Professor Jonathan Brown joined the Haub Law faculty in 2016 and is Professor of Law for Designated Project or Service and Director and Founder of the School's Food and Farm Business Law Clinic, which launched in January 2017. The Food and Farm Business Law Clinic provides pro bono transactional legal services to small farm businesses, artisan food manufacturers, craft beverage entrepreneurs, and related nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the Haub Law faculty, Professor Brown was a Clinical Lecturer in Law and Eugene Ludwig/Robert M. Cover Fellow in Law at Yale Law School, where he co-taught in the Community and Economic Development Clinic. Previously, he was also a senior associate at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, in New York.

Let’s jump right in, why academia?

Coming out of law school I never seriously considered academia. Working at a firm, over time I realized that the part of my job I enjoyed the most was mentoring and teaching the young associates, whether it was leading in-house Continuing Legal Education (CLE) classes or teaching first-year associates the fundamentals of contract-drafting when we worked on deals together. At the same time, I liked transactional practice and didn’t want to give that up. I found the perfect balance in leading a transactional law clinic where I get to teach students through actual practice.

What brought you specifically to Haub Law?

In short, the chance to lead the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic (formerly the Food and Beverage Law Clinic). I was a fellow in the Community and Economic Development Clinic at Yale Law School, where I worked with small non-profits and community groups, including some work in the food and farming space. I hoped to start my own clinic after that fellowship. Professor Margot Pollans developed the idea of the Food and Farm Business Law Clinic and I thought it was an amazing, first-of-its kind concept: a law clinic devoted entirely to supporting change-makers in the food system through transactional legal practice. I jumped at the opportunity to come here and bring that idea into fruition.

What is the best part about teaching for you?

When I see something “click” for a student. For example, when a student in the Clinic working on their first contract for a client, after rounds of edits, feedback from the client, and negotiations with the other party, starts to see what’s actually involved in that kind of legal work and realizes that they really enjoy it. It’s rewarding to help a student come into their own as a burgeoning lawyer in that way.

What differentiates Haub Law?

Haub Law has a tight-knit community feel that sets it apart from other law schools in my experience. There is a sense that everyone is working together to help our students excel. The school is also very grounded in the actual practice of law, which I think is critical for setting our students up for success.

Can you talk a bit about food and agricultural law?

As practiced by our Clinic, terms like “food law,” “food and beverage law,” and “agricultural law” represent more of a multidisciplinary approach to a problem, as opposed to one specific substantive area of law. It stems from a recognition that legal support is a critical need for many of the “food revolutionaries” trying to improve our food system – for example farmers employing regenerative practices and selling directly to consumers, or community-based nonprofits focused on affordable access to local, healthy food in underserved communities. To achieve their goals, these groups need assistance in structuring business entities, negotiating contracts, navigating regulations, and more. Our Clinic’s work touches on multiple areas of law, centered around “transactional” corporate practice, to help these clients.

What are some recent cases that the Clinic has taken on?

The Clinic represents as many as 50 clients per year. Our most frequent type of case involves assisting clients in establishing business entities or nonprofits, which might include advising on business structures, drafting LLC operating agreements or other organizational documents, and applying for tax exemption for nonprofits. We also frequently assist clients in accessing land through drafting and negotiating farmland leases or other commercial leases. As for recent trends, we have been working with more clients on developing intellectual property strategies and applying for trademarks. We have also worked with more groups developing “cooperative” business structures, with recent examples including worker-owned cooperative farms and a cooperative of clothing designers formed for sourcing sustainably produced fiber directly from farmers. And we have recently worked with groups seeking to establish “community land trusts” or other creative structures for facilitating affordable farmland access.

What do you hope students get out of the Clinic?

For one, I want them to get the confidence and experience that comes with having their own clients and leading a representation. I also want them to appreciate some of the unexpected ways in which their legal practice can be a force for good—that even if they want to practice transactional or corporate law there are opportunities for using that to serve the public interest that people don’t always recognize.

What do you wish students would realize sooner rather than later?

That a career is long and can take a lot of twists and turns—certainly that’s the case for many of the lawyers I admire most. Students should of course focus on getting that first job after graduation, but I encourage them to recognize that is often just the first step in a long journey. If a student is passionate about something, they should use the brief amount of time they have in law school to nurture it, even if they may at first take a job doing something completely unrelated after graduating. I think keeping that long-term perspective in mind helps in developing a rewarding and exciting career.

