Weinfeld Program
The Weinfeld Program is NYU School of Law’s cherished leadership donor recognition society.
Instituted in 1989, Weinfeld honors the legacy of one of the Law School’s most distinguished alumni, Judge Edward Weinfeld LLB (1921), LLM (1922), by celebrating alumni and friends whose generosity reflects Judge Weinfeld’s deep commitment to legal excellence and to the Law School community. Today, with more than 1,000 members, the Weinfeld Program represents a powerful network of supporters who help advance NYU Law’s mission and values.
Partner with NYU Law
Gifts to the NYU Law Fund at the Weinfeld level are a powerful investment in the future of legal education and justice. Your annual support fuels scholarships, advances faculty research, and strengthens NYU Law’s ability to lead with purpose, expand access, and shape the next generation of legal changemakers.
Alumni and friends will be recognized as members of the Weinfeld Program by making an annual gift at the following levels:
Benefactors
Alumni and friends that annually give $25,000 or more to the Law School.
Patrons
Alumni and friends that annually give $10,000 or more to the Law School.
Associates
Alumni and friends that annually give $5,000 or more to the Law School.
Fellows
Graduates in the last 5 years that annually give $1,000 or more. On their 5th Reunion, Weinfeld Fellows are encouraged to become Weinfeld Associates.
Honoring Judge Weinfeld
Judge Edward Weinfeld’s esteemed career places him among NYU Law’s finest alumni, and his impact on the legal profession is a profound credit to our institution.
A lifelong New Yorker, Weinfeld opened his own practice in the city after graduation. In 1950, he was appointed by President Truman as a judge on the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, a position he held for nearly four decades. His shrewd reasoning helped him craft detailed and persuasive decisions that were rarely reversed. Justice William Brennan Jr. of the US Supreme Court once said of Weinfeld, “There is general agreement on bench and bar throughout the nation that there is no better judge on any court.” When he died at age 86, Weinfeld was the oldest active federal district judge in the country.
The Weinfeld Program honors his incredible achievements and recognizes our loyal donors, whose support ensures NYU Law will continue to educate future giants in the legal profession for generations to come.
NYU Law Trustee and Chairman Emeritus Anthony Welters '77, NYU Law Life Trustee Kathryn Chenault '80, and Dean Troy McKenzie '00
The Weinfeld Award
NYU Law Life Trustee Kathryn Cassell Chenault ’80 was the recipient of this year’s Weinfeld Award. The honor recognizes distinguished alumni who show exceptional dedication to the Law School.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contributions to the Weinfeld Program help support key priorities at the Law School, including student scholarships and financial aid, clinical legal education, the Law Library, faculty research, and student journals.
Weinfeld Members are listed on the Weinfeld Plaque in Vanderbilt Hall, and receive special recognition at Law School events both on and off campus. They are invited to select programs, including events focused on legal education, an annual "thank you" gala, social gatherings and receptions for visiting dignitaries.