St. John's University School of Law

The doors to St. John's University School of Lawtheyre opened on September 28, 1925. The school was established 55 years after St. John's University was opened by the Vincentian Community. Its original purpose was to educate children from families whotheyre denied economic and educational opportunities. The first year of the Law School was held at the Terminal Building, 50 Court Street, Brooklyn. The classestheyre so popular that expansion was almost immediate. The school leased additional space from nearby buildings in August 1926. They soon overflowed, and the school needed another facility to expand. The school moved into a fourteen-story new building at 96 Schermerhorn Street, downtown Brooklyn. The University felt stifled once again as graduate and college applications soared in the late 1960s. The Law School broke ground in 1970 for its new Queens Campus building. Today, most of the University is there. In 1972, the School of Law moved into its new location. It was able to create more classrooms and a large law library astheyll as offices for the expanding faculty. St. John's Law was able to expand again thanks to the generosity and support of Leon Finley, '85HON. Finley Hall was created. The older building was restored thanks to the generosity of Jerome, 84HON, and Maxine, 98HON Belson. Belson Hall and Finley Hall, together, make a beautiful and spacious space for the Law School.