Hofstra Law Quick Facts
A student body of approximately 1,100 representing 40 states and 15 foreign countries.
Located on the magnificent 240-acre Hofstra University campus in Hempstead on Long Island, 40 minutes east of Manhattan.
Offers a J.D./M.B.A. joint degree program.
Offers LL.M. degree programs in American Legal Studies and Family Law.
Within nine months of graduation, 84.2 percent of the Class of 2011 reported to Hofstra Law that they were employed.* This figure reflects various employment positions, including some temporary positions, part-time positions, self-employment, positions that do not require a J.D. and positions funded by Hofstra Law. For more detailed information regarding our employment statistics, please visit our website at law.hofstra.edu/Employment. The economy, including the legal economy, is constantly changing, and employment for past classes is not an accurate predictor of employment for future classes. In addition, a law degree from Hofstra Law or any other law school is not a guarantee of employment in the legal field.
Fall 2012 Entering Class Profile
(
Important Dates
Early decision deadline November 15, 2012 Priority
* The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) defines a law school’s employment rate as the number of graduates employed divided by the number of graduates whose employment status is known. For NALP purposes, Hofstra Law’s employment rate of 84.2 percent is calculated by dividing the number of employed graduates (234) by the number of graduates whose employment status was known (278). The total number of graduates in the Class of 2011 was 297. Employment statistics in a uniform chart provided by the American Bar Association can be found at our website at law.hofstra.edu/Employment. Other organizations and publications, such as U.S. News & World Report, the Princeton Review and Barron’s, each define a law school’s employment rates and percentages differently.
Hofstra Law was a perfect fit for me — close to New York City and the opportunities that it provides, yet removed from the daily distractions of the big city. As a first-generation law student, the students and professors provided me with the supportive environment I needed. — Sheila Ballato ’12
Choosing a Community
Dear Prospective Student,
Thank you for your interest in the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
A career in the law is a career of ongoing and challenging service. Not only to your clients do you always owe your most diligent representation, but also to the Constitution. No other private profession requires for its admission an oath to support both the U.S Constitution and the constitution of your state of admission. This oath makes you a public servant, duty-bound to protect the rule of law and the great constitutional values of human dignity, fairness and justice for all. And it has been lawyers’ commitment to these principles that helped found this country and make it flourish.
But this commitment is not for the intellectually incurious or the faint of heart. Becoming a good lawyer requires hard work and real integrity. Through these efforts, you will be given the extraordinary opportunity to make a difference, big or small, in the life of your client and in the life of the country. And this holds true whether your client is a large corporation or an impoverished individual.
“All of us are here to welcome you, support you and help you create opportunities for your future. We want you to make a difference.”
At Hofstra Law, you will learn the law and how to use it to solve your clients’ problems. On a broader level, you will learn what it means to be a lawyer. Your degree from Hofstra Law can lead to a broad range of career possibilities, both expected and unexpected. Hofstra Law-educated lawyers have built successful careers as partners in multinational law firms in New York City and law firms of all sizes throughout the nation. Others have held public office in local, state and federal governments or have spent their careers working on behalf of individuals through direct advocacy or policy-reform initiatives at nonprofit organizations. Still others have put their degrees and experience to work outside the practice of law — for example, as a college president, as the head of a professional baseball team and as successful entrepreneurs.
You can judge our commitment to your learning by reviewing our diverse academic offerings and wide array of experiential learning opportunities — clinics, practicums, externships, moot court programs and pro bono programs. When you come to Hofstra Law you will join a unique community of faculty, administrators and alumni dedicated to your success. All of us are here to welcome you, support you and help you create opportunities for your future. We want you to make a difference. Come and visit us. You will see what I mean.
Eric Lane Interim Dean and Eric J. Schmertz Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Public Service
The Hofstra Law Experience
First Year
While first-year law students may need to adapt to a new curriculum and way of thinking, the dedicated faculty and welcoming student body at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University help students adjust and introduce them to the law. Inside the classroom, the curriculum grounds students in legal theory and develops the skills necessary to succeed as an attorney.
A survey of tri-state law firms conducted by Hanover Research Council revealed that compared to graduates from other law schools, Hofstra Law graduates received an overall higher rating in a majority of competencies, including business knowledge, communication skills, advocacy skills and general workplace skills.
The Academic Success Program guides 1Ls in adjusting to the new style of learning and writing demanded by the study of law. Its Skills Workshops help first-years master the fundamental techniques and habits essential for law school achievement. Individual skills development, academic counseling and legal writing assistance are also available.
Beyond the classroom, learning is enhanced as 1Ls get involved with organizations designed to help them explore different areas of the law, meet like-minded classmates and build their resumes. Hofstra Law’s student organizations have a tradition of making a difference in the lives of the people they serve as counselors to those in need, conveners of thought leadership, contributors of ideas, mentors to young people and friends to the business community.
Downtime on campus could include anything from a bracing workout — in the pool, on the track or in the weight room — to a shared meal among students and faculty in one of the many cafes and dining rooms on the campus. Off-campus destinations might include touring the North Fork wineries, going on a fishing trip in Montauk or attending a cultural event in Manhattan.
Second Year
Many returning 2Ls bring with them legal experience gained in a summer position working for public-service and not-for-profit organizations. Others return informed by their studies abroad through one of Hofstra Law’s global learning opportunities. However the summer is spent, the hope is that 2Ls return to campus refreshed, energized and ready to succeed in a busy second year of law school.
For those students who are selected for one of Hofstra Law’s law journals, there is the work of putting together the year’s first issues. Other students begin to think about Moot Court and their obligation to carry on Hofstra Law’s tradition of success in regional, national and international competitions. Many plunge back into student-run activities, whether fundraising in support of summer internships or helping to meet the needs of society’s underserved communities through pro bono work.
With career goals now in sharper focus, the Externship Program and the Professional Success and Leadership Development Program become even more of a priority. All 2Ls begin to consider their future and seek counsel time with faculty and the professionals in the Office of Career Services. They also take advantage of the many opportunities to meet with, and learn from, members of Hofstra Law’s alumni network.
Third Year
For many 3Ls, this capstone year brings with it seniorlevel responsibility for student government, journals and other school organizations. Moot Court members typically transform themselves from competitors to coaches, while those working on pro bono projects look to bring matters to a close or prepare to hand them off to peers who will continue their efforts. Skills courses and clinics that offer advanced practical experience in a subject of interest — whether it be international law, alternative dispute resolution or civil liberties — are another rewarding part of the third year, as is the time spent with the professors who teach them.
While 3Ls do not sit for the bar examination until after successfully completing the J.D. program, they are expected to marshal the resources that will support them during the upcoming study period. These include a bar overview course and counseling provided by faculty and administrators, as well as Hofstra Law-sponsored workshops and seminars on the skills and methodology necessary for success on the exam.
Third-years also carry an obligation to inspire the next generation of Hofstra Law attorneys as they themselves were supported and inspired. As 3Ls move on to their chosen careers, they do not leave the Hofstra Law community. Rather, they transition into active, connected alumni, many of whom live in the New York metropolitan area but can also be found in 49 states and 27 foreign countries.
Law is both a practice and an academic discipline. Students at Hofstra Law learn to see the connections among theory, legal doctrine and the practical skills of lawyering.
”
— Alafair Burke, Professor of Law
Degrees and Programs
Juris Doctor Program
The J.D. program is designed to be completed in three years. The degree requires the completion of 87 credits. The first two or three semesters focus on building a solid foundation in legal theory and strong analytic and writing skills. There are more than 200 upper-level courses that allow students to pursue a broad range of interests and specializations, equipping them to succeed professionally in any number of fields and positions.
J.D./M.B.A. Program
The J.D./M.B.A. program is administered jointly through Hofstra University’s Maurice A. Deane School of Law and Frank G. Zarb School of Business. The program awards dual degrees in four full-time years. Candidates must gain admission to the Law School and the Business School to be accepted into the program.
LL.M. Program
The LL.M. program offers two courses of study for law school graduates who are interested in advanced study in one of two specific areas of law:
American Legal Studies
The concentration in American Legal Studies is designed for international law graduates who seek training in U.S. law and practice. This degree is particularly valuable to those who plan to work at American or international law firms with U.S. clients, at multinational corporations or in government service. This degree is also beneficial for international law graduates who are interested in applying to take the New York State Bar Examination.
Family Law
The Family Law LL.M. program builds on Hofstra Law’s national reputation for the study of family law and child advocacy. The curriculum is driven by the reality that family courts incorporate a wide variety of dispute resolution procedures and are populated by professionals from multiple disciplines. Students have the opportunity to pursue a specialized program in advanced family law, combining research, skills development, policy analysis and traditional classroom instruction.
Fellowships
The competition for a Hofstra Law fellowship is intense and attracts promising students from around the country. Fellowships are limited in number and, while there are differences in each category, typically include a significant tuition scholarship, summer externships and stipends, and opportunities to interact with leading scholars and practitioners in their respective fields.
