Matthew Corso FCRH ’24, LAW ’27 was an undergraduate at Fordham University in the Bronx when he became an intern with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project two summers in a row. He learned a lot about the legal system while working with staff trying to exonerate wrongfully-convicted persons. This experience inspired him to go to law school, where he hopes to pursue intellectual property law, technology law, or public interest work after earning his law degree.
Where did you grow up and what undergraduate school did you go to?
I am from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, and I went to Fordham University in the Bronx for my undergraduate education. I graduated in 2024 and majored in international political economy.
What led you to apply to law school?
My decision to pursue a career in law solidified when I interned with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project (PaIP) during the summers of 2022 and 2023. PaIP is a legal nonprofit organization that fights to exonerate wrongfully convicted persons. My experience as an intern there was fascinating and motivating. It taught me about the nitty-gritty of the legal system, from criminal trials to state and federal appeals. I also learned a lot about working in a law office. I loved my time with PaIP and I hope I can apply what I learned there at Fordham.
What made you choose Fordham Law?
I loved my time at Fordham University as an undergraduate student. I know several people at Fordham Law and have only heard good things about the value of a Fordham Law education. Fordham Law has plenty of avenues I could pursue in my legal career. My goal is to learn as much as possible and not be locked into one legal path. Fordham is the place where I could do that. It also does not hurt to be in New York City, the biggest legal market in the world!
What do you hope to do with your law degree in the future?
I am trying to be as open as possible. However, I am very interested in public interest law. Specifically, I would love to continue what I started working on at PaIP and work to exonerate wrongfully convicted individuals. Outside of public interest law, I find intellectual property and technology law quite fascinating. I want to see how laws and regulations regarding AI develop while I get my J.D.
What is something interesting about you that people may not know?
I love hiking and camping and have done both all over the country in places such as Pennsylvania, New York, Maine, Florida, Colorado, New Mexico, and Alaska!
Follow @fordhamlawnyc to read more student stories in our #futurefordhamlawyers series.