Giving Forward: The Enduring Impact of Yale Law School Volunteers

Through mentorship, leadership, and quiet acts of service, alumni sustain the School’s community and extend their influence across generations.

A community’s impact is measured not only by its achievements, but also by what it sustains. At Yale Law School, alumni volunteers provide this ongoing support through their consistent and often unrecognized engagement long after graduation.

Alumni serve in many ways, on campus and beyond. They mentor students exploring career options, speak with admitted applicants, and contribute their expertise to boards and committees that guide the School’s direction. These efforts reflect the intellectual and civic commitments that define Yale Law School.

For Jody Yetzer ’97, chair of the Yale Law School Fund Board, this commitment is shaped by her own experience. Reflecting on her career in civil rights law, she sees volunteerism as a way to “pay forward the myriad gifts Yale has given me.” These gifts — formative opportunities, lasting relationships, and a sense of purpose — continue to guide her involvement with the School.

Larry Obhof ’03, vice president of the Yale Law School Association Executive Committee, highlights the personal impact of volunteering. In conversations with prospective students at key decision points, he observes how a single interaction can make an abstract choice feel personal and meaningful. He believes these moments reveal the School’s human side.
For Adina Storch ’99, a member of the Yale Alumni Fund Board, volunteering represents both responsibility and opportunity. She calls it “giving forward,” an act rooted in gratitude and focused on future generations. At the core of this commitment is a shared belief in “solving problems with principle and integrity,” a standard that endures across generations and professions.

Together, these contributions create a strong foundation of support that expands opportunity, deepens connections, and strengthens the Yale Law School community. What endures is not only the impact of individual actions but also the continuity they create, uniting past, present, and future in a shared commitment to the School’s ongoing work.

If you are interested in volunteering with Yale Law School, please contact April Garrett, Director of Volunteer Engagement, at april.garrett@yale.edu.

Jody Yetzer ’97

Of counsel at Beldock, Levine & Hoffman LLP, Jody Yetzer is a civil rights attorney with more than two decades of experience as both a lawyer and nonprofit advocate. Her work includes efforts to transform New York City’s 911 response system toward health-led interventions for mental health crises. She serves as chair of the Yale Law School Fund Board and sits on multiple nonprofit and alumni boards.

Larry Obhof ’03

Vice president of the Yale Law School Association Executive Committee and class secretary for the Class of 2003, Larry Obhof serves as chief legal counsel for the Ohio Secretary of State. A former president of the Ohio Senate, he brings experience across both public service and private practice.

Adina Storch ’99

Chairman of the Board of Medical Facilities Corporation and senior vice president and general counsel of Global Industrial Company, Adina Storch is a seasoned public company executive and former litigation partner. A summa cum laude graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, she has been widely recognized for her leadership and supports philanthropic initiatives focused on veterans, literacy, and expanding employment opportunities.