Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center
225 Eastview Drive
Central Islip, NY 11722
(631) 761-7010
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TOURO LAW CENTER STUDENTS SAY…
Academics & Programs: Located on suburban Long Island, Touro Law Center boasts “many clinics on site.” Six in-house clinics give full-time and part-time students the opportunity to serve real clients in civil rights litigation, elder law, family law, mortgage foreclosure and bankruptcy, and veterans and servicemembers’ rights clinic, and not-for-profit corporation law. Offcampus clinics include business, technology law, civil practice, judicial clerkship, and criminal law.
The school also offers an intensive, twenty-hour-a-week rotation program with the U.S. attorney’s office. Touro’s “focus on internships and externships” and its unique location, “only a five-iron shot” from federal and state courthouses, draws many students to the school. “Being located next to district, family, supreme, and federal courthouses gives Touro students a unique real-life look at what attorneys do while in court,” explains one student. “I’ve randomly visited the court in the morning and observed attorneys conduct direct and cross-examinations in a $150 million court case.” “We have a court [observation] program for the 1Ls, which is the first of its kind in law school academia,” describes a 1L. “This program allows us access to more than just viewing a proceeding. With the hard work of the school staff, we have been given extra privileges at the court house including visits to chambers, personal audiences with both prosecutors, defense counsel, and all levels of court officers.” “The direct contact with judges and attorneys and their input helps to [provide] insight into different areas of law.” Also, “Having a better perspective on the various areas of law helps with deciding which area of law one may want to practice.”
The course work at Touro “emphasizes legal writing and analysis.” “Class sizes are pretty small, so it’s not so intimidating to speak in front of everyone.” The “smart, friendly, and approachable” professors are “excited to educate” (though there are a few “pretty boring ones”). “Plenty of judges and practitioners also teach classes.” Accessibility is not a problem. “There is a high level of morale, and the daily interaction between student and professor is priceless.” Faculty members are “always willing to meet with and talk to the students outside the classroom,” “no matter how long—or how many times—they have to go over a given concept.” “Professors can be seen dining with students in the school’s cafeteria while casually discussing the law,” adds a 1L.
Some students call the Career Services Office “exceptional.” “They will do their absolute best to make sure you are prepared for interviews and aware of upcoming opportunities,” says one happy customer. Other students gripe that Career Services is “not at all helpful.” Also, though Touro offers very flexible full-time and part-time programs, course scheduling is a huge problem. “There is not a lot of flexibility with regard to course selection,” and “There are too many required courses after the first year.” The administration, though “very accessible,” seems “out of touch with the student body,” “and they never seem to know what is going on.”
Campus Life/Facilities: The facilities here are “brand-new,” and students love them. Touro has a “state-of-theart building” in which “Everything is high-tech and top-of-the-line.” The “layout of the classrooms is odd,” and “There are some problems with acoustics,” but the “roomy” library has ample study space. There is a ton of free parking as well. The Law Center “follows a Jewish calendar,” and one student notes that Touro “could improve by staying open on Saturday.”
“Generally people get along very well” at Touro. “There is a good mix of both young and older, more experienced students.” “The greatest strength of my law school is the sense of community that begins from the moment you enter the school,” waxes a 3L. “In the full-time program you spend a full year with your incoming section and then half your classes the second year,” adds a 2L. “This enables you to form strong bonds for study groups and lifelong friendships. Also, even though everyone studies a lot during the week, students find time to be social on Thursday or Friday nights.”
“The location of the school is perfect from an educational standpoint because of the proximity to the courthouse.” There’s “an on-campus lecture luncheon series with state and federal judges.” The downside to life here is the “almost nonexistent social atmosphere.” “The majority of the students commute from great distances, which doesn’t facilitate social opportunities.” “People try to get involved and sponsor extracurricular social activities” and there are “plenty of opportunities to party and have fun,” but you have to seek them out. “We need more social activities that cater to more students and bring us together as a community,” suggests a 2L. The inescapable fact that “Central Islip is not exactly the party capital of the world” doesn’t help. Fortunately, the culture and nightlife of New York City is only about an hour away.
* The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University.
