$5M Gift Supports Program for Law Students Pursuing Public Service Careers With Government

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November 18, 1999

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HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

An innovative program at the Law School designed to encourage students to enter federal government service upon graduation from the School is being established through a $5 million gift from Samuel J. Heyman, chairman and chief executive officer of GAF Corporation.

Heyman, a 1963 graduate of the Law School, began his career as a lawyer for the U.S. Justice Department and later served as an assistant U.S attorney for the District of Connecticut.

Under the program, Heyman Fellowships will be annually awarded to 20 Law School graduates, based on academic performance, promise, personal financial requirements, and the commitment of individual Federal agencies to attract the best to service in the Federal government. The awards will consist of honorariums and student loan assistance, and will be designed to encourage graduating Law School students to commit to at least three years of Government service.

"This gift will invigorate the School’s rich tradition of public service by graduates at the federal level," said Dean Robert Clark. "Perhaps this program will help produce the next Elizabeth Dole or Archibald Cox.

"Our thanks goes to Samuel Heyman for his generous support of Harvard Law School and its students," he added.

Commenting on the announcement, Heyman said, "I have a high conviction that among our nation's most critical issues today is our increasing inability to attract a sufficient number of the brightest and the best to government service. This program represents an attempt to address this issue by not only reducing the financial disincentives associated with government service, but also by encouraging federal agencies to make changes in the way they do business in order to make government service more attractive. It is our hope that this program will ultimately be replicated at other law schools and universities across the country."

It is expected that the Harvard program will conduct periodic conferences with the fellows, as well as conferences with senior officials from federal agencies interested in participating in the program, with a view toward working together to make government service a more appealing career option.

The Heyman Fellowships Program will be managed by Professor Philip Heymann HLS ’60, who will serve as director, and Assistant Professor Margo Schlanger. Heymann has had a long and distinguished career in government service as well as academia, and most recently served as deputy attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice. Schlanger was a senior trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice before coming to Harvard.