Field and Campus
Fall 2024
At New York Law School, our student, faculty, alumni, and New York community came together for a variety of events throughout the fall semester. Community members engaged in civics programs, community celebrations, professional development opportunities, thought-provoking book talks, insightful conversations with legal experts and public officials, and more. Read some of our latest dispatches from 185 West Broadway.
SEPTEMBER
On September 5, NYLS hosted a workshop designed to introduce New York Law School alumni, as well as other members of the legal community, to the basic pathways for applying for a full-time or part-time law school teaching position. Attendees learned from NYLS faculty leaders about what a career in academia entails, including information on tenure track, long-term contract track, and adjunct teaching positions.
On September 12, the Center for New York City and State Law invited the NYLS community and the public to the 193rd CityLaw Breakfast, where featured speaker Anne Williams-Isom, New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, shared her insights about the Adams Administration's response to the increase in asylum seekers and the strategies they sought to implement.
On September 17, students had the opportunity to meet with leadership from more than 20 local bar associations to learn more about getting involved, professional development and networking opportunities, and free and low-cost student memberships at an Open House organized by the Office of Academic Planning and Career Development.
On September 17, Norman Radow ’81, CEO of The Radco Companies and NYLS Trustee, joined us on campus for a special conversation with students. He shared many of the lessons he learned from his experiences in law and business as a real estate lawyer and running a real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition and optimization of commercial properties.
On September 20–22, the NYLS Moot Court Association (MCA) hosted the 48th Annual Charles W. Froessel Intramural Moot Court Competition and welcomed a new cohort of NYLS students to join the MCA and prepare to compete nationally in the spring.
OCTOBER
On October 2, New York City Planning Director Dan Garodnick came to campus for a conversation with Ben Max, Executive Editor for the Center for New York City and State Law, to discuss the Adams Administration’s “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” plan as the zoning reform proposal enters formal City Council review.
On October 7, the Ronald H. Filler Institute for Financial Services Law hosted a discussion with Hester M. Peirce, Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Filler Institute Director Howard S. Meyers to discuss the role of the SEC and its current enforcement agenda, how the agency balances its role in capital formation and investor protection, and current regulatory developments.
On October 10, Rodger Quigley ’17 and Michael J. Sutnick ’25 joined us for a featured panel on clerkships to share their experiences as former clerks and judicial interns and to offer guidance to interested students on tailoring résumés for applications.
On October 17, we had a wonderful celebration of the New York Law School alumni community as we recognized graduates in classes ending in 9 and 4. Alumni heard from Professor Kirk D. Burkhalter '04 and Professor Anna G. Cominsky '05 at a CLE panel, moderated by veteran journalist Ben Max, Executive Editor and Program Director of the Center for New York City and State Law, where they discussed their process for breaking down complex legal issues in the headlines when they speak with journalists and appear in the media. Our community also caught up with classmates, reconnected with NYLS, and networked with fellow alumni throughout the evening at a festive reception.
On October 23, the Innovation Center for Law and Technology hosted a discussion with Errol B. Taylor ’87, Consulting Partner at Milbank LLP and NYLS Trustee, and Innovation Center Co-Director and Professor Shahrokh Falati ’08. Taylor spoke with students, faculty, and alumni to share his insights as a patent law attorney and leader of Milbank LLP’s biopharma patent practice with decades of expertise in complex technology protection, licensing, and other transactions.
On October 23, NYLS, in collaboration with the Historical Society of the New York Courts and the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, First Department, hosted an insightful conversation with Hon. Dianne T. Renwick, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, First Department, and Hon. Dunstan Mlambo, Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court of South Africa, to explore the similarities and differences of constitutionalism and the rule of law manifest across New York and South Africa, and how courts grapple with country-specific issues and societal challenges at large. John Marshall Harlan II Professor Penelope Andrews, Director of the NYLS Racial Justice Project and an emeritus trustee of the Historical Society of the New York Courts, moderated the discussion.
NOVEMBER
On November 7, we celebrated the hundreds of accomplished NYLS alumni who serve at all levels of the judiciary at the 2024 Hall of Judges Ceremony and Reception. The celebration recognizes our alumni for their extraordinary contributions to the profession. During the ceremony, we also paid tribute to the alumni appointed to judicial positions over the last two years and unveiled their photos as they joined the Hall of Judges.
On November 11, NYLS hosted the Annual Veterans Day Luncheon to celebrate the veterans of our community and honor their service.
On November 13, NYLS hosted a full-day conference in honor of the NYC Independent Budget Office’s (IBO) 35th anniversary. The conference featured a full day of panels where New York City public officials discussed the legacy of New York City’s 1989 Charter, how it transformed City government, the impact of the Independent Budget Office, and how the Office can continue to shape City governance in the future. Featured panelists included Brad Lander, New York City Comptroller, Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President, Stephen Louis, Counsel of the Center for New York City and State Law, Jumaane Williams, New York City Public Advocate, and more.
On November 18, NYLS and the First Generation Professionals student organization hosted its annual First Generation Professionals Etiquette Dinner. The evening included a reception, dinner, and networking with many supportive NYLS faculty and alumni in attendance, as well as an interactive program to help students learn how to navigate a cocktail hour and what dinner etiquette is needed to succeed in professional situations. NYLS Trustee and Distinguished Adjunct Professor Meryl Fiedler Lieberman ’81 was a guest speaker.
On November 20, students, faculty, and staff engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon ’85, on current issues facing our criminal justice system. The discussion was moderated by Professor Kirk D. Burkhalter '04 and Professor Claudine Caracciolo.
On November 25, Mandy Cohen, Director for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), visited our campus for a thoughtful conversation, with Dean and President Anthony Crowell and Stony Brook University School of Social Welfare Dean Dr. Shari Miller, on the CDC's work, the strategies it employs for public engagement and building trust, and expectations for the future work of the agency. The discussion also focused on the impact of misinformation and public health and examined strategies to help drive civic engagement and build stronger partnerships and trust between government and civil society. The discussion is the first in a program series on Civic Leadership, Law, and Social Welfare by NYLS and Stony Brook University. The series hosts high-profile speakers who will explore issues confronting a broad range of institutions that seek to build the public trust and drive responsible law and policy making.
