Launched in 2019, Fordham Law School’s 1L House System continues to evolve in order to better prepare first-year students for their law school careers and beyond. The House System activated its alumni mentor program this semester, as a way to connect 1L students with a diverse group of alumni mentors that span different career paths, seniority levels, backgrounds, and experiences.
“From the start, we have strived to foster a strong sense of community within each house, including through our house faculty and administrative liaisons and peer mentorship programs,” said Jordana Confino, senior director of professionalism and special projects. “This year, we’re doubling down on our efforts to extend this support using our robust alumni networks in a house-wide alumni mentorship program.”
During the fall of 2021, approximately 220 alumni volunteered to share their experiences and advice to more than 450 first-year J.D. students across the six houses—tripling last year’s alumni mentor numbers, according to Sloane Macklin, stewardship/alumni relations officer and the alumni relations liaison for House 9/10 and House 11. “Mentorship served as a major virtual resource during a time when students couldn’t be on campus, and it really blossomed to this record-breaking number,” Macklin said.
1L House System Alumni Mentor Program Benefits
Students and alumni met one another through small breakout rooms during the program’s virtual kick-off event in late October. Some students inquired about strategies for succeeding as a 1L, asked questions regarding extracurricular activities (e.g. summer programs, journals, and moot court), and sought advice regarding professionalism.
The 1L Alumni Mentor Program will be operating year round so that the first-year students can peruse the house directory and reach out to alumni directly as they continue their law school studies. Mentors, in turn, can serve as a resource on various topics, share strategies for navigating the job market, and field general questions about law practice.
“Our alumni provide an added layer of support and can offer the 1Ls the invaluable perspective and insights they’ve gained through their years in practice,” Confino said. “They can also speak to all of the things that students are learning in law school and how they can use that knowledge beyond the walls of the Law School once they graduate.”
The program will continue through a hybrid model, wherein virtual programming will be offered for the remainder of the fall semester and in-person opportunities for engagement will be considered during the spring. A mock interview program with the Public Interest Resource Center, for example, is slated to take place next semester.
“It is always tremendously helpful when students have the opportunity to do mock interviews prior to interviews, particularly when they have a series of interviews as is often the case at the Public Interest Legal Career Fair,” said Leah Horowitz ’06, assistant dean for public interest and social justice initiatives. “We greatly appreciate the efforts of the Alumni Relations Office and the individual alumni who took the time and energy to support our students in this important way.”
1L Mentorship Chair Greg Xethalis ’05 is particularly excited to see student-alumni engagement increase this year as the 1Ls become more acclimated to the law school environment.
“I believe that, for those who have embraced it, reached out to their mentors, and scheduled one-on-one opportunities, it is one of the most rewarding programs available for 1L students,” Xethalis said. “It brings them early on into the fold of what is one of Fordham Law’s greatest strengths—the alumni network and the network effect that it brings.”
An Early Introduction to the Fordham Law Alumni Association
Echoing Xethalis’ sentiments, Macklin emphasized how the program also serves as an early introduction to Fordham Law’s collective alumni network and alumni association, which current students will automatically join upon graduation. “It really shows how generous our alumni are in donating their time to support students and acting in the service of others,” Macklin said. “They really care and want to support students as they recall and reminisce about their time in law school, which will help the new generation of lawyers.”
Frank Serbaroli FCRH ’73, LAW ’77, a shareholder in the Health Care & FDA Practice of Greenberg Traurig’s New York office, has served as an invaluable resource for Avi Strauss ’24 from House 3/4. “As soon as I heard about the alumni mentorship program at Fordham Law, I made sure to look at all the alumni who were available in my house and made my appointment with Carrie Schulman [assistant director of alumni relations and special events], who advised me how to proceed with reaching out,” Strauss explained. “I was enthused when Frank was willing to take time out and help me translate my prior professional experience into my aspirations in the legal profession.”
The two spoke for nearly 40 minutes over Zoom, learning more about each other’s backgrounds and professional interests. Strauss said Serbaroli was even willing to offer him guidance on elective courses that could be taken next year.
For Serbaroli, this was the opportunity to continue giving back to his law school alma mater. “I will never forget how kind so many different people were to me and I just want to continue to be part of that tradition,” Serbaroli said. “Mentoring law students is something that I find very rewarding and I hope more Fordham Law graduates will participate in the program.”