What are some of your current research interests?

For the last two years I have taught Nonprofit Organizations, and I am particularly interested in relationships between nonprofits and for-profit businesses. This work dovetails with much of the Clinic’s work, as we work with a number of nonprofit clients who incorporate business activities in novel ways. Recently I have been exploring the IRS’s evolving position on limited liability company subsidiaries of nonprofits and the approaches that different states are taking to these structures.

Outside of work, what takes up your free time?

I have two young children who take up most of my free time—in the best way possible! I love helping them with the many activities they do: Cub Scouts, Daisy Scouts, piano, dancing, sports, etc. Right now I’m coaching my son’s youth soccer team. I also like to cook and garden, and I love hiking and skiing with my family.

Pace University faculty members are available to provide expert commentary and analysis on a broad range of including politics, policy, economics, international affairs and more, are available for comment on the 2024 US elections. Get in touch with our experts and check out or recent media clips.

Faculty Experts

Matthew Bolton is professor of political science and co-director of the International Disarmament Institute at Pace University. He was part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) team awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Bolton has also worked for 20 years with UN and NGO efforts addressing the humanitarian impact of landmines, cluster munitions, military robotics and the arms trade. Bolton has published six books, including Political Minefields and Imagining Disarmament. His work has featured in BBC News, Newsweek, PBS Newshour, The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Boston Globe, Gothamist, The Hill, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, and more.

• Expertise: United Nations, Peacebuilding, and the Humanitarian and environmental Consequences of Weapons

Bennett L. Gershman is a distinguished professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law since its founding as the Pace Law School in 1976. Prior to coming to Pace, Gershman was a prosecutor in the New York State Anti-Corruption Office, where he argued cases in state and federal courts involving public and political officials charged with corruption. As a leading authority in the country on prosecutorial misconduct, Gershman is continuously called upon by the news media for his expertise. He is routinely quoted by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and The Wall Street Journal, as well as by a host of local publications.

• Expertise: Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice, Professional Responsibility and Legal Ethics

Kerriann Stout is an adjunct professor of Law at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, and instructor of Political Science and Criminal Justice at Pace University. Currently, Kerriann teaches courses related to bar exam and law school skills, individual rights and liberties, state and local government, and legislation and regulation.

• Expertise: Political Science

Laura Tamman is a clinical assistant professor of political science at Pace University. A scholar of American and Urban Politics, Laura uses quantitative methods to study political persuasion in the context of race and ethnicity. Informed by her two decades of experience working on the frontlines of political campaigns, her research examines the effects of campaign contact on election results. An expert on New York City politics, Laura has coauthored reports on the implementation of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) and voter turnout.

• Expertise: Political Science, Political campaigns, and New York City politics

Leslie Y. Garfield Tenzer is the Luk-Cummings Family Faculty Scholar at Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University. Tenzer's scholarship and teaching bridge the worlds of theory and practice, with a particular focus on regulating conduct in the digital age. Prior to coming to Haub Law, Professor Tenzer was a legislative attorney in the Legal Division of the Council of the City of New York. She currently teaches and writes in the areas of Commercial Law, including Contracts and UCC Article 2, Criminal Law, Torts and Social Media Law. Professor Tenzer's most recent scholarship focuses on legal issues concerning social media.

• Expertise: Commercial Law, Contracts, Criminal Justice, Intellectual Property, Technology and Information, Torts, and Social Media Law

Mark Weinstock is a clinical assistant professor of economics at Pace University. His contribution to non-linear econometric modeling of bank regulation received the Leon Horniker Award for Research Excellence. Weinstock was an electronics entrepreneur for many years, allowing him to bring real world elements of finance and business into the classroom to create a bridge between the theoretical underpinnings of economics and real-world applications.

• Expertise: Economics

Melvin Williams is an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University. An award-winning communication scholar, his research examines the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality in popular culture. Specifically, Williams considers the political ramifications of popular culture to investigate how minority communities use its mediums to address disparaging media representations. In addition, Williams is a cultural commentator and public writer, offering critical analyses of Hip-Hop, LGBTQ politics, and popular culture for media outlets such as Associated Press, Huffington Post, NBCLX, NBC Universal, Newsweek, NPR, USA Today, and The Washington Post.