• Child and Family Advocacy Fellowship
• William R. Ginsberg Memorial Summer Fellowship in Environmental Law
• Dwight L. Greene Memorial Scholarship for Minority Rights Advocacy
• Health Law and Policy Fellowship
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Fellowship
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services internship is very hands-on. By conducting legal research, preparing subpoenas and working with lawyers on trial preparation, I gained exposure to all different areas of advocating for children.
The Student Experience
Camile Tucker 3L
Key Stats
Before Hofstra Law: B.S. in Criminal Justice, Defiance College
Area of Focus: Family Law
Summer Internships: New York City Administration for Children’s Services, Legal Aid Society
Juvenile Rights Practice
Favorite Course: Family Law with Skills
Camile Tucker knows the meaning of independence. At age 18, she came from Jamaica to attend Defiance College in Ohio. It was quite an adjustment, to say the least. She had to get used to life as the only Caribbean student in a small rural town. Tucker soon found a strong support system and channeled an independent spirit that would earn her a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in criminal justice.
At the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, Tucker, a Child and Family Advocacy Fellow, has found a similar community — one that encourages independence in a supportive environment.
Hofstra Law’s diversity and other resources have helped her along the way. Tucker notes that the diversity of opinions, whether in smaller study groups or open class discussions, enhances her law school experience and outlook. She has also found fellowship and support in such student organizations as the Black Law Students Association and the Family Court Review. According to Tucker, these organizations are made up people “who are always looking out for you, from providing test-taking tips to giving you an extra push that helps you survive the pressure.”
The Curriculum
The curriculum at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is at the forefront of the changing realities of legal practice. For example, Hofstra Law is one of only a few U.S. law schools to require Transnational Law as a first-year course, which allows students to put their studies into a global context. With more than 200 upper-level course offerings, students can explore any area of law, and they can craft an individualized course of study from Hofstra Law’s six area-specific concentrations.
Required
First-Year Courses
(Full-Time)
Fall Semester
• Civil Procedure I
• Contracts I
• Criminal Law
• Legal Analysis, Writing & Research I
• Torts Spring Semester
• Civil Procedure II
• Contracts II
• Introduction to Administrative Law
• Legal Analysis, Writing & Research II
• Property
• Transnational Law
Concentrations
Hofstra Law students can focus their studies on a specific area because of personal interest or to enhance their career opportunities. A concentration must be declared with the Office of Academic Records by the start of the last year of study. Concentration requirements include specified core courses, elective courses, simulation or skills courses, a substantial piece of writing, and a culminating experience or capstone/ clinical course. Students who choose the Business Law Honors or Health Law concentration must also meet a minimum GPA requirement.
Concentration Areas
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Business Law Honors
• Criminal Law and Procedure
• Energy and Environmental Law
• Family Law
• Health Law
Course
Offerings
Hofstra Law offers a wide and diverse range of courses. The courses listed below are arranged by general topics. Many courses apply to two or more areas of law. Not every course is offered each semester.
Advocacy/Litigation/ Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Advanced Appellate Advocacy
• Advanced Appellate Skills
• Advanced Civil Litigation
• Advanced Legal Research
• Advanced Mediation Seminar
• Advanced Trial Practice: Civil
• Advanced Trial Practice: Criminal
• Advanced Trial Practice: The Jury
• Advanced Trial Techniques: Use of Expert Witnesses
• Alternatives to Litigation
• Applied Evidence: Evidentiary Oral Argument in Trial Courts
• Asylum Clinic
• Child Advocacy Clinic
• Civil Procedure I
• Civil Procedure II
• Clinic Practicum
• Collaborative Law Seminar
• Complex Insurance Litigation
• Computer Technology in Legal Practice
• Conflict of Laws
• Criminal Justice Clinic
• Criminal Prosecution Practicum
• Developing a Theory of the Case
• Discovery Skills I: Written Discovery
• Discovery Skills II: Depositions
• Domestic Commercial Arbitration
• Domestic Violence Seminar with Skills
• E-Discovery Practice
• Evidence
• Expert Witness
• Externship Program, Civil Law
• Externship Program, Criminal Law
• Externship Program, Judicial Law
• Fact Investigation
• Federal Courts
• Immigration Law Clinic Practicum
• Intensive Trial Techniques Program
• International Commercial Arbitration
• Introduction to Administrative Law
• Juvenile Justice Clinic Practicum
• Law Reform Advocacy Clinic
• Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I
• Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II
• Legal Interviewing, Counseling and Negotiation
• Litigation and Drafting Skills
• Matrimonial Skills
• Mediation Clinic
• Mediation Principles and Practice
• Modern Divorce Advocacy
• Motion to Suppress
• Negotiation Seminar: Theory, Research and Practice
• Practical LGBT Lawyering
• Practice-Ready Research Skills
• Pretrial Skills
• Real-Time Lawyering: The TRO
• Remedies
• Scientific Evidence
• Selected Problems in New York Civil Practice
• Trial Techniques — Comprehensive Litigation Skills
• Use of Forensic Experts
Commercial and Corporate Law
• Accounting for Lawyers
• Advanced Bankruptcy
• Antitrust
• Banking Law Seminar
• Bankruptcy
• Business Drafting Seminar
• Business of Lawyering
• Business Organizations
• Commercial Transactions Survey
• Community and Economic Development Clinic
• Consumer Transactions
• Controversies in Corporate Law
• Contracts I
• Contracts II
• Corporate Finance
• Corporate Government Seminar
• Criminal Liability in Securities Law
• Derivatives Law
• Domestic Commercial Arbitration
• ERISA and Pension Rights Seminar
• Insurance Law
• International Business Transactions
• International Commercial Arbitration
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Nonprofit Corporations
• Private Equity: Fund Formation and Transactional Issues
• Real Time Lawyering — Complex Deal
• Regulation of Securities Broker/Dealers
• Secured Transactions
• Securities Arbitration Clinic
• Securities Regulation
• Sports Law
• Sustainability and Business Law
• Telecommunications Law and Policy
• Transactional Lawyering: Translating Deals Into Contracts
Constitutional Law
• Animal Law
• Anti-Discrimination
• Civil Liberties and the War Against Terrorism
• Conflicts of Law
• Constitutional Issues in Health Law
• Constitutional Law I
• Constitutional Law II
• Constitutional Theory
• Current Problems in Constitutional Law
• Death Penalty
• Federal Courts
• Federalism Seminar
• First Amendment: Speech, Association and the Religion Clauses
• Foreign Affairs and the Constitution
• Immigration Law
• Introduction to Administrative Law
• Introduction to the American Legal System
Within the first few months of classes, I knew I had made the right decision.
— Francisco Cebada 3L ” “
Curriculum Continued
• Legal Issues in Public Education
• Mass Media and the First Amendment
• National Security and the Law
• Privacy in the Digital Age
• Religion and the Constitution
• Voting Rights and Election Law
• International Criminal Law
• Juvenile Justice Clinic Practicum
• Mental Health Issues in the Criminal Justice System
• Prosecutor’s Role
• Race, Gender and Crime
• Sentencing Reform Seminar
• Global Climate Change and U.S. Law
• International Environmental Law
• Introduction to Administrative Law
• Land Use Regulation
• Law of the Sea
• Property
• Sustainability and Business Law
Estate Planning
• Legal Decision Making for Children and Incompetent Adults
• Matrimonial Externship Program
• Matrimonial Skills
• Mediation Clinic
• Modern Divorce Advocacy
• Sexuality and the Law
Governmental Law and the Legislative Process
” “
Hofstra Law’s extensive array of courses offer students the breadth and depth of the substantive knowledge and practical skills that they will need to succeed in their legal field of choice.
