Supporting The Next Generation of Students

or over a decade, the 3L Class Gift has allowed the Law School’s graduating class to give back to their academic community. This long-held tradition, organized by the Law School’s Office of Development & Alumni Relations in collaboration with a student committee, encourages graduating students—including JDs, LLMs, and MLs—to make a gift to the Annual Fund, which supports every aspect of Penn Carey Law, from student organizations and scholarships to the clinics and research initiatives.

The 2024-25 academic year was one of the most successful fundraising efforts in recent history and featured several new initiatives to get students involved and celebrate the transition from student to alumni.

To raise awareness of the campaign, the Class of 2025 student committee held tabling events in the Goat twice a month to inform their classmates about the impact of the Annual Fund and encourage them to make a gift. The class committee handed out Penn Carey Law friendship bracelets, holiday swag and candy, and exclusive Penn Carey Law Class of 2025 baseball caps for those who made a gift.

Rafael Fischer L’25, who led the Class of 2025’s student committee, said the experience allowed him to feel more connected to the Law School’s community. “I was interested in being involved because Penn Carey Law has been such a wonderful experience for me,” he remarked. “I wanted to give back to the Law School.”

But perhaps the most notable impact of the 3L Class Gift is how it connects the Penn Carey Law community across generations. “The 3L Class Gift not only allows students to show their appreciation for their legal education and the memories they created during their time at Penn Carey Law, but it also allows 3Ls to preserve the Law School’s exceptional legal education for future students,” commented Cate Galbally C’06, Director of Annual Giving. “It’s a wonderful testament to the enduring bonds and shared values that define our law school community.”

On Thursday, May 15, graduates who contributed to the 3L Class Gift were able to experience the strength of this legacy at the third annual Gold Rush event. The event, which was held at Victory Brewing Company, served as both a celebration of their generosity and an opportunity to meet other young alumni who are invested in supporting the Law School.

“Penn Carey Law prides itself on its collegiality, and that continues past graduation,” said Galbally. “The 3L Class Gift allows students to be part of this tradition of giving back right out of the gate.”