Seton Hall Law Community Members Named to American Association of Law Schools (AALS) 2024 Pro Bono Honor Roll

Seton Hall University School of Law has named several of its community members to the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) 2024 Pro Bono Honor Roll. This recognition highlights individuals for their dedication to pro bono service and efforts to advance justice for underserved communities

The AALS Pro Bono Honor Roll was established to acknowledge the significant pro bono contributions of individuals within the legal academic community. Honorees are selected based on their dedication to delivering legal services to those who cannot afford them and their efforts to promote social justice. View a listing of all award recipients.

Law School Honorees

This year, Seton Hall named the Black Law Students Association 2023-24 Executive Board, Kayla Strube, and Professor Jonathan Hafetz to the Pro Bono Honor Roll.

The Black Law Students Association (BLSA) was recognized with a Student Award for its innovative “Shop Talks” program, developed in collaboration with the Criminal Defense and Community Advocacy Clinic, led by Associate Professor Isis Misdary. This initiative brought legal advice, support, and expungement services to Black and Brown barbershops, combining community outreach with practical legal assistance.

Shop Talks originated with Misdary during their time as a public defender in Philadelphia, where they partnered with Black-owned barbershops to create legal clinics offering advice, training, and community resources. BLSA became the first student group in the nation to adopt and adapt the model, adding their own unique touch by providing free haircuts alongside legal services.

At the first event in April 2024, held in Newark, the program assisted approximately 30 community members with expungement information, legal advice, and same-day filings. Additionally, the first 15 participants to register received complimentary haircuts from BLSA Shop Talks community partner, The Shape Shifters Barber Shop in Newark, NJ, reinforcing the initiative’s theme of offering both a clean record and a fresh start. The event was spearheaded by three leaders from the 2023-24 BLSA Executive Board: Jahmir Sterling ’24, Rahim Mahmoud ’25, and Camille Taylor ’25

Kayla Strube — who graduated with her B.A. in Criminal Justice in 2022 and is currently studying for her M.P.A. at Seton Hall — received the Staff Award. For three years, Strube has supported the expansion of the Housing Justice Project at the Seton Hall Law School Center for Social Justice as the Project Coordinator.  Her creativity and keen organizational skills have been crucial to the Project's successful events and programming, such as the Housing Justice Summit held each fall. She provides hands on support for many events including Continuing Legal Education events, pro bono clinics, and law student informational sessions.  Strube recognizes the importance of communications to promote the Center's social justice mission and effectively manages its social media accounts to highlight the critical role of pro bono service.

Professor Jonathan Hafetz, J.D. received the Faculty Award. In addition to his teaching and scholarship as a full-time tenured faculty member, Hafetz serves as co-counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union and other attorneys in two federal cases. In one matter, he is assisting in the representation of a Chinese American citizen in a civil action based on his unlawful seizure and prosecution by the FBI; in the other, he is assisting in the representation of a noncitizen in a habeas action challenging prolonged immigration detention. This builds on more than two decades of his pro bono work representing individuals to vindicate constitutional and human rights.

Each of these individuals has made significant contributions to critical legal issues. Their work embodies Seton Hall Law’s commitment to fostering a spirit of service and professional responsibility.

Fostering a Culture of Service

Seton Hall Law offers robust opportunities for students and faculty to engage in pro bono work, including the Last Resort Exoneration Project, Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative, and Housing Justice Project. The Pro Bono Service Program at the Center for Social Justice also connects volunteers with organizations such as Essex-Newark Legal Services, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Mobilization for Justice. These initiatives provide participants with hands-on experience while addressing pressing community needs.

Learn more information about pro bono opportunities at Seton Hall Law.