Biography

Susan Saab Fortney has developed a reputation as an expert in legal ethics and malpractice.  Her work focuses on issues related to law firm governance and ethics.  She has conducted various empirical studies and is a prolific and well-published legal scholar. Her research focuses on law firm peer review, law firm culture, ethics and billable-hour expectations. In 2005, Fortney completed a national cross-profession study of lawyers practicing in firms, government and corporate offices. Professor Fortney has also co-authored the nation’s first textbook on Legal Malpractice law, published by Thomson-West.

Before joining Hofstra Law school, Fortney served as the Paul Whitfield Horn Professor and Interim Dean at Texas Tech University School of Law. At Texas Tech, she also was the director of the  Health Care and Bioethics Mediation Clinic. Prior to joining Texas Tech, Fortney practiced law in both the public and private sectors. Upon graduation from law school, she first served as briefing attorney for Chief Justice Carlos Cadena of the Fourth Court of Appeals of Texas. She continued her public service as an attorney with the Division of Corporation Finance and the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Fortney later entered private practice, handling securities and corporate matters. With that background, she developed an expertise in business and coverage litigation, principally handling legal malpractice and directors’ and officers’ liability cases.

Fortney has received recognition for her work as a teacher, scholar, and public servant.  In 2006 she received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest teaching award at Texas Tech University.  She has received Distinguished Researcher Awards and the Texas Tech President’s Academic Achievement Award.  Texas Lawyer newspaper selected her as one of the 30 Extraordinary Women in Texas Law.   In 2010, the Texas Bar Foundation selected her as the recipient of the Lola Wright Foundation Award in recognition of outstanding public service in advancing and enhancing legal ethics.

As a Fulbright Scholar, Fortney taught a comparative legal ethics course in Slovenia.  In 2011 she will be teaching a short course called the “Global Lawyer” to graduate law students in Melbourne, Australia.  Her presentations in 2011 included speaking at the ABA National Conference on Professional Responsibility and the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Schools.

Fortney has been elected as a member of the American Law Institute, the American Bar Foundation and the Texas Bar Foundation.  She also is a member of the National Conference of Bar Examiners Committee that drafts the Multi-state Professional Responsibility Examination.

Fortney received a J.S.D. and an LL.M. from Columbia University School of Law, a J.D from Antioch School of Law and a B.A. from Trinity University.

 Curriculum Vitae