Pace University’s Elisabeth Haub School of Law is once again ranked number one in the country for Environmental Law by the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings, released today.

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This is the third year in a row, and the fourth time in five years, that Haub Law has received the number one ranking for Environmental Law, marking the latest major success for the school’s Environmental Law Program. With a global footprint and consistently rated among the very best in the country, the program continues to recruit top faculty, generate top scholarship in the field, establish leading-edge programs to address the most pressing environmental challenges, and attract students who seek to become the environmental law leaders of the future.

“Congratulations to the faculty, students, and staff of the Elisabeth Haub School of Law on once again being recognized as the best environmental law program in the country,” said Pace University President Marvin Krislov. “This third consecutive No. 1 ranking confirms what we at Pace have long known: that the scholarship, innovation, and advocacy for the environment at Haub Law are simply unmatched, as is the commitment to solving today’s most pressing environmental challenges. This also underscores Pace University’s commitment to environmental issues, where we remain grateful to the Haub family for their ongoing devotion to the field of environmental law and to our law school.”​

The Environmental Law Program is widely known for its signature programs, expert faculty, renowned scholarship, and attracting distinguished guest speakers. In 2021, the Law School launched the Sustainable Business Law Hub, creating opportunities for training, policy, and research that address global environmental challenges. The Sustainable Business Law Hub also consists of an advisory board featuring experts in the field, and the Hub has collaborated with prestigious firms and companies to offer students paid internship opportunities in their ESG practice. In recent years, the program also initiated the Environmental Law and Policy Hack Competition for law schools throughout the country. Other well-known programs and opportunities at the School include the Environmental Litigation Clinic, the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic, and the Jeffrey G. Miller National Environmental Law Moot Court Competition.

We are proud that our Environmental Law Program continues to remain at the forefront of training the environmental leaders, advocates, and changemakers of tomorrow

—Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr.

The Law School also hosts lectures and panels throughout the year featuring environmental scholars, advocates, and policymakers, and it recognizes leading international environmentalists through the annual presentation of the Elisabeth Haub Award for Environmental Law and Diplomacy, considered one of the world’s most distinguished awards in the field of environmental law. In recent years, the Haub Award has been presented to environmental activist and climate justice advocate Vanessa Nakate, environmental law scholar Professor Wang Xi, Brazilian environmentalist and Professor Paulo de Bessa Antunes, and others. At the most recent annual Gilbert and Sarah Kerlin Lecture on Environmental Law, Jeffrey Prieto, the current General Counsel of the Environmental Protection Agency, served as the speaker.

"I am thrilled that the work of our Environmental Law Program has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report for the third year in a row with a number-one ranking," said Jason J. Czarnezki, Kerlin Distinguished Professor of Environmental Law and Associate Dean for Environmental Law Programs and Strategic Initiatives at Haub Law. "We provide our students with an immersive classroom experience while also ensuring our students have numerous practical learning opportunities, so they are able transition from the classroom into the field seamlessly. The education our students receive at Pace Haub Law launches them into their careers as environmental lawyers, policy experts, and change makers, in law firms, non-profits, environmental NGOs, companies, government agencies, and more.”

Haub Law offers more than 40 environmental law courses, clinical experiences, internships, externships, and more. In recent years, the Law School has expanded its environmental law faculty as well, attracting prominent scholars in the field. Students have the opportunity to research emerging areas of environmental law alongside experts in the field through the Environmental Law Program’s various centers and institutes, including the Pace Energy & Climate Center and the Land Use Law Center, and can directly represent clients through the Environmental Litigation Clinic and the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic. “The clinical experiences and opportunities for practical growth at Haub Law go unmatched,” said Professor Czarnezki. “We aren’t just teaching our students about environmental law, we are showing them how to be advocates and environmental lawyers who will put an end to the climate crisis.”

Haub Law was also recently ranked #1 in the top 50 Environmental Policy Centers of Excellence across the globe by the journal of Environmental Policy and Law (EPL). The purpose of the EPL ranking is to provide an overview of those institutions most active in the domain of environmental policy and law. Haub Law is also a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which provides students with the opportunity to draft memoranda, debate issues, and attend IUCN meetings, including the World Conservation Congress and U.S. National Committee meetings. Additionally, through the United Nations Diplomacy Practicum, students provide assistance to UN country Missions by attending their meetings and preparing research on issues such as climate change, renewable energy, fisheries protection, and forest management. These opportunities provide Haub Law students with the tools they need to be national and international leaders in environmental law.

The Elisabeth Haub School of Law had several other programs recognized in the rankings this year, including its clinical training, health law, criminal law, tax law, and part-time programs. The recognition of these programs reflects Haub Law’s continued ability to provide a top-notch legal education and develop both steadfast and original curricular and practical opportunities.

Additionally, Haub Law’s impressive trial advocacy program continues to rise in the rankings, coming in at number 24 this year, once again ranking in the top 15% of law schools. Over the last year, Haub Law has had 31+ Mock Trial and Moot Court Teams, with an average of over 110 student participants on these teams as a whole. The Law School’s Mock Trial and Moot Court teams regularly place at or near the top in competitions. In recent years, Haub Law hosted its first Advocate in Residence, Gillian More, a lifelong prosecutor with a worldwide reputation in advocacy. The Trial Advocacy Program is led by Lou Fasulo, Professor of Practice and Director of Advocacy Programs.

