Looking Ahead: Your 2L and 3L Years

Photo of students walking through NYU Law courtyard

2L/3L Planning/Course Registration

Course planning and registration may feel overwhelming, but there will be information sessions during your 1L year to help you plan out your law school trajectory. There will be greater flexibility after your first year of law school, where you can explore clinics, externships, seminars, and directed research.

If you are feeling unsure about what path you want to take, meet with a career counselor at OCS or PILC, or contact Academic Services. You can also speak to upper-level students who you meet through student groups or extracurriculars, or network with alumni from NYU Law who are working in a field that interests you. 

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Registration for Courses Outside the Law School

There are limited opportunities to take courses outside of the Law School at NYU. Students have the opportunity to take language courses through the College of Arts and Sciences and courses at Stern School of Business. Students can also request to take non-law or law-affiliated classes through the Office of Records and Registration. While at NYU Law, a limited number of students are permitted to take one course at Columbia Law School. 

Direct questions to: Records and Registration at law.registration@nyu.edu 

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Research Opportunities

Students who are interested in legal research and academic writing have several avenues to pursue. If you have a specific professor who you would like to work with and a project in mind, you can complete a Directed Research project for up to two credits (three in unusual situations, with express permission from Vice Dean Randy Hertz). Any full-time or visiting faculty member can supervise Directed Research, and you must create a proposal which is approved by the Office of Academic Services. 

Full-time faculty members may also hire JD or LLM students as research assistants, for monetary compensation or course credit. Up to two credits per year (and four during your time in law school) may be obtained in this manner without express permission from the Office of Academic Services

Direct questions to: Academic Services at law.acadservices@nyu.edu 

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Prominence Fund

Most student activity funding is distributed through the Student Bar Association. However, if students are traveling to represent NYU Law at an academic conference, present research, or participate in a legal competition, there is funding available to offset student expense through the Office of Student Affairs’ Prominence Fund. To apply for the prominence fund, you should contact the Office of Student Affairs with a description of the event and anticipated expenses. 

Direct questions to: Student Affairs at law.studentaffairs@nyu.edu 

Further reading: Information about Prominence Fund

Fellowships

There are a variety of fellowships available for 2L and 3L scholars interested in specific areas of the law. If you are interested in a specific fellowship, please contact the faculty supervisor or fellowship administrator for application details and timelines. If you are accepted into a fellowship, you can coordinate with the Office of Academic Services in order to register for the required credits. 

Further reading: Information about fellowships

Teaching Assistantships

JD students may serve as teaching assistants for first-year and upper-level Law School courses. Faculty participation is voluntary—not all professors will recruit TAs. TAs will attend each session of the course (with the exception of Lawyering TAs), conduct review sessions, hold office hours, and perform other duties as necessary to support the professor of the course. 

All TAs are chosen by faculty members, and if you are interested in TAing for a course, keep an eye out for announcements of available positions from the professor. Teaching assistants can earn a maximum of two credits.

Further reading: Information about Teaching Assistants

Leaves of Absence

Leaves of absence can be taken from the JD program at NYU Law, for medical or personal reasons. LOAs are granted to students in good academic standing with adequate reason, and can be taken for one or two semesters. Students wishing to take a leave must fill out a form and address an explanatory memo to the Office of Student Affairs, and meet with the Dean of Students or another Student Affairs administrator. Medical leaves must be accompanied by a letter from a medical provider. Leaves longer than one year must be approved by the Executive Committee. 

If you wish to take an LOA, you must also contact Student Financial Services and the Office of Residential Life (if you are an on-campus student). 

Direct questions to: Student Affairs at law.studentaffairs@nyu.edu 

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Study Abroad

There are two study abroad programs at NYU Law—one in Buenos Aires, and one in Paris. Curriculum is developed in close collaboration with partner schools, and is designed to give participants ample exposure to the local legal system, with clinical opportunities, transactional courses, language training, and more. All courses in both programs are taught in English. 

Each site can accommodate between 16 and 25 NYU Law students each spring semester. 2Ls and 3Ls are permitted to study abroad. Students who go abroad must still register for and complete a full courseload. The application process to study abroad typically runs from late August through early September; keep an eye on the Global Programs website for exact deadlines. 

Direct questions to the Office of Global Programs at law.globalstudents@nyu.edu 

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Bar Exam 101/Requirements

The bar exam is the culmination of your law school education, administered by the state you wish to practice in. You should familiarize yourself early on with the requirements for your state, including dates the bar exam is typically administered, whether another exam (such as the MPRE or the UBE) is also required, pro bono requirements, and accommodations procedures. Most NYU Law students will take the July bar exam during the summer after they graduate, though some will take the February bar exam during their 3L year. 

There are a variety of bar preparatory courses available; NYU Law does not endorse any particular program and encourages you to research thoroughly before signing up for a bar prep course. Some programs allow students going into law firms to “sponsor” a public interest student’s bar prep materials. 

If you anticipate needing accommodations during the bar exam, it is highly encouraged that you register with the Moses Center as soon as possible while in law school. When applying for bar exam accommodations, a history of accommodations is an important factor. 

Please also ensure you review the character and fitness requirements for the state bar that you seek admission to. If you need to disclose infractions such as speeding tickets or misdemeanors, you can reach out to the Office of Student Affairs, which will help you through the process. 

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