As New York Law School (NYLS) continues to welcome new students during Orientation Week, we’re taking a moment to recognize the academic accomplishments, professional experience, and diverse perspectives of the incoming class.
The class includes 432 students, with 388 enrolled in the Day Division and 44 in the NYLS Pro Evening Division. During his welcome address to the new class, Dean and President Anthony W. Crowell highlighted a record they’ve already set: the highest median credentials of any entering class in NYLS history. The new students arrived from 33 states, the District of Columbia, and nine countries, and collectively speak 41 languages.* Dean Crowell noted that, when combined with the broader student body, more than 50 languages are spoken within the Law School’s walls, calling it “very emblematic of why we proudly call ourselves New York’s law school.”
Dean Crowell also highlighted the wide-ranging experiences of the incoming class, whose members include military veterans, more than 100 legal assistants and paralegals, social workers, a medical doctor, journalists, teachers, entrepreneurs, and two national-level figure skaters.
Dean Crowell also recognized the significance of students deciding to enter the legal profession at a pivotal time, with a complex confluence of issues affecting our world, the law, the economy, and the role of technology in society.
“The law is changing significantly. The profession is changing,” he stated. “All of you will have an opportunity to think about how you fit into those transformational changes and help guide them safely into being. Leadership is a hallmark of our institution, and it is important that all lawyers understand their role as leaders, not only for their clients, but for their communities. All of that is something you will learn here at New York Law School.”
As Orientation Week continues, the entering class begins its NYLS journey ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Stay tuned for more on NYLS’s 2026 Orientation…
*Data as of August 20, 2026.