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First-Year Law Student to First-Year Dean: Terence J. Lau L’98 Combines Law and Business to Continue Syracuse Law’s Upward Trajectory

Three decades ago, Terence J. Lau L’98 walked the corridors as an eager student at the Syracuse University College of Law, then located in White Hall. He knew he had been given a rare chance—and a full scholarship—to be a part of Syracuse Law, and the opportunities ahead were endless. Today, his eagerness and enthusiasm are stronger than ever as he again walks through the halls of the Law School with the same sense that a rare opportunity has come his way. In August 2024, Lau began his role as the 13th dean of the Syracuse University College of Law — and the first alumnus to lead the Law School in its 130-year history.

Terence J. Lau L’98 has been named the 13th dean of Syracuse University’s College of Law.

The Foundations for a Career

Prior to applying to law schools, Lau was training to be a commercial airline pilot, but without the funds to continue, he needed a new plan. So Lau set his sights on the law. Syracuse Law not only offered him a scholarship but gave him the foundations for a successful career in law and higher education.

“Attending Syracuse Law changed the trajectory of my life,” says Lau. “I enrolled sight unseen, and it became my home for the next three years. I’m eternally grateful for the education and career opportunities the law school gave me. Returning to serve as dean is a true full circle moment.”

Lau stands out not only as an alumnus, but also for his unconventional path to becoming a law school dean. While he was a practicing attorney early on, much of his career has been in higher education, particularly in the business school space, giving him a distinct perspective in his new role.

Pivoting to Business in Academia

After receiving his J.D., Lau joined Ford Motor Corp. as an attorney, working in transactional, distribution, and international trade practice. In 2006, he became a fellow for the U.S. Supreme Court assigned to the Office of the Administrative Assistant to Chief Justice John Roberts.

Lau’s career quickly pivoted to a more business-oriented path when he joined the University of Dayton’s School of Business Administration, first as a professor of business law and then as director of international business programs, department chair of management and marketing, and, eventually, associate dean of undergraduate programs. In 2017, he spent a year in China serving as executive director of academic and corporate relations for the University of Dayton China Institute.

The following year, he returned to the United States to take on the role of dean of the College of Business at California State University Chico, a position he stepped down from just before coming to Syracuse.

Dean Lau at his desk at Ford’s offices in Bangkok, Thailand.

Building a Long-Lasting Foundation

Taking on the role of dean at Syracuse Law has given Lau a chance to reflect on where he started and the path he took to get here today.

“I have great memories of law school, and I was also fortunate to experience the campus life of the greater University because, as part of my scholarship, I lived in the dorms as an employee of the Office of Residential Life for undergraduates,” he explains.

He says many of the best moments from law school revolve around the faculty. “When I run into other alumni, it seems everyone will talk about a specific faculty member who had a lasting impact on them,” Lau says. “And it’s that incredibly student-focused faculty who are a very integral part of what makes Syracuse Law much different from what you get elsewhere. They are practical and solution-oriented individuals who come to us having had a tremendous impact on the law through their scholarship and work experiences.”

Lau has his own list of faculty who made a lasting impression, including Professor of Law Emeritus Travis H.D. Lewin and former Dean Daan Braveman, now a distinguished lecturer in Syracuse Law’s JDinteractive (JDi) program.

“I was Professor Lewin’s research assistant, and he also coached me on the trial team. When we went into competitions, he would say, ‘Go to war; return in peace,’” says Lau. “Dean Braveman taught Civil Procedures my first year and told us, ‘You have to pass the “look yourself in the mirror every morning” test,’ referring to conducting yourself within the ethical and legal limits of the law. Both of these lessons have stuck with me as I navigated my career.”

A Personal Desire to Give Back

“Coming to Syracuse Law as a student is the center of all good things that have happened to me professionally, so I never lost touch with the law school,” says Lau, who has been an active alumnus since graduating. “I’ve been a donor for a long time because I wanted to pay forward what Syracuse Law gave to me, and, in 2022, I was honored to be asked to join the Board of Advisors and lend my experience to the law school and its future generations of lawyers.”