"We are proud that our Environmental Law Program continues to remain at the forefront of training the environmental leaders, advocates, and changemakers of tomorrow,” said Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “Our Environmental Law Program was founded decades ago and since then we continue to develop new programs to meet the ever-changing demands of the world. We are also thrilled with the upward trajectory of our Trial Advocacy Program in the rankings, which is a direct result of the tremendous advocacy program and opportunities that exist at Haub Law. We also are pleased with the continued positive recognition of our other programs, which are all connected to the top tier legal education that we provide at Haub Law. Every day, our faculty, staff, students, and alumni are making a difference and we at Haub Law are proud to provide the foundation for that.

More Than 200 Turn Out For Film That Highlights the Slow Food and Farm-to-Table Movement In France and New York

Pace University’s documentary film team, PaceDocs, last night premiered its latest film, "For the Love of Food: Pour l’amour de la Cuisine" to a full theater at Jacob Burns Film Center. It was followed by and question-and-answer session with the audience and filmmakers.

The documentary -- produced by Dr. Maria Luskay, Professor Lou Guarneri, and Pace University’s documentary film team -- focuses on the slow food movement, which began in Europe during the 1980s to preserve the culture of eating locally and combating the popularization of fast food.

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“It was rewarding to know that our film is being embraced and well-received by the audience at Jacob Burns Film Center,” said Professor Luskay. “In filming in France and New York, we shared a once-in-a-lifetime experience that proved to be as fulfilling as it was educational in that we learned the importance of where our food comes from as well as what it takes to complete a professional quality film on a tight deadline.”

The film made its France and worldwide online premiere on May 9, 2023.

During 14-weeks of production that included filming across France and New York, PaceDocs filmmakers spoke with farmers, chefs, and restaurateurs who have dedicated their lives to making slow food a reality in a fast-paced world.

This film explores the guiding principles of good, clean, and fair – and why that is a healthy recipe for a sustainable future. While eating farm-to-table has become a global phenomenon, nowhere is this passion for clean eating more apparent than in France where generations have relied on locally grown foods. From family-owned farms and markets in the Laon and Lorraine countryside, to beautiful restaurants in the heart of Paris, all the way back to a farm-to-fork eatery in Westchester, New York, this documentary explores the environmental and health benefits of eating clean, locally grown goods, the value of family traditions, embracing culture and heritage through cooking, and of course, the love of food.

The documentary is the focus of the popular class, “Producing the Documentary,” which is part of the Dyson College of Arts and Sciences at Pace University’s highly regarded film program that requires students complete a full-length environmentally themed documentary within one semester.

Students in the class are a mix of graduate and undergraduate with varying academic focuses, experience, and skillsets. They come together as a film crew and learn all aspects of filming and production. During the process, they learn teamwork, problem-solving, research, and organization, along with technical skills such as lighting, sound, camera work, interviewing, and other real-life lessons necessary to complete a film.

For Brittany Walkingstick, a 23-year-old graduate student from Kansas City, Mo. majoring in communications and digital media experience, the experience proved to be “one-of-a-kind.”

“It was a chance to experience a different culture and a way to step out of my comfort zone,” she said. “Making this film was as hard as it gets, but it was a real confidence booster. I really enjoyed it, and I would definitely do it again.”

Wesley Brown, a 21—year-old junior majoring in digital cinema and filmmaking from Seattle Wa., noted that it was a hands-on experience that taught him the intricacies of lighting, sound, voice-over, film production, and problem-solving.

“It was a cool experience. I loved being on the ground in France,” Brown said, citing a number of examples where the crew had to adapt to circumstances in the moment. “There were times we just had to figure it out. We learned how to improvise and had to find a solution. I’m grateful that I took this class.”

“For the Love of Food” continues a proud tradition of producing high quality, meaningful, and award-winning films. In recent years, Pace filmmakers have produced documentaries around the globe focusing on a number of topics, including the economic and environmental importance of oysters in our ecosystem (2022); the essential role of bees as pollinators in our food supply (2021); the impact of earthquakes in Hawaii (2019); the endurance of the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria (2018); Cuba at a cultural crossroads (2016); reviving Curacao’s coral reefs (2015); as well as many other poignant films.

“‘For the Love of Food’ is yet another extraordinary accomplishment from the PaceDocs team—a film that not only gives our students hands-on experience in the art of documentary filmmaking but also enables them to explore the values and environmental impact of the farm-to-table movement,” said Pace President Marvin Krislov. “At Pace we believe in the power of learning by doing, and year after year this course, under the leadership of Dr. Maria Luskay, provides a great example of real-world education that makes a difference in our students’ lives.”

“Dyson College’s student filmmakers are impressive: They have produced another documentary that is timely and topical,” said Tresmaine R. Grimes, dean, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education. “The students learn their art and craft with hands-on production experience that will serve them well after they graduate from Pace. I am so moved by the talents of this team and the compelling film they have produced. Congratulations to them and Professors Luskay and Guarneri for another impressive PaceDocs production.”

About Pace University

Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.

About Dyson College of Arts and Sciences

Pace University’s liberal arts college, Dyson College, offers more than 50 programs, spanning the arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional programs (including pre-medicine, pre-veterinary, and pre-law), as well as many courses that fulfill core curriculum requirements. The College offers access to numerous opportunities for internships, cooperative education and other hands-on learning experiences that complement in-class learning in preparing graduates for career and graduate/professional education choices.

