Ensure that all students, regardless of background, have access to the academic, professional, and personal support they need to thrive as law students and to achieve their potential after law school and through- out their careers.
By providing the highest-quality preparation and support for careers in and across the law, business, public-interest and public-sector fields—both domestically and internationally—the Law School will provide students with the tools they need to succeed in chosen career trajectories. By removing barriers to student success across a variety of spheres— including mental health and well-being, finances, and academic and career planning—the Law School will ensure that students have a firm foundation for academic and career attainment.
OBJECTIVES
Explore options for increasing affordability for students, including by reducing the size of the JD class and increasing non-tuition revenue from sources including philanthropy, executive education, and other degree and nondegree programs.
Provide sufficient financial aid and loan repayment assistance so that students’ career choices are not unduly constrained by law school debt or by concerns about possible shifts in federal policies affecting debt repayment.
Develop a team of academic advisers to provide individualized academic counseling to students and to liaise between the Academic Services and Career Services offices, the Public Interest Law Center, and the Office of Student Affairs to ensure that students receive integrated and fully aligned academic, career, and personal counseling tailored to their needs and goals. Explore ways to provide focused assistance in connection with certain critical decision points for students.
Expand opportunities for students of all backgrounds to engage easily and meaningfully with faculty in smaller settings. Increase opportunities for students to work with faculty outside the classroom, including as research and teaching assistants.
Ensure that the school provides sufficient academic, career, and other institutional support for all career paths— including those in private practice, government, nonprofits, business, academia, and various nontraditional careers.
Redouble efforts by faculty and administrators to maximize the number of interested students and alumni able to secure judicial clerkships, including through expanding personal outreach to judges.
Improve communication with students regarding available resources at the Law School by, among other things, redesigning student-facing digital communications to make information more central, accessible, and dynamic.
Develop programs that provide more opportunities for students to connect with alumni, adjunct instructors, and practitioners in the New York City area and elsewhere, whether for networking, mentoring, experiential learning, or extracurricular opportunities.
Ensure that the Law School provides sufficient information about and access to University mental health and wellness services; work with the University to ensure that services can be tailored to meet the particular needs and experiences of law students.