When Lau heard that Dean Craig Boise was stepping down, he offered his insights as a board member to the search committee, helping to shape the qualities they should seek in the next dean. His passion for Syracuse Law and his thoughts on new leadership clearly made an impression, as not long after, the search committee approached Lau to see if he was interested in the position.

The timing seemed right, as Lau was looking for another opportunity. Where better to further his career than his alma mater?

“Terence has a passion for the Law School and credits this place for a lot of his success,” says Professor of Law Todd Berger, co-chair of the Dean’s Search Committee. “For him, joining us as dean didn’t seem to be just the next step in his career. It was a very personal desire to give back to a place that truly impacted his life and his profession.”

According to Berger, the search committee was impressed by Lau’s background in higher education, particularly in a business school environment, as well as his foundation as a lawyer. “It gave an insider-outsider quality that made him a very intriguing candidate,” Berger says.

Nina A. Kohn, the David M. Levy Professor of Law, also co-chaired the search committee. “I think Terence brought a really sophisticated understanding of higher education and a sense of his vision of how the law school fits into the big picture of a research university,” she says. “And he has an outstanding ability to connect with a very broad and diverse group of stakeholders here, which is so important to our success.”

“I think it’s wonderful that he comes to us as an alumnus with a deep history of the College of Law,” Kohn adds. “He cares about the school in a very personal way, and I think it says a lot about how we value our students and about our confidence in the education we provide.”

Richard Alexander L’82, chair of the Syracuse Law Board of Advisors and partner and chair emeritus at Arnold & Porter, also admires the qualities Lau offered to the college.

“During the search process, Terence demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the Law School in the current environment,” says Alexander. “He impressed us with his enthusiasm and energy, as well as his commitment to driving success at the Syracuse University College of Law.”

From First-Year Student to First-Year Dean

Now that Lau has settled into his position as dean, he is solidifying his goals to retain the history and excellence of the school, while also working to see Syracuse Law reach its full potential.

“A lot has changed since I went to school here. The University as a whole has grown, climbed in the rankings and become more nationally and internationally known as the Orange brand has expanded. This has benefitted the Law School, as well,” he says. “But I’m proud to see that the values that I remember most — the role Syracuse University and the College of Law play in the greater community and the generosity to the region — have never wavered.”

Lau acknowledges that going from the dean of a business school to that of a law school is not the most common path. “Being a dean is largely the same skillset, but being a dean of a business school is not a natural step for a lawyer,” he explains. “However, this dual path has allowed me to become familiar with the study and operations of business such as management and budgeting, which are as necessary to running a law school as knowing the law. And it has allowed me to make decisions from both perspectives, which I believe will be a real benefit.”

Goals: The Roadmap to Tomorrow

Lau is solidifying his goals to continue the growth of Syracuse Law. While he has many ideas, some of his priorities focus on growing the JDi program, increasing the number of full scholarships the College of Law gives, creating an even richer campus culture by attracting more students to the international Master of Laws (LL.M.) program, and taking a careful look at what improvements might be made to the existing on-campus J.D. program.

According to Lau, one of the biggest strengths at Syracuse Law is its JDi program, which allows non-traditional students to become lawyers through a hybrid courseload.

“Business schools have had an online component for a while—but not so much law schools,” he explains. “Our JDi program started in 2019 and was the first program in the nation to be accredited by the American Bar Association (ABA). Today, almost half of our students are part of the JDi program, and it has become a legitimate alternative for working adults, those raising kids, and others who want a Syracuse Law education but can’t be on campus every day. That was simply never an option when I was in school. Only those who had the financial resources to take time off to be a full-time student could go to law school, which was very limiting.”