Graduating this year? You're invited to participate in a night-time photo shoot featuring the Empire State Building lit up in Pace blue and gold. All graduating students are welcome to join us on Friday, May 12.

Who

All graduating Pace University students, regardless of campus or degree type.

What

In celebration of Commencement 2023, the Empire State Building will be illuminated from sunset to 2:00 a.m. in Pace blue and gold. We're inviting all graduating students to join us for a photo shoot opportunity with the Empire State Building in the background. We'll be using these photos on @paceuniversity social media, at Commencement, and more. This is a great opportunity to get some really beautiful professional shots of you and your best Pace friends. Don't forget to share your photos on social using #PaceGrad.

When

Friday, May 12, at 7:30 p.m.

Where

Our photographers are setting up shop in Madison Square Park. Once you register to attend, we'll be sending you a text message with our exact location. Here's the address with information about how to get there:

Madison Square Park
11 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10010

The park is bordered by Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue and 23rd Street and 26th Street.

• By Subway
  Take the R, W, or 6 trains to the 23rd Street station.
• Via Grand Central Terminal
  If you're coming to Manhattan via train to Grand Central Terminal, take the 6 train downtown for three stops and exit at the 23rd Street station.
• Via the Pace Shuttle to the NYC Campus
  Take the R or W train uptown from the City Hall station to the 23rd Street station, or take the 6 train from Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall station uptown to the 23rd Street station.

Or use Google Maps, because that's way more accurate. You're smart, you're about to graduate, you can figure this out.

What to Wear

We're thinking something with a graduation vibe...maybe your cap, maybe your gown, maybe both. Or, if you don't like the look of the traditional mortar board, why not try something a bit more Pace-y? We can't recommend Pace swag more highly. But we're really not picky—these photos are for YOU! So come dressed ready to pose.

Make Sure to Register

Use the link below to sign up for photos. We'll be using the information you provide on the form to communicate with you regarding our exact location in Madison Square Park, so make sure you type everything in correctly! Don't forget to check your email and text messages the day of the photo shoot.

Register to Attend the Photo Shoot

As the Class of 2023 prepares to cross the stage on May 15 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, graduating students from the natural sciences shared their plans for the future and reflected on their most memorable moments from their time at Pace—from meaningful mentorship from professors to career-altering courses to unforgettable extracurricular experiences. See more from the Class of 2023 in the social sciences and arts and humanities.

Carli Camporeale ’23, Biology

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: I will be attending the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for my PhD in Biological Sciences, with a focus in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology.

Why did you pursue your major/degree program?

I have been interested in biology for as long as I can remember. I have had a lot of loss in my life and trying to figure out why and how different processes happen in the body has fueled my biology journey.

What were your favorite course(s) and why?

My favorite biology-related course has been microbiology, which is based around identifying unknown bacterial colonies. I enjoy learning about cells and microorganisms, so this course was perfect. Although it took a lot of work, it was so rewarding to be able to correctly identify my samples based on the different tests we did in class. Along with biology, I also have a passion for art. I think it is important to take courses and be involved in subjects outside your chosen field of study. For me, I love painting! I was able to complete my biology coursework and laboratories while using my painting class as an outlet for my stress.

Janine Smalling ’23, MS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: After working on my research project looking at clinical applications for drugs against cryptosporidium, I have decided to continue my career in the pharmaceutical research industry. The COVID-19 vaccines changed many lives and is a major reason why the world as we know it is back to a "normal" that we are familiar with. I would love to be a part of a team that finds or creates new drugs to help with the treatment of many other diseases that would improve lives.

Which faculty member(s) had the most impact on your experience?

Professor Yarlett has been an amazing support throughout my time here at Pace. Not only has he provided me with the support of an advisor with class registration and scheduling, but he has also encouraged me through my research and studies. Most of my fellow peers came to this program immediately after undergrad with biology knowledge I haven't been exposed to in years. On multiple occasions, Professor Yarlett has provided me with words of encouragement and assurance that I was a strong student who worked hard and earned my place in the program.

What advice would you give students in their first and second years at Pace?

Make friends and rely on each other. Even if you know everything, it doesn’t hurt to have another ear that’s listening and could maybe teach you something. Also, never be afraid to ask questions. In all my classes, I was one of only a few students who had my hand raised and would ask anything and everything. I learned this probably in middle school, but you may not be the only person who has the question; you may be the one who has the confidence to ask it.

Carly Sullivan ’23, Forensic Science

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: After graduation, I hope to work in a crime lab as part of the New York City Police Department or Office of Chief Medical Examiner. I would like to go back to school later on in my career, but I'm honestly excited to have a job in a criminalist position.

Which faculty member(s) had the most impact on your experience?

Professor Mojica had the most impact on my experience at Pace. He welcomed me into his group in my junior year, allowing me to dive into research. From there, I presented my research in multiple locations and conferences and had a chapter in a book published.

What were your favorite course(s) and why?

I really enjoyed Controversial Criminal Cases. In that class, we dissected some of the most famous cases that had some controversial aspects to them, and it was very interesting to hear the differing opinions that everyone had. I also really enjoyed Forensic Microscopy, a class in which we were able to learn about how microscopes are used in forensic labs.