• Expertise: African American Representations in Popular Culture, Black Female Celebrity Representations in Feminist Media Culture, Black Masculinity Studies, Black Queer Studies, Celebrity Death Culture, Feminist Media Studies, Hip-Hop Feminist Politics, Minority Cultural Production on Social Media, Popular Culture, Queer Online Political Communication, and Social Media and Social Change

Election Media Clips

The Trump and Harris economic plans ‘are closer than people imagine,’ according to some experts
AP
Pace University Dyson College of Arts and Sciences Economics Professor Mark Weinstock discusses the similarities and differences in Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump’s economic plans with the Associated Press.

Beyonce's Harris rally tests superstar's political reach - Reuters
Reuters
Pace University Professor Melvin Williams provides expert commentary to Reuters on the significance of Beyoncé's first public political appearance at a rally for Vice President Harris, exploring how this move tests the superstar's political influence.

What happens to Trump's criminal cases if he wins the election -- or loses? - ABC News
ABC News
...there's little he could do to revive the case, according to Pace University law professor Bennett Gershman.
A spoiler candidate, centrist bona fides, and no bull rides: Suburban New York race could decide House control.

A spoiler candidate, centrist bona fides, and no bull rides: Suburban New York race could decide House control
National Journal
Pace University Dyson College Political Science Professor Laura Tamman shares insights on the Mondaire Jones/Mike Lawler Congressional race.

Tight House Races Could Decide Who Controls Congress
Fox News MMR - Twitter
Pace University Dyson College Political Science Professor Laura Tamman shares insights on the Mondaire Jones/Mike Lawler Congressional race.

How Trump Goes to Prison If He Loses the Election to Harris
NYMag - Intelligencer
“He will be facing serious legal jeopardy if he loses. He knows that,” says Bennett Gershman, a professor of constitutional law at Pace Law School who served for a decade as a New York prosecutor. “It’s probably on his mind every day. He faces four very, very serious cases, in one of which he has already been convicted as a felon. The others are easily convictable.”

If Trump Wants It, 2+2=5 - Law.com
Law.com
Bennett L. Gershman is a distinguished professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and author of "Prosecutorial Misconduct ...

"He has zero, nothing": Legal experts say Trump has "no factual defense" against Jack Smith filing
Salon.com
Pace University Law Professor Bennett Gershman provides legal insight to Salon on the potential for the Supreme Court to once again intervene in favor of Former President Donald Trump, despite the extensive evidence presented by Special Counsel Jack Smith in Trump’s election interference case .

Harris’s Historic Run Could Outpace Hollywood’s Oval Offices
The New York Times
Melvin Williams, an associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, called the lack of women of color playing the commander in chief an example of “symbolic annihilation,” an academic term describing the exclusion of groups in popular culture and mass media. “We don’t put it onscreen, so you don’t see it as a possibility, and large audiences don’t even begin to fathom it as a possibility,” Dr. Williams said.

Pace University Political Science Professor Laura Tamman featured on Fox 5 News
Fox5
Pace University Dyson Political Science Professor Laura Tamman was featured on Fox 5 focusing on the 2024 presidential debate.

Power & Politics: Harris-Trump first debate preview; education in New York for the new school year
News 12 - Westchester
Pace University Clinical Assistant Professor George Picoulas provided a preview of the first debate, offering insights on what each candidate needed to accomplish in the debate.

Power & Politics: Harris, Trump unveil economic plans; what a federal rate cut could mean for you
News 12 Westchester
This week's guests include Pace University Clinical Associate Professor Mark Weinstock and The SKG Team at Barnum Financial Group Certified Financial Planner Chris Kampitsis.

How celebrities impact U.S. elections
CBS News
A number of famous faces have been in attendance for both this week's Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention earlier this summer. Dr. Melvin Williams, associate professor of communication and media studies at Pace University, joined CBS News to discuss how celebrities impact politics.

Fans Think Taylor Swift Responded to Donald Trump's AI Image Scandal - Parade
Parade
In Trump's case, Pace University Law Professor Leslie Garfield Tenzer told Forbes that Swift may have recourse under the Lanah Act, which ...

'Shake If Off'—Taylor Swift Could Sue Trump For Using Her Likeness - Forbes
Forbes
"The Lanham Act—which Congress adopted quite some time ago—protects celebrity 'brands' and gives celebrities a cause of action against people or corps that try to use the celebrity's likeness to mislead consumers," explained Pace University Law Professor Leslie Garfield Tenzer.

Celebrities And Politics Don't Mix Well In Social Media Era - Forbes
Forbes
... University. Nothing To Gain From Being Too Political. It is ... Pace University. "His intent was clearly that his craft was a sports ...

