DIVERSITY AT PENN LAW

Alexander Labowitz '07

Before coming to Penn Law, I had spent my educational life studying Talmudic Law. I had to actively search for diversity in that field, and found diverse experiences by studying and teaching in Brooklyn, Israel and California. At Penn Law, every locale I could imagine was brought right to me through its international and friendly student body.

Penn Law is a place which truly cares about promoting religious freedom and practice. I frequented the convenient Hillel at Penn for kosher meals, prayer, and a quiet place to study. The weekly class with the Penn Law Maimonides group was more then just a free lunch - it provided a true connection to traditional Jewish values and was a great way to build friendships and contacts with upperclassmen who were always happy to provide support and advice.

Above all, the commitment to diversity at Penn Law starts at the top with its extraordinary faculty - in ways that don't show up on any "diversity rankings." For example, one of the best experiences at Penn Law as a 1L is the custom of going to lunch with your professors to develop a personal relationship with them. Professor Feldman truly personalized this experience for me by taking me to an establishment which accommodated my strictly kosher diet. In addition, the Dean of Students is the most understanding and caring person I have ever met - he deeply understands how to make each student's time at Penn both meaningful and enjoyable.