Alumnus in Focus: Gov. Chris Christie ’87

Photo left (c)Time and photo right (c)Christie 55 Solutions

Chris Christie ’87 looks back on how Seton Hall Law shaped his confidence, values and sense of service, offering guidance to today’s law students balancing rigorous studies with real-world demands.

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Chris Christie’s path from Seton Hall University School of Law to public service began with long days, competing demands and big aspirations. A New Jersey native, Christie entered Seton Hall Law in the mid‑1980s while newly married, laying the foundation for a career in private practice, prosecution and public leadership.

He credits his legal education with shaping his understanding of the profession’s purpose. “Seton Hall built my foundational understanding of the role of the lawyer in continuing to grow and secure our constitutional democracy,” Christie said. “Our three branches were meant to be co-equal; today’s events don’t challenge the existence of our democracy but do challenge the nature of it.”

Christie says those lessons continue to guide him today and inform his thoughts about leadership, accountability and the responsibilities lawyers carry in public life.

Mentorship also left a lasting mark during his time as a student. “The person who most shaped my view of the law and leadership during my three years at Seton Hall Law was Professor Wilfredo Caraballo,” Christie said. “He was not only a teacher but also a role model.” Caraballo, who joined Seton Hall Law’s faculty in 1975, became known for his commitment to public service and for expanding access to legal education. He also served as New Jersey’s public advocate and public defender. Christie credits him with showing that leadership is learned through character and example.

After earning his law degree in 1987, Christie entered private practice before moving into public service. “Seton Hall gave me a fine legal education, providing a foundation for understanding how to lead as a lawyer,” he said. “It also helped me to develop real, earned self-confidence.” That confidence, he adds, came from doing the work—mastering the law, thinking critically and understanding the weight of responsibility that comes with being an attorney.

Christie’s story also resonates on a personal level. He and his wife, Mary Pat Foster, married while he was still in law school, balancing education, early careers and family life. On advice for students facing similar pressures, he said: “You must have a partner who believes in you and what you are doing so that the sacrifices you need to make for each other come from respect for the efforts your partner is making every day.”

As Seton Hall Law marks its 75th anniversary, Christie encourages students to embrace the opportunities their legal education provides. “Your legal education gives you endless opportunities,” he said. “I hope you decide to spend some portion of your career in serving something larger than your own self-interest.”

He also highlighted the values-based framework of a Seton Hall education. “The Catholic legal education you receive at Seton Hall helps you to better understand why the issue of service is foundational to being the best lawyer you can be and the best person you can be.”

For Christie, the lessons of law school extend far beyond the classrooms. It taught leadership, responsibility and a commitment to the greater good—the same challenges today’s students face as they launch their careers.