Profile

Jae Hyung Ryu is the Director of the Nonprofit and Small Business Clinic and an Associate Professor of Law.

With over five years of experience at top New York law firms, Cleary Gottlieb and Gunderson Dettmer, Professor Ryu has managed a wide range of domestic and cross-border corporate and financial transactions on behalf of entrepreneurs, technology start-ups, financial institutions, and government agencies. Passionate about pro bono work, Professor Ryu has consistently counseled small businesses and nonprofit organizations, helping them with foundational business and transactional matters to support their growth and self-sufficiency.

Prior to joining NYLS, Professor Ryu led the Community and Economic Development Clinic at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University. Before law school, he served as an officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and the Ministry of National Defense for three years, where he facilitated critical Korean-English interpretation between Korean and American defense policymakers and generals.

Professor Ryu is actively involved in both personal and professional communities in New York City and beyond. He has been recognized as a Business Law Fellow by the American Bar Association Business Law Section and participated in CoroNY’s Neighborhood Leadership Program. He has also volunteered with the Korean American Community Foundation’s Community Grant Committee and was part of the inaugural class of the ABA Business Law Section’s Leadership Academy.

Reflecting on his diverse set of experiences, Professor Ryu is committed to instilling a spirit of dedication in his clinic pedagogy, emphasizing economic empowerment, community participation, leadership, and public service. His teaching challenges students to reflect on their values and responsibilities as future lawyers, serve their communities, and adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to address complex challenges.

In his spare time, Professor Ryu enjoys reading, meditating, trying vegetarian recipes, and spending time with his partner and two cats.