Academic Awards, Overall Achievement Awards, and Awards for Service to the Law School
Convocation awards are given to graduating JD and LLM students who have excelled in their overall scholarship or in community service while at the Law School.
You may view more details about each award below:
ACADEMIC AWARDS
| Category | Award | Award Description | Recipient: |
| Academic Awards | Martin Lipton University Graduation Prize | To the student with the highest academic average based on five semesters. | Brian C. Cross |
| Academic Awards | Law Review Alumni Association Award | To the student with the second-highest academic average based on five semesters. | Miranda D. Katz |
| Academic Awards | Law Review Alumni Association Award | To the student with the third-highest academic average based on five semesters. | Trip Carpenter |
| Academic Awards | David H. Moses Memorial Prize | To the member of the LLM class with the highest academic average. |
Robert Lee, 2021 Recipient 2022 Recipient To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
SCHOLARSHIP & ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS (JD only)
Successful nominees for the overall achievement awards will typically have a GPA of 3.5 or above or demonstrate academic excellence by earning an A+ in one or more courses.
| Category | Award | Award Description | Recipients: |
| Overall Achievement | Benjamin F. Butler Memorial Award | For exemplary distinction in scholarship, character, and integrity. In addition to superior academic achievement, the recipient demonstrates exemplary character and integrity during their time at NYU School of Law. |
Brian C. Cross |
| Overall Achievement | George P. Foulk Memorial Award | For distinguished academic performance and extracurricular activities. In addition to excellence in academic endeavors, the recipient demonstrates exceptional leadership in their extracurricular professional endeavors at NYU School of Law and/or in the legal community | Julia M. Bruce Yonas Takele |
| Overall Achievement | Maurice Goodman Memorial Prize | For outstanding academic achievement and scholarship. This recipient demonstrates their passion for the law through intense study of a subject area resulting in publication in a scholarly journal. The recipient exhibits the promise to become a thought leader within the legal community. | Joseph H. Krakoff Arijeet Sensharma |
| Overall Achievement | Frank H. Sommer Memorial Award | For exceptional distinction in scholarship and professional excellence. This award is for a student who has achieved exceptional academic distinction and demonstrated professional excellence through participation in community or extracurricular activities. | Madhu Narasimhan Jamie Hin Hon Wong |
VANDERBILT MEDALS AND DEAN JOHN SEXTON PRIZE (JD & LLM, Service to the Law School)
Vanderbilt Medals and the Dean John Sexton Prize are designed to recognize students who have made a significant contribution to our community. Specifically, Vanderbilt Medals are given to several students for "outstanding contributions to the School of Law" and the Dean John Sexton Prize to a "law student whose outstanding service to the Law School community exemplifies the values of Dean Sexton."
| Category | Award | Award Description | Recipients: |
| Community Service | Vanderbilt Medals | For outstanding contributions to the NYU School of Law. This award is for students especially active in the Law School or the greater legal community. These students distinguish themselves through leadership in student organizations, community organizations and/or public service initiatives. Like its namesake, former Dean Arthur Vanderbilt, these recipients demonstrate leadership and vision in their endeavors during their time at the Law School. | Olivia J. Abrecht Muriel M. Carpenter Lauren E. Castillo Garrett B. Donnelly Johari Menelik Fraiser Alison Ge Andrea L. Green Maya M. Halthore Stephanie M. Kerr Leonie C. Koch Anima Shukla Lucy J. Trieshmann Carolyn R. Ye |
| Community Service | Dean John Sexton Prize | To a law student whose outstanding community service to the NYU School of Law exemplifies the values of Dean Sexton. This award is for the student who clearly demonstrates a love for the Law School. Like Dean Sexton, this student’s time at the Law School was spent building community and fostering relationships across varying groups of people. The recipient continues the tradition of warmth, collegiality and community within the Law School fostered by Dean Sexton. | Sara L. Greaves Hadiya N. Williams |
SUBJECT AREA & SPECIALIZATION AWARDS (JD & LLM)
Subject area awards are conferred for outstanding achievement in various fields of law. These awards are based on scholarly or other excellence of the type described and can include superior quality work on a paper or note.
