Page 18 - NYLS Strategic Plan Progress and Outcomes • 2015

spotlight
nYLS receIveS $5 MILLIon GIfT froM Joe and SUSan PLUMerI
among the largest in the School’s 125 Year history, the gift Will Support the law School’s Nationally recognized Practical Training Programs
Since the time that I studied at NYLS, I am pleased to see the American dream is alive and well there. nYlS is truly New York’s law school, with a student body as diverse as New York City itself, filled with real people pursuing their dreams and who can help others pursue theirs. in the melting pot that is New York City, the Center will be a unique place where people looking for opportunity will find an open door to a wide breadth of free, high-quality, legal services.
Joe Plumeri vice chairman of the board of directors, first data corporation
Joe Plumeri is a man of generosity, vision, and action - someone who firmly believes that you learn best by doing. Joe’s advice to our students at Commencement was to ‘go play in traffic and find out what is possible,’ and his donation will ensure that they have cutting-edge experiential learning and are ready for today’s legal job market.
anthony w. crowell dean and President Professor of Law
as we celebrate nYlS’s 125th anniversary, we are proud to be the recipient of a $5 million gift from Joe and Susan Plumeri through The Joe Plumeri foundation. The gift will support NYLS’s nationally recognized practical training programs by establishing The Joe Plumeri center for Social Justice and economic opportunity. Under development for the past year, and opened in September, the center is home to the School’s law firm and provides free high-quality legal services through more than 20 legal clinics to New York City’s diverse, low income, and veteran populations who would otherwise be unable to afford quality legal representation. the donation is among the largest in the School’s history, and one of the largest donations ever to a law school to enhance clinical and experiential learning.
Building on mr. Plumeri’s commitment to providing resources and advocacy for New York’s diverse and underrepresented populations, the Plumeri Center offers clinics designed both to provide legal services to those who cannot afford representation as well as to give students crucial experience in the kinds of work they may later undertake. unlike any other legal services provider, the center will provide services across more than 20 fields of law including those that focus on small businesses and entrepreneurs such as business development, patent protection, and tax planning, and also clinics that serve the needs of individuals in matters such as immigration, domestic violence, and child welfare. as the needs of the community evolve, the Center will be responsive, as with the introduction this fall of the Veterans Justice Clinic which provides students an opportunity to offer legal assistance to low-income veterans in NYC on matters such as housing, access to benefits, and civil rights.
The Center aims to be the premier place where New York City’s diverse population can turn to for an array of legal services ensuring fairness and equal opportunity. The Center’s innovative mission, sophisticated design, and ground floor location provide an unparalleled access point for the School’s community legal services— steps away from the courts, government agencies, legal service organizations, law firms, and the city’s business and technology corridors. the facility includes a reception area for clients and guests, study space for students, private work areas for the clinical programs, a state-of-the-art moot courtroom, and seven “lawyer simulation” rooms equipped with direct-to-digital recording technology for student training in matters such as client interviewing and counseling. the generous support from Joe and Susan Plumeri enabled NYLS to transform existing campus space into the home of a learning experience outstanding among u.S. law schools.
Ultimately, the gift allows NYLS to fully realize the experiential learning model of a modern legal education, ensuring that students have the practical training and knowledge to effectively represent a wide range of client needs. a formal dedication of the center is planned for november 2015.
the center is named for Joe Plumeri, a widely renowned leader in the financial services industry. mr. Plumeri is Vice chairman of First data, a leading technology company that sits at the center of global electronic commerce. he is also a Senior advisor to kohlberg kravis roberts, a leading global private equity firm. mr. Plumeri previously served as chairman and ceo of Willis group holdings, a global insurance broker. Prior to joining Willis, he served as ceo of citibank north america, chairman and ceo of Primerica Financial Services, Vice chairman of travelers group, and President and managing Partner of Shearson lehman Brothers. mr. Plumeri is the author of “the Power of Being Yourself: a game Plan for Success—by Putting Passion into Your life and Work.”
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