As the Class of 2023 prepares to cross the stage on May 15 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, graduating students from the social sciences shared their plans for the future and reflected on their most memorable moments from their time at Pace—from meaningful mentorship from professors to career-altering courses to unforgettable extracurricular experiences. See more from the Class of 2023 in the natural sciences and arts and humanities.

Hannah Cahill ’23, Political Science

Westchester campus

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Post-grad plans: Pace hasn’t seen the last of me yet! I am planning to return to our Pleasantville campus this coming fall to begin my MS in mental health counseling.

What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

The most memorable things about my time at Pace have been the countless opportunities to discover new things about myself and the world around me. I attended Model United Nations conferences with the Political Science Department, I watched Broadway shows with the Honors College, I performed disability studies research, I began learning American Sign Language, I even wrote a children’s book! Anything I wanted to experience or try my hand at, Pace facilitated!

Why did you pursue your major/degree program?

I chose to pursue a degree in political science because it is a discipline that is deeply rooted in the human experience and that also really emphasizes the value of discourse and critical thinking. I think this program has helped me become a more conscious global citizen, and I truly would not trade my experiences in this major for the world!

Victor M. Diaz ’23, Political Science, BA/Master of Public Administration

Westchester campus

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Post-grad plans: I am applying for several graduate fellowship opportunities in Washington, DC, as well as Albany, New York, and I will go wherever the wind takes me. The only thing that matters to me is that I can be in a position to help people and gain a deeper insight into the inner workings of institutions like the US Senate.

What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

There are so many memorable moments, but one that stands out to me was my first Model UN conference representing Pace. I was only a first semester freshman, and I remember walking into the hotel where the conference was taking place and getting ready to debate on behalf of a country I had just started learning about less than 10 weeks prior. It was an unforgettable experience and one that truly shaped the rest of my time here at Pace. I have since attended every Model UN conference possible until I became a graduate student.

Why did you pursue your major/degree program?

In reality, it’s because I want to serve the American people. I remember standing in the halls of the US Senate in 2017 and thinking, “I want to be here.” Not only to be there, but to help people navigate government, whether at the local, state, or federal level. I want to be that helping hand that makes government less frightening to people. I also love to be behind the scenes to see how institutions such as the US Senate operate, and that’s why I enjoyed my internship with the National Urban League, which Pace’s Career Services helped me obtain. These experiences reinforced what I wanted to do; to be someone who gives a lending hand and helps those who need it in government.

Erin Dogan ’23, PsyD, School-Clinical Child Psychology

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: I recently accepted a postdoctoral fellow position at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. I am very grateful and excited for the opportunity to continue my clinical training at the site where I completed both my externship and internship! My main goals continue to include working with diverse patient populations and developing my clinical flexibility.

Which faculty member(s) had the most impact on your experience?

Professor John Stokes has been an incredible teacher and mentor throughout my years at Pace. His knowledge of and dedication to the field of psychology is beyond inspiring. Professor Stokes challenged me to push myself beyond what I believed my limits to be, and I am forever grateful for his ongoing support and encouragement. I would also like to thank all my professors in the Psychology Department. Your commitment to the field of psychology and investment in my education have motivated me to achieve beyond what I could have imagined.

Why did you pursue your major/degree program?

I was initially drawn to Pace’s PsyD program because of its practitioner-scholar model. Having worked as a teacher for several years before dreaming up a career in psychology, I was ready to gain firsthand experience right from the beginning of my studies. Pace’s PsyD program offered just that, and I feel fortunate to have had these practical experiences in the early days of my clinical training.

Tinuade Mcclish ’23, Psychology

Westchester campus

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Post-grad plans: I will be attending the University of Connecticut to get my PhD In Educational Psychology.

Which faculty member(s) had the most impact on your experience?

Professor Courtney Gosnell, who mentored me through undergraduate research and applying for graduate school; Professor Amy Levin, whose class in Psychology of Intimate Relationships is the reason I changed my major to Psychology; Professor Kate Mulhollem, who gave me my first job at Pace as a writing tutor, the first person to cultivate my writing skills and make me feel like I belong; Professor Dana Cadman who kept me writing creatively and encouraged me to nurture my arts just as much as my science.

What advice would you give students in their first and second years at Pace?

Pace is small in size, but not in opportunity. The experience is what you make it. Make it a goal to go out of your comfort zone each year and do things like talk to a faculty member about research or job positions, seek out volunteer opportunities for causes that are important to you, or join an e-board of a club you enjoy attending. All of these things will help you to build long-lasting relationships. Also, it’s easy to get busy and forget yourself in the process, so prioritize rest and self-care.

Jeremiah Williams ’23, Political Science

New York City campus

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What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

What has been the most memorable is the amount of exposure I had to opportunities I could only dream of. I met a notable figure of entertainment and influence in my life, Keke Palmer, in only my second week at Pace through the Center for Student Engagement, offering an experience to be a live studio audience member at a Good Morning America production, and since that moment, I knew that I had chosen an institution with the ability to reward students for their passion and efforts with invaluable memories through experiences.

Why did you pursue your major/degree program?

