What are Hofstra Law Alumni doing 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years after law school? We’re highlighting a few alumni from this year’s reunion classes. Take a moment to get a glimpse into what they have been doing since graduation from Hofstra Law.
Rene Fiechter ’74 is a former Director of Community affairs with the Nassau County District Attorney. He is now retired and serves on various boards and executive committees on substance abuse and criminal justice.
What inspired you to pursue a career in law and your decision to attend Hofstra Law?
I was a child of the 1960s, enamored by Ralph Nader and the turmoil of the war, and saw the law as a way to make a difference for my generation. Hofstra Law was brand new and it seemed that it might be a new kind of law school.
Can you share with us your specific area of legal expertise and how you got your start in this area?
For the past fifty years, I’ve specialized in criminal justice innovation, alternatives to incarceration, and community collaborations. Inspired by my internships with the Legal Aid Society while at Hofstra Law and the Probation Department’s innovative bail reform projects, I went to NYU for an LLM in criminal justice.
Is there a specific professor or mentor that had a significant influence on you during your time at Hofstra Law?
Clearly Professor David Kadane and our work in his Neighborhood Law Office had a huge impact. Known as Kadane’s Kids, we worked in the humblest offices in Hempstead sweltering over the fish market on Main Street with the poorest of clients, and it was wonderful.
What has been the single most rewarding/exciting experience in your career thus far?
Aside from working with Kadane, the fantastic financial support of the Unitarian Church, I’d say it was the opportunity the District Attorney’s Office gave me, a liberal tree hugger, full rein to create a host of innovative reform projects to help victims and the incarcerated to resume their lives and flourish.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges for lawyers today?
We are terribly misunderstood and the critical role we play in protecting our democracy and our Constitution.
What advice would you offer today to current law students and recent graduates?
I urge students and graduates to understand that a law degree is by no means limited to litigation, brief writing or even practice. Rather, the degree opens an immense universe of vocations and careers. In any institution, private or public, the degree makes you stand out. In any organization, be it in education, medicine, politics, business or social cause, a person with a law degree is often deferred to and a very valued member of any venture.
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