in industries ranging from real estate and finance to technology and telecommunications.
Selected deceased alumni whose work helped transform major industries:
- Geradus Post Herrick (Class of 1897) invented the convertible aircraft, pioneering technology capable of operating as both an airplane and gyroplane.
- Chester Carlson (Class of 1939) invented the technology that led to the Xerox Corporation after seeking a better way to reproduce documents.
- Leo J. Aubel (Class of 1955) patented mobile telecommunications technology that advanced call routing and channel assignment systems.
- Bernard H. Mendik (Class of 1958) became one of New York City's leading real estate executives and chaired the Real Estate Board of New York.
Driving innovation remains a central goal of the Law School's academic and professional community. NYLS’s close ties to the business community both in Tribeca and across New York are reflected in the contributions of Joseph J. Plumeri (H’15), whose support of the Plumeri Center for Small Business Empowerment has helped expand opportunities for students and entrepreneurs alike. During the spring of 2026, students involved in the Plumeri Center advised local business owners on matters ranging from business formation and contracting to intellectual property protection. Alumni also returned to campus to share expertise across business sectors, including securities enforcement, compliance, cybersecurity, banking, financial services, intellectual property, and corporate law.
The Law School’s connections to the business community also remain strong thanks to alumni who continue to engage with us through leadership, philanthropy, mentorship, and service. Maurice R. Greenberg ’50, Arthur Abbey ’59, Gerald C. Crotty ’76, John D. McMahon ’77, Howard C. Edelman ’82, Robert J. Firestone ’90, and Board of Trustees Chair John E. Estes ’95 have steadfastly supported NYLS while building distinguished careers across insurance, real estate, finance, and business. Their respective professional achievements demonstrate the range of industries in which NYLS graduates have made an impact.
Breaking barriers
Many of NYLS's most influential graduates were trailblazers whose achievements expanded representation and created new opportunities within the legal profession.
Selected deceased alumni who expanded opportunity and representation in the legal profession:
- Hon. James S. Watson (Class of 1913) became one of New York City's first elected Black judges and, in 1943, the first Black member of the American Bar Association since 1912.
- Hon. Emilio Nuñez (Class of 1927) became New York City's first Hispanic judge and a founding member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association.
- Julius Archibald (Class of 1930) became New York's and the nation's first Black state senator.
- Hon. Walter Gladwin (Class of 1941) became the Bronx's first Black assistant district attorney, criminal court judge, and assemblyman.
- Hon. Florence Zimmerman (Class of 1941) was the first NYLS alumnae to serve as President of the New York Women's Bar Association.
- Barbara Watson (Class of 1962) was the first Black person and first woman to serve as a U.S. Assistant Secretary of State (and was the daughter of James S. Watson).
- Angelo Del Toro (Class of 1972) served for two decades in the New York State Assembly and became the first Hispanic Chair of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus.
Several NYLS graduates broke barriers as the first members of historically underrepresented communities to achieve prominence in the judiciary, government, and public life, opening doors for those who followed. The Law School was also home to pioneering educators such as Edith Fisch, the first woman law professor in New York State, whose career challenged longstanding barriers for women in legal education.
Professor Emeritus Arthur S. Leonard has influenced the national conversation on LGBTQ+ rights through decades of scholarship, teaching, advocacy, and his longstanding work as Editor of LGBT Law Notes, an extensively cited publication that chronicles the legal aspects of the lesbian and gay community. The Law School's emphasis on expanding opportunity is also reflected in alumni such as Meryl Fiedler Lieberman ’81, a founder of a nationally recognized women-owned law firm, and Ross F. Moskowitz ’84, whose efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in the legal profession earned him the New York State Bar Association's Diversity Trailblazer Award.
Shaping the judiciary
The judiciary is one of the most significant areas demonstrating NYLS’s impact, with graduates having served as judges, justices, and judicial leaders for generations.
Selected deceased alumni with distinction on the bench:
- Hon. Samuel Seabury (Class of 1893) served on the New York Court of Appeals, led the New York State Bar Association, and was the Democratic nominee for Governor in 1916.
- Hon. Charles W. Froessel (Class of 1913), LL.M. (1914) rose to the New York Court of Appeals after a distinguished legal and public service career.
- Hon. John Marshall Harlan II (Class of 1924) served on the U.S. Supreme Court and became one of the most influential jurists of the 20th Century.
- Hon. Moxey Alexander Rigby (Class of 1925) became the first African American judge elected in Nassau County.
- Hon. Bruce McMarion Wright (Class of 1950) served as a New York Supreme Court Justice and received two Purple Hearts during his World War II Army service.
- Hon. Roger J. Miner (Class of 1956) rose from New York Supreme Court Justice to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, where he became one of the nation's most respected federal appellate judges.
- Hon. Shirley Levittan (Class of 1956) became the first NYLS alumna appointed to the bench and later served as a New York State Supreme Court Justice.
- Hon. Sybil Hart Kooper (Class of 1956) served on the Appellate Division and co-founded the National Association of Women Judges.
- Hon. Joan B. Carey (Class of 1966) was the first woman to serve as Bureau Chief in a New York City District Attorney's Office.