Lau believes the JDi program has expanded that level of opportunity and says the ABA has become more flexible about the rules for operating a hybrid program. (Students in Syracuse’s JDi program take classes and participate in activities online, but are required to attend several in-person residencies on campus or in a variety of other cities throughout the program.)

“Today, we have a whole group of students, from those on active duty in the military to retirees starting their next chapter. Many of these JDi students would not otherwise have had the opportunity to earn their law degrees,” he says.

Syracuse Law’s JDi program is currently limited by the ABA to 125 students, but Lau is determined to increase its capacity of qualified students “slowly and by demand.”

“Right now, we turn away a lot of qualified people, but by growing the program in an intentional, measured way, we can offer a quality legal education to a lot more people,” he explains.

Lau also intends to examine the existing on-campus J.D. program, which has not seen significant changes in years, to “offer different flavors, so students can become experts in a greater variety of areas of the law as they prepare to enter the professional legal arena.”

As someone who relied on a scholarship to attend Syracuse Law, he also hopes to increase the number of full scholarships the Law School provides. “I wouldn’t be here today if I hadn’t received a three-year scholarship,” he says. “The truth is we don’t give out many full-rides, and we need to take a closer look at improving on that in order to make Syracuse Law financially accessible to more people.”

Another important focus is the LL.M. program for international legal professionals. “There are some very accomplished people already working in the legal field as lawyers and judges from around the world who come here because they want a degree with a U.S. perspective,” says Lau. “We have the opportunity to expand this program, particularly in the area of tech transfer and technology, which is a growing need for foreign lawyers. Those enrolled in the LL.M. program add a richness to our campus community, and I’d like to see more of that in the future.”

One additional goal is continuing to strengthen ties across the greater University with more cross-disciplinary opportunities and initiatives.

“We know that there are many areas of interest across campus that pair nicely with the study of law, and I’d like to see us leverage more of that,” says Lau. “We already have a 3+3 program with the Whitman School of Management that allows qualified students to start law school after only three years of undergraduate work. And, we have several joint degree and certificate programs with the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, as well as  our new center in Washington, D.C., which should allow us to maximize that relationship and provide a greater focus on public affairs and public policy laws.”

But it doesn’t end there. “We know there are other interests across campus like entertainment and sports management, and I’d like to see us do more with places like the Falk School of Sport and Human Dynamics or the Newhouse School of Public Communications, for example, to create mutual opportunities and greater options,” Lau says.

Dean Lau and Professor Elizabeth Kubala, Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, speak with a visitor to the 2024 Vet Fest held in Dineen Hall.

Faculty Is Heart of the College of Law

One thing Lau is certain of is the excellence of the current faculty, and he intends to work to further support their areas of interest as an important part of keeping Syracuse Law going strong.

“The long-standing and incredibly student-focused faculty we have here is the heart of the College of Law,” he says, noting they are one of the primary differentiators from the experience one might get at another law school. “The level of accomplishment in the legal field and their interest in transferring that knowledge to our students is extraordinary here.”

Lau believes that the best way he can support faculty is by encouraging their ideas and helping to find ways to fund them — “and then get out of the way!”

“We want to create a culture here where the faculty have the ability to try new things, get the funding they need and hopefully succeed, but also not be afraid to fail,” he explains. “I’d like to see a culture that rewards faculty for asking questions, taking risks and innovating. And having the resources to support these innovators and risk takers is absolutely critical and a benefit to us all.”

Solidifying Network of Alumni Support

As a graduate himself, Lau certainly recognizes the importance of solid relationships with Syracuse Law’s alumni. He intends to further increase alumni support and involvement to ensure that current students are entering the legal profession with the most current skillsets, legal experience, and access to a network of more than 11,000 willing to help them succeed.  

“Syracuse Law alumni are found in the world’s largest law firms, in startups, government, as CEOs, judges, and in the public sector working for the common good,” he says, noting that the Law School is among the select few law schools that count a U.S. president, former President Joseph R. Biden L’68, among their alumni.

