Serving Those Who've Served Us
We deeply appreciate the service and experience of veterans, reservists, active-duty military personnel, and the National Guard, alongside our service connected families.
Veterans & Servicemembers
The skills you develop in the military—problem-solving, leadership and discipline—are easily transferable to a successful academic experience in law school and beyond. Here, you can build a future that blends law with specialized fields, allowing you to carve out a professional niche that aligns with your strengths, passions, and ambitions.
Our students benefit from small class sizes, personalized faculty interactions, and a variety of joint degree and specialized programs. The Certificate of Advanced Study in National Security and Counterterrorism Law, the J.D./M.A. in International Relations, and the J.D./M.P.A. program are offered with no additional time and minimal extra cost. With a proud tradition of supporting veterans and military families, Syracuse University provides extensive resources, student organizations, and military-related academic programs to ensure our veteran community thrives both in and out of the classroom.
Military-Connected Scholarship Opportunities
Learn more about Syracuse University’s Military-Connected Student Scholarships by reaching out to LawFinAid@syr.edu.
Academics
The Institute for Security Policy and Law
At the Institute for Security Policy and Law (SPL), immerse yourself in the crucial fields of national security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and intelligence law. This program is your gateway to a career where you can make a real impact on the safety and security of our nation. SPL students engage in advanced coursework, research projects guided by expert faculty and networking events.
Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic
The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) benefits our veterans and community by assisting with VA claims, representing clients in VA claim appeals, and helps veterans in upgrading discharges.
Partnership with Veteran Treatment Courts
Veteran Treatment Courts in New York State provide justice-involved veterans with a second chance, offering an intensive 12–18 month program as an alternative to traditional criminal court. Participants receive high-quality mental health care, recovery support, and guidance from veteran mentors who’ve been in their shoes.
The Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, in partnership with the New York Health Foundation, is working to expand these services and help veterans access the benefits they’ve earned to build a fresh start. Through the veteran-first Syracuse Model, these courts connect veterans to housing, jobs, and recovery resources—helping them turn things around and become leaders in their communities.
Joint Degree Opportunities
- J.D./M.P.A. Masters in Public Administration: The Maxwell School’s M.P.A. program is consistently ranked #1 in US News and World Report. A unique interdisciplinary approach will help students understand the political, economic and social context of public administration, as well as learn the skills necessary for effective management and decision making in the policy world.
- J.D./M.A. International Relations: The M.A. International Relations degree, also highly ranked in its field by Foreign Affairs, provides students with a deep understanding of the world and regional affairs necessary for the global workplace and draws on the Maxwell School's expertise in public affairs and cutting edge applied social science research.
- J.D./M.B.A. for Veterans: Syracuse Law offers joint degree options with the Martin J. Whitman School of Management's M.B.A. for Veterans Program. It's specially designed to leverage military veterans' education, experience and skills.
Resources
Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA)
Syracuse University's Office of Veteran and Military Affairs serves as the university's single point of entry for all veteran and military-connected students, programs, and initiatives—committed to being the "Best Place for Veterans.™" OVMA is home to the Office of Veteran Success (OVS), which processes VA education benefit certifications, reviews benefit information, and answers questions so you can feel confident using your benefits to achieve your educational goals.
The D’Aniello Institute for Veterans & Military Families (IVMF)
The IVMF provides actionable and national impacting research, policy analysis and program evaluation; and works with communities and non-profits across the nation to enhance service delivery for the 22.5 million veterans throughout the United States and their families.
Student Veteran Organization
Syracuse University’s Student Veteran Organization provides veterans, military connected students, and military family members who attend Syracuse University or SUNY ESF with resources, support, and advocacy needed to succeed in higher education and following graduation.
Military and Veterans Law Society
The Military and Veterans Law Society was created to better serve the local veteran population in Syracuse and the surrounding areas—providing veteran legal support, community outreach, and policy research, while connecting Syracuse Law with our veteran community. Contact mvls@syr.edu for more information.
VetSuccess on Campus
Syracuse University houses a VA VetSuccess on Campus (VSOC) counselor. The VSOC program aims to help Veterans, Servicemembers, and their qualified dependents succeed and thrive through a coordinated delivery of on-campus benefits assistance and counseling, leading to completion of their education and preparing them to enter the labor market in viable careers.