New York Law School (NYLS) students come to the school with differing life experiences and interests that shape their visions of their future legal careers and how they can use the outstanding legal education they receive here to achieve their goals. In this month’s edition of Humans of NYLS, get to know four standout law students, nominated by their peers, and learn about their goals for the future.
Conor Gallagher ’27 Evening
Conor Gallagher ’27 Evening is a 1L evening student at NYLS. He grew up in Beaufort, South Carolina, before moving to Columbia to attend the University of South Carolina as a theater major. Gallagher appeared in many shows while in college and, in his senior year, he directed By the Bog of Cats, written by Marina Carr. During college, he also spent a semester living abroad in Dublin, Ireland, where he attended the Gaiety School of Acting. After graduating, Gallagher moved to New York with hopes of becoming an actor. Since moving, he has worked in an escape room, the food and beverage industry, the education field, aviation staffing and recruiting, and most extensively, in office staff roles for a few different law firms. Gallagher has always been interested in the law and had lots of exposure to the field, coming from a family of attorneys.
As someone who has always been invested in the arts and storytelling, Gallagher aims to work in entertainment or intellectual property law after law school, in a field that helps facilitate creativity.
Jennifer Hutz ’26 Evening
Jennifer Hutz ’26 Evening is a 2L evening student. She is originally from North Carolina, but has lived in Brooklyn for over 20 years. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a major in studio art. Hutz started her career in New York as a production assistant and then producer for top celebrity photographers, producing photo shoots for magazines including Vanity Fair, GQ, and Rolling Stone. After working as the publicist liaison for Exclusive by Getty Images, she opened her own commercial photographer repping agency, Jennifer Hutz Inc., in 2010. When she is not working with her artists or studying, she is a grassroots organizer with Swing Left, where she trains electoral volunteers on the most effective ways to get people to vote. She also co-leads a weekly food pantry out of her neighborhood bar, Union Pool.
After law school, Hutz wants to help people, either by protecting artists in business and copyright issues or working to expand voting rights to protect democracy or — as she does now — both.
Race Johnson ’26
Race Johnson ’26 is a 1L in the Day Division at New York Law School. He graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana in 2017 with a degree in economics. During college, he also played football. Johnson has worked as a real estate agent, a consultant in the Alliance of American Football (AAF) for the Atlanta Legends, in operations in college athletic fundraising for the John Purdue Club, and as a fitness coach for a tech start-up, Future.
Following law school, Johnson plans to pursue a career in international business.
Elisabeth Pearson ’24
Elisabeth Pearson ’24 is a 3L day student. She is from New York City and attended George Washington University, where she graduated magna cum laude. At New York Law School, she is affiliated with the Tricarico Institute for the Business of Law and In-House Counsel and is also a member of the Legal Association for Women. Last summer, she interned for the general counsel at Union Square Hospitality Group, where she handled matters regarding commercial leases, vendor agreements, and employment law. She is currently a student intern with the Nonprofit and Small Business Clinic. Outside of her legal career, Pearson loves to cook, try new restaurants, and the outdoors.
After law school, Pearson wants to pursue a legal career in commercial real estate in New York City.
Want to meet more of our “Humans of NYLS”? Check out previous features!