—Jennifer A. Gundlach, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Experiential Education and Clinical Professor of Law
Criminal Law
• Comparative Criminal Law
• Criminal Justice Clinic
• Criminal Law
• Criminal Procedures I: Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments
• Criminal Procedure II: Adjudication
• Criminal Prosecution Practicum
• Death Penalty
• DNA Unraveled: Demystifying Forensic DNA Evidence
• Domestic Violence Seminar
• Federal Criminal Law
• Wrongful Convictions
• Youth Court
Environmental and Natural Resources Law
• Administrative Law
• Animal Law
• Ecuador Field Study: Special Issues in International Environmental Law
• Energy, the Environment and the Global Economy
• Environmental Law
• Environmental Law in Commercial and Real Estate Transactions
• Advanced Problems in Estate Planning
• Elder Law
• Estate Planning
• Federal Estate and Gift Tax
• Wills, Trusts and Estates
Family Law
• Adoption and Family Formation Seminar
• Advanced Topics in Family Law
• Child Abuse and Neglect
• Child Advocacy Clinic
• Children & the Law: Legal Relationships among Children, Families and the State
• The Child, the Family and the State: Legal Issues Affecting Minors
• Collaborative Law Seminar
• Domestic Violence Seminar
• Family Court Review Seminar
• Family Law LL.M.: Thesis I & II
• Family Law Policy Seminar
• Family Law With Skills
• Interdisciplinary Seminar on Family Law and Policy
• Introduction to Child and Family Advocacy
• Juvenile Justice Clinic Practicum
• Juvenile Justice Seminar
• Administrative Law
• Admiralty Law
• Antitrust
• Asylum Clinic
• Citizenship and Nationality Law
• Federalism Seminar
• Immigration Law
• Immigration Law Clinic Practicum
• Introduction to Administrative Law
• Land Use Regulation
• Legal Issues in Public Education
• Legislative Process
• Selected Problems in Immigration Law
• Special Education Law
• State and Local Government Law
• Voting Rights and Election Law
Health Law
• Bioethics and the Law
• Biotechnology: Law, Business & Regulation
• Constitutional Issues in Health Law
• Elder Law
• Health Law
• Law and Medicine: Cooperative Professionalism
• Law and Psychiatry
• Law of Medical Product Discovery, Development and Commercialization
• Law’s Response to Reproductive Technology
• Legal Decision-Making for Children and Incompetent Adults
• Managed Care and the Evolution of the DoctorPatient Relationship
• Medicare and Medicaid Law
• Special Education Law
Intellectual Property Law
• Advanced Patent Law
• Art Law Seminar
• Computer Technology in Legal Practice
• Copyright
• Entertainment Law
• Intellectual Property and Human Rights Seminar
• Intellectual Property Survey
• Law in Cyberspace
• Patent Law
• Patent Law Externship
• Patent Litigation
• Privacy in the Digital Age
• Trademarks
• Transnational Intellectual Property
International Law
• Ecuador Field Study: Special Issues in International Environmental Law
• Energy Law and Policy
• European Union Law
• Foreign Affairs and the Constitution
• Global Climate Change and U.S. Law
• Immigration Law
• Immigration Law Clinic Practicum
• International Business Transactions
• International Commercial Arbitration
• International Criminal Law
• International Environmental Law
• International Human Rights Law Seminar
• International Institutions
• International Law
• International Transactions: Commercial Paper in a Paperless Age
• Law of International Trade
• Law of the Sea
• Transnational Law
• Use of Force in International Law: From Peacekeeping to Terrorism
Labor and Employment Law
• Collective Bargaining
• Employment Discrimination
• Employment Law
• ERISA and Pension Rights Seminar
• Labor Law
• Public Sector Labor Law
• Sex-Based Discrimination
• Sports Law
• Strikes, Boycotts, Picketing and Injunctions
Legal History and Social Science
• Art Law Seminar
• Colloquium on Contemporary Issues in Gender, Law and Public Policy
• Economic Analysis of Law
• Feminist Jurisprudence
• Jurisprudence
• Law and Literature
• Legal History
• Practical LGBT Lawyering
• Race and the Law
• Sexuality and the Law
• Spanish for Lawyers
Legal Writing and Research
• Advanced Appellate Advocacy
• Advanced Legal Research
• Business Drafting Seminar
• Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I
• Legal Analysis, Writing and Research II
• Legal Methods
• Litigation and Drafting Skills
• Moot Court Seminar
• Perspectives on Legal Analysis and Writing
• Practice-Ready Research Skills
• Researching Administrative Law
• U.S. Legal Research and Writing for International Students
Taxation
• Ethical Problems in Federal Tax Practice
• Federal Income Taxation of Corporations
• Federal Income Taxation of Individuals
Professional Responsibility and Ethics
• The Business of Lawyering
• Computer Technology in Legal Practice
• Ethical Problems in Federal Tax Practice
• Ethics and Economics of Law Practice
• Jurisprudence
• Lawyer Malpractice
• Lawyers’ Ethics
Real Estate and Property Law
• Commercial Leasing
• Condemnation for Redevelopment
• Cooperatives, Condominiums and Homeowner Associations
• Eminent Domain and Real Estate Tax Review
• Land Use Regulation
• Property
• Real Estate Negotiation Techniques
• Real Estate Transactions
• Federal Tax Policy Seminar
• Federal Tax Procedure
• International Taxation Seminar
• State and Local Taxation
• Taxation of Partnerships
• Taxation of Real Property Transactions
Torts
• Advanced Tort Practice & Problems
• Complex Insurance Litigation
• Insurance Law
• Lawyer Malpractice
• Medical Malpractice
• NY Insurance Litigation Externship
• Products Liability
• Remedies
• Torts
The Student Experience
Tolu Akinsanya 3L
Key Stats
Before Hofstra Law: B.A. in History and Strategic Studies, University of Lagos, Nigeria
Area of Focus: Litigation
Summer Internships: Unemployment Action Center, Law Office of Peter J. Tomao
Tolu Akinsanya chose the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, not only for the quality of its faculty and proximity to the New York legal market, but also for an accommodating application process that is well-suited to international students. “The admissions office was very understanding and helped me get through a lot of red tape,” he says.
Akinsanya credits his work as a 1L at Hofstra Law’s Unemployment Action Center with helping him grasp the real-world application of his studies. At the UAC, he represented claimants at the Department of Labor, prepared them for hearings, carried out directs and cross-examinations and presented closing statements. “It really brought my studies to life,” he says.
Besides labor law, Akinsanya pursued his interest in intellectual property law through copyright and telecommunications courses in fall 2011. He hopes to combine insight from these courses with his experience and passion for Web design: “I want to be that someone who understands both the intellectual-property and technology worlds.”
After gaining some work experience in the United States, Akinsanya hopes to advance his career either in Europe or in his native Nigeria. “I am very certain that Hofstra Law is preparing me to practice law in a globalized world,” he says.
I am very certain that Hofstra Law is preparing me to practice law in a globalized world. “
”
It’s a welcoming and involved atmosphere. There’s a real community here. ” “
The Student Experience
Jonathan Nasca 3L
Key Stats
Before Hosfstra Law: B.A., Philosophy and Psychology, University of California, Davis Fellowship: William R. Ginsberg Memorial Fellowship in Environmental Law
Summer Internships: Region III Office of the Regional Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Latham & Watkins LLP
Jonathan Nasca embraced his first year at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University with a vengeance and is reaping the rewards. “I was fully aware of the work and time commitments, which helped me do well,” he says. That might be an understatement for Nasca, who entered his 2L and 3L years ranked No. 1 in his class.
Although Nasca’s achievements reflect his personal drive and passion, he also credits Hofstra Law’s faculty and administrators for helping him along the way. Noting their roles in making recruiting introductions and holding Q&A sessions beyond office hours, he says, “I am constantly surprised by how much they give. They are adamant about us doing well.”
Because Nasca developed close relationships with professors during his first year, he was exposed to unique opportunities as a 1L, such as working as a research assistant to Professor Katrina Kuh, an expert in environmental law. Nasca’s participation in Hofstra Law’s Environmental Law Society provided another outlet for practical experience, as did an externship this past spring with the Long Island Power Authority.
Experiential Learning
I’ve had a number of Hofstra graduates appear before me as a judge, and the one consistent thing about our graduates is they are wellversed in the law,” says Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels ’88 of the Appellate Division, 1st Department, of the New York State Supreme Court. “They understand procedure. You don’t ever see a Hofstra Law graduate walk into a courtroom and not know where to stand, not know what the protocol is. They know. They have been tremendously well-prepared.”
Clinical Program
“Being a part of the Child Advocacy Clinic was by far the best experience I had as a Hofstra Law student. It gave me the opportunity to represent real clients, specifically children, in family court proceedings involving abuse and neglect. I developed strong writing skills and learned how to conduct myself when addressing the court. It is an experience I will never forget.”
— Danielle Visvader ’05
Hofstra Law enjoys a rich tradition as a pioneer in fully integrating clinical education into a traditional law school curriculum. By the late 1970s, Hofstra Law had one of the largest clinical programs in the nation. Over the years, the Clinical Program has become a wellknown presence in legal circles in the metropolitan area. The program has stayed true to its original mission: to teach students lawyering skills and analytic methods through representing clients in need.
Participation in one of the Clinical Program’s six clinics may be the only occasion when a student has an opportunity to practice law before obtaining the J.D. degree. The student represents individuals facing real legal challenges, advocating in court, counseling clients, conducting fact investigations and mediating disputes. The student must think and act like a lawyer. The experience is both deeply challenging and immensely rewarding, and often serves as the highlight of a student’s legal education.
Most clinics are one-semester courses. Each clinic holds a weekly two-hour classroom seminar. The seminars develop such crucial lawyering skills as interviewing, counseling, negotiation, mediation, fact investigation and trial techniques, and include discussions about substance and procedure.
