Commencement

Raoul Fray was an active and engaged member of the Hofstra Law community, participating in a range of programs that reflect his commitment to service and mentorship. He gained practical experience through the Pro Se Legal Assistance Program, Freedman Fellowship, and the Nassau County Court Summer Internship Program. He’s also working on an election research project with Professor Jen Gundlach.

In addition, Raoul was involved in several student organizations, including the Black Law Students Association and the Real Estate Law Student Association. He also contributed to the Pre-Law Mentorship Program through the Nassau County Bar Association and served as a Student Ambassador with the Office of Enrollment Management, helping guide prospective students through the law school experience.

When asked what advice he would give to incoming law students, Raoul shared:

“I want to congratulate and encourage them. They are joining a storied profession that values knowledge and curiosity. The legal mind remains open and curious, so the next three years should be filled with discovery. You belong here—be proud, get involved, and find your community, especially my first-generation students, to stay motivated.”

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Alexandra Heyman has been a dynamic and engaged member of the Hofstra Law community, taking on numerous leadership and service roles throughout her time on campus. She served as President of the Hofstra Business Law Society, where she helped grow the organization into one of the largest and most active student groups by organizing events, hosting guest speakers, and creating opportunities for students to connect with practicing attorneys and gain practical insight into the profession.

In addition to her leadership in the Business Law Society, Alexandra was the External Competitions Coordinator for the Hofstra Dispute Resolution Society and a member of the Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association. She also served as a Hofstra Law Student Ambassador and a Hofstra Law BARBRI Student Ambassador. Beyond her involvement in student organizations, Alexandra worked as a Graduate Tutor at the Hofstra University Writing Center, supporting fellow students in strengthening their writing and analytical skills.

Reflecting on her time at Hofstra Law, Alexandra points to her involvement with the Business Law Society as a defining experience. From her introduction to the organization during orientation to later serving as its president, she played a key role in its growth and development. She also recalls the strong sense of community she built during law school through student organizations, volunteer work with the Pro Se Legal Assistance Program, and memorable moments like winning the PJF kickball tournament.

For Alexandra, these experiences fostered a lasting sense of connection and belonging that will stay with her well beyond graduation.

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Justin Knight made the most of his time at Hofstra Law by engaging deeply in both advocacy and public service. As a Pro Bono Scholar and legal intern in the Hofstra Defender Clinic, he gained hands-on experience representing clients and navigating the legal system.

Justin also held multiple leadership roles within the Dispute Resolution Society, serving as Vice President, Student Ambassador, and Interscholastic Competitor. In addition, he was an Associate Editor for the ACTEC Law Journal, a Research Assistant for Professor John Tsiforas supporting work with the Georgia Innocence Project, and a Deans’ Legal-Tech Fellow. He was also a member of the Black Law Students Association.

When asked what advice he would give to incoming law students, Justin shared:

“Law school is an opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, so push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Discomfort isn’t a setback—it’s how you discover your true strengths.”

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Caitlin McDonough built a strong foundation in advocacy and public service during her time at Hofstra Law. Through her involvement in the Clinical Prosecution Practicum, she gained hands-on experience handling cases and developing the skills necessary for a career in criminal law.

In addition to her clinical work, Caitlin was an Interscholastic Competitor for the Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association, a Moot Court Staff Member, and the Business and Alumni Affairs Editor for the Hofstra Law Review. She was also an active member of the Hofstra Women’s Law Society and the Public Justice Foundation.

When asked how Hofstra Law prepared her for her future, Caitlin shared:

“The Prosecution Practicum with Professor Klein provided me with an invaluable opportunity to step beyond the classroom and fully immerse myself in the realities of prosecutorial practice by handling my own cases. Through this experience, I developed a deeper understanding of the discretion inherent in the role; I learned what effective advocacy looks like; and, most importantly, I learned about the human impact of the criminal justice system. It taught me that routine procedural decisions can have profound consequences for individuals and that prosecutorial discretion carries not only legal significance but also moral weight. By applying the skills I developed at Hofstra, I gained a practical understanding of what it means to be a thoughtful, ethical prosecutor.”

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Niaz Najafi made a lasting impact at Hofstra Law through her leadership, advocacy, and deep involvement in experiential learning. She served as Director of Competitions for the Moot Court Board and competed as an interscholastic Moot Court competitor, building on her earlier role as an Associate Editors Guild member. Through these experiences, she developed strong advocacy skills and a passion for litigation.

In addition to her work with Moot Court, Niaz served as Business & Alumni Editor of the Family Court Review (Vol. 64), an Immigration Advocacy Fellow, and a participant in the Youth Advocacy Clinic. She also held leadership roles as President of the Immigration Law Society and Social Media Chair of the Plaintiffs’ Law Association. Beyond these roles, she was a Peer Mentor and Social Chair of the Iranian American Bar Association, contributing to the broader legal community.

Reflecting on her time at Hofstra Law, Niaz credits Moot Court as her most meaningful experience. What began as a decision to step outside her comfort zone during her first-year intramural competition ultimately shaped her career path and passion for litigation. As Director of Competitions, she later had the opportunity to organize the same program that influenced her journey.

For Niaz, the experience of growing as an advocate while building lasting friendships made Moot Court a defining part of her law school experience.

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Jessica Sperling was a highly engaged leader at Hofstra Law, taking on multiple leadership roles across student organizations while building a strong foundation in public interest law. She served as President of the Public Justice Foundation, Co-President of Phi Alpha Delta, and Co-President of the Immigration Law Society, in addition to serving as Secretary of the Cannabis Law Society and a member of the Dean’s Student Advisory Committee.

Jessica also gained practical experience through the Hofstra Law Defender Clinic and was an active member of the Dispute Resolution Society and an Interscholastic Competitor for the Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association.

When asked about her favorite Hofstra Law memory, Jessica shared:

“PJF kickball will always be my favorite memory, not because of the games themselves, but because of everything around it. The energy, the inside jokes, the nonstop laughing—it was one of those rare times where nothing else mattered except being present with the people around you. It’s one of those memories that perfectly captures everything I’ll miss the most about Hofstra Law.”

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Howard Svensson distinguished himself at Hofstra Law through his strong academic performance and deep involvement in advocacy and scholarly work. He served as an Articles Editor for the Hofstra Law Review, Senior Staff Member of the Moot Court Board, and a Business Law Honors Fellow.

Howard also gained valuable practical experience as a member of the Hofstra Law Dispute Resolution Society’s External Competition Team and through his judicial externship with the Honorable Louis A. Scarcella of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York. In addition, he worked as a Research Assistant and Teaching Assistant for Professors Colombo and Greenwood, and as a Summer Associate at Ingerman Smith LLP.

When asked how Hofstra Law prepared him for his future, Howard shared:

“Hofstra Law has prepared me for my future by offering the opportunity to take many different elective classes across many different areas of the law. This allowed me to find the area I am passionate about. The externship programs that Hofstra Law offers have also helped prepare me for my future, particularly the judicial externship program, which helped me prepare for my post graduate position as a Term Law Clerk in the EDNY Bankruptcy Court.”

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