My generation, more often than not, equates politics and journalism to partisanship and people bickering on TV, and I want to change that. Too much is at stake to write off politics and the news as "areas of stress," and therefore areas to be avoided. Civil rights, basic democratic freedoms, and so many other issues remain at stake in the increasingly polarized times we find ourselves in. I firmly believe that we cannot tune out the process just because it gets messy and discouraging; to those who are underprivileged, overburdened, and systematically sidelined, I am committing my life to a career in advocating for you, not because I am any better or moral, but because it is the right thing to do, and I have the skills set and confidence to do it.

As the Class of 2023 prepares to cross the stage on May 15 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, graduating students from the arts and humanities shared their plans for the future and reflected on their most memorable moments from their time at Pace—from meaningful mentorship from professors to career-altering courses to unforgettable extracurricular experiences. See more from the Class of 2023 in the natural sciences and social sciences.

Kailey Liddell ’23, English

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: This summer I have the opportunity to live and work in the East Village, which I am super thrilled about. Creatively/academically I plan on continuing my research/creative work on The African Company and will forever be writing the stories that I feel need to be written as a playwright.

What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

Absolutely the people. I remember touring Pace in the spring of my senior year of high school and thinking about how nice everyone was. Professors, coworkers, my fellow RAs, mentors, best friends, fellowships, English Department, honors college, etc. have all made my time here. Finding my community at Pace is something that I will always be so thankful for.

Which faculty member(s) had the most impact on your experience?

I would definitely say Professor Sid Ray has impacted my experience at Pace the most. She has been the most supportive and uplifting mentor I could ever possibly ask for, my biggest achievements while at Pace have been thanks to her encouragement. I also want to shout out Professor Melvin Williams who taught Race and Representation my freshmen year. Thank you for seeing me and being the first to believe in me. I cannot stress the importance of making meaningful connections with professors who want to uplift, teach, and learn with you.

Jaeden Pinder ’23, English

New York City campus

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Post-grad plans: I will be pursuing an Editorial Fellowship at Pitchfork! I hope to continue into a full-time career there, but if not, I hope to land a position at a New York City-based publication and pursue music criticism.

What has been most memorable about your time at Pace?

At The Pace Press, I've honed my journalistic skills and built a community and network of young and aspiring writers. When I joined the organization during the pandemic, I never saw myself becoming the executive editor/vice president two years later, and I've learned invaluable skills from my time there. Seeing how it has blossomed over the years, especially with our recent panel featuring major journalists, makes me very proud of our accomplishments, and I'm excited to see how it grows after I graduate.

What were your favorite course(s) and why?

I'm quite indecisive, but if I had to narrow it down, my favorite courses at Pace include Caribbean Literature, Disability Studies, Modernism, and Linguistic Discrimination. In all of these courses, the professor was extremely engaging, which only made the material that much more exciting to work with. I believe that if you have an amazing professor, a course is accessible and appealing to all, regardless of the subject.

Mariana García Tinoco ’23, Art

New York City campus

Post-grad plans: I am an aspiring artist hoping to establish my practice and potentially work in some area of the entertainment industry.

What were your favorite course(s) and why?

I liked most of my classes, it is easier to count those I didn't like!

What advice would you give students in their first and second years at Pace?

Please don't hesitate to ask for help if needed. You'll be surprised that most people will say, "How can I help?" Grade your professors, too, and look up other students' experiences prior to class. Don't stay where you're not comfortable. Choose your battles and challenge yourself; some things are to finish the course, but others are opportunities to grow as a human and a professional.

Whether you walk into Professor Dorfman’s office or classroom, you will leave having learned more about the world and society then you even knew was possible. Professor David Dorfman has been a faculty member at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University for 28 years. When Professor Dorfman first started teaching at what was then known as Pace Law in 1995, he was teaching Criminal Law Research and Writing. Today, Professor Dorfman teaches Criminal Procedure and Investigation, First Year Criminal Law, and New York Criminal Procedure - a course he designed himself. In the past he has also taught Lawyering and Professional Responsibility. In addition to his doctrinal teaching, Professor Dorfman has been running the Law School’s Criminal Defense Clinic since 2010. Learn more about Professor Dorfman’s background, legal journey, and more in this candid Q&A.

What made you choose to go into a career in criminal law, specifically defense work?

This is a long story, but here we go. It is not like I always wanted to be a lawyer. I grew up in the city, specifically in a Mitchell-Lama Co-Op in Long Island City, Queens. In that section of Queens, there was a lot of street action and a number of the kids I hung around with got into legal problems. I was fortunate not to get into trouble and I attribute this to my parents. I was raised in a politically radical family, meaning they were always very politically involved. This dated back to the Great Depression. I was raised to think about poor people and people of color and the extent to which the criminal “justice” system and the “system” in general puts certain people in a real disadvantaged situation. I was raised to not trust the police or the system itself. Living in NYC, I witnessed firsthand some police brutality and how rough it was for those with a different skin color. I, myself, was the “right color” and did not experience the same treatment. Regardless, I always cared for the kids that I ran around with.

During my last year and a half of law school, I worked at a law office which worked white collar cases. Typically, the firm focused on crooked broker dealers on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. This was essentially representing rich crooks and helping them keep their ill-gotten money in their pockets. I realized I wanted to help people in need, not represent rich people and aid them in getting richer. Around this time, the Legal Aid Society of New York City was conducting interviews in Chicago and I decided after 9 years in Chicago it was time to come home. I had my second interview with Legal Aid when I came back to New York. I was interviewed by the head of the Legal Aid Criminal Defense Practice, Cesar Cirigliano, and I quickly realized this was not an average interview, this was a “get to know you” op. This was 1987, there was a huge spike in crime rates in New York City and there was a desperate need for lawyers. The Legal Aid Society had their largest hiring year when they hired me. I requested to work in Brooklyn as it was close to family and friends, and I was pretty familiar with the area.

