Gina M. Calabrese

Professor Gina Calabrese joined the St. John's faculty in 2001. She is widely recognized for her law reform achievements on behalf of consumers entangled in debt litigation. She has been active in efforts to protect consumers entangled in debt litigation. As chair of the New York City Bar Association's Committee on NYC Civil Court (2014 - 2017), she spearheaded several of the Bar Association's initiatives advocating for increased efficiency and improved procedures in the Civil Court. In her role as a clinical law professor, she was a leader in advocating for the passage of New York’s Exempt Income Protection Act, which protects Social Security and other judgment-exempt funds from garnishment. Her article about the Act was orgininally published in the Empire Justice Center’s electronic Legal Services Journal. Professor Calabrese has co-authored a number of amicus curiae briefs, policy proposals, and legislative position memoranda.

Professor Calabrese is also a frequent speaker on consumer debt and clinical education issues and has testified at local, state, and federal hearings on debt collection matter.Her co-authored article "Teaching Professionalism in Context: Insights from Students, Clients, Adversaries, and Judges," was published in the South Carolina Law Review.

Professor Calabrese began her legal career at the Los Angeles law firm of Adams, Duque & Hazeltine, where, in addition to representing the firm’s corporate clients, she represented children in a number of pro bono matters. She later headed the Litigation Department of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, a California consumer advocacy group. During her five years at the Foundation (1994-1999), she won significant courtroom, regulatory, and legislative victories for consumers in the area of fair insurance rates and practices. She previously taught in Hofstra Law School’s Housing Rights Clinic and in Brooklyn Law School’s Elder Law Clinic.