The Advanced Communications Law and Policy Institute (ACLP) at NYLS promotes constructive debate of the key regulatory issues facing the wireline, wireless, broadband, and IP platforms, collectively known as the advanced communications sector. Its mission is to promote robust, solution-oriented dialogues on these topics among state and federal policy makers, industry leaders, and academics through conferences and symposia, workshops and training sessions, and publications. Michael J. Santorelli ’05 is the Institute's Director.

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The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Skills Program conveys not only doctrinal education, but also empirical and practical skills in the field of conflict avoidance, management and resolution. The ADR Skills Program also seeks to engage the legal departments, law firms, courts ,and government agencies of the New York City region by hosting CLE courses, speaking events, guest lectures on campus, and on-ite “bespoke” trainings to add value to the broader legal community. Distinguished Adjunct Professor F. Peter Phillips '87 is Director.

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The Business of Law Institute prepares students and lawyers to meet the evolving needs of 21st-century businesses, law firms, and government agencies. The Institute’s offerings include courses, hands-on training opportunities, and extracurricular learning labs related to risk and compliance, privacy, cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence, e-discovery, and similar fields.

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The Center for Justice & Democracy (CJ&D) is the only nonprofit consumer rights group in the nation that focuses exclusively on protecting plaintiffs’ access to the civil courts. Its mission is to raise public awareness about attacks on the civil justice system, the value of tort law, the importance of corporate liability and accountability, and the need for independent judges and juries, including the corrupting influence of money in judicial elections. CJ&D works with Congress and state legislatures around the nation, including in New York. Adjunct Professor Joanne Doroshow leads CJ&D.

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The Criminal Justice Projectbrings together defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and academics to discuss important issues in criminal practice. Successful criminal justice reform requires collaboration, which is particularly difficult in the political arena. The Criminal Justice Project offers a neutral arena, where those with different views can come together. Students and faculty develop events on topics such as bail reform, over-criminalization, racial injustice, and sentencing reform that help further the conversation. Issues facing New York City, including implementing the new bail, speedy trial, and discovery reforms, are a particular focus of this work. The Project’s Faculty Director is Professor Rebecca Roiphe.

The Diane Abbey Law Institute for Children and Families provides opportunities for students interested in children’s and family law issues to pursue their interests through policy research and advocacy, individual client representation, and writing. The Abbey Institute serves the community through policy work and events programming; it also provides free legal services to identity theft victims who have been wrongfully deprived of the ability to get married. Professor Lisa Grumet is Faculty Director.

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The Fashion Law Initiative is a premier legal program dedicated to training the next generation of fashion lawyers through coursework, research opportunities, conferences, externships, mentorship, and networking opportunities with well-known fashion brands and designers; promoting a collaborative network of knowledge within NYLS and among stakeholders actively interested in helping protect consumers from the safety and privacy risks associated with new forms of technology in fashion; and training innovative attorneys to engage in service to the community as mentors and volunteers. Adjunct Professor Joseph Forgione is the Institute’s Director.

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As a part of the Center for Business and Financial Law, the Financial Services Law Institute focuses on the law and regulation of all aspects of the financial industry, including banks, broker-dealers, and investment funds. The Institute sponsors events led by senior practitioners and regulatory officials. Its mission is supported by the School’s J.D. financial services related courses including: Corporate Finance, Derivatives Market Regulation Seminar, Financial Advocacy, Financial Services Seminar & Workshop, Private Equity Funds, Securities Arbitration Clinic and Seminar, and Securities Regulation. Professor Howard Meyers is the Institute’s Faculty Director.

The Housing Justice Leadership Institute (HJLI) is a 10-day leadership, supervision, and management-skills training program for housing rights supervising attorneys in New York City. HJLI’s program is designed to help supervising attorneys lead, manage, and support delivery of the highest-quality legal assistance to tenants facing eviction. The Institute reinforces the critical role of lawyers in supporting a community-led housing justice movement, and building power and voice in community-based groups. Professor Andrew Scherer is Faculty Director.

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The Institute for CyberSafety is a first-of-its-kind anti-cyberharassment research institute dedicated to raising awareness and training socially conscious attorneys in order to eradicate cyber-harassment—particularly of New York City’s LGBTQ+ youth—through direct outreach, pro bono legal services, education, and coalition-building. Adjunct Professor Joseph Forgione is the Institute's Director.

