Contact: Darren Johnson, Director of Communications
(631) 421-2244, ext. 383, djohnson@tourolaw.edu

March 25, 2005

Auction Honors 14 Pro-Bono Attorneys,

Raises Funds for 14 Student Fellowships

Touro Law Center Continues to Honor and Embody Public Interest Work

Huntington, NY – Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center honored a record number of pro-bono attorneys at its 8th Annual Goods and Services Auction on March 23.

Fourteen of Long Island’s most charitable lawyers were recognized as “2005 Outstanding Pro-Bono Attorneys” – and, in that spirit, the Auction raised enough money for 14 public interest awards for students who help the area’s neediest clients.

The event was sponsored by Public Interest Lawyers Of Touro (PILOT) and benefits its summer fellowship program. Touro Summer Public Interest Law Fellows defend the victims of domestic abuse, protect the rights of refugees from violence from around the world, help charitable organizations and work with advocacy groups. This year’s event raised nearly $40,000, enough for the 14 fellowships.

Touro is one of the only law schools in the country with a pro-bono requirement for its graduates. Long Island attorneys honored this year include:

Robin S. Abramowitz – Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid, P.C.
Barbara Shaheen Alesi – Forchelli, Curto, Schwartz, Mineo, Carlino & Cohn, LLP
Hon. W. Gerald Asher – The Suffolk County Bar and The Pro Bono Project
Joseph R. Costello – The Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
Steven N. Davi – Farrell Fritz, P.C.
John Gallagher – Dilworth & Barrese, LLP
Wallace Leinheardt – Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman, LLP
Peter H. Levy – Nassau County Bar Association and Volunteer Lawyers Project
Stephen M. McCabe – McCabe, Collins, McGeough & Fowler, LLP
Stephen W. Schlissel – Schlissel, Ostrow, Karabatos & Poepplein, PLLC
John T. Seybert – Rivkin Radler LLP
Jeffrey Stark – Meyer, Suozzi, English and Klein, P.C.
Howard Stein – Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP
William E. Vita – Gallagher Gosseen Faller & Crowley
 

Touro is currently undertaking a bold strategic plan that includes a cutting-edge new curriculum and a move to a new home in Central Islip by fall 2006, adjacent to and working with state and federal courts. The new campus will stress hands-on legal education, expanding learning from the classroom and textbooks into real courtrooms. The total cost of the project is expected to be approximately $33 million. This modern, 180,000-square-foot “law campus” will be the first of its kind anywhere and a national model. It will also be a cornerstone in an effort to revitalize Central Islip.

Touro Law School welcomed a record-setting entering class this year. Selectivity and test scores for the 24-year-old institution are at an all-time high. Suffolk County’s only law school, Touro has a student body of over 750.

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