8/4/2025

As of this month, Larry Raiken, Esq. '75 is officially retired after 48 years of practice, a story that can be traced back to his time at Delaware Law School. After graduating with the first class of 1975, Raiken saw the school get accredited before opening his own practice in 1977. A solo practitioner for most of his career, Raiken specialized in real estate, wills, and family law. Now, he’s looking forward to traveling the world, and at the time of publication, he will be on the road completing a cross-country drive. Learn more about Raiken’s legacy at DLS through our Class of ’75 Q&A.

What drew you to join the class of 1975 and enroll in the new Delaware Law School?

In the summer of 1972, my friend Lawrence (Larry) Gottfried called and asked if I’d heard of this new law school that he’d been accepted to. I hadn’t gotten into any law schools yet but still really wanted to go, so I put in my application. Not more than 10 days before classes started, I got a call from Dean Avins who said he would accept my application if I came to Wilmington the next day with a check for the full tuition. I got the check, called Larry to ask if I could stay with him while I enrolled in the night division and found an apartment, and hit the road.

How did this first class come together to lay the foundation for Delaware Law School?

Everything at that time was about making it work. My wife and I got married in August of 1973 and she worked as a teacher during the day and in a donut shop at night while I went to school at night and worked in a sporting goods store during the day. As for the law school, we were responsible for picking up law books that Dean Avins sourced, that’s how we created our first law library together. After graduation, I served as a representative at the ABA convention to seek accreditation for the school, which we were thankfully able to secure. It was hard work, but it was a fun time in life.

What’s the greatest lesson you learned in law school that you still carry with you today?

I can still hear Dean Avins saying, “Okay Mr. Raiken, tell me about this case.” His constitutional law class was a great way of learning to speak on your feet with little preparation. I began my practice in 1977 totally on my own and had to figure it out from there. This “making it work” mentality has served me well, but our class was very close, and I still keep in touch and rely on them. I find it a great referral network; if I want to refer someone to a case, I will probably look to my Delaware people first.

What’s an accomplishment you're proud of that might not be found in your bio?

I did a tremendous amount of pro bono work representing women in domestic violence shelters, which was a very eye-opening experience for me. Back in the day, domestic violence wasn’t something you talked about openly, and because of that, few people understood things like the recurrence rate of domestic violence cases. Representing the women in those situations made a difference at the individual level, and, I hope, began to break some repeated cycles of abuse.

How would you describe the legacy the class of 1975 has left on Delaware Law School?

When I was a student, we didn't even have a legal fraternity, so myself and several others created the Delta Lambda Sigma chapter of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International, which is still flourishing today.

Much has changed over the years, and that’s a good thing. I was recently back for a seminar the Black Law Student Association gave and was able to see the moot courtroom, which we never could have imagined back in the day. These resources, including spaces like student housing, would have made such a difference for me and now can make a big difference for today’s students. That all began with the resourcefulness of our first class.