Seton Hall CARES is a student-led mental health organization committed to making law
student well-being a top priority. Founded by third-year student Justin Giacobbe through
the Leadership Fellows Program, CARES was inspired by Justin’s personal experiences
witnessing loved ones, including his siblings, face serious mental health challenges
in academic settings. The group was born from a deep sense of empathy and a belief
that law students, especially those in their first and second years, need support
from peers who have walked the same path.
CARES is rooted in two of Justin’s most important values: family and love. The organization views the Seton Hall Law community as more than a cohort—it is a family. CARES challenges its members to embrace that bond and support one another with the same dedication and compassion that one would show to their own loved ones.
From its inception, CARES has embodied action as much as intention. In its inaugural semester, the organization held a note-writing event during Mental Health Awareness Month, in collaboration with the law school’s wellness initiatives. With the help of Executive Board members Jeannette McGrath and Katherine Ryan, CARES distributed snacks and encouragement while inviting students to write heartfelt messages to those they care about. More than 50 cards were written and sent across the country, to Nevada, New York, Florida, and beyond, demonstrating the community’s capacity for outreach and kindness.
The organization also took its mission outside the law school walls. CARES members joined esteemed Professor Paula Franzese and supporters in lower Manhattan to participate in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s annual walk at Pier 16. Through both participation and fundraising, the organization showed its dedication to broader mental health advocacy.
Justin credits the Leadership Fellows Program, led by Professor Franzese, as the backbone of the project’s development. He describes the classroom as a sacred space where vulnerability is welcomed and where friendship, empathy, and ethical leadership are cultivated. The values instilled in the program directly reflect the mission of CARES.
Seton Hall CARES is more than a mental health group—it is a movement to embed empathy, love, and support into the foundation of legal education.
For more information, please contact:
Seton Hall Law School
