Pat Hynes ’66 built a remarkable career as a federal prosecutor and practicing attorney, but she didn’t always plan on attending law school.
“I have no lawyers in my family. I was the first in my family to go to college. I come from a very blue-collar, working-class background in Queens,” said Hynes. Her debating club—and her love of the TV series Perry Mason—inspired her to study law.
“I applied to Fordham, got in, and went, and it was really the best thing that I ever did,” said Hynes. “It was a very good experience. It was the right decision for me.”
In early April 2025, Hynes was honored at the annual Scholarship Reception held at Fordham Law in recognition of her generosity to her alma mater.
Since 1994, Hynes has been paying it forward, funding a series of endowed scholarships for Fordham Law students in the name of her mentors, friends, and colleagues. According to Hynes, “You have to honor the people who have been good to you.”
The scholarships include the Patricia M. Hynes ’66 Scholarship for Women, the Dean Michael M. Martin Law School Scholarship, and the James F. Gill ’56 Scholarship Fund. Hynes recently founded a fourth scholarship in honor of her friend and fellow alumnus, the late Judge John F. Keenan ’54. “I adored John Keenan. He was a great mentor, supporter, and friend of mine,” said Hynes.
“I understand what it is to try to put tuition together and go to law school,” said Hynes. “The summer before I started Fordham, I had three jobs—I had a weekday job, a job on the weekends, and a job at night, because I wanted to put money together for the tuition. And then when I made the Law Review, I got financial assistance from the Law School. I’ve always been grateful that I could do it and realize the importance of getting financial assistance.”
She hopes to set students up for success and provide some financial relief with her scholarships. Said Hynes, “Fordham has this great tradition of giving back, and so this is my way of saying, ‘We’re here to help.’”
“My scholarship absolutely made it possible for me to come to Fordham and was one of the main reasons I did,” said Sage Pope ’27, a recipient of the James F. Gill ’56 Scholarship founded by Hynes. “I decided to go to law school after working for five years in music after undergrad and knew I needed to finance my education and my move across the country myself. Because of my scholarship, I am able to study the areas I want and will be able to work in the area I want after graduation, using my legal education to promote meaningful change in my community. I am very grateful to Fordham and our exceptional alumni network for making this possible.”
As one of only six women in her graduating class, Hynes went on to achieve significant success in her legal career. She was an Executive Assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where she served as chief of the official corruption and special prosecutions unit and chief of the consumer fraud unit.
Hynes later worked as counsel for Milberg Weiss Bershad & Lerach, where she became partner, before she was a senior counsel at Allen & Overy. She also served as chair of The Legal Aid Society from 2003 to 2006, and as president of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York from 2008 to 2010.
Speaking at the Scholarship Reception, Dean Joseph Landau lauded Hynes for her extraordinary generosity, “Your continued support of our students reinforces our mission to train lawyers who serve others. You have never stopped lifting up the next generation, and we are truly honored to have you in our midst. Thank you for everything you do.”
