University Unveils Joint Program Between Cardozo and YC/SCW

Participating Students Will Shave a Year Off Law School

A joint program between Yeshiva University's Cardozo School of Law and the University's undergraduate schools has been developed by YC Associate Dean Michael Hecht and administrators at the law school. The program will allow undergraduate juniors to enroll in Cardozo and complete their first year of law school the summer following graduation from either YC or SCW. The joint program, which is slated to begin in May of 1999, is open to students of Yeshiva College, Stern College, and Sy Syms School of Business.

Students will begin the program by taking courses at Cardozo during the summer following their junior year. One law course, which will meet on Fridays, is then taken each semester of their senior year. Students in this program will complete the first year of law school during the summer following college graduation. Academic credit for all courses taken at Cardozo will be granted in both the undergraduate college and the law school.

Acceptance into this program is contingent upon superior academic performance as evidenced by an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.3 and superior LSAT results, with a minimum of 160 (84th percentile) suggested. Students would be expected to take the LSAT by February of their junior year. Anyone accepted into the program without LSAT results would be required to take the test no later than October of their senior year. Students who achieved superior grades in the summer session might be allowed to continue even if their LSATs fall below 160.

Applicants for this program are first reviewed by Dean Hecht. If they receive his recommendation, they are then considered for admission by a committee at Cardozo Law School. Hecht emphasized that he does not have the final say in the admissions process and can be out voted by the Cardozo committee. However, his approval of an applicant is extremely influential.

The tuition for the program is still undetermined but will probably be the regular cost of taking courses at Cardozo. Financial aid is available. Dean Hecht remarked that "Dr. Lamm has raised substantial funds for YU graduates continuing on to Cardozo…Clearly the students in this program will be strong candidates for these funds."

Many consider employment during the second summer of law school to be critical because those students are later favored by hiring law firms. Students in the joint program have this summer open, so they can obtain summer employment and fairly compete with other law students for jobs after graduating.

Other universities have a dual admissions program in law in which the students attend two years of undergraduate studies and then go on to law school without completing their bachelors degree. Dean Hecht believes that Yeshiva joint program, believed to be unique among American universities, is superior to other programs because the student’s undergraduate years are not sacrificed. Hecht said "the years a student spends at Yeshiva University are invaluable…This program saves a year of law school but does not affect the time spent at YU."

Starting salaries at many law firms are estimated at $80,000.00 and higher. The year of law school that is saved is therefore financially advantageous to the graduating law student.

One concern that students may have is that courses taken through this program are only transferable to Cardozo. If a student later opts to attend another law school, he will not be accepted with advanced standing. Pre-Law students aware of this program, however, are very excited about the new option. Jake Weintraub, a Pre-Law YC/BMP Sophomore said, "This new law program is an inspiration and motivation to students who want to attend law school…I think it’s an excellent opportunity."

Hecht asserted that Cardozo’s summer school is among the best in the country because unlike other universities, summer classes at Cardozo are taught by full time faculty. Hecht is very excited about this new program and calls it a "Win, win situation. Win for the students, win for YC, and win for Cardozo."