Ramp Up Your Research Skills!

This summer, take advantage of multiple opportunities to up your research game and learn more about tools you’ll need in practice through our popular Summer Research Challenge! Click here for details. Each virtual session begins at 6:00 p.m., with a short introduction to the research area, and then moves on to a concrete research problem where you need to              efficiently identify the law bearing on your client’s situation. The sessions are two hours long and will wrap up with a discussion of results and strategies.

Attend whichever sessions most interest you, but researchers who successfully complete all four will receive a certificate signed by both Dean of Faculty William LaPiana and Interim Library Director Professor Michael Roffer recognizing this achievement. It’s a great practical skill certification for your resume.

June 4:           Researching Statutes and Legislative Material

June 11:         Navigating the Regulatory Maze: Research in Administrative Law

June 18:         Research on the Road to Trial: Experts, Juries, Discovery and More

June 25:         Legal Research for Transactional Lawyers

For more information and to register, click here. Select the sessions you would like to register for and you will be taken to the registration page.

Research Skills Workshops

In addition to the Summer Research Challenge, we will also be offering our regular Research Skills Workshops. These virtual sessions are intended to give pointers on how to handle research situations you might face this summer. The workshops are either 30 or 60 minutes long and will be offered on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. from June 3 through June 26, 2025. To register, click this link. Select the sessions you would like to register for and you will be taken to the registration page.

 

 

On May 1 we come together to celebrate Law Day, an annual observance that honors the role of law in our society and reminds us of our shared commitment to justice, equality, and the rule of law. Established in 1958, Law Day is an opportunity to reflect on how the legal system shapes our democracy and safeguards our rights.

This year’s official theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One,” comes from the American Bar Association (ABA). It calls on us to consider how the U.S. Constitution unites us as a nation while protecting the diversity of our voices and experiences. The theme invites conversations around inclusion, civic engagement, and the enduring strength of constitutional democracy.

As a law library, we are proud to support the pursuit of justice by providing access to legal resources, supporting research, and promoting public understanding of the law.

Happy Law Day! Let’s continue working toward a more informed and just society.

This is a friendly reminder that carrel reservations will be accepted beginning Thursday May 1. All you need to do is email Chantelle.James@nyls.edu to make your reservation. Click here for full details. We look forward to seeing you in the summer!

 

 

 

If you are preparing for the July 2025 Bar Exam, we invite you to reserve a study carrel on L3 or L4 for your own exclusive use from Tuesday May 20 through Monday, July 28, 2025—we’ll even put your name on it.

A library carrel can be your home away from home! Let it be your own personal study space while you gear up to rock the bar exam. Stop by and look around or visit our homepage and take a virtual tour. Just click on the photo above.

The reservation period will begin Thursday May 1. All you need to do is email Chantelle James at chantelle.james@nyls.edu and indicate the floor and carrel number that you’d like to call your own. Once you have sent your request, you will receive an e-mail confirming your reservation.

Some important points to note: First, we recommend that you do not leave any personal belongings unattended in your carrel. Neither the Library nor the law school will be responsible for these items. Second, we expect you to use your carrel on a regular basis—if not every day, at least several days a week. Given the demand for carrels, it would be unfair to some of your classmates to let your reserved carrel sit idle. We will be monitoring usage during the bar exam study period. Finally, your carrel should be clear of any items by Monday August 4.

Don’t wait—get the study carrel of your choice. Beat the demand and check this off your list—reserve your carrel soon.

The Mendik Library is here to support you. We look forward to seeing you on a regular basis this summer.

If a carrel is not your vibe, we have reserved room L402 for exclusive use by bar studiers. We also have three additional group study rooms available on L2, and spacious study tables located on each level of the library. Rooms and study areas beyond the library will also be available for occupancy and will be announced by the Bar Success Department at a later time.

As exam season approaches, the library will have extended study hours beginning Monday April 7 through Thursday May 15, 2025. Please see the schedule below and good luck!

