A Decade of Success Keeps Seton Hall Law Rising  

On October 9, 2009, Seton Hall Law commemorated a Decade of Success under the leadership of Dean Patrick E. Hobbs and University President Robert Sheeran at an evening celebration sailing along the Hudson aboard the Cornucopia Majesty. Included among the more than 300 guests were Seton Hall Rising campaign Co-Chairs Joseph LaSala ’72 and Patrick Dunican, Jr. ’91, and Board of Visitors Chair Mitch Baumeister ’72, who spoke about Seton Hall Law’s many accomplishments over the past10 years—including the early success of its most ambitious campaign to date.

Announced with great pride was that the campaign now has reached $22.9 million—more than 91 percent of its $25 million goal—and the new ground Seton Hall Law has broken through the generous support of alumni, law firms, and other supporters.

“It really is a testament to the strength of a Seton Hall Law legal education and the Law School’s impact on the legal profession that alumni and others have responded so enthusiastically to the campaign,” said LaSala.

“This campaign would not have occurred without the leadership of Dean Hobbs, the vision of Seton Hall Law’s outstanding faculty, and the support of alumni who recognize the value of their Seton Hall Law education,” said Baumeister. “Generations from now will benefit from the foundation that is being set through this campaign to ensure Seton Hall Law’s stature as a top law school.”

New programs and initiatives funded to date through the campaign include:

1. Revamping of the Practical Skills Training Program to ensure Seton Hall Law students are proficient in the written, oral, and persuasion skills required to succeed in the practice of law. 
2. Introduction of an LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law to meet the demand for well-trained IP lawyers with expertise in the life sciences, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, and technology industries. 
3. Establishment of The Center for Health Law & Pharmaceutical Law & Policy to address the legal, regulatory, and policy issues that challenge the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. 
4. Formation of the Verizon Public Interest Fellowship Program to provide pro bono assistance to victims of domestic violence and to create a network of experienced attorneys committed to resolving this social problem. 
5. Increasing support for faculty scholarship and service, which allowed us to recruit several new faculty members including Associate Professor Margaret K. Lewis, who is a China expert, and Associate Professor Jordan Paradise, who brings experience to the Health and IP programs. 
6. Development of the Urban Revitalization Initiative to alleviate some of the most severe aspects of local and urban poverty, most specifically in the areas of education and housing. 
7. Creation of the International Human Rights/Rule of Law Project to expose students to human rights and rule of law issues as they arise in domestic litigation, international human rights complaints, policy work, and international field work. 
8. Establishment of 30 new scholarships so talented students from around the country can benefit from a Seton Hall Law education and fulfill their dreams of pursuing a career in law.

“While significant progress has been made to date, new scholarships and fellowships still are needed to ensure more of the best and brightest can benefit from a Seton Hall Law education,” noted Dunican. “To remain competitive, we also need to continue building upon our centers of excellence including our international law, corporate law, and clinical programs. Our hope is that other alumni, who have not yet joined in the campaign, will be inspired to become a part of setting the direction of Seton Hall Law.”

To find out how you can be a part of keeping Seton Hall Law rising, please contact Andrea DeChellis, Scholarship Coordinator, at 973-642-8092, or Vicki Fleischer, Assistant Dean for Alumni & Development, at 973-642-8293.