Ricardo Solano Jr. '98 to Receive the Exemplary Service Award at 2018 Alumni Gala

On May 11, 2018, Seton Hall Law will honor Ricardo Solano Jr. '98 with the Exemplary Service Award at its annual Alumni Gala.

Solano is a remarkable success story. Growing up in inner city Paterson in a low income family raised by a single mom, he studied philosophy at New York University and then went on to Seton Hall Law as the first member of his family to pursue a legal education. At the Law School his personal and professional lives both took shape. It was there he met his wife, Melissa Provost, also class of 1998; they now have three wonderful children. But he also met a great group of friends he continues to interact with, both personally and professionally. I treasure Seton Hall Law,” Solano says. “The school formed my attitudes towards the law; I am proud to be an alum.”

The Exemplary Service Award marks Solano’s 20^th anniversary as a Seton Hall Lawyer. For all those years, he has continued to be heavily involved with his alma mater, having taught as an adjunct professor, judged moot court competitions, and spoken on a wide variety of topics.

“When the Law School needs him, Ricardo is always there, and always with a smile on his face,” says Dean Boozang. As for Solano, he thinks that giving back is all part of what it means to be a graduate of Seton Hall Law, and finds it “truly humbling to be recognized for work I love to do.”

Upon receiving his law degree, Solano clerked for The Honorable Maryanne Trump Barry of the United State Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, a great place to launch a legal career. Today, Solano is partner at Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman LLP focusing on white collar crime. In the interim, he served as the First Assistant Attorney General of the State of New Jersey and Assistant United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey.

Solano believes that his background has shaped his professional path, finding the most enjoyable part of his working is “helping those in need navigate areas of their life, often in their most difficult times.”

To attorneys today just getting their foot in the door, Solano advises them to treat everyone with respect and remain credible. “The best compliment you can receive is that you are trustworthy.”