Below are the Library’s hours of operation beginning Saturday March 8 through Thursday May 15. The Library will be closed on Saturday March 8 and Sunday March 9, 2025 for spring break and will reopen on Monday March 10 at 8:00 a.m.

March is Women’s History Month! In celebration, we are honoring some outstanding woman alums of New York Law School.

 

Elizabeth Johnston Schenkel (Class of 1937) was the first woman to graduate from New York Law School. After graduation, Schenkel started practicing law from her home to be more available to her three young children. As her practice in trusts, estates and real estate grew, she became a legal consultant for several law firms. Schenkel received the Distinguished Alumna award from New York Law School in 1992. (New York Law School Magazine, Vol. 26, No. 2)

Barbara M. Watson (Class of 1962) was the first woman and the first black person to serve as an Assistant Secretary of State. She served as an Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular affairs during the administrations of Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford and Carter. President Carter later appointed Watson the United States Ambassador to Maylasia. Upon her passing in 1983, the State Department renamed the Consular Officer of the Year Award to the Barbara M. Watson Award for Consular Excellence in honor of her outstanding work and devotion to public service. (NYLS 125^th Anniversary Materials)

Judith “Judge Judy” Sheindlin (Class of 1965) is well known for her court shows, Judge Judy and most recently Judy Justice. Before entering the spotlight, Scheindlin was appointed by then-Mayor Ed Koch as a prosecutor in the New York family court system, eventually becoming the supervising judge of that system. She was, and still is, known to be tough. This attitude helped her move into media. During its 25-year run, Judge Judy won numerous awards as Sheindlin heard thousands of cases and earned her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (NYLS Interviews Judy Sheindlin)

Hon. Joan M. Azrack (Class of 1979) is a judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She was nominated for this position by President Barack Obama in 2014 and assumed senior status in 2024. Prior to taking this position, Azrack was a trial attorney, leading to her positions as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Narcotics Section (deputy chief), Business and Securities Fraud Section (chief), and the Criminal Division (deputy chief).  (NYLS 125^th Anniversary Materials)

Hon. Clare M. Henry (Class of 1979) was a High Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. From 1986 to 1989, she served as Crown Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers for Antigua & Barbuda. From 1989 to 1994 she was engaged in private law practice in Antigua & Barbuda. She became a Magistrate for Antigua & Barbuda in 1994, becoming Chief Magistrate for Antigua & Barbuda in 2000. It was in 2004 that she was appointed a High Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. (NYLS 125^th Anniversary Materials)

 

 

 

Love is in the Air at the Mendik Library!

As a special early Valentine’s Day treat, starting on Wednesday, February 5, you have a chance to WIN lovely prizes such as study aids, Lexis reward points, law dictionaries, NYLS travel mugs, and Bluebooks.

To participate, just answer our eight Valentine’s Day Info Hunt questions. Your answers don’t need to be perfect—just close! Click here to access the questions. Each slide features one question, along with step-by-step instructions to help you find the answer.

Hunt ends at 1:00 p.m., on Thursday February 13th.  Winners will be selected randomly from all valid entries outside the library at 1:30 p.m. on February 13^th. Those present have twice the chance to win!

Don’t forget to stop by the Reference Desk on Friday, February 14, to enjoy some Valentine’s Day chocolates. Remember, whatever you do, do it with love!

Happy hunting!

Legislation signed in 1983 marked the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as a federal holiday. It is celebrated on the third Monday of each January. In 1994, Congress designated the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday as a national day of service, now led by AmeriCorps.

This year, the NYLS community is honoring Dr. King’s legacy with a powerful day of workshops and service, organized by NYLS’s Wilf Impact Center for Public Interest Law.  The Monday January 20, 2025 program runs from 12:00 noon through 3:00 p.m., at the Park Slope United Methodist Church, 410 6^th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11215.