HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — On Saturday, October 16, more than 250 alumni gathered at Hofstra Law School to celebrate the institution's 40th anniversary. New York Governor David A. Paterson '82 made a guest appearance as keynote speaker at the evening reception, which was held between panel events and class dinners.
"When I came to the school originally, the school was still struggling to find its place as one of the leading learning institutions of law in the state of New York," said Paterson. "And I think that all of us now are so, so proud that we picked Hofstra as our first choice to go to law school. The school has done immense things."
During their introductory remarks, Hofstra University president and former dean of Hofstra Law Stuart Rabinowitz and Hofstra Law dean Nora V. Demleitner discussed the significant impact that the school has made in the legal field since its founding 40 years ago.
"Tonight is a very special night for Hofstra Law School," said Demleitner. "As you all know, 40 years have passed since the founding of this institution. Tonight we proudly celebrate the difference this school has made in the lives of so many of us under this tent, and also, in a much larger way, in the region, in the country and, increasingly, around the world."
Other reunion highlights held earlier that afternoon included a panel discussion on legal professionalism and the future of the practice of law, a dialogue between two Hofstra Law scholars - Professors Eric Lane and James Sample - on constitutional law, and a roundtable featuring Demleitner, Rabinowitz, founding dean Malachy T. Mahon, and former deans Monroe H. Freedman and Eric J. Schmertz. Immediately following the cocktail reception, alumni from the milestone reunion years of '75, '80, '85, '90, '95 and '00 met with their former classmates for dinner.
For video footage featuring event highlights, visit
youtube.com/HofstraLawSchool. Photos from the event can be found on Hofstra Law's Facebook page at
http://www.facebook.com/hoflaw.
For up-to-date event information on Hofstra Law's 40th anniversary events, please visit
law.hofstra.edu/events.
