CRES Associates Program

The Center for Real Estate Studies (CRES) is pleased to announce the creation of the CRES Associates Program for students who would like to focus their studies in real estate law and become affiliated with the Center for Real Estate Studies.

Background.    CRES Associates will have the unique educational opportunity to examine a broad array of real estate issues in the private markets and the public sector through an extensive selection of classroom courses, advanced seminars and independent study projects, externships in governmental offices and real estate firms as well as other opportunities to participate in and attend lectures, seminars and CLE programs. CRES Associates will also write articles for, and be involved in all aspects of, the Center’s new academic publication, Center for Real Estate Studies Law Reporter.

Upon completion of the CRES Associates Program, you will:

  • Develop a coherent approach to your studies in real estate;
  • Obtain a deep understanding of the private practice and public regulation of real estate law;
  • Gain valuable skills in researching and writing about real estate law and drafting transactional documents; and
  • Build a portfolio of written work published in an academic journal.

Eligibility.    This new program is separate and distinct from the Harlan Scholars Program and all 1L and 2L students (Harlans and non-Harlans) are invited to apply to become CRES Associates. After the 2008-2009 transitional year, only 1L students will be eligible to apply.

Curricular Requirements.    CRES Associates are required to fulfill the curricular requirements set forth below. Part of the required curriculum includes enrollment in a new course, Real Estate Law Reporter, during your third year of school (see detailed course description below). As part of the work in this new course, CRES Associates will research, write and edit articles for the Center’s publication, Center for Real Estate Studies Law Reporter.  Each student will be responsible for reporting on new developments in one or more specific fields of real estate law (such as landlord/tenant law, commercial leasing, real estate development, real estate finance, commercial and residential real estate transactions, title insurance, real estate brokers, etc). Students will become experts in their selected topics and will follow their assigned topics throughout the course. Certain papers selected by the Professor may be published in the Center for Real Estate Studies Law Reporter.

Real Estate Law Reporter is a limited enrollment, two-credit course, meeting every other week during the entire academic year.  Students earn the two credits at the end of the Spring term; the Fall term has no credits.  For academic year 2008/09, the required class is scheduled to meet (approximately every other week) on Mondays at 2pm.

Center for Real Estate Stiudies Law Reporter.     The Center for Real Estate Studies will begin publishing Center for Real Estate Law Reporter, a new newsletter which will focus on both the private practice and public regulation of real estate in New York. Center for Real Estate Studies Law Reporter will fill an important need for New York real estate lawyers and will report, consolidate, and analyze court cases, pending state and city legislation and regulation, and current “best practices” in preparing contracts and other documents in real estate transactions. Each student will be responsible for reporting on new developments in one or more specific fields (such as landlord/tenant law, commercial leasing, real estate development, real estate finance, commercial and residential real estate transactions, title insurance, real estate brokers, etc).

Typical Student Schedule.    Set forth below is a typical schedule for a CRES Associate:

  • Second Year:
    • Real Estate Transactions & Finance (3 credits, Fall or Spring); and
    • Two of the following elective courses: Corporations, Secured Transactions, Wills, Trusts, and Future Interests, Federal Income Tax: Individual, Bankruptcy or Securities Regulation (Fall or Spring).
  • Third Year:
    • Two upper-class electives dealing primarily with real estate, environmental law, the public regulation of real estate, or urban affairs (Fall or Spring); and
    • Real Estate Law Reporter (2 credits total for the year, class meets every other week, Fall & Spring).

Special Requirements for Existing 3L Students for the 2008-2009 Transitional Year.    Existing 3L students who would like to become CRES Associates during their third year must complete the same requirements, and are required to take Real Estate Law Reporter in their third year.

Application Procedure.    Existing 1L and 2L students can apply by submitting their resume (including GPA), transcript, and a short personal statement (no more than two pages) describing how the program would contribute to their course of study and career goals. Applications should be submitted in hardcopy form to Melissa Rumbold in room A800.

For more information:

If you have questions about the CRES Associates Program, please contact Melissa Rumbold, Associate Director of the Center for Real Estate Studies, at Melissa.Rumbold@nyls.edu.

CRES Associates Program- Required Curriculum

In addition to first-year Property, CRES Associates are required to take the following courses:

(1) Real Estate Transactions & Finance (2nd year, 3 credits, Fall or Spring);

(2) Two advanced upper-class electives dealing primarily with real estate, environmental law, the public regulation of real estate, urban affairs or other courses as determined by the CRES Director [see list below] (2nd or 3rd year);

(3) Two of the following: Corporations; Wills, Trusts & Future Interests; Federal Income Tax: Individual; Secured Transactions; Bankruptcy; or Securities Regulation (2nd or 3rd year);  and

(4) Real Estate Law Reporter [see below for detailed course description] (2 credits total for the academic year, class meets every-other week in the Fall and Spring. This class is required to be taken in the 3rd year.)

[NOTE: If any of these courses are not offered in the evening schedule, alternate arrangements will be made for CRES Associates in the Evening Division.]

Elective Courses Dealing Primarily with Real Estate:

Real Estate: Landlord/Tenant Law
Real Estate: Commercial Leasing
Real Estate: Cooperatives and Condominiums
Real Estate: Development
Real Estate: Legal Planning and Practice
Real Estate: Workouts, Foreclosures and Bankruptcy
Drafting: Real Estate Documents
Environmental Issues in Real Estate and Business Transactions

Elective Courses Dealing Primarily with the Public Regulation of Real Estate:

Land Use Regulation
Environmental Governance Seminar
Environmental Law and Policy
Environmental Issues in Real Estate and Business Transactions
New York City Land Use Rules and Procedures

Elective Courses Dealing Primarily with Issues of Significance to Urban Areas:

Environmental Law and Policy
Housing & Lending Discrimination Laws
Urban Law Clinic

Course Description- Real Estate Law Reporter

The Center for Real Estate Studies will begin publishing Real Estate Law Reports (working title) during the 2008/09 academic year. This new publication will focus on both the private practice and public regulation of real estate in New York. Real Estate Law Reports will fill an important need for New York real estate lawyers and will report, consolidate, and analyze court cases, pending state and city legislation and regulation, and current “best practices” in preparing contracts and other documents commonly used in real estate transactions.

Students enrolled in the Real Estate Law Reporter course will become experts in one or more specific fields of real estate law (such as landlord/tenant law, commercial leasing, real estate development, real estate finance, commercial and residential real estate transactions, title insurance, real estate brokers, etc). The course requires that students research, write and edit at least four articles for the class during the academic year. If the article is of substantial merit, it will be published in the new publication, Real Estate Law Reports.

This is a required course for CRES Associates affiliated with the Center for Real Estate Studies. Enrollment is limited. Written application and prior approval for this course is required.

Please note that this workshop will meet 14 times (approximately every other week) throughout the Fall and Spring terms.  Students are required to register for this course in both the Fall and Spring terms.  The 2-credits will be awarded upon successful completion of both terms only.  Although this course meets in both the Fall and Spring terms, the Fall term has zero credits, and the Spring term has two credits.  Other course requirements and details will be distributed at the beginning of the class.

Prerequisites: Property (REQ500) and Real Estate Transactions & Finance (LND 100)