All second-year and third-year students are eligible to apply to participate in one of Hofstra Law’s clinics and clinic practicums:
• Asylum Clinic
• Child Advocacy Clinic
• Community and Economic Development Clinic
• Criminal Justice Clinic
Moot Court
• Criminal Prosecution Practicum
• Immigration Law Clinic Practicum
• Juvenile Justice Clinic Practicum
• Mediation Clinic
• Securities Arbitration Clinic
The student-run, faculty-supported Moot Court Association is dedicated to the development of appellate and oral advocacy skills in preparation for upper-level courses and moot court competitions. The association sponsors two intra-school competitions, one in the fall for transfer students and one in the spring for those interested in joining the association. Members compete in a number of regional, national and international competitions.
I have been equipped with the most solid of foundations in the law.”
Alumni Achievements
Hon. Sallie ManzanetDaniels ’88 Judge, Appellate Division, 1st Department, New York State Supreme Court
Justice Sallie Manzanet-Daniels feels that her Hofstra Law education has prepared her for her career on the bench: “As a trial judge, the volume of cases is so overwhelming that you’re not able to really dig into the cases you have with the depth that sometimes you’d like to.” However, when she is called upon to examine an area of law in which she isn’t well-versed, “I do so without trepidation because I know I have been equipped with the most solid of foundations in the law and that there is no legal problem I cannot analyze and break down into its basic components and figure out,” she says. “Hofstra taught that very simply.”
And now as an appellate court justice, the fundamental skills that Manzanet-Daniels learned at Hofstra Law allow her, she says, to analyze the law “from its very root.”
Besides a firm foundation in the law, Hofstra Law offers access to some of the leading minds in law — and not just during class. “I had Monroe Freedman for Contracts; he is also a renowned expert in the field of ethics,” she says. “To this day, Professor Freedman continues to send me any new articles he writes, so that, even over the 20 years or so, he stays in contact with his students. I think it’s a tremendous credit to him and to the institution that it engenders that kind of connection to its student body and alumni.”
“
Hofstra Law’s Externship Program took me from the world of academia into the real world. This program prepared me for the transition and also ensured that I would reflect and learn from each step of the journey. My experience in the Externship Program gave me insight into the judicial system and has better prepared me for my legal career. — Matthew McDonagh 2L
Centers and Institutes
Centers and institutes allow the faculty and administration to focus attention on legal issues of special importance to the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University community, the legal profession and society in general. These centers of excellence foster research, education and action on critical issues; attract thought leaders to the campus each year for research, debate and the exchange of knowledge; and immerse students in collaborative research — in some cases internationally — that impacts scholarship and helps translate legal theory into practice.
• Center for Applied Legal Reasoning
• The Center for Children, Families and the Law
• Center for Legal Advocacy
• Institute for Health Law and Policy
• Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation
• Institute for the Study of Gender, Law and Public Policy
• Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics
• Perry Weitz Institute for the Study of Mass Torts
• Research Laboratory for Law, Logic and Technology
Journals
Students can gain membership in Hofstra Law’s publications through outstanding academic performance, a writing competition or submission of an article chosen by the editors. Student editors and staff are responsible for soliciting articles from legal scholars, considering unsolicited manuscripts for publication, editing published works and publishing articles that expand the frontiers of legal scholarship. Three publications are studentrun journals and are important sources of scholarship that are cited widely in other publications and in judicial opinions. The ACTEC Law Journal and the Family Court Review are peer-reviewed and published under the auspices of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, respectively.
• Hofstra Law Review
• Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal
• Journal of International Business and Law (JIBL)
• ACTEC Law Journal (the journal of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel)
• Family Court Review (the journal of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts)
Externship Program
Hofstra Law’s Externship Program enables students to gain hands-on legal experience while earning academic credit. Students work directly with judges, governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, prosecutors’ offices and publicly funded criminal defense agencies, as well as in other legal settings. Externships allow students to develop practical lawyering skills and connections with practicing attorneys while building legal experience.
Select Recent Externships
• CBS Television Network
• Chanel
• CME Group
• Country-Wide Insurance Company
• District Attorney’s Offices — Kings, Nassau, New York, Queens and Suffolk Counties
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
• The Legal Aid Society
• MTV Networks
• National Football League
• New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
• New York Civil Liberties Union
• New York State Attorney General’s Office
• Pall Corporation
• RXR Realty
• United Nations Office of Administration of Justice
• U.S. Attorney’s Office
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• Weill Cornell Medical College
“Student involvement is critical here, and whether it is through the Student Bar Association, the more than 40 student organizations or the many School-sponsored social and professional events, it will begin to build your professional network.”
— Alexandria Sawyer ’12 President Student Bar Association
Student Organizations
At the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, learning is not limited to the classroom or library. The Office of Student Affairs supports a broad range of student-run organizations and activities designed to provide every student with the opportunity to pursue personal interests, interact with classmates and law students at other schools and meet with faculty, alumni and practicing attorneys. These activities provide the experience necessary to hone the skills working attorneys need. Many Hofstra Law students are active in one or more of the following organizations:
Student Bar Association
Advocacy Organizations
• Dispute Resolution Society
• Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association
• Moot Court Association
Identity and Affinity Organizations
• Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association
• Black Law Students Association
• Hofstra Law First Generation Law Students
• Hofstra Law Gentlemen
• Hofstra Law Women
• Italian Law Students Association
• Latino/a American Law Students Association
• Older & Wiser Law Students
• OUTLaw
• Russian American Law Students Association
• South Asian Law Students Association
Professional Interest Organizations
• Criminal Law Society
• Elder Law Society
• Environmental Law Society
• Health Law Society
• Hofstra Art Law & Culture Society
• Hofstra Intellectual Property Law Association
• Hofstra Law Business Law Society
• Immigration Law Society
• International Law Society
• Labor & Employment Law Society
• Phi Alpha Delta
• Sports and Entertainment Law Society
• Tax Law Society
Religious Organizations
• Christian Legal Society
• Jewish Law Students Association
• Muslim Law Students Association
Service Organizations
• Courtroom Advocates Project
• Hofstra Law Veterans Association
• Law Brigades
• Legal Emergency Aid Project
• Public Justice Foundation
• Unemployment Action Center
Social and Recreational Organizations
• Hofstra Law Revue
• Hofstra Law Wine & Food Club
Social/Political Change Organizations
• Democratic Law Society
• Federalist Society
• Human Rights Law Society
• Out of Court Statements (student newspaper)
Students and student organizations stay in touch and promote meetings and events using platforms like Facebook. As prospective students are admitted, they are invited to join a Facebook group page that remains in place for each class during their three years at the Law School and as they join the Hofstra Law alumni community.
Select Guest Speakers
Fall 2009-Spring 2012
Luis A. Aguilar Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Michael A. Cardozo Corporation Counsel, New York City
Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. Partner and Co-Chair, Appellate and Constitutional Law Group, Media and Entertainment Group, Crisis Management Group, and Transnational Litigation and Foreign Judgments Group, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Hon. Jennifer Walker Elrod Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit
Hon. Gordon Gray U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia
Eva J. Klain Director, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
Hon. Jonathan Lippman Chief Judge, State of New York, and Chief Judge, Court of Appeals
Hon. Gerard E. Lynch Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, and Paul J. Kellner Professor of Law, Columbia Law School.
Richard W. Pound Former Vice President, International Olympic Committee, and Founding Chairman, World Anti-Doping Agency
Hon. D. Brooks Smith Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
Hon. Sang-Hyun Song President and Judge, International Criminal Court
Jeffrey Toobin Author and Analyst, CNN
Cyrus Vance, Jr. Candidate, Manhattan District Attorney, and Partner, Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer, P.C.
Note: Titles reflect positions held
at the time the speakers visited Hofstra Law.
Speaker visit by Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
JIBL members and 2009 conference keynote speaker, Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar
“was extraordinary. It not only helped me to better understand the laws of import and export, but it also gave me a greater appreciation for the freedoms that we have as Americans. — Ashton A. Simmons ’12
Cuba
Pisa Curaçao Curaçao
Summer and Semester Study Abroad
The Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University offers several exciting American Bar Association-approved study abroad programs. Each program includes courses that focus on international or comparative law, and encourages extensive interaction with local students, faculty and members of the legal community. Faculty for Hofstra Law’s study abroad programs have included U.S. Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg and other distinguished jurists and law professors. Students who participate in these programs can gain a rich understanding of foreign legal institutions and a greater appreciation for lawyering in a global environment.
International and Comparative Law Summer and Winter Programs
Winter Program in Curaçao, Dutch Caribbean
Co-sponsored by Hofstra Law, the University of Baltimore School of Law and Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Law and hosted by the University of the Netherlands Kingdom.
Summer Program in Pisa, Italy
Co-sponsored by Hofstra Law and the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Italy’s premier research university.
