Fordham’s main campus is in the Bronx, but its law school is right in the heart of Manhattan. Outside of the T14, Fordham is the place to go if you want to end up practicing Big Law. Its placement outcomes in the city are actually better than many T14 schools outside of NYC. If you’re struggling to reach T14 medians but are an otherwise strong applicant, Fordham is a very strong consideration.

Going to Fordham Law comes with a bit of a trade off: its program is laser-focused at getting top applicants into the New York corporate law scene. It’s a powerhouse—but only within NYC. Where Columbia or NYU gives you New York focus with a national reach, a Fordham Law degree isn’t as portable if you plan to start your legal career somewhere else (though several years out of law school, where you got your JD matters much less than what you’ve done with your initial round of professional opportunities.)

Fordham also has one of the best part-time programs in the country, making it a natural fit for those who want to continue to work while earning their JD. Over the years, we’ve found that this option is best for people already working in an intense law-adjacent industry in New York, such as finance. If you apply to the part time program, you’ll want to prepare a strong reason for why it makes professional sense for you to do so.