“Our alumni are known for their willingness to roll up their sleeves, and I hope to reach out even further into this network, listen to their ideas and rely on their support. I encourage any alumnus who would like to become more closely involved in the law school to reach out to me personally,” he adds.

Today, with a full academic year under his belt, Lau walks through Dineen Hall with a trifecta that truly no one else has — experience as a student, alumnus, and dean.

“I have always taken great pride in the College of Law and the various perspectives I have been fortunate to have here,” he says. “Certainly, being a graduate of Syracuse Law adds an additional layer of responsibility to lead with those students, faculty, former deans and other supporters who have come before me, but it is also a privilege to keep Syracuse Law on an upward trajectory creating the lawyers of tomorrow. And I am up for the challenge!”

Professor Cora True-Frost to Participate at European Research Council DANCING Final Conference

Professor Cora True-Frost will be a panelist at the “Protecting the Right to Culture of Persons with Disabilities and Enhancing Cultural Diversity through European Union Law: Exploring New Paths – DANCING” final conference hosted by the European Research Council.

The DANCING Project investigates the extent to which the protection of the right to participate in culture of people with disabilities and the promotion of cultural diversity intersect and complement each other in the European Union (EU) legal order.

True-Frost will speak on the June 19 panel “DANCING Contribution to Advance the Human Rights Model of Disability” at Maynooth University.

Eighteen Student Attorneys Sworn into the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic for the Summer Semester

The College of Law recently held a virtual swearing-in ceremony for summer semester student attorneys in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC). U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Judge Grant Jaquith performed the swearing-in of the students.

“The swearing-in ceremony is an important part of the clinic experience as it reinforces the professional nature of the work they are going to be doing on behalf of their clients,” says Professor Beth Kubala, director of the VLC and executive director of Clinical Legal Education. “Having Judge Jaquith perform the ceremony means a lot to the students as he is a federal judge, former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of NY, and retired Army J.A.G. officer.”

The VLC provides representation to veterans and their families who are seeking benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or upgrading an unfavorable discharge through the various military services. While representing real clients, student attorneys gain an understanding of military culture, interact with government agencies, develop case management skills, improve advocacy skills, and instill the value of pro bono service.

There are 18 students in the clinic – four are veterans, two are active-duty service members, one is a National Guardman, and four are military spouses.

The oath concludes with the student attorneys promising to abide by the New York State Rules of Professional Conduct.

“The swearing-in was a unique experience that underscored the fact that we as student attorneys get to do actual legal work, representing real-life people with real-world problems. The JDi program allows me to do this important work while still maintaining full-time employment, and from over 700 miles away. Having no military background has not impeded me from feeling like I’m contributing usefully to the lives of our veterans, and getting to help those who have served our country has already been the most rewarding experience of my law school career.” 

Reid Surles L’26

“Taking the oath was surreal. Knowing I will have real clients with real problems—the realization that I am out of the academic and into “the grey” of actual practice—makes me both anxious and excited.”

Joe Creager L’25

“The VLC swearing-in ceremony marked a turning point in my legal education—it symbolized not just readiness, but responsibility. As a retired Navy officer, it was deeply personal and an honor to stand before a Federal judge and be formally entrusted to advocate for fellow veterans. The ability to participate in the VLC remotely has made my legal education more meaningful, showing me firsthand how the law can serve those who have sacrificed so much. It reaffirms that distance does not limit our ability to make a real impact in people’s lives.”

Tiffany Johnson L’26

Professor Emeritus William C. Banks Co-authors “The Mounting Crisis of Militarizing Immigration Enforcement” at Just Security

Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks and Professor of Law Mark Nevitt of Emory University School of Law have co-authored “The Mounting Crisis of Militarizing Immigration Enforcement” at Just Security.

The article covers the historical, political, and legal aspects of the recent deployment of the military to Los Angeles for immigration enforcement. This includes the Insurrection Act and the Posse Comitatus Act, among other statutes.