Field Study Programs
Cuba Field Study: Export Laws and Export Controls
Ecuador Field Study: Special Issues in International Environmental Law
International Student Exchange
As a founding member of the EuropeanAmerican Consortium for Legal Education, or EACLE, Hofstra Law offers opportunities for foreign law students to study at Hofstra Law and for our students to study at foreign law schools. Students may apply for a semester exchange at the following law school partners in the spring of their second year or the fall of their third year:
EACLE Exchange Partners
• Erasmus University Rotterdam School of Law, The Netherlands
• Ghent University Faculty of Law, Belgium
• University of Helsinki Faculty of Law, Finland
• University of Parma Faculty of Law, Italy
Other Exchange Partners
• City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
• East China University of Political Science and Law, China
• Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
The Office of Global Initiatives was created to nurture and cultivate globalization as an institutional value and educational priority at Hofstra Law. This office oversees all current international programs at Hofstra Law, including study abroad, student exchange and the American Legal Studies LL.M. The office is responsible for the creation of international centers abroad, new models for faculty and student exchange relationships, affiliations with international organizations, development of international rule of law programs and cultivation of international internship opportunities.
Faculty
The full-time faculty of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University consists of 50 nationally and internationally recognized scholars who represent diverse fields. Faculty members have clerked for U.S. Supreme Court justices, chaired major American Bar Association and law reform committees, received awards for scholarship and leadership in legal education and community leadership, and are recognized leaders in clinical and skills training. Their publications reflect a wide range of interests and expertise, ongoing participation in important scholarly debates and significant contributions to the study and teaching of law. The faculty’s open-door policy creates an accessible and collegial environment and reflects professors’ engagement with their students.
Professor Miriam R. Albert was appointed to the 15-member editorial board of Business Law Today, the publication of the ABA Business Law Section, with a readership of approximately 60,000 business lawyers. She also was selected to be an articles editor for the prestigious American Business Law Journal.
Full-Time Faculty
Eric Lane
Interim Dean and Eric J. Schmertz
Distinguished Professor of Public Law and Public Service
B.A., Brown University
M.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook
J.D., Fordham University
LL.M., New York University
Subjects: Law and Literature; Constitutional Law I & II; Legislative Process; Voting Rights and Election Law; Introduction to Statutory and Regulatory Interpretation; Introduction to Administrative Law
Jennifer Gundlach
Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Experiential Education and Clinical Professor of Law
B.A., Kenyon College
J.D., American University
Washington College of Law
Subjects: Civil Procedure; Discovery Skills I & II; Pretrial Skills; Lawyers’ Ethics
Miriam R. Albert
Professor of Skills and Faculty Advisor for the J.D./M.B.A. Program
B.A., Tufts University
J.D., M.B.A., Emory University
LL.M., New York University
Subjects: Business Drafting Seminar; Business Organizations; Business Planning; Contracts I & II
Barbara S. Barron
Professor of Skills, Director of the Trial Techniques Program, Director of Student Advocacy Programs and Faculty Advisor to the Moot Court Board
B.A., State University of New York at Albany
M.A., Columbia University
J.D., Hofstra University
Subjects: Applied Evidence;
Domestic Violence Seminar; Real-Time Lawyering; Criminal Externship Program
Yishai Boyarin
Associate Clinical Professor of Law, Attorney-in-Charge of the Mediation Clinic and Associate Dean for Intellectual Life
B.A., J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall) LL.M., Hofstra University
Subjects: Mediation Clinic; Alternatives to Litigation; Modern Divorce Advocacy
Alafair S. Burke
Professor of Law
B.A., Reed College
J.D., Stanford University
Subjects: Criminal Law; Criminal Procedure I & II; Federal Criminal Law
Robert A. Baruch Bush
Harry H. Rains Distinguished
Professor of Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Settlement Law
B.A., Harvard University
J.D., Stanford University
Subjects: Advanced Mediation Seminar; Mediation Seminar; Alternatives to Litigation; Torts
During the last several years, Professor Mitchell Gans has served as the academic reporter for the EPTL-SCPA (Estates Powers and Trust LawSurrogate’s Court Procedure Act)
Legislative Advisory Committee to the New York State Legislature. The committee recently submitted its report to the Legislature recommending, with extensive alterations, the adoption of the Uniform Trust Code in New York. If adopted, this legislation will codify and rewrite the entire law of trusts in New York.
Juli Campagna
Assistant Professor of Legal Writing and Assistant Faculty Director of International Programs
B.A., Mundelein College
M.A., University of Illinois at Chicago
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law
LL.M., John Marshall Law School
Subjects: Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I & II; U.S. Legal Research and Writing for International Students; Legal Methods
Robin Charlow
Professor of Law
A.B., Vassar College
J.D., Cornell University
Subjects: Constitutional Law I & II; Criminal Law; Religion and the Constitution
J. Scott Colesanti
Associate Professor of Legal Writing
B.A., Adelphi University
J.D., Fordham University
LL.M., New York University
Subjects: Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I & II; Securities Regulation; Regulation of Securities Broker/Dealers; Regulation of International Markets
Ronald J. Colombo
Professor of Law
B.S., Cornell University
J.D., New York University
Subjects: Business Organizations;
Contracts I & II; Securities Regulation; Controversies in Corporate Law; Introduction to Administrative Law
J. Herbie DiFonzo
Professor of Law
B.S., St. Joseph’s College
J.D., M.A., Ph.D., University of Virginia
Subjects: Family Law With Skills; Civil Procedure I & II; Modern Divorce Advocacy; Adoption & Family Formation; Juvenile Justice Seminar; Family Law LL.M.: Thesis I & II
Janet L. Dolgin
Jack and Freda Dicker Distinguished Professor of Health Care Law,
Director of the Institute for Health Law and Policy and Co-Director of the Hofstra University Bioethics Center; Professor, Department of Science Education, Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine
B.A., Barnard College
M.A., Ph.D., Princeton University
J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Bioethics and the Law; Health Law; Law’s Response to Reproductive Technology; Legal Decision Making for Children and Incompetent Adults; Law and Medicine: Cooperative Professionalism
Akilah N. Folami
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., Spelman College
J.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Wills, Trusts and Estates; Property; Telecommunications Law and Policy; Mass Media and the First Amendment
Susan Saab Fortney
Howard Lichtenstein Distinguished Professor of Legal Ethics and Director of the Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics
B.A., Trinity University
J.D., Antioch School of Law
L.L.M., J.S.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Lawyers’ Ethics; Lawyer Malpractice; Ethics and Economics of Law Practice
Eric M. Freedman
Maurice A. Deane Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law
B.A., J.D., Yale University
M.A., Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)
Subjects: Constitutional Law I & II; Death Penalty; Discovery Skills I & II; Pretrial Skills
Monroe H. Freedman
Professor of Law
A.B., LL.B., LL.M., Harvard University
Subject: Lawyers’ Ethics
Leon Friedman
Joseph Kushner Distinguished Professor of Civil Liberties Law
A.B., LL.B., Harvard University
Subjects: Constitutional Law I & II; Copyright; Current Problems in Constitutional Law; Entertainment Law
Linda Galler
Professor of Law
B.A., Wellesley College
J.D., Boston University
LL.M., New York University
Subjects: Ethical Problems in Federal Tax Practice; Federal Income Taxation of Corporations; Federal Income Taxation of Individuals; International Taxation Seminar
Professor Barbara S. Barron created and conducted an innovative trial advocacy program for American Bar Association Rule of Law
Initiative attorneys in Russia. The course, which covers case analysis and American-style written advocacy, required adaptation of American theoretical and technical concepts to Russian language, cultural and legal distinctions.
In 2012, Professor Julian Ku published his first book, Taming Globalization: International Law, the U.S. Constitution, and the New World Order (Oxford University Press), with Professor John Yoo of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. The book offers a detailed analysis of how the U.S. Constitution should be interpreted to accommodate the impact of globalization and changes in international law.
Mitchell Gans
Rivkin Radler Distinguished Professor of Law
B.B.A., J.D., Hofstra University
Subjects: Federal Estate and Gift Tax; Federal Income Taxation of Corporations; Federal Income Taxation of Individuals; Wills, Trusts and Estates
Elizabeth M. Glazer
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., M.A., University of Pennsylvania
J.D., University of Chicago
Subjects: First Amendment; Jurisprudence; Law and Sexuality; Property; Transactional Lawyering; Anti-Discrimination; Business Drafting
Daniel J.H. Greenwood
Professor of Law
A.B., Harvard University
J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Corporate Finance; Business Organizations; Torts
John DeWitt Gregory
Sidney and Walter Siben Distinguished Professor of Family Law
B.A., Howard University
J.D., Harvard University
Subjects: Animal Law; Child Abuse and Neglect; The Child, the Family and the State; Family Law
Joanna L. Grossman
Professor of Law
B.A., Amherst College
J.D., Stanford University
Subjects: Family Law; Sex-Based Discrimination; Wills, Trusts and Estates; Gender Policy Seminar; Family Law
LL.M.: Thesis I & II
Frank Gulino
Associate Professor of Legal Writing
B.A., New York University
J.D., Fordham University
Subjects: Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I & II; Advanced Appellate Advocacy
Grant M. Hayden
Professor of Law and John DeWitt Gregory Research Scholar
B.A., M.A., University of Kansas
J.D., Stanford University
Subjects: Disability Law; Employment Discrimination; Labor Law; Voting Rights and Election Law
James E. Hickey, Jr.