Through the Institute for Global Law, Justice, and Policy, faculty and students collaborate with leading scholars and experts in national and international practice. The Institute’s work includes lectures, publications, and projects. Professor Ruti Teitel is Faculty Director.

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The Institute for Professional Ethics seeks to provide students with a sophisticated understanding of modern law practice and to equip students with the judgment and integrity needed to deal with the complex ethical and moral questions that lawyers confront. The Institute collaborates with several of the School’s centers to ensure that students learn about law practice in a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional practice settings. The Institutehosts programs, symposia, and master classes for students and practitioners to create an ongoing dialogue about professional ethics. Professor Rebecca Roiphe is Faculty Director.

The Law School Pipeline Project harnesses the unique skills of law students, legal educators, and practitioners to enhance the educational and career opportunities of students from underserved communities in New York City. Much of the Project’s work is made possible by a close partnership with The Charter High School for Law and Social Justice, co-founded by Professor Richard Marsico. NYLS students conduct legal research and teach law to high school students during the summer.

The Innovation Center’s LegalTech Lab is home to student and faculty software projects. These projects make use of technologies such as machine learning, data analytics, and application programming interfaces to develop software tools and applications that improve the practice of law or that serve the public interest. To suggest or join a project, or for more information, contact Professor Houman Shadab.

The New York Census and Redistricting Institute engages and educates public institutions, nonprofit organizations, and the public about law and policy relating to the national census in 2020 and subsequent city and state redistricting. Adjunct Professor and Senior Fellow Jeffrey Wice is the Institute's Director.

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The Patient Safety Project develops and maintains an electronic database of redacted medical malpractice cases recently resolved in the New York State Unified Court System. The Project serves as a valuable teaching resource and encourages an open dialogue among medical care providers, risk managers, physicians, medical students, insurance providers, and lawyers. This database is the first of its kind, with the state’s Office of Court Administration granting special permission for its creation. Project administrators and students work with the courts to collect the voluntary and anonymous versions of the undisputed facts as confirmed by the presiding judge. The data is not intended for use in future litigation or for purposes of impeachment. The Patient Safety Project is co-directed by Trustee and Adjunct Professor Steven Pegalis ’65, a medical liability trial attorney, and Dr. Irwin Merkatz, Emeritus Professor and Former Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The Racial Justice Project is a legal advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the constitutional and civil rights of people who have been denied their rights on the basis of race, and to increasing public awareness of racism and racial injustice in the areas of education, employment, political participation, economic inequality, and criminal justice. The Project’s work includes impact litigation, appellate advocacy, legislative advocacy, training, and public education. Professors Penelope Andrews and Alvin Bragg serve as Faculty Co-Directors.

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The Right to Counsel Project provides academic support for advocacy related to the implementation of New York City legislation that creates a right to counsel for tenants facing eviction. The Project also provides support, including research and data, supporting the extension of the right to counsel for tenants nationally. Professor Andrew Scherer is Faculty Director.

The Rooftops Project, an initiative founded and directed by former Distinguished Adjunct Professor James Hagy, hosts an ongoing dialogue about topics relating to the effective occupancy, use, and management of real estate in the social sector; highlights and celebrate the diverse roles played by real estate in supporting the mission of not-for-profit organizations of every type; and increases awareness of how a disciplined approach to real estate can benefit not-for-profit organizations of every size. Rooftops Group LLC, of which Professor Hagy is the Managing Director, is responsible for all Rooftops Project programming and content.

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The South Africa and the Rule of Law Project focuses on the achievements of constitutional law in South Africa and the challenges that South Africa faces in building a rule of constitutional law that will endure into the future. The achievements are many—beginning, crucially, with the end of apartheid. But challenges persist: Corruption eats at the fabric of South African democracy, and bitter power struggles may jeopardize the country’s guarantees of political liberties. This Project engages NYLS students in South Africa’s ongoing development of constitutional law because South African constitutionalism is important in itself and because, in the end, the issues South Africa faces have many echoes in the United States. Professor Penelope Andrews is Faculty Director of the Project.