GW Law in New York

GW Law students interested in business law can gain hands-on experience while pursuing a domestic off-campus study in New York City. This innovative program creates educational opportunities, linked to student professional goals, in an environment that draws on GW’s alumni relationships.

The GWNY program is offered during the fall and spring semesters to second and third-year GW Law students. Each program participant is required to enroll in a business law oriented 2, 3, or 4-credit externship, a 2-credit co-requisite course, Business Lawyering (LAW 6810), and business law electives taught by leading experts with their fingers on the pulse of the business community and financial markets. GWNY course offerings are curated to mirror ever-evolving market demands and innovation. Electives have included Banking Law Topics (LAW 6289), Corporate Restructuring (LAW 6263), Securities Law Topics (LAW 6267), International Project Finance (LAW 6545), White Collar Crime (LAW 6364), Legal Drafting (LAW 6652), and Reading Group (6351).

All GWNY classes, as well as monthly networking events, are held at the offices of participating law firms including O’Melveny & Myers, Paul Weiss, Mayer Brown, Milbank, Mintz & Gold, and Sullivan Cromwell. Library privileges are available to GWNY students at Columbia University and New York University as well as the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. While each student is responsible for securing housing arrangements, the program maintains an active partnership with the 92nd Street Y, a non-profit institution offering affordable accommodations to students on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

GWNY students may obtain field placements at a wide array of organizations offering business-centric externship opportunities to law students. Examples: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), Settlement Housing Fund, Lawyers Alliance, New York State Commercial Courts, and U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Courts.

Thanks to the program, GWNY alumni have secured positions at the following firms, among many others: Baker Botts; Cahill Gordon; Clifford Chance; Cooley; Davis Polk; Hogan Lovells; Kirkland & Ellis; Kramer Levin; Mayer Brown; O’Melveny; Orrick Herrington; Paul Weiss; Ropes & Gray; and Sullivan & Cromwell.

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Interested in GWNY?

Interested students must attend a mandatory information session held in March (for the fall semester) or in September (for the spring semester). Applications are due in mid-April or early October (for the fall or spring semesters, respectively).  A mandatory externship orientation on the GW Law campus is held prior to each semester. All GWNY classes and externships commence in August (for the fall semester) or January (for the spring semester).

Questions about GWNY can be directed to the GWNY Faculty Director, Professor Jeffrey Manns at [email protected], and Professor Jeffrey Kohn at [email protected] (who will be resident in New York City as a Professor of Practice in Business and Finance Law).

Download the Fall 2023 Application Form (PDF)

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Course & Externship Information

There are no prerequisites for participation in the GWNY program. But students are strongly encouraged to take Corporations Law in advance. Please note that some GWNY course electives may have prerequisites.  Electives have included Banking Law Topics (LAW 6289), Corporate Restructuring (LAW 6263), Securities Law Topics (LAW 6267), International Project Finance (LAW 6545), White Collar Crime (LAW 6364), Legal Drafting (LAW 6652), and Reading Group (6351).

Eligible externships will be in the New York metropolitan area and have some orientation toward the practice of business law or provide at least some meaningful perspective toward business practice, whether through administration, oversight, or enforcement, and whether involving business law as such or contiguous fields such as antitrust, bankruptcy, financial, governance, insurance, investment, regulatory compliance, or securities law.   

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Faculty

 

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Securing an Externship

Externships must be business law-oriented, and in conformity with GW Law’s externships program policies, including organizational eligibility requirements, i.e., 501(c), government, or judicial. All externships must first be approved by the Field Placement Program, and all eligibility determinations are final.

Students are encouraged to seek their own externship placements for participation in the GWNY program and to visit the staff of the Field Placement Program and Career Center for general advice on externships as early in the preliminary planning process as feasible. No commitments concerning externships for the program should be finalized until externships are approved by the Field Placement Office and students are accepted into the program.

Alvita Barrow
Senior Law Career Counselor
GW Law Career Center
[email protected]

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Policies and Procedures

Except as expressly provided concerning special procedures and policies applicable to the New York field placements and courses, all procedures and policies of GW Law School apply equally to New York field placements and courses. These include those set forth in The George Washington University Law School Policy on Academic Integrity and The Field Placement Program (FPP) Student and Supervisor Handbooks.

With specific regard to field placements, such procedures and policies include, but are not limited to, those concerning eligibility by organizational type [501(c), government, or judicial], field supervision requirements, the mandatory co-requisite course, registration forms, credits, hours-per-credit, work product logs, grading, mid-semester and final student and supervisor evaluations, and financial aid. Students interested in the GWNY program should also take care that participation is consistent with their overall program, particularly coursework, credits, and enrollment units required for graduation. 

For general information about GW’s externship policies and procedures, please visit GW Law Field Placement. 

The Field Placement Program requires each student to submit two registration forms, one to be completed by the student and one by their field placement supervisor. Forms are available from the Field Placement Program office.

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Permission to Operate

In accordance with New York State statutes and regulations, GWNY has received permission to operate in the State from the Members of the Board of Regents, The New York State Education Department.  

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Important Dates

The general outline of the GWNY calendar follows. Specific dates are added before the start of each semester.  

Fall Semester

Late March
Student information sessions will be held (attend one)

Late March
Application period opens—students may submit applications for the program.

Mid April
The application period closes—students must submit applications for the program by the close of business on this date.  

Late April
Accepted students will be notified.

Early August
Deadline for accepted students to finalize externships and submit Field Placement registration forms.

Late August
GWNY Classes begin, starting with Business Lawyering

Late August
Mandatory Field Placement Program orientation sessions for all participating students.

Spring Semester

Mid September
Student information sessions will be held (attend one)

Early October
Application period opens—students may submit applications for the program.

Mid October
Application period closes—students must submit applications for the program by the close of business on this date.  

Late October
Accepted students will be notified.

Mid December
Deadline for accepted students to finalize externships and submit Field Placement registration forms.

Early January
GWNY Classes begin, starting with Business Lawyering

Early January
Mandatory Field Placement Program orientation sessions for all participating students.

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News

"GWNY Students Provide Mutual Support at Pandemic's Epicenter" - GW Law

"A Direct Path to Wall Street" - GW Law Magazine

"Law School Renews Career, Mentorship Program in New York after Successful Launch" - GW Hatchet

Law School in the Modern Era - Washington Lawyer