2020
A VISION FOR THE NEXT HALF-CENTURY
ABOUT US
The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University prepares passionate students to have an impact in the legal community and beyond. Since 1970, Hofstra Law has provided an education rich in both the theory and skills needed to produce outstanding lawyers, business executives and community leaders. Located on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra Law is 25 miles outside New York City in suburban Long Island, and is fully accredited by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association.
810 FULL- & PART-TIME STUDENTS
11 VISITING PROFESSORS
12,250 ALUMNI GLOBALLY
87 ADJUNCT PROFESSORS
38 FULL-TIME PROFESSORS
31 ADMINISTRATORS
The legal profession is changing at a rapid pace. As Hofstra Law enters our next half-century, we must embrace the pioneering spirit upon which the Law School was founded and create a new vision for the future to ensure that our students graduate with the skills needed to excel in this new legal marketplace and to make a difference in the world. To achieve everything we are capable of, we need to make substantial investments in the following five priorities:
RECRUIT TOMORROW’S LEADERS
PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE NEW LEGAL MARKETPLACE
PIONEER CUTTING-EDGE PROGRAMS & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY
ENHANCE FACILITIES & ENRICH STUDENT LIFE
In a world of greater competition for the brightest minds, we must reassert and reimagine Hofstra Law’s distinctive role for this new era. Together we will propel Hofstra Law forward as a leader in training students for tomorrow’s legal profession.
OUR VISION
Judge Gail Prudenti, former Chief Administrative Judge of the Courts of New York State, was named the 10th Dean of Hofstra Law in May of 2017, after serving as Interim Dean and Executive Director of the Center for Children, Families and the Law. Before joining Hofstra Law, Judge Prudenti distinguished herself as a well-respected jurist and hands-on administrator throughout a judicial career that lasted more than two decades.
As Dean, Judge Prudenti is focused not just on tomorrow, but the day after tomorrow, to ensure that Hofstra Law is strategically poised to pursue a promising and innovative future. To that end, there are several initiatives underway, such as Enhancing Trial Advocacy in the Electronic Age, Legal Technical Scholars, new medical-legal partnerships, and the Deportation Defense and Robert W. Entenmann Veterans Law clinics.
In an effort to continue this momentum, and coinciding with our momentous 50th anniversary, the Law School is exploring the potential for undertaking a major strategic fundraising campaign to attract $25 million in philanthropy — only the second capital campaign in Hofstra Law’s history. Thanks to the early generosity of two of our closest visionary leaders, we have already received pace-setting gifts totaling $3 million toward these important initiatives.
This campaign aims to substantially strengthen the financial position of the Law School and enable it to provide competitive scholarships and additional resources to students and faculty. The campaign will also reinvigorate our alumni, donors and friends, and seek to engage new donors by developing exciting new programs that serve our community and reaffirm Hofstra Law’s reputation as a groundbreaking and cutting-edge institution.
ENHANCING TRIAL ADVOCACY IN THE ELECTRONIC AGE
Select Initiatives Underway
LEGAL TECHNICAL SCHOLARS
DEPORTATION DEFENSE CLINIC
MEDICAL-LEGAL PARTNERSHIPS
ROBERT W. ENTENMANN VETERANS LAW CLINIC
“In my vision, Hofstra Law must — and will — take a leadership role in mapping the future of the legal industry.”
— Judge Gail Prudenti, Dean
CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
At this important time for Hofstra Law, we are undertaking a focused planning study to explore the potential for conducting a special fundraising campaign to enable us to make targeted investments in our students and our institution. Through the campaign, we hope to raise $25 million.
The investments we seek will ensure we recruit and support the best and brightest students, elevate all aspects of our operations, strengthen our academic programs, and enhance our national reputation, as well as our financial position over the long-term.
$12 MILLION SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS
$8 MILLION CLINICS, CENTERS & INSTITUTES
$3 MILLION ACADEMIC INITIATIVES
$2 MILLION CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS ❶
RECRUIT TOMORROW’S LEADERS
Hofstra Law is committed to our students and their development as legal professionals — with a command of both theory and practice. This campaign will ensure that the Law School is recruiting engaged and passionate students, and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in a learning environment that allows them to thrive.
INCREASE SCHOLARSHIPS
SECURE FUNDING FOR FELLOWSHIPS
❷ ACADEMIC INITIATIVES
PREPARE STUDENTS FOR THE NEW LEGAL MARKETPLACE
With technology impacting the delivery of legal services at an unprecedented rate, Hofstra Law wants to not only keep up with these changes but be a leader among U.S. law schools. This campaign will allow us to be ahead of the curve in preparing students who are not only able to begin their careers with this knowledge base but be innovators, able to help law firms and other legal providers navigate the future.
CREATE CENTER FOR LAW AND TECHNOLOGY
EXPAND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING
ENHANCE ACADEMIC SUPPORT
❸ ACADEMIC INITIATIVES
PIONEER CUTTING-EDGE
PROGRAMS & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Hofstra Law has developed a reputation for outstanding teaching. Retaining our faculty members and attracting a new generation of excellent teachers and scholars are vital to the long-term success of Hofstra Law. This campaign will enable the Law School faculty to remain experts in their fields, to develop cuttingedge courses and programs, and to showcase their expertise through conferences, lectures and speaking engagements.
SUPPORT FACULTY RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP
DEVELOP INTERDISCIPLINARY COURSES AND DEGREES WITH
• Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
• Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science
• Frank G. Zarb School of Business
• Center for Entrepreneurship
EXPAND ONLINE MASTER’S DEGREE OFFERINGS
❹ CLINICS, CENTERS & INSTITUTES
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Since our founding, Hofstra Law has recognized the importance of using our legal skills to help community members in crisis. This campaign will allow the Law School to expand our public service, pro bono and social justice initiatives through new and existing clinics, centers and institutes to assist with areas of critical need throughout our local community.
CREATE ACCESS TO JUSTICE CENTER INVEST IN EXISTING CLINIC, CENTER AND INSTITUTE INITIATIVES
• Deportation Defense Clinic
• Robert W. Entenmann Veterans Law Clinic
• Center for Children, Families and the Law
• Monroe H. Freedman Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics
• Gitenstein Institute for Health Law and Policy
• Center for Intellectual Property Law
❺ CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
ENHANCE FACILITIES & ENRICH
STUDENT LIFE
To train and graduate first-rate lawyers, our students, faculty and administrators need a first-rate educational environment. This campaign will allows us to upgrade classroom technologies and modernize our event and library study spaces to ensure that members of the Hofstra Law community can thrive.
MODERNIZE CLASSROOMS AND LECTURE HALLS
RENOVATE PUBLIC AND EVENT SPACES
UPDATE LIBRARY FACILITIES AND TECHNOLOGY
YOUR ADVICE
As we move forward with the proposed campaign goal of $25 million, we would appreciate your counsel to establish a focused effort with meaningful and achievable campaign goals.
Specifically, we invite your feedback on the following areas:
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF HOFSTRA LAW
REACTION TO THE FUNDING PRIORITIES
SUGGESTIONS REGARDING FUNDRAISING STRATEGIES AND POTENTIAL DONORS
OPINION ON FUNDRAISING, INCLUDING POTENTIAL ROLE
INPUT ON POTENTIAL OBSTACLES
Hofstra Law is grateful for your willingness to participate in this campaign planning exercise, which will help us formulate a sound plan for our future.
CONTACT US
Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University 121 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY 11549
Judge Gail Prudenti Dean 516-463-4068 Gail.Prudenti@hofstra.edu
Lisa Berman Associate Dean for External Relations 516-463-4758 Lisa.H.Berman@hofstra.edu