Professor of Law
B.S., University of Florida
J.D., University of Georgia
Ph.D., University of Cambridge (Jesus College)
Subjects: Energy, the Environment and the Global Economy; Energy Law and Policy; International Human Rights Seminar; International Institutions; International Law; Law of the Sea; Transnational Law; Use of Force in International Law
Susan H. Joffe
Associate Professor of Legal Writing
B.A., Herbert H. Lehman College (CUNY)
M.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook
J.D., Hofstra University
Subjects: Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I & II; Contracts; Employment Law
Lawrence W. Kessler
Richard J. Cardali Distinguished Professor of Trial Advocacy
B.A., J.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Criminal Procedure; Evidence; Pretrial Skills; Torts; Trial Techniques
Stefan Krieger
Professor of Law, Director of the Center for Applied Legal Reasoning and Director Emeritus of Clinical Programs
B.A., University of Chicago
J.D., University of Illinois
Subjects: Evidence; Special Problems Seminar in Fair Housing Litigation; Fact Investigation
Julian Ku
Professor of Law and Faculty Director of International Programs
B.A., J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Business Organizations; Constitutional Law I & II; Foreign Affairs and the Constitution; International Business Transactions; Law and International Economic Development; Transnational Law; Law of International Trade
Katrina Fischer Kuh
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Environmental Law; Torts; Global Climate Change and U.S. Law; International Environmental Law
Theo Liebmann
Clinical Professor of Law, Director of Clinical Programs and Attorney-inCharge of the Child Advocacy Clinic
B.A., Yale University
J.D., Georgetown University
Subjects: Child Advocacy Clinic; Civil Procedure I; Introduction to Child and Family Advocacy; Legal Decision Making for Children and Incompetent Adults
Irina Manta
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Intellectual Property Survey; Property Law; IP Colloquium Seminar
Serge Martinez
Clinical Professor of Law
B.A., Brigham Young University
J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Community and Economic Development Clinic; Housing and Economic Development; Practical LGBT Lawyering
Professor Robin Charlow was recently appointed to the newly formed Legislative Action Committee of the North Shore School District in Nassau County, Long Island. The committee’s charge is to investigate the legal bases for issues of concern to local public school districts and to devise plans for necessary law reform to address them.
Our alumni are already successful. ... They have no obligation to come back here and help someone else, but that’s what happens at Hofstra. People look out for each other. ” “
Recent Alumni Perspective
Michelle Marcellus ’12
Key Stats
Journal:
Associate Editor, Hofstra Law Review
Fellowship:
New York City Bar
Diversity Fellowship
Summer Internship: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
After Hofstra Law:
Associate, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
As a 1L, Michelle Marcellus was a bit surprised to be invited to the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University’s “In Honor of Justice” dinner, an annual event honoring alumni in the judiciary. Yet there she was in a room packed with some of the Law School’s most esteemed graduates. She recalls the state Supreme Court justice who recognized her from another alumni event. “That’s amazing,” says Marcellus, “but what’s even more amazing is that she took the time to get to know me and gave me some great advice.”
That was Marcellus’ consistent experience at Hofstra Law. The first person in her family to go to law school, she came without a single connection to the legal profession. But once she arrived on campus, alumni at some of the city’s biggest firms reached out to her, taking her to lunch in the city and answering questions over e-mail.
“At Hofstra Law, the alumni go above and beyond what’s expected of them,” says Marcellus, whose alumni mentor was Samuel Ramos ’91, vice president and associate general counsel at Goldman Sachs. He gave Marcellus important real-life perspective on her studies. “You can teach anyone the law,” she says, but until you hear from an attorney what they actually do on a daily basis, it’s just theory. You need that connection.”
Kevin McElroy
Assistant Professor of Legal Writing
B.A., State University of New York at Albany
J.D., St. John’s University School of Law
Subjects: Legal Analysis, Writing & Research; Legal Methods; Pre-Trial Skills; Selected Problems in New York Civil Practice
In January 2012, Professor James Sample’s research was cited by the Montana Supreme Court in a first-of-its-kind case upholding state corporate expenditure limits in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s controversial decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
Richard K. Neumann, Jr.
Professor of Law
B.A., Pomona College
Dipl., University of Stockholm
J.D., American University
LL.M., Temple University
Subjects: Contracts I & II; Transactional Lawyering; International Business Transactions
Ashira Ostrow
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., University of Pennsylvania
J.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Property; Real Estate Transactions; State and Local Government Law; Cooperatives, Condominiums and Homeowner Associations; Land Use Regulation
Mark Padin
Associate Professor of Academic Support
B.A., State University of New York, College at Brockport
J.D., University of California Hastings College of the Law
Subjects: Academic Support Programs; Legal Methods
Alan N. Resnick
Benjamin Weintraub Distinguished Professor of Bankruptcy Law
B.S., Rider College
J.D., Georgetown University
LL.M., Harvard University
Subjects: Bankruptcy; Advanced Bankruptcy; Debtor Rehabilitation Seminar
James Sample
Associate Professor of Law
B.A., Boston College
J.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Federal Courts; Civil Procedure I & II; Administrative Law
Andrew Schepard
Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Children, Families and the Law
B.A., City College of New York
M.A., Columbia University
J.D., Harvard University
Subjects: Civil Procedure I; Family Law; Family Law Policy Seminar; Family Court Review Seminar; Alternatives to Litigation; Discovery and Depositions; Pretrial Skills
Courtney Selby
Associate Dean for Information Services, Director of the Law Library and Associate Professor of Law
B.A., University of Tulsa
J.D., University of Tulsa College of Law
M.L.I.S., University of Oklahoma
Norman I. Silber
Professor of Law
B.A., Washington University
M.A., Ph.D., Yale University
J.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Commercial Transactions Survey; Consumer Transactions; Legal History; Nonprofit Organizations
Barbara Stark
Professor of Law and Associate Dean for Intellectual Life
B.A., Cornell University
J.D., New York University
LL.M., Columbia University
Subjects: Family Law; International Family Law; International Law; Transnational Law
In May 2012, Professor Andrew Schepard was named a fellow of Educating Tomorrow’s Lawyers by the Initiative for the Advancement of the American Legal System for contributions to legal education. This recognition was based on the course Family Law with Skills co-created by Professors Schepard and J. Herbie DiFonzo.
Amy R. Stein
Professor of Legal Writing, Assistant Dean for Adjunct Instruction and Coordinator of the Legal Writing Program
B.A., Tufts University
J.D., Fordham University
Subjects: Legal Analysis, Writing and Research I & II; Civil Procedure I; Pretrial Skills
Vern R. Walker
Professor of Law and Director of the Research Laboratory for Law, Logic and Technology
B.A., University of Detroit
M.A., Ph.D., University of Notre Dame
J.D., Yale University
Subjects: Torts; Scientific Evidence; Administrative Law; European Union Law; Introduction to Administrative Law
Lauris Wren
Clinical Professor of Law and Attorneyin-Charge of the Asylum Clinic
B.A., Williams College
J.D., Columbia University
Subjects: Immigration Law; Asylum Clinic; Practical LGBT Lawyering
Professor Susan Fortney received a grant to develop a teaching module on the ethics of diversity. For phase one of the project, she will develop and test the module at Hofstra Law. Based on the experience, she will revise the module for distribution to law schools and bar associations nationwide.
Hofstra Law does an excellent job getting first-year students involved with the Office of Career Services. I love everyone who works in that office. ”
Recent Alumni Perspective
Ahmed Almudallal ’12
Key Stats
Summer Internship: Queens County District Attorney’s Office, New York County District Attorney’s Office
Graduation Award: Pro Bono Leadership Award for his work in raising nearly $75,000 for summer fellowships as Public Justice Foundation president
After Hofstra Law: Assistant District Attorney, New York County District Attorney’s Office
Ahmed Almudallal majored in biology as an undergraduate, but every internship and summer job he took was at a law firm. After college, he found a job as a legal assistant at a major Washington, D.C., law firm.
“People thought I was crazy,” he says. “Most of the attorneys I spoke to said the legal assistants after a year decide the legal field is not what they want to do. I ended up loving the long hours and the intricacies of the law.”
