New York University School of Law

The New York University School of Law is a private law school located in Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan. Established in 1835, it holds the distinction of being the first law school created in New York City and remains the oldest surviving law school in New York State. The institution awards Juris Doctor, Master of Laws, and Doctor of Juridical Science degrees.

The school gained historical significance through its curricular innovations. When Benjamin Franklin Butler, who served as United States Attorney General, founded the school at NYU's request, he introduced the course method of legal instruction, an approach that became the standard for legal education throughout the United States. The school relocated to its current Washington Square location in 1951.