Serene N. Hozien

Serene Hozien is an Associate in the Public Law Group whose background combines judicial experience with a strong foundation in public service. Before joining the firm, she served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Peter J. Tober in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Somerset County.

During her clerkship, Serene drafted judicial decisions and criminal sentencing memoranda and composed a wide range of motions, including motions to suppress evidence, motions to dismiss, and detention motions. Her work required close analysis of the New Jersey Criminal Code, relevant case law, and procedural rules. She evaluated evidentiary issues, statutory interpretation questions, and constitutional claims, providing written recommendations to the presiding judge.

Serene’s earlier legal work reflects a sustained commitment to serving vulnerable communities. She interned in both the Deportation Defense Clinic and the Asylum Clinic at her law school, preparing immigration relief petitions, drafting client declarations, and researching evolving asylum law. She also served as a Law and Regulations Intern with New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Group, where she conducted research on insurance regulations and compliance and supported the legal team on regulatory inquiries.

Serene earned her J.D. from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University, where she was Head Research Editor of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Law Journal and received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Deportation Defense. She served as Vice President of the Muslim Law Student Association and was active in the Women of Color Collective, the Hofstra Law Women’s Society, and the First Generation Law Students Association. She holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Rutgers University in Newark, with concentrations in History, Legal Studies, Ancient and Medieval Civilizations, and Asian Studies.

Outside of her practice, Serene has volunteered as an Emergency Medical Technician with the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad since 2017. She speaks conversational Arabic and enjoys international travel, reading, and hiking.