In summary, the writers state, “The United States has historically been widely respected for its tradition of entrusting law enforcement to civilians–federal agents, local and state police, sheriffs, constables. By contrast, the uniformed military fights wars and keeps Americans safe from foreign adversaries and it is only episodically needed for domestic assignment. American traditions are reflected in the Constitution and are explained in part by antipathy to the English Crown and the heavy-handed use of the British military in the colonies. Although the Constitution enabled Congress to Call Forth the Militia (today’s National Guard) to “repel invasions,” the grant of authority was understood to anticipate the possibility of war being brought to the United States, not to facilitate reaching arbitrarily assigned deportation quotas.”

Professor Gregory Germain Provides Insights into President Trump’s Attempt to Dismiss the New York Jury Verdict

Professor Gregory Germain spoke with Bloomberg on the president’s recent court hearing to have the New York jury verdict in the hush money case dismissed. Trump’s goal has been to get the case out of state court and into federal court.

“That’s clearly what he’s trying to do, but the question is whether they’re going to let him do it,” said Germain. “He wants to get it out of the state system, that’s his goal.”

Professor Shubha Ghosh Discusses the Disney and Universal Suit Against Midjourney with the BBC

Crandall Melvin Professor of Law Shubha Ghosh spoke with the BBC about the lawsuit brought by Disney and Universal against artificial intelligence (AI) company Midjourney.

“A lot of the images that Midjourney produces just seem to be copies of copyrighted characters that might be in new locations or with a new background,” says Ghosh, director of the Syracuse Intellectual Property Law Institute.

“It doesn’t seem like they’re being transformed in a creative or imaginative way.”

He added that there is a recognition in copyright law that creativity can build on other works as long as it adds something new.

Professor Maria Cudowska Publishes “Negotiating Food Security” in the Journal of Food Law & Policy

Visiting Assistant Professor Maria Cudowska has published the article “Negotiating Food Security” in the Journal of Food Law & Policy. The article is in Volume 21, Number 1 (2025).

From the abstract: “This Article examines how national security impacts food security in the United States. It explores conflicts and synergies between municipal, state, and federal law developments related to the right to food and investigates recent developments in how those commitments have been negotiated.”

Professor Emeritus William C. Banks Discusses the Historical and Legal Perspectives of the Deployment of the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles

Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks has discussed the deployment of the National Guard and Marines with several media outlets. Banks is an expert in civil-military relations who wrote the book “Soldiers on the Homefront.”

Banks responded to questions from The Conversation about the historical and legal nature of President Trump deploying the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles.

In response to a question about American military troops being used in the U.S., Banks says, “They can, but it is an extraordinary exercise of authority to use troops domestically. It has rarely been done in the U.S. as a way of responding to a civil disturbance. Congress has delegated that authority of deploying American troops domestically to the president in limited circumstances. Otherwise, the only authority is exercised by governors, who have control of the National Guard.”

Professor Emeritus William C. Banks Discusses the Posse Comitatus Act with NPR

Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks spoke with Up First From NPR on the deployment of the military to Los Angeles. Banks discussed what the military can do as outlined in the Posse Comitatus Act.

“For sure, they can’t arrest. If the crowds are trying to push through them or throwing rocks at their face, they can protect themselves, but they can’t enforce the law,” says Banks.

He speaks at 3:25 of the audio clip.

Professor Banks spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle for the story, “DHS secretary seeks military arrests in Los Angeles in leaked letter.” “This is a grave escalation,” said Banks. “It may presage the invocation of the Insurrection Act.”

At KJZZ (Phoenix, AZ) Banks said, “The last time a president did something like this — that is to federalize the National Guard without the participation of a state governor — was in 1965,” when then-President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to protect Black civil rights activists from local authorities ahead of a voting rights march in Selma, Alabama.

The Latin Times “Kristi Noem Reportedly Requested Hegseth Direct Military To Make Arrests In Los Angeles: ‘A Grave Escalation'”.

