“We are committed to providing unique experiential learning opportunities for all Touro Law students and to enhancing the depth and breadth of programs already in place,” said Dean Patricia Salkin. “Professor Raful’s understanding of legal practice coupled with his passion for legal education and his contacts with the bench and bar in the region will benefit our students and our program greatly.”

Leading an externship program is not new to Raful. Before joining Touro Law Center and after stepping down as dean at Creighton University School of Law, he directed the law school's externship program. Raful teaches and writes in the area of professional responsibility and legal ethics, and he served as chair of the Nebraska State Bar Association Committee to Adopt the Model Rules. He served for eight years as the Dean of Touro Law Center before stepping down in 2012. He received his J.D. at the University of Denver College of Law, and his undergraduate degree from the University of California, San Diego.

“I have always believed in a strong externship program that provides critically important experiential learning for students and builds bridges between the public, private and non-profit communities with legal education,” stated Raful. "I’m excited for this new role and look forward to the opportunities ahead.” 

Dean Salkin further commented that, “Professor Raful's long-time teaching of Professional Responsibility, a critically important practical area of the law for all who engage in the practice of law, coupled with his experience leading an externship program and as dean of a law school will help him further the mission of Touro Law and provide additional opportunities for our students."

Touro Law Center's externship program allows students to work in specific fields of law, gain exposure to highly technical or unusual legal skills, practice in specialized courts, or perform legal work that calls upon unique talents or knowledge. Touro Law Center’s externship offerings include placements in civil practice, criminal law, advanced prosecution practice, judicial placements in both Federal and New York State courts, Business and Technology practice, and the U.S. Attorney’s office. Externship Seminars pair a specific seminar with a specific type of externship placement. Professor Lewis Silverman, who served in this position for several years, will be returning to the full-time clinical faculty in his role as director of the Family Law Clinic.