Floors L2, L3, and L4 will not be accessible on Sunday May 18, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. We apologize for the inconvenience.

 

Below are the library’s hours of operation beginning Friday May 16 through Thursday July 3. We hope that you had a great and successful Spring semester and we look forward to seeing you throughout the Summer!

   Saturday, May 24 – Monday, May 26 (Memorial Day Weekend): Library CLOSED

   Thursday, June 19 (Juneteenth): Library CLOSED

   On Thursday, July 3rd Reference Hours will be 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. 

 

   Friday, May 16 through Tuesday, May 27, 2025:

   Summer Semester: Wednesday, May 28 through Thursday, July 3:

Effective research skills are vital to all students engaged in any type of legal writing, as well as to those who are clerking, participating in internships, and entering legal practice. The ability to find the legal material you need to interpret and analyze is critical to help you prepare for the research realities of law practice. NYLS offers upper division research courses designed to build upon the skills learned in the first year. The courses offer students an opportunity to become more effective, efficient and confident researchers. Click here for course descriptions. Click here to read what other students have said about these classes.

The Mendik Library’s Reference Librarians also offer a variety of short research workshops throughout the year. To learn more about additional classes offered and to register, click here.

Legal Research: Practical Skills (1 credit)

Reviews and builds on the first-year research program to help students refine their skills, learn shortcuts, and develop research strategies. When you complete this course you will know how to find statutes, legislative materials, administrative regulations, and related cases. You will know how to use citator services effectively to enhance and update your research. You will also learn about a variety of important secondary sources and attain a comfort level with electronic research using Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, and other databases, as well as reliable free or low‐cost legal sources. In different semesters, we also offer Legal Research: Corporate & Business Law; Legal Research: Family Law; Legal Research: Intellectual Property Law; Legal Research: Labor and Employment Law; Legal Research: Criminal Law; and Legal Research: Real Estate Law.

For the Fall ’25 semester we are offering Legal Research: Practical Skills (4 remote Saturday classes) and Legal Research: Corporate Business Law (7 weekday classes, in-person).

For the Spring ’26 semester we are offering Legal Research: Practical Skills (4 remote Saturday classes).

 Legal Research: Skills for the Digital World (3 credits)

Reviews and builds on fundamental research skills as described in the Legal Research: Practical Skills courses. This course allows students time to concentrate on more advanced techniques using both electronic legal research and, where appropriate, print resources, to maximize research effectiveness and efficiency. The course provides detailed instruction in developing appropriate research strategies and in evaluating the various electronic and print sources in order to choose the best source for particular projects. Students pursue research assignments that may be geared to their individual subject interests. Students complete take‐home assignments that test and enhance their understanding of research tools, their understanding of important process and strategy considerations, and their ability to perform various research tasks. This class will be offered only during the Spring ’26 semester.

Questions? Contact Professor Michael Roffer, Interim Director of The Mendik Library.

T 212.431.2150   E Michael.Roffer@nyls.edu

 

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)