Making a Difference

Carol Arber, a former judge of the New York State Supreme Court and a friend to Brooklyn Law School, has established a scholarship to assist a student who has had an internship in a government office, for a judge, or for a public interest organization.  This scholarship is in honor of the late Carol Lefcourt, Class of 1967, who, along with Judge Arber, was a member of one of the first all-women law firms, Lefcourt Kraft and Arber.  The firm operated in a communal way to deliver legal services, mainly, but not exclusively to women, including litigating Title VII cases in the initial days after its passage.  Judge Arber went on to a distinguished legal career.  This scholarship is intended to support a student who is interested in pursuing a career to protect the rights of the disadvantaged or to protect and preserve the environment.

A scholarship established by the family of Anthony Mazzone and family and friends of Martin Besen, Class of 1954.  His many professional, charitable and civic accomplishments spanned a half century.  Throughout his life and legal career, his colleagues and friends respected and admired him as a trusted counselor and as an unparalleled business lawyer. The Law School will award this scholarship annually to an exceptionally able student who is in need of financial assistance.

A scholarship established by the family and friends of Gerald Director, Class of 1959.  His many professional, charitable and civic accomplishments spanned a half century. Throughout his life and legal career, his colleagues and friends respected and admired him as a trusted counselor and as an unparalleled trial lawyer.  The Law School will award this scholarship annually to a deserving student who shows great promise in the study and practice of law.

A scholarship established by a friend and colleague of Jeffrey D. Forchelli, Class of 1969.  Recognizing Mr. Forchelli’s extraordinary talents as a lawyer, who not only has excellent skills, but also practices with the greatest integrity, the scholarship is awarded to a deserving student who has exemplified these traits during law school and shows promise to do so during his or her career.

A scholarship established by the family of Joan C. Koven, a distinguished graduate of the Class of 1974.  After a successful career as a private practitioner, Joan taught family law at the Law School and served as Associate Dean for Alumni Affairs until her retirement in 1995.  Joan was widely admired for her style, grace, wit, professionalism and wise counsel.  The scholarship is awarded to a woman student who exemplifies these traits.

A scholarship established by Eileen Nugent, Class of 1978 and her mentor, Robert C. Sheehan, a distinguished partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, in memory of Eileen’s parents, Thomas J. and Deborah B. Nugent and in grateful appreciation to the Law School for its scholarly assistance to Eileen when she was a student.  This scholarship is awarded annually to a worthy student who is an immigrant or a first-generation U.S. citizen.

A scholarship established by Susan K. Foster, Class of 1987, and her husband, H. Peet Foster, to be awarded to a student with a prior career or degree in the visual arts, or a student who demonstrates an interest in pursuing a law career in support of the arts, or a student who comes from Kansas or Missouri and wants to study law in the New York area.

A scholarship fund established by the Estate of Clare R. Petti, Class of 1954, a New Jersey politician and activist.  A self-appointed advocate of the public interest, she showed great concern for middle-class families throughout her career and was a trailblazer for women attorneys.  At least two scholarships will be awarded each year to deserving women students.

This scholarship, endowed by the family and friends of Judge Shirley Wohl Kram, Class of 1950, celebrates her long and distinguished career in public service as a United States District Court Judge, Family Court Judge, and Attorney-in-Charge of the Narcotics and Mental Health Division of the Legal Aid Society.  Her career was a model for generations of women students that followed in her footsteps and accordingly this scholarship is awarded each year to a deserving woman student who exhibits an interest in public or government service.