Letter from Fordham Law
Alumni Association President
Palmina M. Fava ’97
Showing Leadership in a Crisis
When I took over as president of the FLAA in March 2020, I could not have envisioned what my term would be like. The pandemic was just getting underway, and we quickly recognized that our students, like so many others, were facing serious challenges. Many were struggling to attend classes via Zoom from tiny apartments shared with roommates; others lost jobs and critical income they needed to continue to attend Fordham Law. The FLAA established a student emergency relief fund, solicited donations from the FLAA Board of Directors and the broader alumni community, and promptly awarded tens of thousands of dollars in grants to students in need. With significant revenue streams lost, the Law School called upon alumni to raise necessary funds to continue building on its programs and status as a preeminent national law school; not surprisingly, the FLAA and alumni all over the world responded with record-setting giving.
A Crucial Role for Lawyers—and Community
I’m proud of our resilience and flexibility, and of the ways we found to interact with each other and to develop a network, despite COVID-19. We found ways to engage in meaningful dialogue about race and social justice while also supporting the police officers who put their lives on the line to protect us. We found ways to bring students and alumni together through affinity groups and mentoring programs to foster community remotely. The three years of law school go by so quickly, and if you lose a year and a half of in-person time, you can lose the opportunity to create a network that forms the foundation of your success, particularly for first-generation law students. But the FLAA, our Board, and the Fordham Law affinity groups stepped up to serve as mentors to students, conduct mock job interviews, review resumes, make introductions, and offer advice—all in keeping with the Law School’s motto, “In the service of others.”
There’s a wealth of knowledge and experience in our community, and I am enriched by being a part of it. I continue to learn from and be inspired by my interactions with fellow alumni, and I encourage you to join me.
Get involved with the
FLAA affinity groups
- Alumni Attorneys of Color
- Business and Financial Law
- Compliance
- Entrepreneur
- Intellectual Property and Information Law
- International
- LGBTQ+
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Public Interest, Service, and Government
- Real Estate
- Solo/Small Firm
- Women’s Networking (DC or NY)
2022 FLAA
Membership Benefits
- Discounted ticket to Annual Luncheon
- 50% discount on ZipCar annual membership
- 25–60% discount on Talks on Law online CLE series
- 20% discount at TheaterMania
- 5–10% discount at Enterprise and National Car Rental
- 10% discount at Fordham Bookstore
- 15% discount at Brooks Brothers
- 15% discount at 1-800-Flowers
- Buy one, get one discount at Bowlero