Excelsior Fellow Yan Lee ’26 Fulfills His Dream of Government Service

Inspired in part by his father, who built a life in America as a dentist working in state and federal government settings, Yan Lee arrived at St. John’s Law with a strong interest in public service. Over his three years at the Law School, that interest deepened into a commitment to government service that Lee will pursue full time as an Excelsior Fellow at New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the State’s affordable housing agency.

Coordinated between law schools and the New York State Department of Civil Service, the Excelsior Service Fellowship Program places highly talented recent graduates of law, graduate, and professional schools in policy and operational roles across New York State government. Working alongside senior members of the administration for two years, Excelsior Fellows help address pressing issues facing New Yorkers while contributing to the development of public policy.

When he joins HCR this fall, Lee will draw on practical knowledge and skills he developed through pro bono and public service opportunities at St. John’s Law. “To meet my goal, I sought out placements with government agencies,” he says. “As a summer intern at the New York State Department of Financial Services after my 1L year, I worked on legislative issues involving pharmacy benefit managers. That gave me a glimpse of how drafting today’s statutes carries massive consequences for compliance, rulemaking, transparency, and enforcement.” For his work at the Department of Financial Services, Lee also received a summer stipend through the Law School’s Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program.

Lee added to that experience the following summer at HCR, where he researched housing laws, drafted proposals for resolving landlord-tenant conflicts, and shadowed inspections of rent-stabilized buildings as an intern. During his 3L year, he assisted in tenant defense in the Bronx interning with the New York Legal Assistance Group and gained deeper insight into housing matters through an internship with the New York City Housing Authority.

Lee also participated in the Law School’s Spring Break Service Program during each of his three years at St. John’s. Weeklong placements with the New York State Division of Human Rights, Legal Services of Long Island, and Mobilization for Justice further sharpened his legal skills and strengthened his commitment to public service. In addition, he volunteered to assist New Yorkers in need at the annual Pro Bono Working Lunch organized by the Law School’s DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center and engaged in other Center-supported pro bono programs and initiatives.

“Yan’s law school journey reflects the very best of what legal education and public interest involvement can cultivate,” says Center Director Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz. “He fully embraced the opportunities our Center offers, pursued experiential learning opportunities, and contributed to pro bono service. His selection for the Excelsior Service Fellowship Program is a testament to his dedication and commitment to this work. We are immensely proud of Yan and excited to see him bring his talent, integrity, and service into the profession.” 

The experiences Lee gained as a law student shaped how he understands public service work and its impact on everyday life. “This kind of work doesn’t end up in the headlines but can be found in every corner of life if you look hard enough,” he shares. “It’s the quiet battle behind the scenes for greater transparency in how the healthcare industry structures its pricing plans. It’s the fight to advocate for rent-stabilized tenants living under clouds of black mold and infestations against indifferent landlords who refuse to keep apartments habitable. It’s the countless motions, drafts, and late nights in the office it takes to give a tenant justice, whether that means securing needed repairs or helping them remain in the place they call home.”

Grateful for the opportunities the Law School gave him to forge his career path, Lee looks forward to bringing his perspective and passion to his Fellowship at HCR. “I’m eager and prepared to deepen my commitment to public service,” he says. “As an Excelsior Fellow, I hope to meaningfully support HCR’s mission while building a long-term, worthwhile career in government that contributes to the greater good.”