Cardozo opened the new school year by welcoming the J.D. Class of 2028 and the LL.M. Class of 2026. The 1L students come from 36 states and from across the globe, including Albania, China, Israel, Italy, and South Korea.
The J.D. Class of 2028 has 326 students, while the LL.M. class has 53 LL.Ms and 18 exchange students.
Jeanne Widerka, the associate dean of admissions, highlighted the class’s accomplishments. They come from a variety of professional backgrounds and include elementary, middle, and high school teachers, a registered nurse, a certified sommelier, a former model, and a competitive ski racer.
Dean Melanie Leslie, who is an alumna of Cardozo, spoke of being in their shoes when she was a 1L and advised the students to “make this journey joyous. It is an investment – of money, of time, of mental and emotional resources. So, make it your own.”
She also told them that “we chose you because we believe in you. We know you have what it takes. Embrace this new adventure with joy. Give it your all. You’ll be forever changed.”
On the last day of the Aug. 13-15 orientation, Justice Dianne T. Renwick ’86 administered the law student oath in the Moot Court Room. Renwick, the presiding justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, is a Cardozo alumna and Cardozo Board of Overseers member. In remarks before giving the oath, she spoke warmly about the Cardozo experience and the welcoming community of students, faculty, and administrators.
After orientation, students participated in an annual Cardozo tradition: They took a boat ride around lower Manhattan, from Chelsea Piers to the State of Liberty, seeing the city that will be their home for the next several years.