Seton Hall Law School Raises More Than $18.5 Million in First Year of the ‘Seton Hall Law Rising’ Campaign

NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 30 /PRNewswire/ — Seton Hall University School of Law has raised $18.5 million, reaching 74 percent of its $25 million goal, in the first year of its Seton Hall Law Rising fundraising campaign. Of that amount, $2 million has been pledged to create more than 20 new scholarships and more than $2 million to develop new academic programs, including a real-world skills development course. Funds have also been invested in faculty, facilities, the school’s endowment, and the general fund for Seton Hall Law.

Seton Hall Law launched the campaign in October 2007 to raise $25 million to create new education programs and promote its stature as a premiere school of law in New Jersey and nationally. The specific goals of the campaign are to develop new need-based and merit-based scholarships, address the demand for improved educational facilities and technology, implement new academic programs, increase support for faculty teaching and scholarship, and grow the law school’s endowment. The school is raising funds through financial contributions from individuals, law firms, foundations, and other friends of the law school.

“The long-term success of Seton Hall Law ultimately depends on how well it attracts and educates talented law students,” said Dean Patrick E. Hobbs. “With the funds raised through the Seton Hall Law Rising campaign, the school has been able to expand and enhance opportunities for students to achieve a first-rate legal education. We are immensely grateful to our alumni and other campaign supporters, whose generous contributions have moved us closer to achieving our mission.”

“For many Seton Hall Law students, scholarships are the ticket to a first-rate legal education. The 22 new scholarships we have created will enable many promising students to fulfill their dreams of becoming a lawyer,” noted Joseph LaSala, ’72, campaign co-chair. “Many of these students will use the lessons they learn at Seton Hall Law to establish influential law careers in New Jersey and, indeed, across the U.S.”

As part of the campaign, Seton Hall Law also has invested in several new academic courses. These courses include the Seton Hall Law “Advocacy Program,” a skills development program to better prepare students for the actual practice of law. Through the Advocacy Program, students focus on practical skill developmental, including learning how to present persuasive arguments on behalf of their clients; command a courtroom, boardroom, or negotiation session; and put together contracts, motions, and pleas.

“Seton Hall Law is well recognized for providing its students with an outstanding education in numerous legal fields, from intellectual property to health, public interest and international law,” said Patrick Dunican ’91, campaign co-chair. “Using the capital raised through the Seton Law Rising campaign, Seton Hall Law has begun to bolster its reputation in established areas of excellence and enhance its strengths in other law disciplines. We are gratified to mark the first year of the campaign well positioned to provide an exceptional scholastic experience to law students for years to come.”

For more information on the Seton Hall Law Rising campaign, please visit http://www.setonhalllawrising.com/.

Seton Hall University School of Law, New Jersey’s only private law school and a leading law school in the New York metropolitan area, is dedicated to preparing students for the practice of law through excellence in scholarship and teaching, with a strong focus on clinical education. Founded in 1951, Seton Hall Law School is located in Newark and offers both day and evening degree programs. For more information visit law.shu.edu.

Seton Hall University School of Law

CONTACT: Janet LeMonnier, Director of Communications, +1-973-642-8724,lemonnja@shu.edu or Vicki Fleischer, Assistant Dean, +1-973-642-8512,fleiscvi@shu.edu, both for Seton Hall University School of Law

Web Site: http://law.shu.edu/