Enduring Values that Drive Innovation at Seton Hall Law In her letter welcoming new students, Dean Boozang writes, Seton Hall Law’s cornerstone values – integrity, loyalty and engagement – define the Seton Hall lawyer . . . . The integrity and character of the Seton Hall lawyer explains why we stand out for excellence. Seton Hall loyalty means that your professors and classmates will be invested in your success throughout your career, from the moment you become a student. “ Looking over the last 25 years, it became clear that these foundational values comprise the core of our culture,” Dean Boozang commented. “When I meet with graduates, these values resonate for them, as well.”
Why the Seton Hall Lawyer is Unique “ Seton Hall Law engages our students in what it means to practice law from their first day. Faculty seek to ensure that our students not only grasp concepts and master their application, but also understand that the end game is to produce results for a client: an individual, company, or policy-maker,” Dean Boozang explains. “Whether meeting with judges or partners in law firms, I hear that Seton Hall graduates understand how to produce results, and they have an outstanding work ethic.” “ One of our most important recent curricular innovations is Introduction to Lawyering, a year-long course for first-year students, introducing them to the core functions of a lawyer. It enhances our legal research and writing training while incorporating practice experiences like interviewing, counseling and negotiating,” Dean Boozang said. Because Lawyering is taught by full-time faculty, 1L students have a ready mentor with whom they spend an entire year in a small group setting. Faculty inculcate the values of integrity, loyalty and engagement that Dean Boozang believes form the Seton Hall lawyer. “I am confident our 1L students will carry this experience with them for their entire careers” she said.
Building Career Success, One Student at a Time Myriad externship, fellowship, summer employment and clinical opportunities, in a variety of settings, enable students to test their interests and then pursue career options with knowledge. The Road to
Each year, Professor Rachel Godsil hosts a panel discussion during Orientation, talking with alumni about their law school experiences and their current professional roles. Pictured, from left, are the members of year’s panel: Matthew Colford ’10, Director, Advisory, KPMG LLP; Andrea Joy Albrecht ’11, Associate, Ceconi & Cheifetz, LLC; Professor Godsil; Danielle Counts ’12, Deputy Attorney General, Division of Child Protection and Permanency; Steven Llanes ’13, Associate, Lowenstein Sandler LLP; and Lauren Repole ’13, Associate, Simpson, Thatcher, & Bartlett, LLP.
Success, a series developed by Dean of Students Cara Foerst and the Office of Career Services, hosts alumni from a spectrum of settings to share their roles, responsibilities and career paths. “A law degree offers many roads to professional success,” Dean Boozang observed. “We work with each student individually to identify her career interests and the path that will help him achieve his aspirations. This approach produces better-prepared and more satisfied graduates.” Dean Boozang also recognizes the importance of the Seton Hall Law alumni network in opening doors for its students and graduates. “‘Loyalty’ truly describes the bond our graduates feel toward both students and one another,” she said. “None of what we accomplish would happen without the continued engagement of our alumni.”
Faculty as ‘Active Citizens’ As a health law professor, Dean Boozang appreciates the power of scholarship to transform public policy, believing that law schools have a special obligation to deploy their assets to achieve reform. Professor Marina Lao’s career of antitrust scholarship resulted in her appointment as Director of the Office of Policy Planning at the Federal Trade Commission. Professor Rachel Godsil’s work on housing, land use and social justice led to her appointment, by Mayor Bill DeBlasio, as Chair of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board. In addition, Professor Linda Fisher’s research on property foreclosures in lower-income neighborhoods exposed unethical practices within the financial services sector. And for the past 10 years, Dean Boozang noted, “Professor Edward Hartnett, one of the nation’s top constitutional law scholars, has co-authored Supreme Court Practice, the definitive guide to protocols in our nation’s highest court.”
“ Most important,” concluded Dean Boozang, “is that engaged scholars make outstanding teachers and role models, exemplifying the possibilities of what you can accomplish with a law degree.”
Fall 2015 | law.shu.edu
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