Donald Trump May Have Violated Lanham Act With Taylor Swift Image Use - Newsweek
Newsweek
...to use the celebrity's likeness to mislead consumers," explained Pace University Law Professor Leslie Garfield Tenzer.

Kamala Harris leans into her Indian, Black heritage to energize voters
USA Today
Harris will need to assemble a broad coalition to win in November, including a substantial percentage of independent and unaffiliated white voters in the suburbs of battleground states, said Laura Tamman, an assistant professor of Political Science at New York's Pace University.

Kamala Harris leans into her Indian, Black heritage to energize voters
AOL.com
Harris will need to assemble a broad coalition to win in November, including a substantial percentage of independent and unaffiliated white voters in the suburbs of battleground states, said Laura Tamman, an assistant professor of Political Science at New York's Pace University.

Kamala Harris leans into her Indian, Black heritage to energize voters
The Reporter-Times
… said Laura Tamman, an assistant professor of Political Science at New York's Pace University.

Kamala Harris leans into her Indian, Black heritage to energize voters
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
… said Laura Tamman, an assistant professor of Political Science at New York's Pace University.

Kamala Harris is accused of being 'soft on crime,' but is there any evidence?
The Hill
Bennett L. Gershman is a former prosecutor in New York and a distinguished professor of law at Pace University. He is the author of “Prosecutorial ...

Do celebrity endorsements matter?
Vox
“Political candidates are heavily leaning on celebrities as a mechanism to attract the attention of this cycle’s youngest voting demographic: Generation Z,” says Melvin Williams, a professor of communications and media studies at Pace University.

Élections américaines : des célébrités mettent du poids dans la balance
CBC Radio-Canada
Pace University Professor Melvin Williams was featured On CBC Radio-Canada analyzing the impacts and dangers of celebrity endorsements in the 2024 US Presidential Election.

Power & Politics: Harris picks Walz, a plan to fix East Ramapo schools' finances
News 12 Westchester
On this weekend's Power & Politics, Pace University political science adjunct professor Kerriann Stout provides insight into Kamala Harris' decision to pick Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate and State Sen. Bill Weber discusses his bill to rescue the East Ramapo Central School District from a major financial hole.

Kamala Harris picks Tim Walz as running mate
NBC New York
Pace University’s Political Science Professor Laura Tamman spoke with WNBC4 in New York about Kamala Harris’s pick for vice president in her run for The White House.

Hudson Valley Congressman Backs Vice President Kamala Harris For New Presidential Nomine
News 12 - Westchester
It's an endorsement, a political science professor Laura Tamman with Pace University says will likely energize voters and the Hudson Valley one way or another.

Political analyst: Biden's decision to end reelection bid should have come sooner
News 12 - Westchester
News 12's Melanie Palmer spoke with political science professor Laura Tamman who weigh in on the political impact of the decision.

Contingent Presidential Election – 19th Century Anachronism or Detour From Democracy in 2025?
PA Times
Pace University professor Stephen R. Rolandi discusses the concept of a contingent presidential election, a process outlined in the U.S. Constitution that occurs when no candidate wins a majority of electoral votes.

Pace professor weighs political rhetoric, gun control in wake of Trump rally shooting
News 12 - Westchester
News 12's Carol Wilkinson spoke to Pace University professor George Picoulas for his take on Saturday's events, media coverage of the event and...

Pace professor weighs political rhetoric, gun control in wake of Trump rally shooting
Griffin Daily News
News 12's Carol Wilkinson spoke to Pace University professor George Picoulas for his take on Saturday's events, media coverage of the event and ...

Presidential Immunity Decision Unleashes the Whirlwind
New York Law Journal
Pace University Haub Law Professor Bennett Gershman Op Ed. The decision is tendentious and policy-driven, a far cry from the self-righteous originalism these Justices purport to follow. And the decision is frightening. It’s a time-bomb ready to go off. The court has enabled any U.S. president to become a dictator.

Get In Touch with Our Experts

For press inquiries and media requests, please contact Madia Bestman. She can be reached by phone at (212) 346-1020 or via email at mbestman@pace.edu.

Clinical Assistant Professor of Political Science Laura Tamman, PhD, shared her views on the importance of congressional races and why people are paying such close attention to them on Live Fox Now.

