William P. Richardson, dean from 1901-1945.

In 1903, to secure degree-conferring authority for its first graduating class, the Law School became affiliated with St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, maintaining this affiliation until the mid 1940s. In 1904, the historic Brooklyn Eagle Building located at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge became the Law School's new headquarters.

Taken from the 1910 Comet (Classbook)

From its earliest days, Brooklyn Law School has occupied a special position among law schools with its tradition of welcoming students regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity. Archival photographs show that at least as early as 1909, and perhaps even before that, African-American students and women attended the Law School. During the 1920s and 1930s, particularly, Brooklyn Law School earned a reputation as an institution open to students who could not afford to attend more elite schools, or who were denied admission to those schools because of discriminatory admission practices.

The entrance to Richardson Hall

By 1928 the Law School had outgrown the Brooklyn Eagle Building, and the first of its custom-designed buildings was constructed at 375 Pearl Street. The school would remain at that location, known as Richardson Hall, for the next 40 years. Shortly after moving into Richardson Hall, the Law School established an evening program which thrived during the Great Depression, and enrollment grew to over 1,500. In 1937, the Law School achieved a significant milestone when it was accredited by the American Bar Association.

A Time of Change
The 1940s were a time of change for the Law School. Enrollment was at a low point in the early part of the decade with many young men serving in the armed forces. BLS also suffered a "near death" experience at this time when St. Lawrence University decided to close the Law School. Faculty and alumni rallied to buy back the school from St. Lawrence and, in 1943, Brooklyn Law School became independent. When World War II ended, BLS rebounded by establishing a successful refresher law program for returning veterans and enrollment increased dramatically.

Groundbreaking for the 1968 Building at 250 Joralemon Street. Dean Prince (right) and Henry L. Ughetta, president of the board.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Jerome Prince, a founder of the Brooklyn Law Review – and its first editor-in-chief, led the Law School. At the time of his appointment as dean, he had been a long-standing member of the faculty and had served as vice dean and associate dean for many years. He was a renowned evidence scholar, and served in many high-profile public service positions. Under Dean Prince's leadership, the programs of the Law School were modernized, the faculty grew, the library was rebuilt, and the endowment fund was substantially augmented.

A Modern Law School Building
In 1968, ground was broken at 250 Joralemon Street, our current location. The ten-story building opened in 1969, and that inauguration marked the beginning of sweeping changes at the Law School. Raymond E. Lisle, who became dean in 1971, was instrumental in the school's academic growth during this period. He oversaw the conversion of the curriculum from one which was almost entirely prescribed to a broad elective program following the first year of study. While he was dean, the first of several clinics opened, the joint degree programs were developed, a professional placement and career planning office was created, and the Brooklyn Journal of International Law was launched. There was also a significant expansion of the faculty, with many new professors from diverse backgrounds joining the Law School. Smaller classes became more prevalent and the overall teacher/student ratio was reduced. Also under Dean Lisle's administration, the school became a member of the Association of American Law Schools.

When Dean Lisle stepped down in 1977 and returned to teaching, he was succeeded by I. Leo Glasser, a member of the Law School's faculty. Dean Glasser implemented several innovations in the school's academic program during his six years as dean, including the introduction of a unique research and writing program. He stepped down upon being appointed to the federal bench in 1983.

A School on the Move
David G. Trager, a member of the Law School faculty for ten years, became the Law School's sixth dean. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he was also a former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. During his tenure, the school achieved tremendous progress, gaining a national reputation for outstanding legal education. The faculty grew considerably, as Dean Trager skillfully recruited both accomplished and rising legal scholars who were experts in many diverse fields of law. Several innovative clinics and improved skills training programs were added. He was instrumental in expanding student housing by facilitating the acquisition of several residence halls in Brooklyn Heights. He also spearheaded the construction of a major addition to the Law School's main building, which opened in 1994.

Upon Dean Trager's appointment as a judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Joan G. Wexler became interim dean. A graduate of Yale Law School, she had served as the Law School's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for six years and taught courses in family law, estate planning, and trusts and estates. She was appointed dean in 1994, becoming the first woman to head Brooklyn Law School, and among the first women law school deans in the country.

The Law School Today
Under Dean Wexler's leadership, Brooklyn Law School's national reputation has been significantly enhanced. She has instituted an expanded Upperclass Writing Program, continued to expand clinical opportunities, completed a high-tech renovation of all classrooms, launched innovative new lecture series and visiting scholar programs, and created the first endowed faculty chairs in the school's history.

Dean Richardson would no doubt be proud of the Law School today. From its modest beginnings in Ryerson Street 100 years ago, Brooklyn Law School now commands a visually striking and technologically sophisticated campus. Our stunning new library contains a half million volumes, three elegant reading rooms, 30 conference rooms in which students can gather for group study, and lounge areas where students can read and unwind between classes. Our new and remodeled classrooms provide flexible seating for small or large groups, convert into courtrooms for our moot court and trial advocacy programs, and are designed to make use of video technology and computer-assisted instructional materials. But even more important, Dean Richardson would be proud of our world-class faculty. Their contributions to legal scholarship, public service, and the practice of law, as well as their devotion to the intellectual development of our students, are what makes Brooklyn Law School such a special institution.