The Center for Judicial Events and Clerkships (CJEC) has named its 2021-22 Peer Clerkship Council (PCC), composed of seven members of the J.D. Class of 2022 who worked closely with the Center in securing their post-graduate judicial clerkships.
The Peer Clerkship Council initiative was launched by the CJEC last year to further the clerkship side of the Center’s mandate and to help foster a clerkships-oriented culture at the Law School. The inaugural PCC laid the foundation for an enduring peer support initiative, which had an immediate clear impact through a vast array of initiatives.
This year’s PCC is eager to build upon the work of their predecessors, while making their own mark in helping the CJEC foster a broad and inclusive clerkship-oriented culture.
“We were incredibly fortunate to have such a dynamic cohort of students form our inaugural PCC,” said Assistant Dean Suzanne M. Endrizzi ’96. “What they accomplished was beyond what we hoped for in an incredibly challenging year with the pandemic.”
“The energy and enthusiasm that this year’s PCC brings to further develop the peer support structure is a testament to the work of our inaugural Council,” Dean Endrizzi continued. “I am excited to work with them and see all the amazing things they do in support of their colleagues!”
At the initial meeting the PCC identified key areas of focus, including:
- Engaging and supporting first-year J.D. students and serving as a peer resource to upper-division J.D. students
- Developing initiatives to promote and assist students with building faculty relationships
- Creating DEI initiatives in collaboration with student organizations
- Building bridges with/to our alumni clerk community through participation in events
The PCC will regularly host themed coffee chats and alumni clerk chats, which will be posted on the CJEC’s LawNET page.
“We are lucky to have another truly dynamic group of students leading our peer engagement initiative,” said Daniel J. Capra, Reed Professor of Law and faculty director of CJEC, “ensuring that the clerkship side of the CJEC is ever adapting to student needs and interests.”
Meet the 2021-22 Members of the Peer Clerkship Council
Alexandria Bell ’22
Alexandria Bell ’22
Hometown: West Orange, NJ
Education: B.A. in Creative Writing, Media, and Politics, minor in Studio Art, New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study ’17
Clerkship: Judge Patrick DeAlmeida, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, 2022-2023 Term
“I am a staff member of the Urban Law Journal, team member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Team, co-president of Mentoring Youth Through Legal Education (MYLE), and community service chair and diversity and inclusion liaison for the Jewish Law Students Association.”
“I decided to pursue a clerkship because I think it will be a great place to begin my career in public service. I also wanted the experience of assisting a judge in their chambers and obtaining an insider’s look into how judges weigh different legal issues.”
“I was nervous about starting the clerkship application process because clerking is known to be competitive. However, once I began to obtain more information through Dean Endrizzi and my independent research, I quickly felt comfortable and capable. I decided to become involved with the PCC, so that I can show fellow students that they, too, are capable of obtaining a clerkship—even if the process seems daunting.”
Jordan Davis ’22
Jordan Davis ’22
Hometown: Hewlett, NY
Education: B.S. in Applied Economics & Management, Cornell University ’17
Clerkship: Judge Claire C. Cecchi, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, 2022-2023 Term
“I’m an articles and notes editor for the Fordham Law Review, associate editor and former competitor of the Fordham Moot Court Board, and teaching assistant for the first-year legal writing program.”
“To me, there is no better opportunity for professional development for an aspiring litigator than to intimately observe the judicial system from chambers. Clerking provides a unique opportunity, under the close guidance of an experienced federal judge, to spend each day researching and writing, observing lawyering (both good and bad), and learning about various areas of the law. I am confident that the experience and mentorship will benefit my career as a young lawyer and beyond.”
“I decided to become involved with the PCC to pay it forward. Dean Endrizzi, the CJEC, and the inaugural PCC members were instrumental in helping me achieve my goal of getting a judicial clerkship and I hope to play a small role in helping other students achieve their clerkship goals.”
Tatiana Hyman ’22
Tatiana Hyman ’22
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Education: B.A. in Criminology and Minors in African Studies and Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania ’17
Clerkship: Judge Denny Chin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit; Judge Cathy Seibel, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2022-2023 Term (Judge Chin), 2023-2025 Term (Judge Seibel)
“I am the editor-in-chief of the Fordham Law Review and a member of the Moot Court Board. During my 2L year, I served as the vice president of the Black Law Students Association and was a legal writing teaching assistant and tutor.”
