This year’s class of 21 Fordham Law Stein Scholars includes students pursuing public interest law in areas that range from labor justice to education and housing equity, among other issues, all embodying the Law School’s motto of working “In the service of others.” The multifaceted, student-driven program trains students for public interest careers while building a diverse community of social justice advocates at Fordham Law and beyond. Stein Scholars receive mentorship and guidance from faculty and alumni throughout their law school journey, complete academic coursework, and obtain hands-on experience that prepares them to practice as public interest lawyers. “I am…
Author: Sejla Rizvic
Professor Jennifer Gordon, who holds the John D. Feerick Chair at Fordham Law School, has been a leading voice in immigration and labor for over three decades. Her groundbreaking work on workers’ rights and migration is influential among advocates, in academia and with policymakers. Gordon has presented her findings to government agencies in the U.S. and abroad as well as global organizations. Before joining Fordham Law in 2003, Gordon was the J. Skelly Wright Fellow and visiting faculty lecturer at Yale Law School, and the founding executive director of The Workplace Project, a nonprofit that fights for fair treatment of…
As Fordham Law students return to school for the spring semester on January 15, they can look forward to 14 new courses, prestigious visiting speakers, and a slate of thought-provoking programs and activities. Fordham Law currently has 1,585 enrolled students starting off the semester: 1,319 J.D. students, 146 LL.M. students, 112 M.S.L. students, and eight S.J.D students. This semester, students can choose from a range of new courses on offer, including Critical Evidence with Professor Bennett Capers, Cybersecurity Law with Professor Aniket Kesari, Comparative Constitutional Law with Professor Eleanor Bottini, and Law of Democracy with Professor Zephyr Teachout, among others.…
Dora Galacatos ’96, adjunct professor of law and executive director of the Feerick Center for Social Justice, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of American Law Schools at its annual meeting, in recognition of her years of commitment to public service. Galacatos was presented with the prestigious award at the AALS Section on Pro Bono and Access to Justice on January 9 in San Francisco. Over the course of her nearly three-decade career in public interest law, Galacatos has made a series of landmark contributions to expand access to justice for people in need. Galacatos has…
Two Fordham Law professors will be honored and nine faculty members will speak at the 2025 Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting, held this year from January 7 to 11 in San Francisco. The yearly conference brings together legal scholars from around the country to share their expertise and legal knowledge. Fordham Law will be represented at the event by faculty members from several areas, including employment law, legal education, and internet law. This year’s theme is “courage in action” highlighting the work of lawyers in public service and advocacy. “Lawyers are, and have always been, courageous advocates…
The Center on Asian Americans and the Law’s Third Annual Fall Symposium shined a light on the under-explored history of accusations of espionage against Asian Americans, delving into historical cases and present-day policies. Judge Denny Chin ’78 and Professor Thomas Lee, the Center’s co-directors, reviewed three historic cases targeting Asian Americans dating back to World War II. They included the 1949 treason trial of Iva Toguri D’Aquino (also known as the “Tokyo Rose”), the 1950 spying accusations against Professor Qian Xuesen of Caltech, and the 1999 allegations against Los Alamos scientist Wen Ho Lee. Following the historical presentation, Professor Lee…
Fordham Law students recently joined a city-wide effort to provide lower-income older New Yorkers with needed estate planning services, including executing wills; setting up health care proxies, powers of attorney, and other advanced directives; and helping combat deed theft and other exploitative practices. The initiative was organized by the City Council Speaker’s office with events in all five boroughs and serving nearly 150 New Yorkers. The goal was to increase financial literacy and “address a pressing need for low-income, elderly New Yorkers to access valuable estate planning services,” said Angela DeVolld, director of public interest scholars and fellowships at the…
In Fordham Law’s Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, students dive into real-world legal work, helping New York City’s small business owners—from a barbershop owner to a health educator to childcare providers—navigate complex issues in employment, intellectual property, and contracts so they can grow their businesses. This semester’s Clinic is led by Visiting Professor Carrie Hempel, who is working with Adjunct Professor Kristen Leibensperger and a team of 10 Fordham Law students to serve the legal needs of local entrepreneurs. “Once the students meet the clients, they get so energized to do the work,” said Hempel. “They are inspired to actually practice law…
Four Fordham Law students were recognized for their exceptional academic accomplishments and commitment to diversity and inclusion as part of the Diverse Attorney Pipeline Program. Ginikachi Okeke ’27, Adetoun Adelana ’27, Davianni Polanco Santana ’27, and Ume Kalsoom ’27 were among 45 students selected from law schools across the country for the program, established in 2013 with a mission to “nurture and support the next generation of women of color attorneys and infuse the pipeline with diverse women of color law students who are empowered to tackle the rigors of the legal profession.” The one-year intensive program prepares women of…
The Feerick Center Awards & Benefit Reception celebrates the work of exceptional members of the legal community who have made a difference through their contributions to the public interest. The Feerick Center for Social Justice, founded by Fordham Law Dean Emeritus John D. Feerick ’61, works with social justice groups, the public sector, and legal service organizations to respond to the needs of marginalized people, including low-income people living in New York and asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border. This year’s Feerick Awards & Benefit Reception featured honorees whose work has made a direct impact in the lives of others,…