10 Notable Alumni from Brooklyn Law School

By | July 4, 2023

Brooklyn Law School is a distinguished institution in legal education located in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn, New York. It holds the impressive ranking of 111th among the best law schools in the United States.

The abundant internships, job placements, and networking opportunities available to students at Brooklyn Law School have played a vital role in fostering an impressive roster of notable alumni.

In this post, we’re introducing 10 of the many distinguished alumni from Brooklyn Law.

Don’t miss out on our previous articles that delve into important aspects of Brooklyn Law School! Gain valuable insights into the school’s acceptance rate and ranking, along with the LSAT and GPA requirements.

1. Larry Silverstein

Born on May 30, 1931, in Brooklyn, Larry A. Silverstein is a prominent American businessman with remarkable achievements in the real estate industry. Notably, he has played a key role as the developer of the rebuilt World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Additionally, Silverstein is the owner of a residence in 30 Park Place, one of New York’s tallest residential towers. His extensive real estate holdings include numerous well-known buildings in New York City, such as 1177 Avenue of the Americas, 529 Fifth Avenue, and 570 Seventh Avenue.

2. Geraldo Rivera

Geraldo Rivera, born on July 4, 1943, is a multifaceted American journalist, attorney, author, and political commentator who gained prominence through his work on the Fox News Channel from 2001 to 2023. Rivera’s career highlights include hosting the popular tabloid talk show “Geraldo” from 1987 to 1998 and gaining significant publicity with the live 1986 TV special “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults.” He has also hosted the news magazine program “Geraldo at Large” and occasionally presents the broadcast of “Geraldo Rivera Reports.” Additionally, Rivera served as a rotating co-host of “The Five” from 2022 to 2023.

3. Rachel Freier

Rachel Freier, born on April 2, 1965, is an accomplished New York Supreme Court justice currently serving in an acting capacity. In a significant milestone, she campaigned and won the election as a Civil Court judge for the Kings County 5th judicial district in New York State in 2016. This historic achievement made her the first Hasidic Jewish woman to be elected as a civil court judge in New York State and the first Hasidic woman to hold public office in the history of the United States. Following her election, she was assigned to preside over the Criminal Court in the Kings County 5th judicial district.

4. Paul Simon

Born on October 13, 1941, Paul Frederic Simon is an esteemed American singer-songwriter whose career has spanned an impressive six decades. Hailing from New Jersey and raised in Queens, New York City, Simon developed a passion for rock music during his teenage years. Throughout his illustrious career, he has become one of the most celebrated and acclaimed artists of the twentieth century. With numerous accolades to his name, Simon is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has been honored with sixteen Grammy Awards. His remarkable talent and contributions have solidified his status as one of the world’s best-selling music artists.

5. Leon Charney

Leon Charney, who lived from July 23, 1938, to March 21, 2016, was a remarkable figure. He was an American real estate tycoon, attorney, author, philanthropist, political pundit, media personality, and Jewish cantor. Charney resided in Manhattan, New York City, and divided his time between his homes in Tel Aviv and Boca Raton, Florida. In March 2012, Forbes recognized his success by listing him as No. 353 among the wealthiest Americans. He was also an alumnus of Yeshiva University, where he actively participated in demonstrations advocating for the freedom of Soviet Jewry.

6. Errol Louis

Errol T. Louis, born August 24, 1962, is the influential host of NY1’s “Inside City Hall,” the premier political news show in New York City. Previously, he held distinguished positions as a columnist and editorial board member at the New York Daily News, as well as a talk show host on WWRL radio. Louis is a recipient of multiple journalism prizes and has shared his expertise as a teacher at renowned institutions including Pratt Institute, Hunter College, Long Island University, and New York University. In addition to his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, he holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.A. from Yale University.

7. Norm Coleman

Norman Bertram Coleman Jr., born on August 17, 1949, is an accomplished American politician, attorney, and lobbyist. He served as a United States Senator for Minnesota from 2003 to 2009. Prior to his senatorial role, Coleman served as the mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota’s capital and second-largest city, from 1994 to 2002. As mayor, he played a pivotal role in bringing back the National Hockey League to Minnesota with the establishment of the Minnesota Wild after nearly a decade of absence. Additionally, Coleman successfully fought against property tax increases, resulting in a freeze of property tax rates throughout his eight-year mayoral term. His tenure as mayor also saw a notable increase in job rates, with St. Paul experiencing a 7.1% job growth and the addition of 18,000 jobs.

8. Brian Sullivam

Brian Sullivan, born on July 19, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, is a prominent television news anchor and business journalist. He currently serves as an anchor for CNBC’s “Last Call” and holds the position of Senior National Correspondent for the network, covering major stories across the country. Previously, Sullivan was the anchor for CNBC’s “Worldwide Exchange” and co-anchor for “Power Lunch.” With 25 years of experience in financial journalism and television, he has reported from various locations across five continents. Sullivan’s exceptional work has earned him two nominations for the esteemed Loeb Award. One nomination recognized his early insight into the risks of the housing bubble in 2007, while the other was for his contribution to the 2013 CNBC documentary “America’s Gun: The Rise of the AR-15.”

9. Charles S. Cohen

Charles S. Cohen, born February 8, 1952, is a prominent American real estate developer, film distributor, and producer. He is the owner, president, and CEO of Cohen Brothers Realty Corporation, a leading commercial real estate development and management firm. Cohen is also the Owner and Chairman/CEO of Cohen Media Group, the largest distributor of French films in the United States. Additionally, he serves on the boards of prestigious organizations including the Lighthouse Guild, Real Estate Board of New York, Museum of Art and Design, and The French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF). Cohen has been honored by the Republic of France for his contributions to promoting French cinema and art, receiving the Ordre National Du Mérite (National Order of Merit) in 2014 and the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) in 2015.

10. Kevin Heffernan

Kevin Heffernan, born on May 25, 1968, in West Haven, Connecticut, is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. He is widely recognized for his roles in films such as “Super Troopers” (2001), “Club Dread” (2004), and “Beerfest” (2006). Heffernan is an integral member of the esteemed Broken Lizard comedy group, collaborating closely with fellow member Steve Lemme. Together, they engage in various comedic endeavors, including a two-man touring standup comedy show, a podcast, a web series, and a Netflix special. Presently, Heffernan captivates audiences with his portrayal of Chief Terry McConky in the TruTV cable television firefighter comedy series “Tacoma FD.”