She said, “So, the way that our system of government works, Congress is essential in passing laws and legislation, and who wins Congress, is really going to determine what the president is able to do, regardless of which person wins the presidency, so the race for Congress is incredibly consequential for governing, moving forward.”

When asked which specific congressional races she is keeping a closer eye on, she said, “While a lot of folks are looking at the swing states for the presidential, I’m actually looking at coastal states for the congressional. So, I’m looking at New York and California; NY, in part because that’s where I live, but there are two really key races there: NY 19 and NY 16,and NY 19 is extremely competitive, but Biden won and there’s a Republican incumbent, and, similarly, NY 16, Biden also won, and the Republican congressional candidate there, Congressman Lawler, has really run a flawless campaign. And the Democrat in the race, Mondaire Jones, has not run what I would call a flawless campaign, so, given how competitive this is, if Jones manages to win, that will really tell us where the rest of the races are going.”

She also elaborated on if we could see a swap with who controls the presidency versus the US House and Senate, and what that would mean.

“This [election] is really, really close in all three branches, so we can have a situation where the president is of a different party than the House, which is rare, but it could happen this year, and that will really hamper the president’s ability to enact their agenda, and so, if that happens, we can expect that we will see very little progress in legislation because there will be so much gridlock.

We can make our firmest predictions about the US Senate. The US Senate seems poised to shift into Republican control, but the House is totally up for grabs, and it’s possible that whoever wins the presidency will be able to bring the Congress along.”

We all remember our time at law school – the courses, the professors, learning the law behind the infamous rule against perpetuities, the study groups, and the friendships made through it all. In 1986, a group of 11 law students formed a bond during their 1L year that has lasted long past their law school graduation. During their law school tenure, this close-knit group studied hard together, but also made plenty of time for fun. Since graduating in 1990, the group has made it a point to get together twice a year regularly. Most recently, the close-knit group, along with Haub Law Dean Horace Anderson and Professor Emeritus Jay Carlisle, gathered over the summer in Hastings-On-Hudson. We sat down for a Q&A with two core members of the group, Eric Ploumis and John Rand, to learn more about the self-proclaimed “Back Seat Boyz.”

Let’s dive right in – who are the official members of the “Back Seat Boyz” and how did the group come to be?

We started with Alan Clement, Greg Mayer, Bill McDonald, Frank Napoli, Paul Neugebauer, Ray Nicotera, Jim Pascalicchio, Eric Ploumis, John Rand, Tony Roccamo, Judge Kevin Russo. We do invite other classmates and professors to join us at some of our events. We were all strivers who went to what was then known as Pace Law to better ourselves, but we knew how to have fun while working hard. Somehow, we all ended up sitting in the back two rows of any classroom where seats were not assigned. We all tended to gravitate to these back two rows under the mistaken belief that we wouldn’t be called on during class. Often, after a particularly tough class or tough week, we would convene at a local pub to blow off steam. We were all working full time at demanding jobs, putting in 18-hour days between work and school, but we always made time to have fun. During exam weeks we would often get together on the weekend at one of the crew’s offices to prepare and study for the upcoming exam.

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I have heard rumors of honorary members of your group.

He may not want to admit being associated with us, but we consider Professor Carlisle an honorary member. He frequently attends our dinners as our honored guest. At a recent dinner, Dean Horace Anderson joined us. Dean Anderson is still on probation and doesn’t come up for a vote until his third event with us.

Since graduation, how often does the group meet?

Officially as our full group, we meet twice a year, once in the winter for a steak dinner, once in the summer for a seafood extravaganza. We are all very comfortable with each other, confident in the brotherhood the years have created. It is not unusual for a member of the group to float a question or ask for advice. Each of us has a different specialty and knowledge base. We share each other’s happy times and console each other in sad times.

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I suspect that this article may elicit some future “Back Seat Boyz” – what advice would you have for them?

It is easy to bond with your classmates during the crucible of law school. Staying close after law school requires one or two of the gang to organize and coordinate events and not take no for an answer. We are all very different people with a lot in common. The enduring friendships are worth the small effort it takes to maintain them.

Going back to before it all started, prior to law school, both of you were involved in full-time, non-legal careers. What brought you to law school?

Eric Ploumis: I was a full-time orthodontist when I started what was then known as Pace Law. I did not go to law school with the intention of ever practicing law, but I ended up as a full-time orthodontist and a full-time attorney doing transactions for dentists. While I have retired from orthodontics, I still practice law at Rivkin Radler. Pace’s night program was perfect for me and geographically convenient as well.