| Category | Award | Award Description | Recipient(s): |
| Administrative | Administrative Law Prize | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of administrative law. | Samantha P. Yi |
| Antitrust | Betty Bock Prize in Competition Policy | To a graduating student who has produced an outstanding paper in the field of antitrust law and policy, with preference given to a paper of excellence not only in theory and concept but also in the tradition of taking facts seriously. | Prerana De |
| Civil Procedure | Weinfeld Prize for Scholarship in Procedure and Courts | Designated by the dean for distinguished scholarship in the area of federal courts, civil procedure and practice, evidence and/or trial practice. | Brian C. Cross Joseph H. Krakoff |
| Clinic | Christian Jarecki '98 Memorial Prize | For outstanding work and commitment in a law clinic. | Chiraayu P. Gosrani |
| Clinic | Ann Petluck Poses Memorial Prize | Designated by the dean in recognition of outstanding work in a clinical course requiring student practice. |
Julia M. Bruce |
| Comparative | Howard Greenberger Award | For outstanding achievement in the area of comparative law. | Paulina Araiza Lozano Katarina M. Sydow |
| Competition, Innovation, and Information | Frank T. Diersen Prize | For distinction in the LLM Competition, Innovation and Information Law program. | Zachary Shufro, 2021 Recipient 2022 Recipient To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Constitutional | Leonard M. Henkin Prize | For an article or note on the equal rights portion of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. | Kevin P. Muench |
| Constitutional | Robert B. McKay Prize in Constitutional Law** | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in constitutional law throughout their years at the NYU School of Law. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Contracts | Daniel G. Collins Prize | To a member of the graduating class who has demonstrated excellence in the area of contract law. | Lorenzo A. Villegas |
| Corporate Compliance and Enforcement | Corporate Compliance and Enforcement Prize | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of corporate compliance, corporate enforcement, or individual liability for corporate crime or regulatory violations. | Sabrina Solow Jeremiah K. Evans |
| Corporation | George Colin Award |
For distinction in the LLM Corporation Law program. | Jaskiran Kaur, 2021 Recipient Tanaya Sanyal, 2022 Recipient |
| Criminal | Jim Goldfarb '72 Criminal Defense Award | To the JD student who best embodies the spirit and values of Jim Goldfarb '72 through their commitment and work towards social justice through Criminal Defense. | David F. Jacobs Bridget A. McCarthy |
| Criminal | Judge Abraham Lieberman Award | For outstanding scholarship in the area of criminal law. | Jonathan Spratley, 2021 Recipient Rebecca L. Orleans, 2022 Recipient |
| Economics | Law and Economics Prize | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in the area of law and economics. | Shefain J. Islam |
| Employment | Schulte Roth and Zabel Prize | For excellence in employment and employee benefits law. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Entertainment | Jack J. Katz Memorial Award | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of entertainment law. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Environmental | Environmental Law Prize | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in the field of environmental law. | Brittany E. Shaar |
| Environmental | Environmental Law Prize | For distinction in the LLM Environmental Law program. |
To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Ethics | Leonard J. Schreier Memorial Prize | To a law student who has exhibited academic excellence in the area of ethics. | Christopher J. Ioannou |
Evidence |
David Friedman Memorial Award | For outstanding achievement in evidence. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Human Rights | International Human Rights Award | To a student with an outstanding academic record in the field of international human rights law. | Ashley Otilia Nemeth, 2021 Recipient 2022 Recipient To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| IBRLA | International Business Regulation, Litigation, and Arbitration Award | For distinction in the IBRLA program. | Daniel Wai Ming Gaw, 2021 Recipient Jonathan Frederick Schaffer-Goddard, 2022 Recipient |
| Intellectual Property | Walter J. Derenberg Prize | For outstanding achievement in the area of intellectual property law. | Lance M. Peterzell Chad Williams |
| International | Jerome Lipper Award | For distinction in the LLM International Legal Studies program. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| International | Jerome Lipper Prize | For outstanding work in the field of international law. | Connor J. Cardoso Kaitlyn E. Holland |
| Jewish/Israeli Relations | Chuna David and Rose Estreicher Memorial Prize | To a law student who has shown the greatest promise in the study of issues confronting the Jewish/Israeli peoples. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| LACA | Clinical Service Convocation Award | Awarded to a graduating member of APALSA, BALSA, LaLSA, MELSA, or SALSA who is an outstanding member of a clinic, has proven their dedication to public service, and plans to pursue a career in public interest law. | Stephanie M. Kerr |
