Letter from Fordham Law
Alumni Association President
Palmina M. Fava ’97

Palmina M. Fava Headshot
I am the first person in my family to become a lawyer, so, as a student at Fordham Law School, I needed a community to help me find my way.
Time and again, I found that community at Fordham, whether in the form of alumni who gave of their time to moot me as a Jessup competitor and to support all of our moot court teams when I was interschool editor, or classmates who helped me analyze cases when I struggled, or professors who so generously made themselves available outside of the classroom. Dean John Feerick offered perspective on the practice of law in a big firm; Professor Maria Marcus taught me to find my own voice as an advocate and inspired me to consider public service; and Professor Joel Reidenberg, whom I still blame for my lowest grade ever, helped me examine nuances in European Union data privacy laws years later, after I reached out to him as I was building a practice centered on global internal investigations. Every step I have taken in my career has been guided by a friend from Fordham Law who offered advice, made introductions, and encouraged me. Just as important, this community has celebrated my personal successes and embraced me during my darkest hours. Since walking through the doors of the old Law School building, I felt surrounded by family. What a gift that has been!

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.

To renew your 2022 membership online and to see up-to-date and seasonal benefits, visit law.fordham.edu/membership

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.

Palmina M. Fava Signature
Palmina M. Fava ’97

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