Steven R. Snyder, Esquire, a solo practicing attorney whose law practice is devoted entirely to residential construction law, has been appointed as an adjunct professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, where he will teach Construction Law and Construction Contracts beginning in the Fall 2026 semester. Steve is a member of the Modular Home Builders Association as well as a member of the Board of Directors and Associate Vice President of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg, and is a member of the York Builders Association the Pennsylvania Builders Association and the National Association of Home Builders..
For Snyder, the appointment represents not just a professional milestone, but the culmination of a career spent at the intersection of construction law, legislative policy, and industry advocacy.
“I’ve always believed that construction law is where theory meets reality—where contracts, statutes, and the physical world collide in very real and often very expensive ways,” Snyder said. “I also like representing small business entrepreneurs – people who start and run businesses, employee people and create an actual product, in this case housing.
A Career Built in Construction Law and Policy
Snyder’s practice focuses on representing new home builders, home improvement contractors, building supply companies, subcontractors, and the modular housing industry, where he is recognized as a national authority on modular housing sales and use tax law across all 50 states.
His legal career has been shaped by a deep foundation in both private practice and public service. Steve has been a member of the Modular Home Builders Association, since its inception. Steve also served as the Executive Director, Lobbyist and Legal Counsel for the Modular Building Systems Association for over 15 years, where he represented the modular housing industry on regulatory, tax, and legislative matters nationwide.
Earlier in his career, he served as a lobbyist for the Pennsylvania Builders Association, advocating on behalf of residential construction stakeholders. He also held senior legislative roles in the Pennsylvania State Senate, including Director of the Senate Law and Justice Committee and Chief of Staff to State Senator John Shumaker.
Snyder earned his Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2003, attending the evening division while simultaneously serving in his executive role with the modular housing industry. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Pennsylvania State University.
Teaching as a Long-Held Professional Goal
Although Snyder’s career has spanned law, lobbying, and legislative leadership, teaching law has long been a professional aspiration.
“Teaching law school has always been something I dreamed about, but I never truly expected the opportunity would arrive,” he said. “It is, in many ways, the natural extension of everything I’ve done in practice.”
That opportunity came following discussions with Widener Dean André Douglas Pond Cummings, who recognized Snyder’s extensive real-world experience in construction law as a strong foundation for developing a new course in the subject. “I have to say, I am very appreciative of Dean Cummings offer to join the faculty ay Widener,” Snyder said.
Notably, construction law is not currently part of Widener’s course offerings, making Snyder’s appointment part of a broader curricular development effort. He has already begun designing a comprehensive syllabus that will include construction contract drafting, risk allocation, litigation principles, statutory frameworks, and a comparative review of Pennsylvania and regional case law. The course will also be geared toward the private civil practice of construction law for students who feel led in that direction.
“Construction law is not static,” Snyder noted. “It is constantly evolving with the industry, the courts, and the realities of how projects actually get built.”
A Course Built from Practice, Not Theory
Unlike traditional doctrinal courses built around long-established casebooks, Snyder’s course will draw heavily from his decades of hands-on practice representing contractors, developers, and modular manufacturers in complex legal and regulatory disputes.
The course is expected to integrate real-world transactional documents, litigation scenarios, and regulatory issues that arise in modern construction practice, particularly in residential and modular housing development.
Professional and Community Involvement
In addition to his legal practice and academic appointment, Snyder remains active in the construction industry. He serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Harrisburg, where he holds the position of Associate Vice President, and is also a member of the York Builders Association and the Modular Home Builders Association. Steve is also a member of the Dauphin County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations
A Personal Touch
Outside of the courtroom and classroom, Snyder is supported by his family—his wife Kathy, their two adult children, and six grandchildren. His office companion, a two-year-old golden retriever, is a daily presence and, as Snyder notes with humor, “serves as a very patient sounding board during difficult legal analysis.”
Looking Ahead
As he prepares for his first semester in the classroom, Snyder views the opportunity as both a responsibility and a privilege.
“Law is best understood when it is connected to the real world,” he said. “If I can help students see how construction law actually operates in practice—not just in textbooks—I will consider that a meaningful contribution to the profession.”