Regulation & Public Policy

NYU Law centers approach regulation and public policy through various lenses, including criminal, financial, labor, tax, and security. Throughout the year, they host lectures by prominent members of the academic community and key public figures, convene conferences that invite top thinkers to NYU Law to exchange ideas, and implement new projects to research and effect change in public policy.

The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve our systems of democracy and justice. The center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism.

The Peter L. Zimroth Center on the Administration of Criminal Law analyzes important issues of criminal law, particularly focusing on prosecutorial power and discretion. It pursues this mission in three main arenas: academia, the courts, and public policy debates. 

The Center for Financial Institutions was established to study the nature and operations of the central banks established by more than 170 nations.

The Center for Labor and Employment Law is a non-partisan forum for the debate and study of the policy and legal issues involving the employment relationship; the center hosts the annual conference on labor.

The Reiss Center on Law and Security is a non-partisan multidisciplinary research institute established in 2003 to focus on cultivating an informed dialogue and conducting groundbreaking research on the vital legal, policy, and strategic questions that will shape the national security field for years to come.

The Graduate Tax Program produces the best and the brightest tax practitioners, academics, and government leaders, nationally and internationally. The program hosts regular events related to tax and fiscal policy.

The Institute for Policy Integrity is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to improving the quality of government decision-making. It produces original scholarly research in the fields of economics, law, and regulatory policy and advocates for reform before courts, legislatures, and executive agencies.

The NYU Journal of Legislation and Public Policy is a nonpartisan student-run periodical specializing in the analysis of local, state, and federal legislation and policy. Each year, the journal hosts a symposium.

The Public Interest Law Center (PILC) is a national model for the promotion of public service. PILC not only coordinates and promotes the Law School’s public interest and government service activities but also counsels students individually on their careers.

The Tax Law Review, a faculty-edited law journal, is the the premier law school journal for tax policy scholarship.

At NYU Law, students are encouraged to take advantage of all the Law School has to offer, from working directly with faculty on their research, to getting involved with our centers, to participating in clinics and student organizations. Our Office of Career Services and the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) also support NYU Law students pursuing private positions or government service. Here are some opportunities for those specifically interested in regulation and public policy:

The ASPIRE Scholarship provides a full-tuition law school scholarship for students interested in cyber and information security and dedicated to careers in state, local, or federal government.

The Furman Public Policy Scholarship is an innovative, challenging, and experience-based program designed to train and support selected top students who are interested in pursuing careers in the public policy sector. It gathers in one program the already top-notch policy resources of NYU Law and builds on these with new, significant policy-oriented opportunities. Furman Public Policy Scholars are provided full-tuition scholarships for three years of Law School study leading to the JD degree. The four pillars of the program are substantive competency, experiential learning, values, and mentorship.

The Institute for Policy Integrity is a non-partisan think tank dedicated to improving the quality of government decision-making. It produces original scholarly research in the fields of economics, law, and regulatory policy and advocates for reform before courts, legislatures, and executive agencies. The institute regularly hires legal and economic fellows.

The NYU Journal of Legislation and Public Policy is a nonpartisan student-run periodical specializing in the analysis of local, state, and federal legislation and policy. Quorum, the journal’s online companion, is a forum for shorter contributions on various subjects, including current developments in legislation or public policy, responses to content in the print journal or earlier submissions to Quorum, and analyses of related issues. The journal welcomes submissions from law students.

The Public Interest Law Center (PILC) is a national model for the promotion of public service. PILC not only coordinates and promotes the Law School’s public interest and government service activities but also counsels students individually on their careers. As the most ambitious such program in the nation, the PILC Summer Funding Program guarantees funding for all first- and second-year students who want to work in public interest and government positions.

The Root-Tilden-Kern Public Interest Scholarship is the nation’s premier public service scholarship. The program covers full tuition, without regard to financial need, for three years of law school for outstanding students who promise to pursue public service, including working in public policy. Scholars may also receive loans to cover living expenses, on demonstration of need.

The Tax Policy Internship and Fellowship Program gives 3L JD/LLM in Taxation candidates a chance to spend six months as interns at the US Department of the Treasury or the Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation during the summer and fall after the JD degree is awarded. They then complete the LLM in Taxation during the spring of the year following graduation.

The Masters of Laws LLM is designed for students who wish to take full advantage of NYU’s extraordinarily wide range of course offerings and the diverse research interests of our faculty. Unlike students in the specialized LLM programs, candidates pursuing the traditional LLM degree are not limited to a specific number of classes in one field, and they have the freedom to choose courses that match their interests.

Student organizations include the Education Law and Policy Society, the Health Law and Policy Society (HLPS), and the Real Estate & Urban Policy Forum.

Legislative and Regulatory Process Clinic students, led by Robert Bauer and Sally Katzen, are introduced to the roles and skills of the government lawyer while working in Washington, DC. The clinic provides an understanding of government decision-making that will help those students intending to seek positions in the government and offers those heading to the private sector greater insight into the workings of government that often significantly affect their clients.