Office of Student Affairs Counseling and Services

Definitions

A person with a disability is: any person who (a) has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities; (b) has a record of such impairments; or (c) is regarded as having such impairment.
An otherwise qualified person with a disability is: an individual with a disability who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission and participation in the School's educational program and activities.

Procedure

The Law School takes seriously its responsibility to afford students with disabilities equal opportunities and full access to its programs and services in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of the individual to the extent required by law. Fordham recognizes physical and mental disabilities that include mobility, sensory, health, psychological, and learning disabilities. Fordham Law students seeking accommodations for disabilities should contact:

Abel P. Móntez, Esq.
Director of Student Affairs
Fordham University School of Law
150 West 62nd Street, Room 4-101 E
New York, NY 10023

Telephone: 212-636-7955
Email: [email protected] 

Early disclosure is essential, to allow sufficient time for review, approval, and implementation of accommodations.

To discuss policies and procedures and establish an appropriate accommodation plan, new law students are strongly encouraged to make an appointment to meet with Mr. Móntez before fall semester classes begin. In order to receive accommodations, all students are required to register with the Office of Student Affairs each school year and to submit requisite accommodation request forms on a timely basis each semester.

First-year and new law students seeking accommodations for the fall semester are required to register with and submit complete documentation to the Office of Student Affairs, no later than the end of the third week of classes; for the spring semester, materials must be submitted no later than the end of the third week of classes. A student's failure to contact the Office of Student Affairs on a timely basis will result in the denial of accommodation requests.

Students would be mindful that they may have to be reevaluated by their evaluators in the event that the documentation is outdated or non-compliant with the school's documentation requirements.

The need and selection for accommodations will be determined on an individual basis, taking into account the nature, extent and severity of the student's disability; the fundamental nature of the academic program or activity; the functional limitations and impact of the student's disability, the student's history of accommodation and academic achievement; and whether the accommodation would impose an undue burden on the Law School.

All accommodations are prospective. No retroactive accommodations are provided. Having received a prior accommodation in an educational or employment setting does not ensure that you will receive the same or any accommodation at the Law School.

Documentation

To request an accommodation on the basis of a disability or disabilities, you are required to submit to the Director of Student Affairs:

(1) written documentation from a certified practitioner in the field of the disability (the documentation cannot be older than four (4) years for AD/HD or Learning Disabilities; older than six (6) months for all other disabilities), and

(2) If applicable, written confirmation of prior accommodations in educational or employment settings (e.g. undergraduate and LSAT accommodations).

To ensure confidentiality, requests for accommodations and written verifications of a disability are filed in the Office of Student Affairs, separate from the student's general academic records.

Students seeking accommodations must abide by Fordham University's Documentation Guidelines. Supporting documentation must be submitted directly to the Law School's Director of Student Affairs at the email listed above.

Documentation Guidelines

• ADHD
• Learning Disabilities or Other Cognitive Disorders
• Physical Disabilities or Chronic Health Conditions
• Psychological or Psychiatric Conditions
• Sensory Disabilities

Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations that the Law School offers to students with disabilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Additional time for completing exams and papers
• Individual examination rooms
• Enlarged reading materials
• Provision of materials in an electronic format
• Visual assistive technology
• Computer use during class
• Priority classroom seating

Applying for Disability-Related Accommodations on the Bar Exam and MPRE

Students who plan on requesting testing accommodations on the Bar Exam should first go to the website of the state where they are taking the exam and familiarize themselves with the application requirements and deadlines. Information about the New York Bar Exam can be found on its website; individual state Bar Exam requirements can be found on the American Bar Association website.

Information about requesting accommodations on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) can be found on its website.

Keep in mind that Fordham Law School's process of providing accommodations is not necessarily reflective of the process for receiving testing accommodations on the Bar exam or MPRE. Each state has its own requirements and due dates to request accommodations.

Students who are updating their documentation for the Law School's accommodations process are strongly encouraged to provide their evaluators with the documentation guidelines for the Bar exam and MPRE.

Temporary Impairments

While our legal obligation relates to disabilities of a substantial and long-term nature, we also consider accommodations for temporary impairments when practical. For more information, contact the Director of Student Affairs.

Lactation Room

A lactation room is located in the Law School Library in Room 5-132. It is open during the library's regular hours. Please visit the Circulation Desk to request the use of this room.

Visit the Students as Caregivers page for additional information.

Visit the Pregnancy and Parenting Resources page for additional campus lactation room locations and information.

Any misrepresentation or omission of the requested information may be grounds for discipline and expulsion and further such information will be reported to the Committee on Character & Fitness and may be grounds for a delay or denial of admission to the Bar.

Any information provided on your bar application should be consistent with the information contained in your law school application. You must memorialize the disclosures and retain copies with all related documentation (including correspondence with the Law School relating to any amendment) which should be attached to the application for bar admissions.

We strongly urge anyone planning to apply to the New York Bar to review the “Law Student Guide” found on the Committee on Character and Fitness for the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Incoming Admitted Student: Amending your Application with the Admissions Office

During the Admissions process and up to the first day of Orientation, if you need to amend your application, you must contact the Admissions Office.

Current Student or Recent Graduate (who has not yet submitted a Bar Character Application): Amending your Application with the Office of Student Affairs

After the first day of Orientation and prior to submitting a bar character application, if you need to amend your application, you must seek approval(s) for such amendment(s) through the Application Amendment Process.

Note: You must have related documentation (letters, citations, court documentation, disciplinary documentation, etc.) in a PDF format before filing a request for an amendment.

Graduate: Seeking an Application Amendment Dean’s Approval Letter

If you are a graduate who has received written notification from a Bar’s Character Committee requesting that you obtain a Dean’s Letter approving an application amendment, you must seek one through the Application Amendment Dean’s Letter Process.

You will need to have your Fordham username available in order to log into LawNET.

Note: You must have related documentation (letters, citations, court documentation, disciplinary documentation, etc.) in a PDF format before filing a request for an amendment.

If you have any questions regarding this process, please contact the Office of Student Affairs at [email protected].