EVENTS
- Fighting the Mafia in Italy and Beyond, 08/31 The Girard-diCarlo Center welcomes Felice Piemontese, PhD, attorney at law at Nexum Legal STA and research fellow at the University of Foggia, Italy, to discuss legal responses to organized crime in Italy. As part of the event, Piemontese will provide an overview of a scholarship opportunity to spend a week in Italy learning about the legal framework, institutions and people combating organized crime today.
- Oversight and Reform in Norwegian Corrections: Perspectives from the Field, 09/10 Stian Estenstad leads both the Norwegian Red Cross's Visitor Service and the Network After Imprisonment, which he created in 2004 after serving as a prison officer in the Norwegian Correctional Service. He'll join us for a conversation about Norwegian prison oversight and reform. This event is presented by the David F. and Constance B. Girard-diCarlo Center for Ethics, Integrity and Compliance.
- Constitution Day 2026: How Should We Interpret the Constitution? The Role of History and Tradition, 09/17 The Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy welcomes Hon. Paul B. Matey, judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Marc O. DeGirolami, co-director of the Center for Law and the Human Person and St. John Henry Newman Professor of Law at the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law for a discussion about DeGirolami's recent book, "The Constitution of Practice: On Law and Tradition."
- 15th Annual Building Pathways to Law School Leadership Workshop, 09/18-09/19 Since 2018, Villanova Law and Seattle University School of Law have partnered for the “Building Pathways to Law School Leadership Workshop.” The two-day workshop is designed to encourage and assist interested individuals in pursuing deanships and other leadership positions and will feature sessions led by law school deans from around the country.
- Poverty and Inequality Speaker Series, Fall 2026 Each month, the Poverty and Inequality Speaker Series brings leading scholars, advocates, policymakers and practitioners to Villanova Law for timely conversations about the legal, policy and social challenges shaping poverty and inequality today. On Thursday, September 24, the inaugural speaker, Danna Casserly ’12, co-executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Law Project, will present "Health Care at a Crossroads: Medicaid, Access and Affordability."
- Red Mass, 10/02 Join the Villanova Law community for the annual Red Mass celebration on Friday, October 2, 2026, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Reverend Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD '75 CLAS, president of Villanova University, will preside over the Mass. A complimentary reception will be held immediately following at Scarpa Hall. No RSVP is necessary.
- The Philadelphia Tax Conference, 10/30 Join the Graduate Tax Program for this year’s Philadelphia Tax Conference, bringing together leading tax professionals, industry experts and practitioners for a day of in-depth analysis and valuable networking. Panels will explore key developments in corporate tax, partnership tax, international tax and the economic substance doctrine.
- Fourth Annual State and Local Tax Forum, 06/04 The Fourth Annual State and Local Tax (SALT) Forum, hosted by the Villanova University Graduate Tax Program, will take place on Thursday, June 4. This year’s SALT Forum will gather experts to explore the complicated relationship between federal law and state taxation, including the impact of IRC changes and the evolution of the federal limitations on state taxation.
- 11th Annual Katherine Del Raso ’12 CLAS, ’16 JD/MBA Fashion Law Symposium, 04/17 This year's Fashion Law Symposium will provide a comprehensive explanation of the use of artificial intelligence in fashion. As AI continues to advance rapidly, even the most sophisticated general counsel and legal teams will be hard-pressed to keep up with the evolving legal landscape. The fashion and luxury industries face critical legal issues, including intellectual property infringement in design, data privacy and biometrics, marketing transparency, personality rights and likeness, brand protection and AI governance.
- 2026 CARES Symposium, 04/10 This year’s annual symposium, hosted by the Clinic for Asylum, Refugee and Emigrant Services (CARES), will focus on equipping advocates with the tools and knowledge necessary to confront evolving challenges in immigration enforcement and detention. The program will feature immigration attorneys, policy experts and data researchers who will provide practical insights on federal habeas corpus practice, third-country removal strategies and detention trends.
- From the Public Defender’s Office to the Supreme Court to the Classroom, 04/07 Villanova Law welcomes Bradford Colbert, professor of law and co-director of the Legal Assistance to Minnesota Prisoners Clinic at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, for a fireside chat as he reflects on a career at the intersection of criminal defense, civil rights, clinical legal education and community advocacy.
- The 2026 Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal Symposium, 03/27 This year's symposium will feature general counsel from Philadelphia’s professional sports organizations, including the 76ers, Eagles, Flyers, Phillies and Union, as well as the New Jersey Devils, who will discuss their multifaceted roles. It will also feature a conversation with Grant House, the named plaintiff of the House v. NCAA settlement. A year after the settlement, experts will explore the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics.
- 48th Annual Donald A. Giannella Memorial Lecture, 03/11 The McCullen welcomes Akhil Reed Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University, where he teaches constitutional law in both Yale College and Yale Law School. He will discuss his most recent book, "Born Equal: Remaking America’s Constitution, 1840–1920," a retrospective account of the four amendments that abolished slavery in the United States and ensured citizenship and voting rights for minorities.
- “Beyond Survival” Documentary Screening, 02/25 "Beyond Survival" tells the story of New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA) and the powerful leadership of currently and formerly incarcerated survivors in creating change. Join us for a screening of the documentary followed by a panel discussion with key players involved in the project.
- The Villanova Law Review 2026 Norman J. Shachoy Symposium, 02/20 This year’s Villanova Law Review Norman J. Shachoy Symposium features a series of discussions on constitutional checks and balances, focusing on how the modern executive branch shapes those checks.
- Lewis H. Gold ’62 Lecture on Ethics & Professional Responsibility, 02/17 The Girard-diCarlo Center welcomes Major General Rebecca Vernon (Ret'd), United States Air Force, for the annual Gold Lecture. Her presentation, “Ethical Drift: Preserving Integrity One Decision at a Time," will explore how everyday decisions shape ethical outcomes.
- 2026 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium, 02/13 The 2026 Villanova Environmental Law Journal Blank Rome LLP Symposium will explore the environmental and regulatory challenges associated with powering data centers and the role of nuclear energy in supporting these facilities. Panels will bring together experts from academia, legal practice and industry to discuss policy, design and regulatory frameworks that are shaping the development of data centers.