In August, approximately 260 day and evening students joined the School of Law community as the incoming class of 2013. Welcoming the 1Ls at the start of their two-week orientation program, Dean Michael A Simons shared that they were embarking on a journey that would last the rest of their professional lives ― a journey forged on hard work, entrepreneurial spirit and Vincentian commitment to serving the public good. Noting the great support that they will get along the way from faculty, staff and classmates, Dean Simons encouraged the students to be proactive: "Approach your legal education like an entrepreneur. You are the product, and the next three or four years are a time for product development." He also emphasized the importance of balancing academic pursuits with friends, family and activities that make life fulfilling and complete.
The newest St. John's Law students are primed to explore the diverse pathways to a rewarding career in the law. Hailing from 108 undergraduate institutions, 21 states in the U.S. and four countries across the globe, the incoming class is 49% women, 51% men and 33% minority. They will benefit from the Law School's renewed focus on career development and experiential learning, and a strong network of alumni who give back to alma mater as mentors, professors and employers. "This is a class of capable students who come to us with the work ethic and determination they need to be successful at St. John's and in the profession," said Robert M. Harrison, Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Financial Services.
Like the new JD candidates, the Law School's incoming LL.M. students are also an impressive group. The LL.M. in Bankruptcy program welcomed 10 new students, all top graduates of some of the best law schools in the country. "We are excited to welcome this exceptional group to our program, which is taught by preeminent judges, practitioners and educators," said Yvette Gutierrez, Director of Bankruptcy Programs. "Our LL.M. in Bankruptcy is an elite and intimate program, and our graduates join a community of successful alumni who work in leading law firms and courts."
The three LL.M. programs offered through the Office of Transnational Programs at St. John's Law also welcomed diverse and highly qualified new classes. The LL.M. in International and Comparative Sports Law has 15 new students, the LL.M. in Transnational Legal Practice has 13 newcomers and the LL.M. in U.S. Legal Studies has 16 incoming students. "The Law School is committed to preparing lawyers to serve clients and the public globally," said Christopher J. Borgen, Associate Dean for International Studies."We have designed and expanded our LL.M. offerings and other global programs to help St. John's Law students learn and experience the law in its broad international context."
During orientation, the new students took the Introduction to Law class, attended orientation sessions and participated in a range of activities, including welcome barbeques, student-faculty mixers and the annual Fall Fest sponsored by the Law School's Student Bar Association. "The Orientation Program offers students an introduction to the study of law and to the esteemed profession they are joining," said Leslie G. Greenwood, Assistant Dean for Students. "But it also introduces them to their new, close-knit and vibrant Law School community, where they will grow as thinkers, as colleagues, as friends and as future leaders of the legal profession."
Honoring the School's Vincentian tradition, during Orientation, the students joined administrators and faculty for a Day of Service and Reflection. Service projects included working in the soup kitchen at St. John's Bread and Life, staffing a food pantry at Queens North Community Center, and applying an energy-friendly reflective rooftop coating as part of NYC's Cool Roofs project. Students also had the opportunity to be trained in one of the Law School's partner pro bono projects in areas including Housing Court Resolution through the RAP program, family law assistance with Legal Information for Families Today (LIFT) and consumer debt issues through the CLARO program at the Queens Volunteer Lawyers Project. "Service Day was an opportunity for the incoming students to begin what we hope will be a career-long commitment to pro bono service and social justice. It also provided the students with an opportunity to bond with classmates over a shared experience of giving back," said Rachel D. Andron, Director of the Public Interest Center.
The Law School's Orientation Program continues during the academic year with programs to guide and support students in their academic pursuits, co-curricular activities and career development.
Source: Stjohns
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