I worked as a criminal defense lawyer for the Legal Aid Society in Brooklyn for six plus years and enjoyed every minute of it. Criminal law practice back then meant constantly being in a courtroom and arguing, fighting, trying cases. I thrived on the hustle. To be completely honest, I still think of my Legal Aid job as the best job I ever had, it was just amazing. My last couple years at Legal Aid I was doing, along with the more senior trial lawyers, mostly major offense cases; this meant I took some of the hardest cases in the office many of which went to trial because plea bargains were terrible back then. In two consecutive years, I tried ten to twelve jury trials each year, so you do the math. This sort of pace was not uncommon back then for a senior trial lawyer. Each trial could take about two-three weeks so I did about 25 to 30 weeks of jury trials out of a 52 week year. Also add in the regular night arraignments, for which we would get compensatory time (not overtime). My life and that of my colleagues was arraignments, constant court appearances, trials and a month and a half vacation (using up that compensatory and vacation time), rinse, repeat. It was easy to burn out and trust me, I came close, but I loved the work and being in court every day. Among other things, I came to believe plea bargaining was just negotiating the terms of surrender. I’m sure you can tell, I am very competitive and like many of my Legal Aid colleagues chose to fight the system and (hopefully) win the case instead of backing down and settling. I believe everybody deserves to have someone fight for them and I guess sometime along the way I decided I wanted to be that person. This was very much the ethic of that office.

That was a really long answer to your question, but long story-short, I chose criminal law because doing public defense work allowed me to represent the people I grew up with, it fit my personality and my politics, and I like the battle because I am very competitive.

Did you ever consider working on the other side in prosecution?

After taking the LSATs and getting into Chicago Kent College of Law, I first wanted to be a poverty lawyer, I didn’t know what a poverty lawyer did – all I knew was I wanted to help folks. Eventually, I took trial advocacy and my professor was a prosecutor. I took to advocacy fairly naturally and the professor told me I should pursue trial work because I “have a big mouth.” As I continued through law school, it became very clear to me I wanted to be a defense attorney because becoming a prosecutor was very much adverse to how I was raised. Oddly enough, I went to the State’s Attorney’s Office of Cook County for a job interview. The Assistant State’s Attorney at the time asked what my attitude toward the death penalty was and I honestly said I would refuse to prosecute a capital case. At that point, the two of us knew the interview was over, but we continued to talk until our allotted time was over.

How did your parents feel about you going into law?

My father was a writer; he wrote comic books and juvenile fiction. My mother was a school teacher and my brother and sister were both artists. My father died when I was 19, so he never got to see me become a lawyer. I think he would appreciate my work because when he was younger, he was a union organizer. I think he had the same kind of fight in him when he was young and he would have related to my career path.

My mom was ambivalent because no one in my family was a lawyer. I don’t think she or my siblings understood the appeal of verbally fighting all the time and being competitive because it was not who they were. As I mentioned before, my family was radical when it came to politics and they loved to argue those kinds of issues, but going to court and the idea of wearing a suit was just not them. Eventually, I think they all came to appreciate it.

Is there a case or moment in your career that stands out to you?

Oh yes, there are a lot of them. One in particular that stands out was a case I had when I was doing major offenses. This was back in the early 1990s, my client Casey was charged with armed robbery. This was not Casey’s first charge, he had four priors all for armed robbery. Due to his priors, he was charged as a mandatory persistent felon and if convicted he would be facing 25 years to life in prison.

Casey was a great guy, I liked him a lot. He was sent to Riker’s Island for detention because he could not make bail—bail was many thousands of dollars. It took a while to get to trial back then so by the time we got in front of a jury, Casey had already spent close to two years in Riker’s. During the time that we awaited trial, I thoroughly investigated the case and was convinced Casey was innocent, that the prosecutor’s case was flawed, that the only reason Casey was charged and not afforded a deal was because of his record. I also learned Casey had changed his life – he worked at the transit authority and had a young family whom he was trying to support. Casey was a soft spoken guy, nice to talk to, an absolute sweetheart – you could not square his personality with his terrible record. I looked at Casey’s record a little more carefully and noticed he had copped a plea on every case, even those when he claimed he was innocent. He had always gotten a pretty good deal, but this time there was no decent deal to be had and he needed to go to trial. Despite turning his life around, Casey felt like a loser and was understandably scared of trial.

Regardless of how Casey felt, trial was really our only option. At the hearing to suppress the lineup, the district attorney brought in the victim of the robbery to testify, to prove independent source because the lineup was very flawed. This hearing gave me the chance to play out the entire cross examination without a jury, to see how good of a witness the victim was. It turns out, he had been drinking the night of the robbery and even though there was good lighting, the robber’s face was backlit meaning his face was somewhat obscured. Additionally, the victim admitted that during the 10 minutes the robbery took place that he had been staring at the gun because he was so scared, and not the robber’s face. This was all good information to hear prior to going to trial in front of a jury. After this, Casey finally started to gain some courage and confidence. The other thing we had in our back pocket, was an alibi. Casey was married with kids, but he was having an affair. His mistress was a girlfriend from a long time ago and she had been with him at the time of the robbery. When I interviewed her, she confirmed the alibi in detail. Typically, a mistress would not the best alibi, but she had no incentive to lie because she now hated Casey for leaving her for his wife. The mistress admitted part of her wanted him to be convicted and sent upstate.