John Rand: I was a practicing pharmacist when I started law school and envisioned working for Big Pharma after law school. When we graduated in 1990 the pharmaceutical industry was on a down swing. I went into litigation instead and now work at Clark, Gagliardi and Miller in White Plains, which has enjoyed a close relationship with the Law School since the Law School’s inception.

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Summed up, what would you say about your experience at Pace?

Attending night school while working full time was a grinding experience for all of us. Having the support of a good group of guys made it more tolerable. We were at Pace to better ourselves and without exception, it proved a good investment of time and effort.

On November 1, the Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems gathered to celebrate Diwali at Pace University. Diwali, India’s biggest holiday and also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Hindu tradition that symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, bringing a message of hope and renewal. This vibrant and cherished tradition within the Seidenberg community was held at the Design Factory space in 15 Beekman, and the event welcomed students, faculty, and staff for an evening filled with cultural experiences, laughter, and connection.

One of the standout activities of the event was an intricate rangoli showcase, for which student attendees showcased their artistic talent and cultural heritage by designing their own rangolis and putting them on display. The students who participated were rewarded with exclusive Seidenberg merch! The event guests also enjoyed an assortment of traditional Indian foods, adding authentic flavors to the festivities and enhancing the communal spirit.

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This celebration is a testament to the strong bond between Seidenberg and its Indian student community. Each year, celebrating Diwali provides an opportunity for students to share their culture and traditions, fostering deeper connections and mutual appreciation within the school. Special thanks go to the dedicated Seidenberg students who made this year’s celebration a success, showcasing their creativity and organizational talent.

Celebrating the cultures of our diverse population is one of the many reasons students consider Seidenberg their home away from home. Building an inclusive environment where students feel seen, supported, and celebrated is part of our mission. These moments not only honor cultural heritage but also strengthen the school’s close-knit community, making it a true home for students from all backgrounds.

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Growing up in a first-generation Italian household, 3L Stella Capparelli learned perseverance and grit from her parents, who immigrated from Italy. From an early age, she understood that not everyone has the opportunity to attend college or law school, and she was determined to make the most of the opportunities she had. With the educational systems in Italy and the United States being so different, Stella couldn’t rely on her parents to guide her through the college process. Instead, she took charge and forged her own path in higher education, a proactive spirit that would later inspire her to pursue a career in law. Aware of how many people are unfamiliar with their rights, Stella set out to become a source of support for those facing complex legal challenges.

As an undergraduate at Marist College, Stella’s passion for learning drove her to seek out additional classes she could take. In her senior year, she realized she had accumulated enough credits to graduate early in December instead of May. This allowed her to get a head start on her legal education, with Haub Law’s Accelerated January Degree Program at the top of her list. The program, which enables students to begin in the spring term and graduate in two and a half years, appealed to her drive for efficiency and her desire to start her legal career sooner.

Since starting at Haub Law, Stella has built an impressive list of accomplishments. She transitioned from a Residence Hall Assistant to Residence Hall Director at Dannat Hall, served as a Dean Scholar for four semesters, became involved in the Italian American Law Students Association (ITALO), and competed in two mock competitions for Pace Law’s Advocacy Program. Additionally, Stella has contributed to Haub Law’s Legal Hand Call-In Center, where she empowered local community members by connecting them with resources to resolve legal issues. “It’s incredibly rewarding to provide someone with the guidance and tools they need,” she says.

In true Stella fashion, Stella was selected for Haub Law’s John Jay Legal Services Pro Bono Scholars Program. This program allows students to devote their final semester to pro bono work while also taking the New York bar exam in February, opening the door for her to begin practicing law right after graduation.

Most recently, Stella secured a coveted internship at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, working under Judge Philip M. Halpern, a distinguished Haub Law Alumnus. “It’s been a once-in-a-lifetime experience, reinforcing my desire to continue working in the legal field,” she shares. “I’ve been able to participate in research, observe court proceedings, and even help draft legal documents.”

Stella attributes much of her success to the encouragement and support she has received from her parents and family. When challenges turn tougher than expected, Stella’s mom is the first to champion her daughter not to give up and keep her eye on the prize. When asked what advice she has for aspiring law students, Stella shared, “Don’t let anything stop you. If you have a bad day, remember tomorrow is a new day. Keep a reminder of why you’re in law school written on a note and use that to stay motivated. And be sure to seize every opportunity that comes your way, while enjoying the journey.”