New York City offers exposure to some of the best legal minds, in one of the largest and most dynamic legal markets in the world. Whether you are an American lawyer seeking to advance your career by developing a specialization or an international attorney dealing with U.S.-based clients looking to sit for the U.S. bar exam, you’ll be ready to lead with a legal education from Cardozo.
Access a wide selection of courses and seminars and specialize in specific areas of the law.
Designed for students interested in an academic career and for lawyers with an interest in legal theory, the LL.M. in Comparative Legal Thought degree (24 credits) juxtaposes legal thought with philosophy, political science, economics and other disciplines. With a comprehensive range of courses spanning jurisprudence, law and philosophy, critical legal studies, comparative constitutionalism, and law and literature, students and faculty wrestle with some of the most pressing cultural, philosophical and theoretical legal questions of the day.
Cardozo Law’s LL.M. in Intellectual Property degree (24 credits) is consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Our full-time faculty, known worldwide for its expertise and scholarship, includes attorneys who have argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, former Supreme Court clerks, accomplished First Amendment scholars and adjunct professors working on forward-looking issues in the field. Cardozo’s course offerings are unsurpassed and include Entertainment & Media Law, Internet & Social Media Law, Fashion Law, Sports Law and Art Law in addition to basic and advanced courses in copyright, trademark and patents. Academic coursework is supplemented with groundbreaking and timely panels, lectures, symposia, fellowships and many student organizations dedicated to different aspects of intellectual property law.
Designed for students interested in an academic career and for lawyers with an interest in legal theory, the LL.M. in Comparative Legal Thought degree (24 credits) juxtaposes legal thought with philosophy, political science, economics and other disciplines. With a comprehensive range of courses spanning jurisprudence, law and philosophy, critical legal studies, comparative constitutionalism, and law and literature, students and faculty wrestle with some of the most pressing cultural, philosophical and theoretical legal questions of the day.
Cardozo Law’s LL.M. in Intellectual Property degree (24 credits) is consistently ranked among the top in the nation. Our full-time faculty, known worldwide for its expertise and scholarship, includes attorneys who have argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, former Supreme Court clerks, accomplished First Amendment scholars and adjunct professors working on forward-looking issues in the field. Cardozo’s course offerings are unsurpassed and include Entertainment & Media Law, Internet & Social Media Law, Fashion Law, Sports Law and Art Law in addition to basic and advanced courses in copyright, trademark and patents. Academic coursework is supplemented with groundbreaking and timely panels, lectures, symposia, fellowships and many student organizations dedicated to different aspects of intellectual property law.
As the Dean of Graduate and International Programs, my strategy is to personalize a curriculum for each student that aligns with their goals and builds upon their strengths and experiences. Whether their priority is the New York Bar exam, or to specialize in a growing area of law, such as IP (or to do both!), Cardozo provides access to a vast array of curriculum options and resources, a strong community and professional networks that offer support not just during the LL.M. year, but for the rest of their professional lives. At Cardozo we are here to help our students make the most of this opportunity to live and study with us in the heart of New York City.
Our faculty are #22 in the country for scholarly impact by Heald & Sichelman's academic impact rankings of 100 American law schools. Learn more about their scholarship.
“A law professor has an important opportunity to leave a mark on society and the legal profession, by training the next generation of lawyers to be innovative and public spirited thinkers.”
Alex Reinert, a former Supreme Court Clerk, has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in Ashcroft v. Iqbal and is a leading lawyer in the case that overturned the use of solitary confinement in New York prisons.
Professor Wu’s doctorate studies in computer Science are foundational to his information law scholarship, which spans freedom of speech, privacy law, and intellectual property law.
Our professors are renowned scholars and practitioners—experts who shape the study and practice of law.
Learn more about Cardozo's faculty.
Our graduates get jobs at the biggest firms and companies in the world.
“My time at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law significantly shaped my trajectory as an attorney. It was more than an academic pursuit; it was a foundational experience that prepared me to be a more effective advocate in today's globalized legal landscape.
"My experience in New York furthered my interest in exploring the intricacies of cross-border advocacy, which I now apply directly in my work in Zurich. As an attorney, I draw daily on the rigorous training and insights I gained at Cardozo.”
"Cardozo Law LLM in Corporate and Securities Regulation provided me with a rigorous academic foundation and invaluable practical skills, equipping me with the knowledge and tools necessary to excel in my current role as Director of Regulatory Affairs. The program's emphasis on US Law, critical thinking, and professional development, combined with the unparalleled access to the legal and financial hubs of NYC, created an environment conducive to both academic and professional growth.
"Studying at Cardozo facilitated my path towards qualifying for the New York State Bar. This was instrumental in my career trajectory, opening doors to exciting opportunities within the New York legal market, ultimately leading to my current role at Mastercard."
“Cardozo School of Law brings law to life with clinics and externships, offering real-world insights from top practitioners in nonprofits, government, and the private sector.”
"Cardozo School of Law was a cornerstone in my professional and personal development. Not only did I receive world class legal training in a truly global and highly ambitious environment. Cardozo’s deep ties to the legal and business world in New York and beyond, and in particular to the creative industries, enabled me to embark on a nontraditional career outside the law."
"The skills I learned during my time at Cardozo still prove to be of tremendous value in my day-to-day work life. It helps me understand where my clients or the other parties in contract negotiations are coming from and allows me to explain the differences of their legal system and understanding to the German legal system."
"Getting an LL.M. specializing in IP at Cardozo gave me the skills to practice IP law. I honed my legal and English skills to a level that allowed me to pass the New York bar and land an associate position in IP in private practice in NYC. It also introduced me to a network of people that I often deal with professionally, many of whom I call true friends."
Meyer is responsible for managing Apple’s global IP litigation docket. She previously was a Partner in Morrison & Foerster's Palo Alto office specializing in intellectual property litigation, primarily patent and trade secret litigation in the semiconductor industry. Prior to that, she was an associate at Darby & Darby litigating patent, copyright and trademark cases.
Cardozo graduates land prestigious positions and develop impactful careers with top organizations.
All admitted students are considered for the Dean’s Merit scholarship based on academic performance and relevant work experience.
The New York Bar Exam is a licensing examination that all aspiring lawyers must pass in order to practice law in the state of New York. It is administered by the New York State Board of Law Examiners (BOLE).
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