Second-year Hofstra Law student Christopher A. Leach has been named the 2021 recipient of the Harris Beach Diversity and Long Island Development Scholarship.
Established in 2018, the scholarship recognizes a deserving 2L student at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University who enhances the diversity of the student body and has strong ties to the Long Island community.
“I am honored to be selected for the Harris Beach Diversity Scholarship. Law school continues to be one of the most difficult, yet fulfilling challenges of my life,” says Christopher. “Receiving this award is proof that discipline, an open-mind, and commitment to the process are the keys to success. As I build my legal career in health care, Harris Beach’s benevolence will never stray far from my thoughts.”
Christopher is from West Hempstead, New York. He attended the Waldorf School of Garden City and earned his bachelor’s degree in health care administration with a secondary major in biology and a minor in film from the Long Island University Post campus in Brookville, New York.
“Christopher’s perseverance is notable, and we’re delighted to support him on his journey to becoming a lawyer,” said Thomas Garry, office managing partner, Harris Beach Long Island. “Harris Beach is committed to building a more inclusive profession by engaging and supporting law students of color across New York.”
“I would also like to thank Jolie Bua, Craig Spierer, Thomas Garry, John Anzalone, Daniel Strecker, Vicki Kenyon, Kerri Tangney, Dejon Bartlett, and Kimberly Swetland for providing an inclusive, collegial environment during my time at Harris Beach,” said Christopher.
Christopher is a member of the Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association and participates as an intramural mock trial competitor. He is interested in both patent law and health care law and previously served as a law clerk in the Harris Beach office on Long Island.
“Special thanks to Judge Gail Prudenti, Vernadette Horne, Celia Gordon, Professors Mark Niles, Miriam Lyman (Albert), Nicole Lefton, Cara Caporale, and C. Benjie Louis for the incredible support,” Christopher added. “I am still on my path to become an attorney because of their faith in my abilities.”
About Harris Beach
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide legal and professional services to clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal and ranks as a BTI Elite law firm based on in-depth interviews of more than 600 corporate counsel at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations, and individuals. Principal industries Harris Beach represents include cannabis, education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and state and local governments and authorities. Our more than 210 lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout New York State in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Long Island, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, and White Plains, as well as from offices in New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey. For more information, go to www.harrisbeach.com.
About Hofstra Law
Since 1970, the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, has provided more than 12,000 students with an education rich in both the theory and experiential skills needed to produce outstanding lawyers, business executives, and community leaders. Hofstra Law is widely recognized as a pioneer in fully integrating clinical education into a traditional law school curriculum, while continuing to be at the forefront of legal education with programs in law and technology, health law and family law. Located on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, Hofstra Law is 20 miles outside New York City in suburban Long Island.