Since its founding, Hofstra Law’s mission has been to prepare, challenge and inspire students to make an impact in the world. Essential to this mission is the goal of instilling in students an understanding of the critical gaps in access to justice and the need to do their part to ensure “equal justice for all.”
In support of that mission, Hofstra Law established the Emily and Stephen Mendel Public Justice Scholarship in 2025, made possible because of the generosity of Emily ’77 and Stephen Mendel ’77.
Program Overview
Each Mendel Public Justice Scholarship recipient (“Mendel Scholar”) will be assigned a Hofstra Law alumni mentor who has dedicated their career to public service.
In addition, Mendel Scholars will have a dedicated team of faculty and staff to guide them in their learning and public interest career path. Program staff will hold monthly meetings with Mendel Public Justice Scholars and other students committed to public interest careers to discuss issues important to the public interest community.
Each Mendel Scholar will be expected to complete two 8-week public interest summer internships after their first and second years of law school. Program staff will assist Mendel Scholars in securing placements, which might include legal services organizations, non-profit public interest law firms, federal or state judicial chambers, or state, local or federal government agencies and might cover immigration law, environmental law, child advocacy, health law, disability law, housing law, and many other areas of practice which impact individuals and families seeking justice.
Mendel Scholars are encouraged to apply for a Public Justice Foundation stipend and/or a Mendel Summer Fellowship stipend to support an unpaid summer internship.
Awards
Each year the program awards one or more tuition scholarships to first-year students who demonstrate dedication to future practice in a public interest legal setting after graduation and who commit to fully participate in Public Justice Program activities and internships during their time at Hofstra Law.
The Mendel Scholarship award is made on a one-time basis, although the award is presumptively renewable each subsequent year based on continued demonstrated commitment to future practice in a public interest legal setting after law school graduation, as well as active participation in Public Justice program activities at Hofstra Law.
Selection Process
The Mendel Public Justice Scholarship is open to persons of all races, ethnicities, religions, nationalities, ages and genders. Mendel Scholars are selected based on:
- demonstrated dedication to future practice in a public interest legal setting after law school graduation,
- past or current professional or personal experience showing a commitment to public justice and / or community engagement
- financial need, and
- academic achievement and/or promise.
Finalists will be invited to interview with the Scholarship Selection Committee.
Application
To be considered, you must first be admitted to Hofstra Law.
All application materials submitted to the Law School will be reviewed in connection with your application for the Mendel Scholarship.
A completed application should include:
- An application form.
- A résumé.
- A personal statement: In 1-3 pages, discuss any of your personal or professional experiences that have informed your interest in and/or have focused on public justice practice, and how you expect to use your career as an attorney to make the justice system more accessible to all individuals in our society;
Applicants are also invited to submit an optional letter of recommendation from a non-family member who can speak to your prior experience in, or commitment to, serving the public interest.
For more information, please contact Franca Sachs.