The Straits Times “Trump flexes strongman instincts over Los Angeles protests”.

Gelb Triplets Represent Fourth Generation to Graduate from Syracuse Law

Nicole L’25, Robert L’25 and Matthew Gelb L’25 have the distinction of being triplets who graduated together from the Syracuse University College of Law in May. But that’s not the only unique thing about this close knit trio. They are also the fourth generation of their family to attend Syracuse Law and the only set of triplets to graduate together in the law school’s history.

Gelb triplets smile in their commencement regalia in front of a Syracuse Banner.


The legacy started with Robert Miller L’29 who enrolled at Syracuse Law nearly 100 years ago. After that, his son, the Hon. Michael J. Miller ’60 (MAX), L’63; and daughter, Joan Miller ’58 (SOE), attended Syracuse. Joan married Allan Wolk ’58 (WSM), L’60, who graduated from the Law School. The couple had a daughter, Sandra Wolk Gelb L’92, who also attended Syracuse Law and is a real estate attorney. And this spring, Sandra and her husband, Jay, watched proudly as their triplets, Nicole, Robert and Matthew, crossed the stage to receive their law degrees, continuing the family tradition.

The triplets have been achieving challenging goals since the day they were born at only 29 weeks gestation. Matthew weighed only 1.5 lbs., Nicole 2 lbs. and Robert 2.5 lbs. They were given less than a 50% chance of survival, but these feisty micro preemies fought hard and three months later emerged from the NICU at Rochester’s Golisano Children’s Hospital as thriving babies.


Growing up, all attended grade school together, and then each made their own decision to attend their mother’s undergraduate alma mater, The University of Rochester (U of R). Robert and Matthew studied business, while Nicole pursued psychology, and all three participated on the U of R swim team. The triplets had individual college experiences but remained close, so when all three decided to pursue law school, they jumped at the chance to continue the family legacy at Syracuse Law.

While they are sometimes lumped together as “the triplets,” each have their unique strengths and interests. Matthew is drawn to real estate law, and he has wanted to be a lawyer since his mother brought the children into her law firm to meet the partners years ago. Nicole describes her brother as “the kindest person I’ve ever met” and says he stands out among everyone they know.

Nicole has wanted to pursue law school since she was a high school student with a particular interest in elder law sparked from volunteering at a nursing home. “She’s the CEO of the group,” says Sandra. “Nicole was born in the middle, and she’s been in charge of both boys ever since.” Her brothers describe her as a “people person” who is very caring but likes to argue, a good quality in a lawyer. Nicole hopes to eventually pursue a career in family law/elder law.

Robert, the youngest of the triplets, is described by his siblings as “funny and a great storyteller,” something his family thinks will benefit him in his law career, as he is often able to diffuse a tense situation with his humor. Named after his great-grandfather Robert Miller, the original family member to attend Syracuse Law, he is known for his strict study schedule and intends to specialize in tax law. “Robert is the most studious of the three of us. He takes it to the next level,” says Matthew.

While they are always there for one another, the Gelbs did not live together as undergraduates or in law school, each taking different classes and pursuing various interests. Nicole was drawn to the law school’s newly established Housing Clinic, assisting low-income tenants with issues like eviction and rental housing conditions, and the new Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership, a collaboration between SUNY Upstate Medical University’s pediatrics department and the Law School that provides advocacy to vulnerable members of the community and works together with medical professionals for positive health outcomes. Matthew also participated in the Housing Clinic, enjoying the challenge of juggling multiple clients. Robert was interested in the Transactional Law Clinic, assisting clients with contracts, copyright protection and more. However, all three did participate in the College of Law’s Bankruptcy Clinic, helping individuals in need of financial relief, and they also joined an International Tax Law residency last summer in Switzerland led by former Dean Craig Boise.


“We all excel at different things while having our love of the law in common, but I think the experience at Syracuse Law has been outstanding for all of us, as we not only earned our law degrees but have honored our family legacy times three,” says Nicole.


