David Yassky

Education

David Yassky is Dean Emeritus of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Dean Yassky served as Dean from April 2014 to April 2018. He has had a distinguished legal career in government service, private practice, and academia.

During  his tenure, Dean Yassky developed Pace Law’s distinctive “Path to Practice” curriculum, which has developed into a model of forward-thinking legal pedagogy, based on curricular concentrations that enable students to develop concrete skills suited to particular areas of legal practice, and that fully integrate experiential learning with traditional classroom instruction.  Yassky also championed innovative programs such as Pace Law’s “Semester in Practice” initiative, which allows third-year students to spend an entire semester in supervised practice at a law firm or government agency.

Before joining Pace, Dean Yassky served as Chair of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission under Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Under his leadership, the TLC established a new fleet of “borough taxis” in previously underserved areas, introduced a custom-designed taxi vehicle that is safer and more comfortable for passengers, enabled the use of highly efficient ride-hailing technology, dramatically raised living standards for taxi drivers, and saved drivers’ time through a streamlined licensing process.

Yassky also served for eight years in the New York City Council.  His legislative accomplishments included zoning incentives for affordable housing, new penalties for firearms trafficking, tax incentives for film and TV production, and authorization for whistleblower suits against fraudulent City contractors.  He also initiated regulations dramatically improving the fuel-efficiency of taxicabs, and banning the sale of sugared sodas and candy in public school vending machines.  Prior to holding elective office, Yassky served as Chief Counsel to the House Subcommittee on Crime under then-Representative Chuck Schumer and also practiced law at O’Melveny & Myers LLP.

A constitutional scholar, Dean Yassky has served on the faculty of Brooklyn Law School and has taught at NYU Law School. Dean Yassky earned his A.B. at Princeton University, and his J.D. at Yale Law School.