| LACA | Kim Barry '98 Memorial Convocation Prize | Awarded to a graduating member of APALSA, BALSA, LaLSA, MELSA, or SALSA who has demonstrated a commitment to international and human rights work and exhibits academic excellence in the best tradition of Kim Barry. | Alexandra T. Gray |
| LACA | Public Service Convocation Prize | Awarded to a graduating member of APALSA, BALSA, LaLSA, MELSA, or SALSA who has proven their dedication to public service and who plans to pursue a career in public interest law. | Christina E. Nevarez |
| LACA | Calisha Myers '15 Memorial Convocation Award |
Awarded to a graduating JD member of the AnBryce Scholarship Program, Law Review, APALSA, BALSA, LaLSA, MELSA, SALSA, or Women of Color Collective (WoCC) who exemplifies the values and ideals by which Calisha lived her life at NYU Schoo Law School—leadership, humility, mentorship, and community service. |
Yonas Takele |
| Law and Business | Charles D. Klein '63 Law and Business Award | For demonstrated excellence in combining the analysis of legal issues and business issues. | Eran Hingaly, LLM Corey M. Vacca, JD |
| Law and Business | NYU Pollack Center for Law and Business SEED Award for Original Research | For excellence in self-directed research utilizing the NYU Securities Enforcement Empirical Database. | Risa Das, 2021 Recipient Simran Kaur, 2022 Recipient |
| Law and Social Enterprise | White & Case Award in Law & Social Entrepreneurship |
For academic excellence and demonstration of a strong commitment to the field of law and social entrepreneurship. |
Madhu Narasimhan, JD LLM To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Law Education | Aleta Estreicher Graduation Prize | To the JD student who best displays the potential for effective, dedicated, humane law teaching in the spirit of Professor Aleta G. Estreicher (Bryn Mawr '70, Columbia Law School '81). | David G. Blitzer |
| Law Women/ WoCC | Jeannie Forrest Women in Leadership Award | To a graduating student member of Law Women or the Women of Color Collective who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and initiative during their time at NYU School of Law. |
Julia M. Bruce |
| LLM | George Colin Award | For distinction in the Traditional LLM program. |
Chinelo Blessing Ojike |
| Philosophy | John Bruce Moore Award | To a third-year JD student who has demonstrated excellence in the area of law and philosophy. | Joshua Dennis Forgy |
| Public Service | Eric Dean Bender Prize | For a third-year student who has demonstrated a working commitment to a public service-oriented cause or project outside of and separate from NYU School of Law commitments. | Olivia J. Abrecht Elena R. Hodges Satti Vishal Reddy |
| Public Service | Public Interest Prize for LLMs | For an LLM student who has demonstrated a clear commitment to a public service-oriented cause or project outside of and separate from any NYU School of Law or admission requirement. |
Lautaro Furfaro |
| Race Relations | Gary E. Moncrieffe Award | To the most outstanding student in the area of racism and the law. | To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Real Estate | Morris R. Henkin Prize | To a student who has demonstrated excellence in the area of real estate. | Chad S. Hughes, 2021 Recipient Michael Shavolian, 2022 Recipient |
| Rights of People with Disabilities | Jessica Klurfeld Prize | Awarded annually for an excellent student paper or clinical work concerning the rights of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities. |
Lucy J. Trieshmann |
| Taxation |
David F. Bradford Memorial Prize |
To a student who has written the best paper in the field of taxation. | Alexander Pettingell, 2021 Recipient 2022 Recipient To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Taxation | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Award | For distinction in the LLM International Tax program. | Callum James Lee Burnett Timothy Robin Higgins |
| Taxation | Harry J. Rudick Memorial Award | To a JD student who has demonstrated excellence in taxation throughout their years at NYU School of Law. | Krishan R. Kania Hayley A. Rassuchine |
| Taxation | Harry J. Rudick Memorial Award | For distinction in the LLM Tax Program. | Robert Lee, 2021 Recipient Robert James Levin, 2022 Recipient José Faina Rodriguez-Vila, 2022 Recipient |
JOURNAL/MOOT COURT AWARDS
| Journal | Award | Award Description | Recipient(s): |
| Annual Survey of American Law | Philip F. Cohen Award | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Annual Survey of American Law during the past year. | Daniel R. Ishak |
| Annual Survey of American Law | Seymour A. Levy Memorial Award | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Annual Survey of American Law. | Martin W. Sigalow |
| Annual Survey of American Law | Norma Z. Paige Prize | For the greatest contribution by an articles editor to the Annual Survey of American Law during the past year. | Anne L. Wattenmaker |
| Environmental Law Journal | Sive, Paget and Riesel Environmental Law Journal Award | For outstanding contribution to the Environmental Law Journal by a third-year editor. | William Christopher Rose |
