Center for Bankruptcy Studies
What We Do
The Center for Bankruptcy Studies at St. John's School of Law is home to the nation's leading LL.M in Bankruptcy Program. In affiliation with the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, the Center offers a wide range of programs for students, faculty, alumni, and practitioners throughout the year.
The Center for Bankruptcy Studies at St. John's School of Law is home to the nation's leading LL.M in Bankruptcy Program. In affiliation with the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, the Center offers a wide range of programs for students, faculty, alumni, and practitioners throughout the year. Our initiatives include the:
- LL.M. in Bankruptcy: The nation's only LL.M. in Bankruptcy program.
- American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review: The leading scholarly journal on bankruptcy law.
- Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition: The only bankruptcy moot court competition and the largest single-site appellate moot court competition in the nation.
- Bankruptcy Law Society: Our student organization affiliate that co-sponsors the Duberstein Competition and presents special events on current issues in the bankruptcy field.
- Advisory Board: Anchoring and overseeing our offerings is an Advisory Board comprised of leading professionals in the field.
In connection with the Center and under its auspices, the Law School offers over two dozen specialized bankruptcy courses, the Bankruptcy Advocacy Clinic, and bankruptcy externships and internships. In addition, the ABI Bankruptcy Case Blog and the St. John’s Bankruptcy Research Library offer current research on cutting-edge bankruptcy cases and issues.
For more information about the Center for Bankruptcy Studies, please contact us. To support the Center and its initiatives, please visit the Law School's online giving page or contact the Office of Alumni Relations and Development at [email protected] or 718-990-5792.
Learn more
A cornerstone of the Center for Bankruptcy Studies’ mission is to offer St. John’s law students practical, engaging and worthwhile opportunities in the bankruptcy field.
Scholarships
The following scholarships are available to candidates in our LL.M. in Bankruptcy program:
Law School Scholarships
There is a limited partial scholarship fund available to the LL.M. in Bankruptcy students. The scholarships are awarded based on the individual’s credentials, potential for success and need. Students interested in applying for such scholarships should submit a letter discussing the foregoing criteria to the Director of the Program, requesting a scholarship.
ABI Scholarship
The American Bankruptcy Institute currently awards a $15,000 annual scholarship to a student in the LL.M. in Bankruptcy Program. The scholarship is awarded based on the student’s credentials, demonstrated interest in bankruptcy law and potential for success in the field. Students willing to apply for the ABI Scholarship should send an application letter to the Director of the Program outlining the student’s eligibility based on the foregoing criteria with appropriate supporting materials.
The Robert M. Zinman Bankruptcy Scholarship
The Robert M. Zinman Bankruptcy Scholarship Fund provides an annual scholarship to a deserving LL.M. in Bankruptcy student at the Law School based on the student’s credentials, demonstrated interest in bankruptcy law and potential for success in the field. Students willing to apply for the Robert M. Zinman Bankruptcy Scholarship should send an application letter to the Director of the Program outlining the student’s eligibility based on the foregoing criteria with appropriate supporting materials.
The Richard Lieb Bankruptcy Scholarship
The Richard Lieb Bankruptcy Scholarship Fund provides an annual scholarship to a deserving LL.M. in Bankruptcy student at the Law School based on the student’s credentials, demonstrated interest in bankruptcy law and potential for success in the field. Students willing to apply for the Richard Lieb Bankruptcy Scholarship should send an application letter to the Director of the Program outlining the student’s eligibility based on the foregoing criteria with appropriate supporting materials.
Journals
The Law School collaborates with the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) to publish the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review. Widely regarded as the nation's premier scholarly bankruptcy journal, the ABI Law Review contains articles and student notes on cutting edge issues of bankruptcy law and practice.
In addition to its biannual publication, the ABI Law Review helps organize and run the prestigious Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, the only bankruptcy moot court competition in the nation. The ABI Law Review is responsible for the research and fact patterns that form the basis of the competitors' arguments. Its student members prepare the bench memo for all the competition judges, field two teams that litigate alongside the competitors, and serve as bailiffs in the preliminary rounds.
As part of the ABI Law Review, student members are highly encouraged to author notes on major bankruptcy issues affecting various legal disciplines, as well as interact with ABI leadership in the topic selection for each issue. Student editors and staff have complete control over the editing process.
Competitions
The Center for Bankruptcy Studies is proud to be a sponsor of the Law School’s annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition, the only bankruptcy moot court competition and the largest single-site appellate moot court competition in the nation.The event is named for distinguished St. John’s alumnus and former ABI Director, Chief Judge Conrad B. Duberstein, who passed away in 2005 at the age of 90.
Affiliated Student Groups
Students can deepen their hands-on experience of bankruptcy law by participating in the Bankruptcy Law Society (BLS). Formed by a group of students in the fall of 1990, BLS aims to provide students with practical knowledge of bankruptcy law. It co-sponsors the annual Duberstein Bankruptcy Moot Court Competition with the ABI Law Review and the Moot Court Honor Society. BLS also offers student membership in the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), holds regular meetings and presents special events where distinguished judges and practicing attorneys address current issues in the field of bankruptcy.
Resources
The Center contributes to the Bankruptcy Research Library maintained by the ABI Law Review that can be search by topic. It also contributes to the Bankruptcy Case Blog.