On Friday, April 17, approximately 35 Fordham Law alumni gathered for the initial meeting of the newly formed Small to Midsize Firm Leaders Dean’s Advisory Council.
Composed of alumni in leadership roles at small to midsize firms, the council will offer expertise and guidance as Fordham Law pursues efforts to prepare students to excel in small to midsize firm settings.
Two Fordham Law alumni serve as co-chairs: Laurie Berke-Weiss ’83, principal of Berke-Weiss Law PLLC, and William M. Savino ’74, partner at Rivkin Radler LLP. The council is a collaborative effort of the Fordham Law Dean’s Office, Alumni Relations Office, and Career Planning Center.
“Alumni support is very important for the career development of our graduating students and recent alumni,” said Suzanne Endrizzi, Assistant Dean for Career Planning. “Fordham Law is fortunate to have such a robust community of professionals ready to help out the next generation of Fordham lawyers.”
“The Fordham Law alumni community is a vast network of supportive individuals,” added Michael Schiumo, Assistant Dean for Alumni Relations and Development. “Alumni groups like the advisory council evolve organically from such a strong community.”
In the council’s inaugural meeting, which took place in the Hill Faculty Conference Room, members of the faculty led the discussion about how the Law School can better prepare students for the legal marketplace. This included having conversations about recent curricular enhancements to offer concentrations, the Law School’s new financial literacy course, and the role of experiential learning.
“It is with enthusiasm that the Fordham Law alumni community join in Fordham’s innovative efforts to educate Fordham Law students,” said Savino. “We must think creatively about curriculum, skills training and, most importantly, foment teamwork, a sense of entrepreneurialism and leadership. When we invest our time in the next generation of Fordham lawyers, we invest our spirit in the mission of this great institution.”
The formation of the council is part of Fordham Law’s ongoing initiative to offer more career-centered resources to its graduating students. A redesigned curriculum and the launch of concentrations are designed to better equip students to excel in specific fields of law after graduation.
“In an ever changing legal marketplace, Fordham Law students expect enhanced resources in much the same way the legal profession will expect greatness from them when they graduate,” said Dean Michael M. Martin. “This council will help provide those resources so that our students can become great lawyers.”