Dr. Fred Magaziner

Instructor

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Biography

Fred Magaziner is a lecturer at Columbia Law School and has extensive experience as a litigation partner at Dechert LLP, where he worked for 30 years before retiring in 2014. He specializes in civil rights and civil liberties cases, having represented clients in jury trials that involve patent infringement, breach of contract, fraud, and more. Fred has also dealt with non-jury trials focused on defamation and government contracts. His work has encompassed a wide array of litigations, including divorce, environmental torts, and securities. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he has taught trial advocacy for 25 years and has been a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Fred earned a B.A. from Columbia University in 1969 and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1976, where he also served as Notes Comments Editor of the Columbia Law Review. After his graduation, he clerked for Judge Max Rosenn of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1976 to 1977.

Research Interests

Experience

Lecturer

2025-01-01 — Present

Columbia Law School • New York, NY

Teaching trial advocacy and related subjects.

Litigation Partner

1984-01-01 — 2014-12-31

Dechert LLP • New York, NY

Led and co-led counsel for various civil rights and civil liberty cases.

Courses

Thinking Like Litigator

Requirements for Columbia Law School

Bachelor Program
Requirements
GRE General
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent
Application Checklist
  • LSAC CAS Registration
  • Application Form
  • Application Fee ($85)
  • Academic Transcripts
  • LSAT or GRE Scores
  • Two Letters of Recommendation
  • Résumé
  • Personal Statement
  • Dean's Appraisal/Certification
Specialization Notes

Juris Doctor (J.D.) program. While 'Department of Law' is not a formal administrative division for admissions, this entry covers the primary J.D. program.

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:2.67
TOEFL
Total
Required:105
IELTS
Overall
Required:8
Prerequisites
First degree in law (LL.B. or equivalent) from a accredited institution
Application Checklist
  • Columbia's Application Portal submission
  • LSAC CAS registration
  • Personal Statement
  • Résumé or CV
  • Application Fee ($85)
  • All post-secondary transcripts and diplomas
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores
Specialization Notes

General LL.M. program. Columbia Law School does not have a separate 'Department of Tax Law' for admissions; tax law is a specialization within the LL.M. or J.D. curriculum.

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:105
IELTS
Overall
Required:8
Prerequisites
First degree in law (LL.B. or equivalent)
Application Checklist
  • Application through Columbia Application Portal
  • LSAC Credential Assembly Service
  • Personal Statement
  • Résumé
  • Transcripts
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores
Specialization Notes

Public International Law is a major field of study within the general LL.M. program rather than a separate 'Department of Public International Law' for admissions.

Doctorate Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:105
IELTS
Overall
Required:8
Prerequisites
First degree in law Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from a U.S. law school
Application Checklist
  • Application Portal submission
  • Personal Statement (max 2 pages)
  • Résumé or CV
  • Dissertation Proposal
  • Writing Sample
  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Transcripts via LSAC
  • TOEFL/IELTS scores
Specialization Notes

Doctor of the Science of Law (J.S.D.) program, the highest degree in law offered by Columbia University.