| Journal of International Law and Politics | Journal of International Law and Politics Prize | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Journal of International Law and Politics. | Maylin Meisenheimer |
| Journal of International Law and Politics | Journal of International Law and Politics Prize | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Journal of International Law and Politics. | Maxwell R. Votey |
| Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law | Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Prize | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law. | Haley M. Sanders |
| Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law | Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Prize | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Journal of Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law. | No 2022 Recipient |
| Journal of Law and Business | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Journal of Law & Business during the past year. | Paulena B. Prager |
| Journal of Law and Business | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Journal of Law & Business. | No 2022 Recipient |
| Journal of Law and Business | NYU Pollack Center for Law and Business Award for Journal Achievement | To a graduating editor and member of the Board of Editors, who has contributed to the Journal of Law & Business in an outstanding manner during the third year. | Jason Choe |
| Journal of Law and Business | NYU Pollack Center for Law and Business Award for Journal Distinction | To a graduating editor, other than a senior editor, who has contributed to the Journal of Law & Business in an outstanding manner during the third year. | Julianna Lee |
| Journal of Law and Liberty | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Journal of Law & Liberty. | Mitchell K. Pallaki |
| Journal of Law and Liberty | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | To the graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Journal of Law & Liberty. | Gary M. Dreyer |
| Journal of Legislation and Public Policy | Thomas Stoddard Award | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Journal of Legislation and Public Policy. | Daniel B. Martin |
| Journal of Legislation and Public Policy | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Journal of Legislation and Public Policy. | Gabriella R. Johnston Samantha P. Yi |
| Law Review | Edmond Cahn Law Review Award | To a third-year editor other than a senior editor who has contributed to the Law Review in an outstanding fashion during the third year. | David G. Blitzer Erin M. Kim Elise X. Zhou |
| Law Review | Morton Geller Award | To a third-year editor other than a senior editor who has contributed to the Law Review in an outstanding fashion during the third year. | Aaditya P. Tolappa |
| Law Review | Paul D. Kaufman Memorial Award | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Law Review. | Michael J. Kowiak |
| Law Review | Judge Rose L. and Herbert Rubin Law Review Prize | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Law Review in international, commercial, or public law. | Joseph H. Krakoff Evan A. Ringel |
| Moot Court Board | Order of Barristers |
The Order of Barristers is a national honorary organization devoted to the development of oral advocacy and brief-writing skills through law school appellate moot court programs. |
Samar Amidi Miriam Bial Benjamin S. Brindis Julia M. Bruce Graham T. Ellis Jeremiah K. Evans Leonie C. Koch Julia K. Leff Elaina Michelle Marx Andrew Wells |
| Moot Court Board | Jessup Team Award* | For participation as the representatives of NYU School of Law in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. |
To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Moot Court Board | National Moot Court Competition Award | For participation as the representatives of NYU School of Law in a National Moot Court Competition. |
To Be Announced Post-Convocation |
| Moot Court Board | Lawrence Green '77 Prize | To a graduating student who has written the most outstanding moot court problem for the NYU Moot Court Casebook, and to the principal editor of that problem. | Christopher G. Gallucci Catherine E. Larrabee |
| Moot Court Board | Mark Brisman '92 Moot Court Prize | For a member of the graduating class who has made the most significant contribution to the Moot Court Board. | Samar Amidi |
| Review of Law and Social Change | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | For the greatest contribution by a third-year editor to the Review of Law & Social Change. | Andrea L. Green |
| Review of Law and Social Change | Flora S. and Jacob L. Newman Prize | To the graduating student who has written the most outstanding note for the Review of Law & Social Change. | Rebecca L. Orleans |
| Review of Law and Social Change | Review of Law and Social Change Innovation and Creativity Award | To a graduating student who broadens the horizons of the Review of Law & Social Change and advances the mission of the journal. | Amelie Daigle |
| Review of Law and Social Change | Review of Law and Social Change Stewardship Award | To a graduating student who has exhibited exemplary leadership with peers and colleagues on the Review of Law & Social Change in the service of producing the highest quality legal scholarship. | Emily R. True |
**Winner of the Robert B. McKay Prize will also be awarded the Wickersham Prize