irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $123KIn conjunction with the Institute's classroom instruction, a related aspect of the Institute's educational mission is the advancement of understanding in fashion law through seminars, symposia, continuing legal education, Fashion Law Bootcamp, and other programs open to both students and the general public. Topics covered in the 2024-25 academic year included women designers and fashion law; cutting-edge legal issues facing lawyers in the fashion industry; crisis management; current developments in antitrust and intellectual property law; and the future of sustainability and fashion ethics in the wake of recent legal developments. The Fashion Law Institute also continued to conduct its pro bono Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinic program, both in person and online via Zoom, with eight Pop-Up Clinics held during the 2024-2025 academic year. At each Pop-Up Clinic, students met with lawyers and designers for attorney-supervised legal training by assisting fashion clients. Besides gaining educational experience through being involved in pro-bono consultations, students also learned about fashion law and the fashion business by serving in Institute-supervised internships as well as by assisting with various Institute events.
named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Annual Fashion Law Symposium
Major conference convening experts to discuss emerging legal issues in fashion, including sustainability, IP, and ethics.
Fashion Law Bootcamp
Intensive educational program offering training in fashion law for students and legal professionals, covering current legal challenges in the industry.
Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinic
Pro bono legal clinic where law students, under attorney supervision, assist fashion designers and small businesses with legal issues such as intellectual property and contracts.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Legal Professional Development & Networking 1 activity
- Conduct the Fashion Law Bootcamp and related continuing legal education programsOperates the Fashion Law Bootcamp, a summer intensive program offering instruction in fashion law to attorneys, fashion professionals, and students from other institutions. Provides Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit to participants, both through the Bootcamp and standalone CLE events on topics such as ethics and independent contractor laws.
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Fashion and Creative Industries Education 1 activity
- Deliver fashion law education through courses, degree programs, and academic initiativesOffers seven first-of-their-kind fashion law courses and administers the world's first Master's degree programs in Fashion Law (LLM for attorneys and MSL for non-lawyers) through Fordham Law School. Established the first law school course in fashion law in 2006, launching the field as an academic discipline.
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Professional Conference & Symposium Organization 1 activity
- Host public events, symposia, and seminars on fashion lawHosts an annual symposium on fashion law—such as the 16th Annual Symposium titled "THE MAGIC OF FASHION"—featuring expert panels and performances, along with public seminars and online panel events for legal and design professionals, students, and the public.
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Legal Education and Career Pipeline Programs 1 activity
- Offer supervised internships and experiential learning opportunities for law studentsProvides Institute-supervised internships and opportunities for second- and third-year law students to work alongside experienced attorneys, gaining hands-on experience delivering pro bono legal services to the fashion community.
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Pro Bono Legal Representation and Support 1 activity
- Provide pro bono legal services to emerging designers and fashion professionalsOperates Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinics that offer free legal consultations and pro bono legal assistance to emerging designers and fashion professionals who cannot afford counsel, connecting them with volunteer attorneys and advanced law students.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$144K
Contributions & grants$2K1%
Program service revenue$142K99%
Investment income$20%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$133K
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$981
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$94K
Cash$94K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$94K
Liquid reserves8.5 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -8.2%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 1
- Susan Scafidi — President and director
relationships · 27
Who they work with
- CFDA Partner — Collaborated with the Fashion Law Institute to establish the Fashion Law Pop-Up Clinic program.
- Chanel Partner — Involves retired legal executive Lawrence Maisel as a speaker at the annual symposium.
- Comic Book Legal Defense Fund Partner — Engages through Jeff Trexler, who participates as a speaker at the symposium.
- Conde Nast Partner — Fashion Law Institute faculty have professional experience working with Conde Nast.
- Council of Fashion Designers of America Partner — Co-creator and founding supporter of the Fashion Law Institute.
- Council of Fashion Designers of America Partner — Provided generous support and advice in the creation of the Fashion Law Institute.
- Cowan, Liebowitz, & Latman Partner — Co-hosted a Fashion Law Institute pop-up clinic.
- Diane von Furstenberg Partner — As president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, provided support and advice in the creation of the Fashion Law Institute.
- Ford Models Partner — Fashion Law Institute faculty have professional experience working with Ford Models.
- Fordham Law School Government — Host institution and academic home of the Fashion Law Institute.
- Fordham Law School Network — Fashion Law Institute faculty teach the Fashion Law curriculum at Fordham Law School.
- Fordham Law School Network — Hosts the Fashion Law Institute and offers its courses and degree programs as part of the law school curriculum.
- Fordham Law School Partner — Collaborates on course offerings and degree programs; Fashion Law Institute courses are part of the Fordham Law curriculum.
- Fordham Law School Partner — Hosted the event at its Bateman Room on October 10, 2019.
- Fordham Law School Partner — Hosts Fashion Law Institute events at its campus.
- Fordham Law School Partner — Hosts the Fashion Law Institute's annual symposium on its campus.
- Fordham School of Law Partner — Collaborates with the Fashion Law Institute to offer a Fashion Law LLM program.
- Kering Partner — Fashion Law Institute faculty have professional experience working with Kering.
- LVMH Partner — Fashion Law Institute faculty have professional experience working with LVMH.
- Louis Vuitton Partner — Participates through John Maltbie, who speaks at the annual symposium.
- Moda Legal Partner — Collaborated through participation in a panel event on fashion and the coronavirus.
- New York Government — Located in New York, NY, indicating state-level registration and operational presence.
- Pentagram Partner — Designed the Fashion Law Institute's award-winning logo.
- The Museum at FIT Partner — Collaborates through participation of Dr. Elizabeth Way, contributing expertise on fashion and culture at the annual symposium.
- The Obert Law Firm Partner — Collaborated through participation in a panel event on fashion and the coronavirus.
- Tiffany Partner — Fashion Law Institute faculty have professional experience working with Tiffany.
- Wilhelmina Partner — Fashion Law Institute faculty have professional experience working with Wilhelmina.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Academic Institutionalization of Fashion Lawmethodology: academic institutionalizationBy establishing fashion law as a formal academic discipline within legal education, the organization creates a sustainable pipeline of expert practitioners and legitimizes the field, enabling systemic change in how legal systems support the fashion industry, because institutional recognition drives professional standards and regulatory evolution.
- Comparative and Lifecycle Approach to Fashion Law Curriculummethodology: comparative international approachBy teaching fashion law through a comparative international lens and addressing legal issues across the full garment lifecycle, the organization prepares professionals to navigate complex global challenges, because understanding law in context—from concept to consumer—enables proactive compliance and innovation in regulation.
- Experiential and Pop-Up Clinic Model for Accessible Legal Servicesmethodology: pop-up_clinic_modelBy delivering legal services through pop-up clinics modeled on retail formats and combining them with experiential learning, the organization increases access to justice for emerging designers while training future lawyers, because flexible, event-based engagement lowers barriers to entry and mirrors real-world industry dynamics.
- Interdisciplinary and Specialized Legal Education for Industry-Specific Expertisemethodology: specialized-legal-educationBy offering specialized degree programs and continuing education to both legal and non-legal professionals, the organization builds a more knowledgeable and ethically grounded fashion industry, because targeted education across stakeholder groups enables earlier legal intervention and stronger rights protection throughout the design and production lifecycle.