“I’m a huge Law & Order: SVU fan,” says Almudallal. The popular legal drama didn’t influence his decision to go to law school — that he attributes to his lawyer aunt and a mock trial in his 10th-grade government class — but it does hint at his passion for criminal law, which was rekindled as a firstyear student at Hofstra Law.
He feels his science background was an asset in his journey to the criminal courtroom, providing the research skills necessary to delve deeply into cases: “With DNA and bullet testing, fingerprint analysis and other science involved in cases these days, I have an advantage in understanding the evidence and expert testimony.”
Career Services
The Office of Career Services (OCS) supports students and alumni in developing and implementing successful career and professional development strategies. OCS provides students and alumni with information and coaching to help them make informed career decisions and develop as professionals. Knowledgeable and resourceful OCS staff assist students and alumni through an array of services that include individual career coaching focused on job acquisition strategies, personal branding and marketing, resume and cover letter preparation, interview training and overall professional development.
“
Interning for Judge Sullivan has benefited me exponentially. The internship gave me the opportunity to participate in criminal trials and apply information I learned in my first-year courses to a real-life setting. The greatest benefit is the relationships I have built with judges, defense attorneys and district attorneys. — Courtney DeCicco 2L
”
Select Recent Summer Associate, Summer Internship and Postgraduate Placements, Classes of 2010-2013
NLJ 350 Law Firms
Alston & Bird LLP
Baker Botts LLP
Bond Schoeneck & King PLLC
Brown Rudnick LLP
Bryan Cave LLP
Cullen and Dykman LLP
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Greenberg Traurig LLP
Harkness Dickey & Pierce PLC
OCS maintains a close relationship with Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University alumni and the legal community at large, which gives students a deep understanding of issues relevant to leaders in the legal field. These strong ties allow OCS to provide current and compelling guidance and programming that afford students an advantage in a competitive legal job market. Hofstra Law’s professional development programming highlights numerous critical elements of professional growth that are not typically part of a traditional law school curriculum, such as interview and communication skills; business
etiquette; business development and marketing; building professional networks; client relations and retention; time management; and other matters related to a professional persona.
In addition, OCS organizes a comprehensive on-campus interview program, which includes law firms, government agencies and public-sector employers, and also supports an extensive online employer database. With this assistance, Hofstra Law students frequently obtain positions with private law firms, government agencies, public interest organizations, corporations, and federal and state judges.
Harris Beach PLLC
Holland & Hart LLP
Holland & Knight LLP
Jackson Lewis LLP
Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman LLP
Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Kenyon & Kenyon LLP
King & Spalding LLP
Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Nixon Peabody LLP
O’Melveny & Myers LLP
Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP
Paul Hastings LLP
Proskauer Rose LLP
Ropes & Gray LLP
Shearman & Sterling LLP
SNR Denton
White & Case LLP
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP
Regional Law Firms
Abrams, Fensterman, Fensterman, Eisman, Formato, Ferrara & Einiger LLP
Bickel & Brewer
Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP
Duval & Stachenfeld LLP
Jaspan Schlesinger LLP
Lewis Johs Avallone Aviles LLP
London Fischer LLP
Moses & Singer LLP
Government Employers
Bronx County District Attorney’s Office
Internal Revenue Service, Office of Chief Counsel
Kings County District Attorney’s Office
Miami-Dade Office of the State Attorney
Nassau County Attorney’s Office
Nassau County District Attorney’s Office
New York City Administration for Children’s Services
New York City Law Department
New York County District Attorney’s Office
Queens County District Attorney’s Office
Social Security Administration
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office
U.S. Air Force, Army and Navy JAG Corps
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Public Interest Organizations
Catholic Charities Immigrant Services
Center for Court Innovation
The Humane League InMotion
Lambda Legal
Lawyers for Children
The Legal Aid Society
Legal Aid Society of Nassau County
Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services
Mid-Bronx Senior Citizens Council
New York County Defender Services
Pro Bono Partnership
Project Sentinel
Suffolk County Legal Aid
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
Postgraduate Judicial Clerkships
Indiana Court of Appeals
New Jersey Superior Court
New York City Civil Court
Ocean County (New Jersey) Family Court
Superior Court of Delaware
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit Staff Attorney’s Office
U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit Staff Attorney’s Office
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit Staff Attorney’s Office
U. S. District Court, District of Maine
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. Immigration Court, San Antonio, Texas
Postgraduate Fellowships
New York State Senate Fellowship
Presidential Management Fellowship
Services
• Job Listings: Full-time, part-time, summer and postgraduate jobs are posted online.
Professional Success and Leadership Development Program OCS
• Mock Interviews: Student interviews are recorded and critiqued, to provide both practice and feedback.
• Resume Collection: Student resumes are placed in the hands of employers who seek summer and postgraduate hires.
• On-Campus Interviews: Employers visit the campus to interview students who are looking for both summer and postgraduate positions.
• Document Preparation and Review: OCS counselors assist students with the development and refinement of their resume and cover letter to ensure that students are effectively marketing themselves to prospective employers.
Employment Statistics for the Class of 2011*
Within nine months of graduation, 84.2 percent* of the Class of 2011 reported to Hofstra Law that they were employed. This figure reflects various employment positions, including some temporary positions, part-time positions, selfemployment, positions that do not require a J.D. and positions funded by Hofstra Law. For more detailed information regarding Hofstra Law’s employment statistics, please visit the Hofstra Law website at law.hofstra.edu/Employment. The economy, including the legal economy, is constantly changing, and employment for past classes is not an accurate predictor of employment for future classes. In addition, a law degree from Hofstra Law or any other law school is not a guarantee of employment in the legal field.
This innovative program is designed to support students’ growth as professionals through the development of their unique skills, abilities and leadership styles. Students also learn how to communicate these distinct characteristics and differentiators to compete and convey their relevance in an increasingly competitive, entrepreneurial and technologically sophisticated global legal marketplace.
The Professional Success and Leadership Development Program offers highly interactive seminars, panels, workshops, individual coaching, mentoring and events, including a Distinguished Practitioner Lecture series. The program’s signature event is the annual Success Strategies Boot Camp, which has featured:
• a panel of prominent and influential industry leaders discussing the future of legal practice;
• plenaries on lawyer competencies, communication skills and styles, emotional intelligence and building professional networks; and
• workshops on business-writing skills, interviewing skills and developing professional relationships.
The Professional Success and Leadership Development Program also features a Student Advisory Council, which offers a forum for students to help shape and co-create initiatives for the program. During the past year, the students on the council began to work in a series of committees to advance some of the overall professional development initiatives at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University.
* The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) defines a law school’s employment rate as the number of graduates employed divided by the number of graduates whose employment status is known. For NALP purposes, Hofstra Law’s employment rate of 84.2 percent is calculated by dividing the number of employed graduates, 234, by the number of graduates whose employment status was known, 278. The total number of graduates in the Class of 2011 was 297. Employment statistics in a uniform chart provided by the American Bar Association can be found at the Hofstra Law website at law.hofstra.edu/Employment. Other organizations and publications, such as U.S. News & World Report , the Princeton Review and Barron’s, each define a law school’s employment rate and percentage differently.
“The program enables Hofstra Law graduates to enter the workplace and immediately contribute in substantive ways, and ultimately to make a powerful, authentic and confident mark in the legal community. — Michael J. Ende, Assistant Dean for Career Services
”
Collaboration That Counts
Dear Prospective Student,
As an alum, as chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board and as a senior partner with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, I can say from experience that the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University is an extraordinary institution that provides its students with a legal education that is second to none.
I was privileged to attend the Law School from 1974 to 1977, when it had just been established. Not a day has gone by without my giving thanks for the education I received at Hofstra Law. The lessons received from and inspiration provided by the brilliant, dedicated and innovative scholar-professors of my era are evergreen and continue to resonate in my work and my career. I owe an enormous debt to the Law School — the value of my education has appreciated and continues to appreciate every day, week, month and year.
The attributes that attracted me to Hofstra Law — an accomplished and accessible faculty and an opportunity for meaningful legal experience — remain central to the Hofstra Law program today. In addition to the benefits derived from regular interaction with faculty both in and out of the classroom, the Law School’s robust clinical programs provide valuable, realworld exposure to legal practice. The clinics allow students to develop critical skills while making a difference for people who face legal challenges, whether it is advocating in court, counseling clients or mediating disputes. Our exemplary and accomplished faculty and vibrant clinical programs are just two of the many components that make Hofstra Law remarkable.
Under the leadership and drive of Interim Dean Eric Lane, Hofstra Law continues to embrace innovation and academic excellence for the benefit of each and every student. I hope that you will have the opportunity to study in such a compelling environment. I encourage you to learn more about Hofstra Law.
Sincerely,
Brad Eric Scheler ’77 Chair, Dean’s Advisory Board
Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University
Thousands of Hofstra Law alumni stay connected through a private LinkedIn group. It allows them to find one another by practice area or geographic region, view jobs posted by peers and the Law School, expand their network and solicit advice from other alums. Hofstra Law has also set up subgroups for the Office of Career Services to disseminate information to recent graduates, and for alumni of journals and other student organizations.