I knew putting on an alibi was always a dangerous move, but I loved the ex-girlfriend as a witness so much, and I knew she was rock solid on the facts. Typically, a jury will view an alibi witness warily, and will effectively shift the burden of proof to the defense. The burden to prove an alibi is one of the hardest burdens to carry. So, after the People’s case and their one witness identification evidence, I put the ex-girlfriend on the stand and the DA walked straight into the trap. He asked if she was going to lie for the person she loved and her response was, “I wouldn’t lie for that scumbag after the way he treated me.” It was absolutely perfect and when all was said and done, we got an acquittal. At the time of the verdict, I said to the judge “I move to have my client released right now.” It was typically protocol back then to bring the prisoner back to Riker’s to collect his possessions while Corrections did one final search through the system to make sure there were no other holds on him. It could create hours of delay. That day, the judge said he was not sending Casey back to Riker’s and instead told the Corrections officers to do their search for holds on the court computers. The computers were old at the time so this search took about an hour to an hour and a half. Needless to say, Casey had no other holds and was released from the courtroom. As we were going down the elevators in the old Schermerhorn Street courthouse, I turned to Casey and said “you haven’t eaten since lunch what do you want for dinner? What do you want to eat?” Casey said “I would love a really good hamburger.” We walked to a place called Grand Canyon Hamburgers and as we walked down the street in Brooklyn Heights, Casey was walking like a man on the moon and he was crying. Casey ordered a double hamburger with all the fixings. He was eating this burger like a man who hasn’t eaten in two years. He was slobbering and drooling. Quite frankly, it was embarrassing, but this is a guy who genuinely thought he was going to go back to Riker’s and then up to the Canadian border for the rest of his life.

This was very powerful. It reminded me of why I did this job. I don’t think I changed Casey’s life – the case lined up, the judge was fair, the alibi was amazing. I was just a part of something and it was really very meaningful for this guy who was a truly good person to finally find justice. Casey never needed my help again and we stayed in touch for a period of time, but at a certain point something about talking to me reminded Casey of all of the bad things and that part of his life that he wanted to close the door on, that long terrible chapter of his life. We haven’t connected since. Casey’s case was truly one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had.

What made you want to become a professor and how did you start your career at Haub Law?

A friend of mine named Andy worked at NYU as a Lawyering professor and said I would be perfect for teaching. I applied to work at NYU for their Lawyering program – it was not a tenure track position, but it was a full-time contract professor position that capped out at three years. It was at NYU that I got the teaching bug. Anthony Amsterdam, the former Dean of Clinical Education at NYU, was my mentor and I learned how to teach from him. I stayed at NYU for 2 years. In 1995, I was hired and then started working at what was then called Pace Law on the tenure track. There was no separate Legal Skills course when I arrived. The school instead had a class that was comprised of Criminal law with a writing and research component incorporated into it. It was a perfect fit for me, and I taught this class for about 5-6 years exclusively. Eventually, the school realized I could teach other things. I started teaching Criminal Procedure and Investigation, the Lawyering/Simulations course with Professor Lissa Griffin, and Professional Responsibility. Around 2002, the woman who used to run the Criminal Defense Clinic, Adele Bernhard, took a year off and I took over the clinic in her absence. A year later when Adele came back, I still stayed somewhat connected with the clinic, consulted on some cases, sat in on some seminars. In 2010, Adele left and I officially took over the clinic as Supervising Attorney. All of the cases are in the Bronx and I have been at the clinic along with my adjunct team teacher Robin Frankel since.

You have been very involved in some of the more recent protestor cases, can you talk about that?

I was a somewhat active member of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), a leftist lawyer’s organization, and in 2016, I got a call from Joel Kupferman, a friend and colleague from NLG. He mentioned that there was a big protest happening by the Indian Point nuclear power plant. There were environmental protestors protesting the installation of a high-capacity gas pipeline that linked fracking fields in Pennsylvania snaking through Jersey and New York and all the way up to New England. There was no real need for this pipeline since there was no gas shortage. In fact, the gas flowing through the pipeline was going to be liquified and sold commercially abroad. The whole process of extraction and transmission and the pipeline tech itself was incredibly dangerous. There were seven people that were planning to occupy the pipeline and I agreed to represent them. The protestors hopped a fence in Verplank, New York at 5:00 a.m. and four of them climbed into the partially installed pipeline. They were prepared with sleeping bags, backpacks, food, adult diapers, and water. They stayed in the pipeline for less than 24 hours (they left by midnight). They were all arrested as well as the three others that did not climb into the pipeline, but instead stood guard. I helped negotiate with the police to avoid their spending the night in jail.

