Garden City, NY Ten first-year Hofstra Law students have joined the Monroe H. Freedman Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics as Social Justice Fellows for the 2021-22 academic year. Selection for the Fellowship is highly competitive and based on academic achievement; demonstrated commitment to social justice and public service; diverse background and interests; and prior experience in public interest organizations, non-profits and/or government work.

Fellows are awarded a one-time stipend during their first year in the program, and are expected to devote approximately ten hours per month to the fellowship’s activities, including attending monthly meetings, developing programs and participating in sponsored events.

Funding for this year’s Fellows is supported by Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP.

“This year’s fellows are a committed, passionate, and inspiring group,” said Theo Liebmann, clinical professor of law and executive director of the Monroe H. Freedman Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics. “It is so important that the Law School and its supporters put resources behind the students, and I am deeply grateful that Moritt Hock & Hamroff has taken on that challenge.”

“An integral part of Moritt Hock & Hamroff’s history and mission involves a deeply committed dedication to recognizing and mentoring talented young people who represent the future of the legal field,” said Hofstra Law alum Marc Hamroff ’83, managing partner of the firm. “Following several years of renewed societal interest in issues of social justice, Moritt Hock & Hamroff determined to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the idea of public service. We are honored to support this Fellowship with Hofstra Law in order to develop and promote the excellent work of this next generation of public service advocates and leaders as they remain dedicated to joining our profession and setting new standards of professional excellence in the years ahead.”

In 2016, the Monroe H. Freedman Institute for the Study of Legal Ethics established the Freedman Social Justice Fellowship Program to build a community of law students dedicated to careers in social justice and public service, and train them throughout their three years to become skilled, thoughtful counselors and leaders who will be effective advocates.

Students are exposed to significant and exciting issues in public interest law through active engagement in a range of events, from informal luncheons with students and faculty to Hofstra Law programs and conferences. Fellows are paired with faculty and alumni mentors who provide academic and career guidance throughout the three years of the Fellowship Program, supporting development of each Fellow’s leadership skills.