High school students introduced to legal careers during “Youth Law Day”

By Sun Min, Director of Communications, Hofstra Law School

Hofstra Law School, Hempstead, N.Y. – More than 80 students from Hempstead High School, Freeport High School, Central Islip High School and Mercy First attended Youth Law Day at Hofstra Law School on Friday, March 6, 2009. 
Youth Law Day was organized in coordination with the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Minorities in the Profession, the New York Bar Foundation and LatinoJustice PRLDEF (Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund).  
The program began with a welcome by A. Thomas Levin, a former president of the New York State Bar Association and a partner at Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein P.C.  The students then met with Hofstra Law professors to learn about the skills necessary to join the legal profession.
Lance D. Clarke (pictured left with students), former Justice of the Town of Hempstead and immediate past president of the Nassau County Bar Association, was Youth Law Day’s Keynote Speaker.  Mr. Clarke was introduced at the luncheon by Hofstra Law Dean Nora V. Demleitner. 
After lunch, students heard more about the career options in the legal profession from Professor Serge Martinez of Hofstra Law’s Community & Economic Development Clinic; District Court Judge Andrea Phoenix and Kent Moston, Attorney in Charge at Nassau County Legal Aid.
“We wanted to show these young people the tremendous opportunities available when choosing a legal career,” said Jeffrey A. Dodge, one of the organizers of Youth Law Day and Hofstra Law School Assistant Dean for Administration and Operations.  “Hofstra Law School is dedicated to training future leaders to make an impact in their communities.  Our hope is that Youth Law Day inspired more young people to join the legal profession.” 

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