Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

Laura Schwartz ‘90, the Director of the Center for Bankruptcy Studies at St. John’s Law School, has been instrumental in expanding the center's impact and building on its strong foundation of success. Reflecting on the evolution of the bankruptcy program at St. John's Law, Schwartz acknowledges the contributions of past faculty members who played a key role in shaping the center into what it is today.

Schwartz, who transitioned from commercial litigation to a major bankruptcy and restructuring practice, returned to St. John’s Law to work closely with the Center's faculty. Over the years, she has taken on various roles, including advising students interested in bankruptcy law, assisting with clerkship placements, recruiting adjunct professors, and developing new courses for the LL.M. program.

Expressing her enthusiasm for leading the Center for Bankruptcy Studies, Schwartz emphasizes the importance of the center's curriculum in guiding its mission and work. She highlights the rigorous Bankruptcy LL.M. program, the only one in the nation dedicated to bankruptcy law, which exposes students to a wide range of bankruptcy practices taught by industry experts.

St. John’s Law students benefit from a unique curriculum that allows them to take advanced LL.M. classes towards their J.D. elective requirements. The Law School also offers a joint J.D./LL.M. degree program, producing graduates who become leaders in the bankruptcy field and are often hired as clerks for influential U.S. bankruptcy judges.

Looking ahead, Schwartz expresses her gratitude to her predecessors for laying the groundwork for the Center for Bankruptcy Studies. With various programs and initiatives in the pipeline, including symposia, a speaker series, and continuing legal education courses, Schwartz is eager to expand the center's offerings to further benefit students, alumni, and the broader bankruptcy community.

In Schwartz's own words, "The Center for Bankruptcy Studies is thriving, but there are opportunities to do even more to benefit our students, our alumni, and the wider bankruptcy community. I’m eager to take the lead on that expansion, and can’t wait to see all we accomplish."