Now that the triplets have graduated, they have wasted no time studying for the bar exam in both New York and Florida, giving them more flexibility in their career paths. Their first steps are to work for the family business , which operates in both states.

Continuing a Legacy of Giving Back


Sandra and Jay could not be more grateful to the law school for their children’s success, and Sandra is especially proud to see the fourth generation graduate from Syracuse Law. The couple has also followed the family’s legacy of generosity to the Law School. Sandra’s father established a scholarship for deserving students in 1995. In 2000, Sandra and Jay decided to renew that gift with the establishment of the Robert Miller L’29, Joan ’57 and Allan Wolk ’58, L’60, Jay and Sandra Wolk Gelb L’92 Family Scholarship, providing financial assistance for students at the Law School with demonstrated financial need.

“Helping others succeed in the law is what we stand for,” says Jay. “The cost of any law school education is difficult for some to handle without outside support, so we like to give back to the Syracuse community and help others.”

Certainly, the Miller/Wolk/Gelb legacy is firmly cemented in the history of Syracuse University’s College of Law, as is the generosity and support of the family. “Our children are true miracles, and they are achieving goals beyond anything we could have ever expected on the day they were born,” says Sandra, who is a member of the College of Law’s board of advisors.

“The Law School has long been important to generations of my family, and today it is a beautiful, state-of-the-art facility with everything a future lawyer could need. The Syracuse network, both the Law School’s and the University’s, extends far and wide, and now our children are a part of that, too. We are so appreciative of the many opportunities the Syracuse University College of Law has given four generations of my family over the past century, and we are especially excited to see how our three brand new lawyers will succeed in the future.”

Beyond Benefits: A Blueprint for Holistic Veteran Support

Last year, the College of Law and Syracuse University School of Social Work launched the Legal-Social Work Partnership Program to provide free, high-quality legal services for veterans, along with social work insight and guidance.

Established in 2023 with the help of Wendy Goidel ‘84, Esq., the partnership has worked to help reduce veteran homelessness and suicide rates while improving the lives of veterans and military families. The program provides Falk social work students who are interested in the intersection of law and social work with a Fellowship that allows them to conduct field work through Syracuse Law’s Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC).

“I hear the collaborative energy, and see the law and social work students learn from one another and contribute their unique skills to the cause, which is certainly inspiring,” Assistant Dean of Online and Distance Education, and Associate Teaching Professor in the School of Social Work, Ken Marfilius said. “That’s exactly what Wendy set out when she first wanted to bring this model to life in this capacity.”

Benetta Dousuah G’25, the program’s first Fellow, played a key role in bridging the gap between legal support and social services, creating stronger student-attorney/client relationships by providing the law students with a better understanding of the empathy and awareness needed for the bigger picture, rather than an individual legal problem. Law students began adopting more holistic approaches, realizing the need for non-legal services and recognizing when they should find a resource that is better suited to handle certain problems to create outcomes for veterans seeking support. As a result, more than 100 veterans were served through the 2023-24 Legal-Social Work Partnership Program.

“Sometimes the VLC might be able to get that veteran access to VA healthcare and VA compensation, but they’re still having challenges with their family or getting a job or with their landlord,” Executive Director of both the VLC and Syracuse Law’s Clinical Education, and Director of Veteran and Military Affairs, Elizabeth G. Kubala said. “As a lawyer you want to make sure that your impact is sustainable, and sometimes you realize for that impact to be lasting, there are a number of other things that need to fall into place as well.”

Treating the Whole Person

Building on its first year success, the Goidel Law Group Internship Fund expanded the Legal-Social Work Partnership program to include two Fellows for their second year, bringing in undergraduate Paige Esposito and graduate Margo Lance, to leverage their social work skills alongside the law school students tackling challenging legal issues for veterans. Realizing the various barriers and challenges it took for veterans to come to campus to receive support from the clinic, the team started travelling to Altamont, a local VA residential program in Syracuse, once a week to provide their services directly to clients.

