
Brooklyn Law School is an independent law school founded in 1901. Its original purpose was to make legal education accessible to people who could not attend a conventional daytime program, including working students.
The school later became independent rather than operating as a division of another educational institution. That history helps explain its continuing emphasis on flexible routes into legal study. Today, it is a graduate professional school, not an undergraduate college; applicants ordinarily pursue a law degree after completing a bachelor's degree.
Brooklyn Law School is organized as a specialized law school rather than a university with multiple undergraduate colleges. Its principal degree is the Juris Doctor, or J.D., the professional degree typically pursued by people seeking admission to a U.S. bar.
Students study foundational subjects such as contracts, constitutional law, criminal law, property, and legal research and writing before choosing from more specialized courses. Clinical courses, externships, journals, and advocacy activities provide ways to apply classroom work. The school also offers an LL.M. for lawyers who already hold a first law degree. Applicants should compare the requirements and intended career uses of the J.D. and LL.M.; they are not interchangeable credentials.
Brooklyn Law School is in Downtown Brooklyn, New York, near courts, government offices, legal employers, and public transit. Its principal academic address is 250 Joralemon Street.
The setting can make travel to internships, court proceedings, and professional events practical, but it also means students should budget for New York City living expenses. Subway and bus connections serve the neighborhood, so many students may find commuting more practical than keeping a car. Housing decisions should account for the time and cost of travel, not just the distance on a map.
Brooklyn Law School presents its educational purpose as preparing students for legal practice through rigorous study, practical training, and attention to professional responsibility. Its stated priorities include access to legal education and engagement with the communities lawyers serve.
These are institutional aims, not measures of what every student will experience. Prospective students can test how the aims translate into practice by examining clinic eligibility, course availability, public-service opportunities, and the school's published employment and bar-admission disclosures.
Name of the institution
Brooklyn Law SchoolLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, graduate with no undergraduate degreesInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Brooklyn Law School is institutionally accredited by the American Bar Association, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Master's degree
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.