Hagens Berman: Nation’s Prominent Plaintiff-Side Law Firms Unite Against the “Appalling Rise” of Antisemitism Across Law School and College Campuses

Published a year ago via Business Wire

Firms pen letter to law school deans, urging leaders to consider action for legal violations.

The plaintiffs’ bar is urging law school deans across the country to respond quickly to an explosion of antisemitism across campuses, as stated in a letter signed by a dozen of the nation’s top plaintiffs’ firms, according to Hagens Berman.

The leading plaintiff-side class action and civil rights firms banding together include Baron & Budd; Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Brody & Agnello, P.C.; Edelson PC; Grant & Eisenhofer; Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP; Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP; Motley Rice LLC; Pomerantz LLP; Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP; The Rosen Law Firm; Seeger Weiss LLP; and Wexler Boley & Elgersma LLP.

“Many of us never imagined we would witness this level of hatred and violence toward Jewish people and the State of Israel,” said Hagens Berman’s managing partner and cofounder, Steve Berman. “Law schools and universities have a moral and legal obligation to protect students and to hold persons responsible for calls to violence and intimidation.”

The law firms invite other plaintiff-side firms to join with them. They are sending their letter to all U.S. law schools, including dozens of schools which the firms routinely recruit and hire from.

Dear Law School Dean:

We write to you on behalf of several of the largest and most successful plaintiff-side law firms in the world. As firms representing workers, consumers, investors, the injured, and victims of discrimination, fraud, and human rights abuses, we regularly recruit law students committed to social justice.

As such, we depend upon and consider ourselves partners with law schools in preparing and then mentoring new attorneys to be exceptional litigators and morally grounded advocates for justice.

In the weeks following the horrific October 7 attack by the terrorist group Hamas on thousands of innocent civilians in Israel—including the torture, rape, and mutilation of infants, children, women, and the elderly, more than 200 of whom remain hostages—we have witnessed an appalling rise in support among law students and student organizations for the actions of Hamas, for attacks against Jewish students and gathering places, and for the destruction of the State of Israel.

Law students and professors expressing support for Hamas or similar terrorist groups, for violence against Jews, or for the destruction of Israel would not be welcome at our firms. Such views are antithetical to our support and legal advocacy for human rights recognized by all civilized peoples and for the right of Israel to exist. We condemn hatred and racism directed against any group of people.

We ask you to ensure the safety of Jewish law students and to condemn without qualification this rising antisemitism. We also ask that you investigate and, if appropriate, take disciplinary action against any faculty or employees of your institutions that make statements or take actions that promote antisemitism or create a hostile campus environment in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Baron & Budd

Carella, Byrne, Cecchi, Brody & Agnello, P.C.

Edelson PC

Grant & Eisenhofer

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP

Motley Rice LLC

Pomerantz LLP

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

The Rosen Law Firm

Seeger Weiss LLP

Wexler Boley & Elgersma LLP

Contacts