Alumni Stories
The alumni community of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University consists of more than 10,000 members in 49 states and 27 countries around the world. More than 65 alumni are judges nationwide, and countless more practice law, lead organizations and communities, and put their law degrees to work in other ways. What’s more, alumni are involved in the Hofstra Law community and regularly mentor students, whether through formal externships or informal relationships, to provide valuable career and personal guidance.
Select Distinguished Alumni
Steve W. Ackerman ’83 Vice President and Counsel, The Walt Disney Company
Christopher Antone ’81 Managing Partner, Labor Department, Jackson Lewis LLP, Dallas Office
Azam H. Aziz ’96 Partner, Shearman & Sterling
Hon. Maryanne Trump Barry ’74 Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
Cecilia Bessee ’90 Associate General Counsel, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Loren H. Brown ’92 Partner and Co-Chair of Product Liability and Mass Tort Practice, DLA Piper
Kimberly R. Cline ’87 President, Mercy College, New York
Neil Cole ’82 Chairman, President and CEO, Iconix Brands Group, Inc.
Gordon Crane ’78 President and CEO, Apple & Eve, LLC
Maurice A. Deane ’81 President, Bama Equities, Inc.
Thomas V. Delabastide, III ’96 Partner, Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, LLP
Susan Epstein-Merritt ’79 Senior Program Officer, Robin Hood Foundation
Hon. John J. Farley III ’73 Retired Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
Joanne Goldstein ’74 Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, State of Massachusetts
Marissa L. Goodman ’00 General Counsel, PRADA USA Corp
Scott G. Griessman ’94 Partner, White & Case LLP
Fred D. Heather ’77 Partner, Glaser Weil Fink Jacobs Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP
Hon. Neal Hendel ’76 Justice, Israeli Supreme Court
Katherine N. Lapp ’81 Executive Vice President, Harvard University
David M. Levine ’93 Managing Director, Chief Legal Officer, Deutsche Bank
Edward P. Mangano ’87 Nassau County Executive
Hon. Thomas F. McKevitt ’96
New York State Assemblyman
Michael C. Miller ’97 Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel, Monster Worldwide, Inc.
Robert O. Muller ’74 Founder, International Campaign to Ban Landmines (1997 Nobel Peace Prize recipient)
Larren M. Nashelsky ’91 Chair, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Hon. David A. Paterson ’83 Former Governor, State of New York
Samuel Ramos ’91 Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Goldman Sachs
Joel G. Segal ’89 Professional Football Agent and President of Lagardere Unlimited Football
Hon. Joseph M. Serkes ’76 Presiding Judge and Chief Judge, Virginia District Court
Tamara Steckler ’87 Attorney-in-Charge, Juvenile Rights Practice, Legal Aid Society
Alumni Achievements
Randy Levine ’80
President, New York Yankees
Randy Levine knows that every major change is made up of many small changes. It’s a lesson he learned at Hofstra Law, where he studied labor and employment law, and it’s been reinforced throughout his career, including his time at the U.S. Department of Justice and as New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s labor commissioner during the last recession.
“I was trained as a labor relations lawyer and as a litigator,” Levine explains. “The city was having significant fiscal issues: 60 percent of the city’s budget was personnel costs — the cost of paying employee benefits.” Levine brought innovative methods he’d used in the private sector to negotiating with the city’s labor unions and worked out groundbreaking agreements that dramatically reduced costs while creating programs that were popular with employees.
Those experiences also served Levine well during the Major League Baseball players’ strike in 1995. At the time, he was chief counsel to the Yankees, as well as George Steinbrenner’s personal attorney, and he was called upon to represent the owners at the negotiating table.
“I developed a relationship with the head of the players association, Don Fehr. We were able to hammer out an agreement which changed the way baseball went forward. It created a partnership between the owners and players and improved the competitive balance. Today, baseball is enjoying its greatest popularity, and its revenues are the highest they’ve ever been. So I’m very proud that I played a small part in bringing the game to where it is today.”
Hofstra was very successful in instilling in me the confidence that I could handle situations going forward. “
Life on Campus and Beyond
Few, if any, law schools can match the combination of Hofstra University’s green, 240-acre campus and its easy access to New York City, the hub of the world’s legal profession. Students living on campus in graduate housing enjoy a setting that is home to a nationally recognized arboretum, yet is less than an hour by train from Manhattan.
The campus provides all the amenities of a leading university and several that are unique to Hofstra, such as a bird sanctuary. The campus abuts Long Island’s “downtown” of Mitchel Field, home to the New York Islanders, Museum Row, hotels, and business- and law-office centers. This area is flanked by Roosevelt Field, one of the country’s largest upscale shopping malls, and Eisenhower Park, a 930-acre public space that boasts a golf course that hosted the P.G.A. Championship, one of the finest swimming facilities in the U.S. and a full range of athletic and family activities.
Farther afield on Long Island are the famed public beaches of the South Shore at Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Park — minutes by car or bus from campus. To the north are harbor villages and parks that make up Long Island’s Gold Coast, made famous in The Great Gatsby. To the east are the wineries of the North Fork and the famous Hamptons and Montauk resorts of the South Fork.
And of course, a day or evening in New York City is one of Hofstra’s
main attractions. Manhattan offers some of the greatest culture in the world, whether it be visiting renowned museums, taking in Broadway shows, strolling fine boutiques on Madison Avenue, exploring Central Park or sampling the many different cuisines from the finest restaurants and hidden deli treasures. All of this is just a 40-minute train ride from Hofstra’s campus.
Housing
The Graduate Residence Hall is Hofstra University’s newest residence facility. The five-story building offers suite-style apartment living and is on the North Campus, between Constitution and Alliance Halls. Each suite has multiple bedrooms, with shared common spaces, kitchenettes and bathrooms. The Graduate Residence Hall has single and double bedrooms within four-, three- and two-bedroom suites. Each common area includes a couch, love seat and coffee tables. The kitchenettes have a stove-top burner, refrigerator, microwave and dining table with chairs.
Hofstra Law uses Twitter to share timely announcements and important reminders with students, who can read the messages online, on TVs throughout
Apply Online
In an effort to further our environmentally friendly initiatives, a paper copy of the application for admission was intentionally not included with this brochure. If you require a hard copy of the application, feel free to contact the Office of Enrollment Management, or visit our website to print it: law.hofstra.edu/Apply.
Contact Information
Enrollment Management
Joan Axinn Hall
108 Hofstra University
Admissions
516-463-5916 lawadmissions@hofstra.edu
Financial Aid
516-463-5929 lawfinaid@hofstra.edu
Academic Records
Law School, Suite 114
121 Hofstra University 516-463-5917 lawoar@hofstra.edu
Academic Success
Law School, Suite 223 121 Hofstra University 516-463-4008 lawacademicsuccess@hofstra.edu
Alumni Relations
Law School, Suite 244
121 Hofstra University 516-463-2586 lawalum@hofstra.edu
Bookstore
Mack Student Center, Basement Hofstra University 516-463-6654 hub@bncollege.edu
Career Services
Law School, Suite 250 121 Hofstra University 516-463-5871 lawcareer@hofstra.edu
Clinic Programs
Joan Axinn Hall 108 Hofstra University 516-463-5934 lawclinic@hofstra.edu
HofstraCard (ID Card) Services
Mack Student Center, Suite 104
Hofstra University 516-463-6942 hofstracard@hofstra.edu
Information Systems/Help Desk
Law School, Suite 221 121 Hofstra University 516-463-4192 lawhelp@hofstra.edu
Law Library
Law School, Suite 100 121 Hofstra University 516-463-5898 lawlib@hofstra.edu
Public Safety
Mack Public Safety and Information Center Hofstra University 516-463-6606
Residential Programs
Mack Student Center, Suite 244 Hofstra University 516-463-6930 reslife@hofstra.edu
Student Accounts
Memorial Hall, Suite 206 Hofstra University 516-463-4936 studentfinancialservices@hofstra.edu
Student Affairs
Law School, Suite 203 121 Hofstra University 516-463-5771 lawstudentaffairs@hofstra.edu
Student Bar Association
516-463-6563 lawsba@hofstra.edu
In compliance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and other federal law, an annual campus safety report which contains detailed information on campus security and fire safety, including statistics, is available by accessing the Hofstra website at hofstra.edu/ campussafetyreport or by contacting the Advisory Committee on Campus Safety. Crime statistics are also available at the U.S. Department of Education website at http://ope.ed.gov/security. The Advisory Committee on Campus Safety will provide upon request all campus crime and fire safety statistics as reported to the U.S. Department of Education. For additional information or a paper copy of the report, please call the Department of Public Safety at 516-463-6606.
