Dr. Anthony Amsterdam

Professor

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Biography

Anthony Amsterdam is an Emeritus University Professor at NYU School of Law, where he has been since 1981 after joining from Stanford Law School. He is recognized as one of the leading legal scholars in the United States, with an extensive pro bono legal practice focused on civil rights, legal aid, and public defense. Amsterdam has litigated high-profile cases, including those related to death penalty defense and access to courts for Guantánamo Bay detainees, and has appeared in several Supreme Court cases. He played a crucial role in the landmark case Furman v. Georgia, where he successfully argued that the death penalty was unconstitutional. As director of Clinical Advocacy Programs, he designed an innovative Lawyering Program that includes a significant first-year course. Amsterdam earned the Stanford Law School Hurlbut Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1975 and the Great Teacher Award at NYU in 1989. He holds an LLB from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and an AB in French Literature from Haverford College.

Research Interests

Requirements for New York University School of Law

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
IELTS
Listening
Required:7.5
Reading
Required:7.5
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:26
Reading
Required:26
Writing
Required:22
Speaking
Required:22
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
First degree in law (JD or LLB) from an ABA-approved school or a foreign equivalent.
Application Checklist
  • Online application via LSAC
  • Personal Statement
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
  • Official Transcripts
  • Class Rank Statement
  • Recommendation Letter(s)
  • English Proficiency Test Score (if applicable)
Specialization Notes

The Master of Laws (LLM) is a general degree. Applicants from the 'Department of Law' typically enroll in the general LLM or one of the specialized LLM programs.