“The legal process can be very overwhelming, confusing and frustrating,” Esposito said. “On top of having to navigate all the factors of homelessness, they’re getting a bunch of legal jargon and serious technical terms thrown at them, so we take a step back and touch on different things that the legal system does not, to focus on the person.”

The student-attorney’s main focus is on getting each veteran discharge upgrades that will lead to improved healthcare and financial support, but sometimes it takes a village to accomplish a simple step that is only one part of the overall legal process. While lawyers may not necessarily pick up a client and take them to a doctor’s appointment, for example, there are people who will, and understanding the different facets of a holistic veteran support team has only improved the VLC’s services. Getting client referrals directly from the Syracuse VA’s Health Care for Homeless Veterans program, Lance and Esposito have integrated themselves into the VA social work team as well, working with case managers and program directors that provide additional services to homeless veterans.

“What’s evident in year two is expansion of collaboration, it’s grown in both scope and impact,” Marfilius said. “Expanding the focus beyond traditional legal advocacy to really include comprehensive trauma-informed assessments and case management.”

While the law students are working to connect veterans with benefits, the social work Fellows assist with the intake process, figuring out what they think each veteran needs alongside the requests made by the clients themselves. Using enhanced communication platforms like UniteUs and SyracuseServes, Lance and Esposito are able to streamline referrals and coordinate care across disciplines, ensuring the veterans’ needs are being met.

“My role is to serve them outside of everything that this student attorney is doing…I interpret how I think social work can play into all the things that they do,” Lance said. “I focus on treating the whole person and that can be anything from food stamps up to if they’re interested in joining a church or engaging in community events.”

By working with the social work Fellows, law students can recognize how this support system helps to alleviate certain needs of their clients, understanding that veterans often face a whole host of challenges that must be addressed to move forward. By holistically identifying the needs of each client, the student-attorneys are able to focus on the areas in which they are best equipped to serve.

“You see tangible improvements in veterans’ stability, not just from a legal standpoint with discharges and upgrades, but also well-being in that stability,” Marfilius said. “There’s interdisciplinary success, the integration of law and social work has resulted in more comprehensive care that addresses both legal and psycho-social challenges.”

Building Up the Community, One Person at a Time

The legal challenges veterans face are unique, typically related to the details of their service, and require a specialized legal background and understanding to solve. As veterans age, these barriers can worsen and begin to involve different areas of their physical, social, and emotional health. Without an appropriate discharge status, many are unable to access the very services designed to support them.

“My dad is a U.S Army veteran and he’s now 100% service-connected. These benefits were something he earned, and the Syracuse Veterans Legal Clinic played a huge part in helping him finally get them,” Lance said. “Watching these student attorneys just jump right in and take care of all the things my dad once had to handle alone is incredible. Now, I’m able to assist people in this process where he didn’t have assistance, helping other veterans access the support they deserve. It’s the most rewarding thing in the world.”

Since its creation, the Legal-Social Work Partnership program has helped a large number of homeless veterans move into permanent housing and access VA healthcare. Now, almost ten clients have achieved an 100% VA rating, meaning they receive $4,000 in disability compensation each month.

“You want to know how to make a difference in a homeless veteran’s life? Get them eligible for healthcare in the VA medical center right here in town and get them monthly steady income,” Kubala said. “That is the kind of impact we’ve seen. We’re impacting veteran homelessness right here in our community.”

Every veteran’s story is different, and the Legal-Social Work Partnership program has proven the need for empathy, patience, and a willingness to figure out what will actually help in each case. What began as an innovative collaboration between Syracuse Law and School of Social Work has evolved into a model for community-driven change, and by meeting veterans where they are, both physically and emotionally, the Legal-Social Work Partnership program is helping to rebuild lives piece by piece.

“We’re taking an underserved and deserving population, and setting them up for a successful life,” Lance said. “It feels like it’s building up the community one person at a time.”