Cardozo School of Law welcomed a highly credentialed, motivated and enthusiastic class of 1L J.D. students on August 15. The Class of 2025, comprised of 268 students, comes from far and wide to study law in the heart of New York City. This year’s incoming class hail from 30 states, 12 different countries and includes a classical pianist, firefighter and restaurateur.
Jeanne Estilo Widerka, Dean of Admissions, gave welcoming remarks in the Moot Court Room. “We are thrilled to welcome Cardozo's fall incoming class at orientation this week,” she said. “The 2022 entering class is the highest credentialed class in the law school's history.”
In her remarks, Dean Melanie Leslie said, “Our adherence to the rule of the law comes first.” A graduate of the Cardozo class of ’91, the Dean added, “As someone who sat where you are right now, I want you to know that how you behave starting right now and going forward is a statement about your character. You become better when you help each other and when you help other people be better.”
Following the welcome session, students met in their individual sections and began the process of building contacts that will last a lifetime. The luncheon keynote speaker was Josh Sussberg ’02, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Sussberg is recognized as one of the country’s leading restructuring lawyers and was recently ranked Band 1 both in New York and Nationwide by Chambers USA, America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2022.
The orientation week saw students begin their first law school class, Elements of Law, which has been a unique part of the Cardozo experience for over four decades.
In her remarks, Jenn Kim, Associate Dean of Student Services & Advising, Diversity & Inclusion, emphasized the availability of critical resources for new students. “We care about each and every one of you,” she said, “and we want to help you thrive and become the lawyer you’ve always wanted to be.”
On August 16, orientation for this year’s LL.M. class began with a welcome from Associate Dean of Graduate, International & Online Programs, Val Myteberi. “Innovation, ambition, activism and leadership,” she began as she spoke to the new class. “These are words written on our Fifth Avenue windows because they are what we believe you bring to your studies here.”
In addition to “Elements of Law,” taught this year by Professors Michael Pollack, Kate Shaw and Leslie Newman, orientation week included an implicit bias training with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion; a session with the Career Center; an introduction to the Counseling Center; Title IX procedures; and finally, the administration of the Cardozo student oath with Judge Kesha Tanabe ’05.
In her remarks prior to administering the student oath Judge Tanabe talked about the need for supportive teamwork throughout law school, a theme that the Dean and members of the faculty also emphasized. The Cardozo community is known for creating a warm and collegial atmosphere and that spirit pervaded the entire orientation week from the taking of the oath to the traditional boat ride around lower Manhattan.