NYLS alumni continue to serve throughout the state and federal judiciary, and the Law School regularly welcomes judges to campus to engage with students. Hon. Carolyn Walker-Diallo ’03, a Distinguished Adjunct Professor at NYLS and Senior Fellow in the Law and Leadership Institute, frequently visits campus to share insights on her career in public service. Hon. Anthony Cannataro ’96, Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and former Acting Chief Judge of the State of New York, joined NYLS as a Distinguished Adjunct Professor in 2024. Their engagement underscores the School’s commitment to providing students with unparalleled opportunities to learn from leaders in the profession, especially in government and the judiciary. And together with all of the alumni serving on courts around the globe, they reflect the continued presence of NYLS graduates on the bench.
“In hindsight, it’s amazing how quickly my decision to attend NYLS unfolded. Simply put, when I visited NYLS, I felt at home. The coursework certainly prepared me, but it was more than that. One of the most important qualities of NYLS was the strong sense of collaboration and collegiality among the students. I had heard horror stories about how law school was cutthroat, but NYLS wasn’t that way at all.”
Anand Sharma ’97, Partner at Finnegan
“Everyone at NYLS is willing to learn and offer a unique perspective and there’s always a welcoming presence from both faculty and students that lets anyone feel comfortable no matter who you are or where you come from. Because of this, I always felt this deep sense of belonging and that I was exactly where I was supposed to be.”
Jason Miranda ’24, Associate at Fragomen
“From my very first class at NYLS, I knew I was gaining the skills I would need to become a great lawyer. The Asylum Clinic played a huge role in my professional development; it’s where I learned and was able to practice most of my methodical and analytical skills. The clinic also taught me that immigration law doesn’t just require intelligence—it also requires empathy.”
Danney Salvatierra ’19, Pro Bono Attorney, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)
Beginning in the early 1990s, NYLS embraced a strategic vision centered on becoming a modern urban law center that combines practical training with ethical and strategic perspectives on lawyering. As the legal profession evolved, the School widened its approach to legal education, placing greater emphasis on experiential learning, interdisciplinary study, and preparing students for the realities of modern practice.
That vision guided NYLS’s entrance into the 21st Century, when both the Law School and New York City faced the challenges and uncertainties of the post-September 11 era. Rather than retreat, NYLS chose to invest in its future and that of Lower Manhattan. The construction of Abbey Hall, the iconic glass-enclosed academic building completed in 2009, symbolized the Law School's dedication to growth and renewal.
In the years that followed, NYLS refined its academic identity while expanding opportunities for students to learn through practice. Academic centers and institutes grew alongside these initiatives, creating new opportunities for students to engage with emerging legal issues while learning from practitioners, policymakers, judges, and business leaders. Experiential learning also became an increasingly central part of the student experience. Over the past decade, the Law School has doubled the number of clinics available to students, expanded externship opportunities, and strengthened skills-based workshops specifically designed to prepare graduates for practice. The post-pandemic landscape of the 2020s, in particular, created new opportunities for the School to deepen its investment in public interest, interdisciplinary education, and future-focused legal training. Among the defining milestones of this period are:
2012
Anthony W. Crowell becomes NYLS's 16th Dean and President. A Mayoral Counsel and longtime adjunct professor, Dean Crowell introduces the tagline “We are New York's law school,” and works vigorously to reposition the Law School.
2013
NYLS releases a nationally recognized Strategic Plan centered on academic excellence, experiential education, student career success, and institutional innovation. At the same time, the Think BIG curriculum is developed to support growth in three key areas: Business and financial services; Intellectual property, media, and technology; and Government and public interest law.
2020
The Law School releases its Ever Upward strategic plan, emphasizing innovation, diversity, experiential learning, and future-focused legal education. A subsequent update incorporates NYLS's response to COVID-19 and its role in supporting New York City's pandemic recovery.
2022
NYLS reintroduces the Evening Division program as NYLS Pro, a redesigned and more flexible part-time legal education model.
2025
NYLS receives institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, enabling the School to expand its educational offerings at a time of profound economic, legal, technological, and regulatory transformation.
2026
In its 135th year, NYLS welcomes an entering class that represents the broad range of communities the Law School trains lawyers to serve. Students come from 33 states, the District of Columbia, and nine countries, collectively speaking 41 languages; 36% identify as racially and/or ethnically diverse; 86% are first-generation law students, 22% are first-generation college students, and 20% identify as LGBTQ+. Women comprise 71% of the class, breaking a record in NYLS history.
“I will continue to work closely with Arthur Abbey ’59, our Dean and President, and the rest of the Board to ensure the School’s continued success. New York Law School is a vital part of New York’s civic fabric and has been an invaluable contributor to the strength of the profession. Our students are strong and passionate about their education and benefit from a world-class education that produces terrific outcomes with bar passage, job placement, and opportunities for impact, particularly in the growth sectors of New York and more broadly. Our Board is composed of innovative leaders who have transformed their industries. Together with our Dean and President, Administration, and Faculty, they are committed to building both our programs and our tremendous and dynamic institutional culture.”
John Estes ’95
Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Law; Chair, NYLS Board of Trustees
135 years later, the institution born from a dispute over legal education continues to be guided by the principles that inspired its founders: expanding access and opportunity, embracing innovation, and preparing students for the realities of legal practice.
Those values have helped NYLS navigate periods of social, political, and technological change while continuing to adapt to the needs of students and the profession. Each generation has challenged the Law School to reconsider how lawyers are trained and what role legal education should play in society, questions that remain as relevant today as they were in 1891.
Throughout its history, the Law School has been guided by a simple belief: legal education should prepare students to not only understand the law but also to put it into practice in service of clients, communities, and the public good. That principle helped create New York Law School 135 years ago, and it continues to define the Law School’s path to the future.