CUNY School of Law

09/09/2026

We’re thrilled to announce that Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, has been named the 2026 W. Haywood Burns Chair in Human and Civil Rights at CUNY School of Law.

A trailblazing civil rights advocate, litigator, scholar, and educator, Nelson has spent her career fighting for voting rights, racial justice, equality, and democracy.

As Burns Chair, she will join the CUNY Law community for a year of public dialogues, mentorship, student-centered collaboration, and a mini-course—carrying forward the legacy of W. Haywood Burns, CUNY Law’s second dean and a pioneering civil rights lawyer who believed lawyers should serve people, not power.

Welcome, Janai Nelson!

08/18/2026

A new year. New possibilities. A community united by a commitment to justice.
We’re excited to welcome our CUNY Law community back to campus and begin another year of learning, growing, advocating, and preparing to make a difference in the world.
Here’s to the year ahead! ✨

05/31/2026

A major New Yorker feature published this week examines the experiences of families at the center of a newly filed federal class action lawsuit challenging New York City's emergency child removal practices.

CUNY Law's Family Defense Clinic is part of the legal team representing those families.

A class-action lawsuit is challenging the emergency-removal practices of New York’s Administration for Children’s Services.

05/29/2026

CUNY Law was proud to support the annual Spring Citizenship Drive hosted by CUNY Citizenship Now!, where nearly 300 New Yorkers received free assistance on their path to citizenship.

Dozens of CUNY Law students and alumni volunteered throughout the day, joined by Interim Dean Natalie Gomez-Velez and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs David C. Baluarte, both recognized scholars, attorneys, and advocates whose work has advanced immigrant justice .

05/22/2026

What makes CUNY Law a top law school for social justice?

Professor Marbré Stahly-Butts explains how we do it: what we teach, how we teach it, who teaches here, and—of course—our student body.

This spring, preLaw Magazine ranked CUNY Law #2 for Social Justice and named the school to its Justice & Opportunity Honor Roll.

This spring, preLaw Magazine ranked CUNY Law the #2 law school for ...

05/22/2026

“You are a reason for extraordinary optimism—for the profession, for the communities you will serve, and for the future.”
- Interim Dean Natalie Gomez-Velez

Congratulations to our 188 graduates who crossed the stage at United Palace Theater today! The world needs more lawyers like you.

05/20/2026

At CUNY Law, clinic students don't simulate litigation— hey do it.

Since last August, students in the Equality & Justice In-House Clinic have been on the legal team in Khalil v. Columbia University, a federal First Amendment case challenging the suppression of protected political speech in response to government pressure. In March, a federal court allowed the case to move forward and authorized discovery into communications between university leadership and federal officials.

Hear from the students drafting those discovery requests, shaping legal strategy, and building the factual record during their final year of law school.

https://www.law.cuny.edu/newsroom_post/in-federal-court-cuny-law-clinic-students-take-on-a-defining-first-amendment-fight/

05/04/2026

Tell everybody!
May 16, 10AM - 1PM at John Jay College

CUNY Law is proud to both support and help power CUNY Citizenship Now!, whose immigration attorneys—with support from our law students!—provide free and confidential services to New York City's most vulnerable communities. With the support of dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and partners from across sectors, CUNY Citizenship Now! continues to open doors of opportunity for every New Yorker.

To speak to an immigration lawyer:

Call: 646-664-9400
Text: 929-334-3784
Request a call back: cuny.edu/callback

05/04/2026

Tell everybody!

May 16, 10AM - 1PM at John Jay College

CUNY Law is proud to both support and help power CUNY Citizenship Now!, whose immigration attorneys—with support from our law students!—provide free and confidential services to New York City's most vulnerable communities. With the support of dedicated volunteers, community leaders, and partners from across sectors, CUNY Citizenship Now! continues to open doors of opportunity for every New Yorker.


To speak to an immigration lawyer:

Call: 646-664-9400
Text: 929-334-3784
Request a call back: cuny.edu/callback

04/27/2026

This week, we're hosting two CLE opportunities featuring alumni and faculty experts. Free and available via Zoom, there's still time to RSVP to join us.

Head to law.cuny.edu/events for registration links and details