Cardozo welcomed its newest members of the JD and LL.M. community during orientation this week.
Approximately 260 students in the fall JD class began their law school journey. Many are native New Yorkers, while others traveled from other countries to study at Cardozo. About half have already worked in the legal field with various law firms or in different professional careers.
Dean Melanie Leslie ’91 welcomed the new JD class by referencing the school’s namesake, Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, who wrote, “The final cause of law is the welfare of society.”
She praised the collective commitment to a free and fair society that has created a system of laws. She also spoke about how lawyers have a responsibility to analyze the laws they work within and to use their skills to confront laws that are not just and trample on individual rights.
“We are going to give you everything you need to become an ethical lawyer, working to uphold the law, as well as learning how to speak up when a law needs to be changed if it is unjust,” she said.
She also discussed how the students must find ways to listen to each other, even if they strongly disagree, saying that in the current polarized environment it is essential that Cardozo students uphold the highest standards of civility and respect for all points of view.
The class includes 35 Gates Scholars. The E. Nathaniel Gates Scholarship recognizes outstanding potential in first-generation college or graduate students or in those who have experienced barriers or challenges in their path to a law career. The program was created in honor of Professor Gates, a Cardozo faculty member from 1992 until his death in 2006. While at Cardozo, he served as an advisor to important initiatives and organizations, including the Diversity Coalition and the Black, Asian & Latino Law Students Association.
LL.M. class members attended seminars and activities and got to know their classmates. They participated in a Q&A session with Cardozo alumna Laure Esther Kaïoun, the associate general counsel of business and legal affairs for Secretly Group who has 10 years of music business and law experience; reviewed the curriculum; and toured the library.
“We are thrilled to see you join our vibrant and diverse community,” said Associate Dean of Graduate, International and Online Programs Val Myteberi. “You gathered from 28 countries to begin this exciting journey with us. Cardozo is a place of discovery, growth and endless possibilities. Our community is dedicated to supporting and nurturing your dreams.”
As part of orientation, the JD class participated in the annual oath, which was administered by Judge Robert Rosenthal ’91, a classmate of Dean Leslie and a friend of the law school.
Rosenthal was appointed to New York City’s Civil Court and was assigned to Criminal Court in 2019 by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.
He told the students that they are taking on a serious responsibility to advocate for their clients and encouraged them to listen and learn from one another.
“You have a lot to learn, and there is a faculty here who is responsible for teaching you as much as you are willing to learn,” he said. “But you are responsible for your reputation. Your reputation as a lawyer begins today. Be good to each other, your colleagues and to your clients.”