As the legal job market evolves, so too must law schools adapt to better serve students. In the last year, law schools across the country have adopted different strategies to better serve their students, and one such strategy, the 2-year J.D. program, will now be offered for the first time in the New York area by Brooklyn Law School.
Approved by the school’s board of trustees on Tuesday, Brooklyn Law School’s 2-year J.D program will contribute to a full range of time-flexible options currently offered by the school that now includes 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4-year options as part of its “Brooklyn 2-3-4” program.
Brooklyn Law School’s 2-year J.D. program will require the same amount of work as the traditional 3-year program, all of which will be completed within a shortened time frame. The program is geared towards adults who may be in the midst of their career or eager to reenter the workforce (e.g. CPAs, MBA graduates, and academics) and foreign attorneys with a strong command of English. A few particularly exceptional students may also be encouraged to enter the 2-year program.
“We have listened to and carefully considered the concerns about the legal education system,” said Dean Nick Allard. “We worked hard to ensure that the 2-year program is fully compliant with the American Bar Association rules and other applicable requirements. I am grateful for the willingness and enthusiasm of our faculty to find a bold alternative that opens new doors for students who might otherwise not consider law school.”
By offering an abbreviated time-frame for earning a J.D., Brooklyn Law School hopes to provide opportunities for those who wish to obtain the degree but are unable to make a 3-year commitment. This shorter timetable will require students to pay less tuition, and get to work quicker in an effort to pay off any debt that is acquired.
“Brooklyn 2-3-4 is the 21st century academic extension of this pioneering tradition,” said Stuart Subotnick, Chair of the Brooklyn Law School Board of Trustees. “We have always created genuine advancements, not educational fads. The accelerated J.D. will give ambitious, talented, and hardworking students an edge in entering the marketplace sooner.”