I ended up representing those seven protestors for two years. We went to trial in Cortlandt Manor in Northern Westchester. They were charged with criminal trespass. None of them wanted to plead guilty and the DA would not make an acceptable deal. We wanted to mount a climate necessity defense; meaning that they were allowed to break the law if it was a necessity, to avoid a greater harm. Stopping this pipeline from being built was a necessity for three main reasons in our defense case: 1) this would help save the world from global climate change, of which methane gas is a main driver; 2) save the neighborhoods surrounding the pipeline compressor stations from leaked methane and carcinogens; and 3) save the whole eastern seaboard from the potential rupture of the pipeline, which would ignite the spent nuclear fuel rods at Indian Point, and make the whole east coast of the US uninhabitable. Think Fukushima. Think Chernobyl. Think Three Mile Island.

The trial took two weeks, it was the longest litigated climate necessity case in the US thus far, as well as one of the most complex cases I have ever litigated. The judge allowed me to try the case in the most complete way possible. I had expert testimony from a variety of Incredible professionals—a world renowned climate scientist, a public health expert, a nuclear engineer. Due to this case’s unprecedented nature, it gained a fair amount of press. Unfortunately, we did not get the protestors the acquittal we had hoped for. But they were only convicted for non-criminal trespass; there was no sentence, no fine, no court costs imposed. Nothing. The judge even said to them, “I do not want to deter your activism.”

If you could create a new course tomorrow, what would it be?

I taught a seminar with Professor Michael Mushlin and the late Professor Gary Munneke. It was a legal history course centered on the history of civil rights lawyering. It focused mostly on the lawyers and law organizations that went to the South in 1964 during Freedom Summer. I believe civil rights lawyering of that era has been extraordinarily influential on our whole concept and practice of public interest lawyering and not talked about nearly enough. I would like to do seminars on legal history but find interesting areas that are not often studied in law school. Then I would bring in unconventional materials like historical readings, films, diaries. I would want it to be a two credit-hour seminar on the underappreciated and understudied areas of legal history. I would love to have students read, watch films, and talk about the cases and the type of lawyering that happened. I don’t want students to just focus on the cases in casebooks, their holdings, and then passing the bar. I want to teach students the fuller view of these important historical moments, the movement lawyering, and the personalities involved. Law does not operate in a vacuum and sometimes, I think that is forgotten. In that connection, I think it would also be interesting to do a seminar on the Vietnam War, the protest movement, the cases involving people like Dr. Benjamin Spock and the Berrigan Brothers and Dr. King.

What is your favorite part of being a professor?

I like seeing students do well. I like my colleagues a lot and have good relationships with them, but the students are why I love my job. I am not an institutionalist, I love the school, but I love it for the students. I enjoy watching them learn and flourish. It is a great feeling watching the lightbulbs go off.

I am very political and have strong views so I enjoy teaching in a way where I teach to those that may not agree with me. I don’t want to have to hide who I am or lose my soul. I like the challenge of being a good devil’s advocate. I think someone can come out of my class learning a lot and appreciating my viewpoint without having to agree with me. I always aim for the sweet spot of teaching – even though I know I am sometimes a tyrant in the classroom. The most gratifying part of teaching is being able to do it without a personality transplant. And watching the students succeed.

If you weren’t a law professor, what would you be?

Back in the 1970s before going to Chicago, I wanted to be a writer/novelist. I would write essays, fiction, and poetry. I wrote a number of articles for Art Form Magazine with my brother. One day, the editor of Art Form, Joe, said I should apply for a grant because my brother and I had a book in us. I applied for the Art Critics Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and received $4,500 to write a book. My brother and I completed the book, but unfortunately it never got published.

Recently, my brother wrote a different book and it was published. In his new book, my brother used some of our old material from the previous book. His new book is called, “Out of the Picture.”

So to answer your question, maybe I’d write fiction or essays on politics and culture. Probably not law.

What do you do in your free time?

I spend time with my wife hanging out, we love to cook together. My wife and I like to travel too, but with COVID we haven’t been able to travel as much as we would like. We visit our children and grandchildren when we have time.

I like to read fiction, I am always reading a novel. I feel it is really important to occupy the other part of my brain, the part that gets going when I read good fiction. I specifically like genre fiction –high quality spy novels, detective novels, etc. I should exercise more, but with my bad back I don’t. I do walk a decent amount with our beautiful old dog. Lastly, I like to play guitar. It sparks the same part of my brain that reading good genre fiction does. It is one of my connections to my artistic roots.

If you had one phrase to live your life by, what would it be?

Mickey Rivers, a former centerfielder for the New York Yankees, used to say: “I don’t worry about things I can’t control because I cannot control them. I only worry about things that I can control because I can control them.” I try to live my life by this line. It is easy to get stressed out about things and I try not to fall into the trap.

What is one piece of advice you would like to give to law students?

I try not to give too much advice and instead help to create situations that people are learning from by spending time with me and the materials. A political activist and incredible attorney, Ralph Nader, once said, “the problem with lawyers is that in order to get sharp, they get narrow.”

I like to get students to think about that line. Everyone wants to be good at what they do and in order to do that they become very analytical and focused. This is what being narrow is. I believe to be a good person and frankly to be a good lawyer, you need a broad view, to see other things and perspectives. It is important to preserve broadness by finding other things to care about. That is why I continue to travel, read novels, have friends who aren’t lawyers, still love art and music. I refuse to get narrow, and I still aspire to be a sharp lawyer and thinker. I think being too narrow makes it hard to live a good and full life and you need to remember that you will have a life apart from the law and after the law.