Founded in 1976 by Yeshiva University, Cardozo Law is named for Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, who was renowned for his integrity, social consciousness, and elegant written opinions.
Cardozo School of Law offers a vibrant intellectual foundation in all areas of law, with a distinguished reputation in areas including business and innovation, intellectual property, dispute resolution, public interest, criminal justice, and clinical education. Our faculty provides students with the analytical skills needed to excel in the legal profession. Our robust 16,500+ member alumni network provides invaluable support and connections for career advancement. At Cardozo, you will learn from professors who are leading experts in their fields, influencing both the study and practice of law.
Located in the heart of New York City, Cardozo offers unmatched opportunities for networking and hands-on experience through one of the nation's most comprehensive field placement programs. We foster a welcoming and diverse community, inspired by the vision of our namesake, Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, who famously stated, "The final cause of law is the welfare of society."
Mission Statement
The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law has three fundamental and mutually reinforcing goals: to provide a fully rounded and rigorous legal education that blends theoretical and practical approaches; to create and sustain an intellectual environment that values and supports imaginative and groundbreaking scholarship; and to strengthen society as a whole by shaping solutions to the pressing legal problems of the day.
Historically the law school has worked to be inclusive and to open the doors of legal education to those from underrepresented or marginalized groups in the legal education and in the profession. That tradition continues today as we actively invest in initiatives to make our campus welcoming to people of all backgrounds, races, sexual identity and religious affiliations. The Cardozo community is open, supportive, and personal. The animated debate in and outside of classrooms is respectful of diverse perspectives. We know that diversity is key to our strength as an intellectual and professional community. Students and faculty recognize the critical role attorneys play in protecting the rights of all people.
An Inclusive Community
Cardozo welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds and offers a secular core curriculum. Students are not required to enroll in any faith-based courses.
Founded in 1976 by Yeshiva University, Cardozo shares Yeshiva University’s commitment to Torah values. At Cardozo, those values are expressed through our dedication to the ethical practice of law and the pursuit of social justice. Cardozo also honors Jewish traditions in setting building hours and institutional holidays.
Cardozo fosters a community where everyone feels respected, valued, and included, with students of every background, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
Excellence in Academic and Experiential Learning
Cardozo offers rigorous and innovative legal education, with top-ranked J.D., LL.M., and Master’s programs. New courses are regularly added to the curriculum in response to student interest and global and national events that impact the law. Our students are prepared to enter into and advance their careers with the skills and knowledge needed to address new challenges. Our renowned faculty members are known for being widely-published legal scholars and for being actively engaged in the pursuit of social justice. Almost half of the faculty members hold advanced degrees in other disciplines. Our professors provide a superb grounding in the essential principles that underpin our justice system.
Cardozo School of Law has one of the most robust programs in experiential education in the country, including clinics, field clinics, and externships. Cardozo offers 11 in-house clinics and hundreds of field placements spanning nearly every area of law, including individual externship placements and group placements in at least 15 field clinics each year.
Cardozo Law is approved by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.
The law school is also a member of the Association of American Law Schools.
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
312.988.6738
Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
Cardozo professors are not only invested in ensuring that students learn the material, but more importantly, they are invested in the material themselves. Many of them are at the forefront of thought in their respective fields and are more than happy and willing to bring those thoughts into the classroom for debate. This not only makes classes exciting but also brings to light cutting-edge issues, which in turn better reveals how the law operates outside of the classroom.
Cardozo Values
Truth | Values | Transform | Compassion | Potential
Cardozo’s five core Torah values comprise our moral compass to build a better future for all through the law.