“I pursued clerking because I want to become a more effective legal writer and advocate. I am passionate about using my legal education to improve educational equity, and clerking seemed like a great way to diversify my legal experience while developing stronger advocacy skills under the mentorship of a judge. I am also interested in pursuing government work, and clerking will allow me to gain exposure to public service.”
“The CJEC’s resources and the events facilitated by last year’s PCC were instrumental in helping me learn about what clerkships are and helping me to decide whether clerkships would be a good fit for my career goals. I want to be a part of making sure that students have adequate opportunities to learn about clerkships and that they have the information and guidance they need to be prepared for the application process. I also benefited from talking with members of the PCC about whether clerking would be the right fit for me and want to provide this support for students who are deciding.”
Ed McLaughlin ’22
Ed McLaughlin ’22
Hometown: Sayville, NY
Education: M.S. in New Media Management, Syracuse University ’12; B.S. in Television, Radio, & Film, Syracuse University ’11
Clerkship: Judge Claire Eagan, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma; and Judge Kent A. Jordan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2022-2023 (Judge Eagan), 2023-2024 (Judge Jordan)
“I’m the executive online editor of the Fordham Law Review. I am also a member of the Moot Court Board and competed in the Prince Evidence Competition during the spring of my 2L year. Last year, I was also a teaching assistant for legal writing and torts.”
“I wanted to clerk because I think it’s a dream job. I’ll get to work closely with a judge and other people who are smarter than me to solve real problems and make meaningful contributions to the judiciary right at the start of my career. Then, from a practical perspective, it’s the best way to develop your research and writing skills at the start of your legal career. In the long-term, having that experience on your resume keeps other doors open.”
“The inaugural PCC, and the CJEC as a whole, was a tremendous resource to me as I went through this sometimes daunting process. The relationships I made with some of last year’s PCC members helped make this whole process seem more accessible and manageable. Hopefully I can do the same as a PCC member this year and I look forward to meeting and working with 1Ls and 2Ls who have the same questions I had last year about clerking and how to navigate this process.”
Eliora Mintz ’22
Eliora Mintz ’22
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Education: B.A. in History and Latin American Studies, minor in Hispanic Studies, Brandeis University ’18
Clerkship: Judge Thomas K. Isenhour, New Jersey Superior Court, Criminal Division, Union County, 2022-2023 Term
“I am a member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Team, board member of the Suspension Representation Project, 1L contracts tutor, and a research assistant.”
“Although going into law school and a clerkship during my 1L year were never on my radar, after speaking with professors and alumni about their clerkship experience, I came to realize that it would be an incredible way to challenge myself and hone my research, writing, and editing skills. Clerking will expose me to the “behind the scenes” of how a judge decides complex and novel issues—knowledge of which I hope to take into my future career.”
“I am grateful to the CJEC for all the help it has given me during my entire clerkship application process. As a public interest student not on a journal or moot court, I didn’t think I would have strong enough credentials to secure a clerkship. However, from my first initial contact with the Center early in my 2L year to the day I sent out my application, Dean Endrizzi was an incredible resource and mentor that championed my candidacy. I hope to pay it forward and be a resource for other students who may find themselves in a similar situation as I was.”
Julio Ruiz-Gomez ’22
Julio Ruiz-Gomez ’22
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Education: B.A. in Political Science, minor in Business Economics, University of Notre Dame ’19
Clerkship: Judge Thomas W. Sumners Jr., New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division, 2022-2023 Term
“I am a member of the Urban Law Journal and associate competition editor of the moot court team.”
“I decided to pursue a clerkship because of my experience externing for Judge Gary S. Katzmann on the U.S. Court of International Trade during my 2L spring semester. He treats his interns as “mini-clerks,” allowing them to handle all aspects of one case throughout the semester. I really enjoyed the work and began thinking about clerkships. As I began discussing clerkships with lawyers in various practice areas, they all mentioned how clerking was one of the highlights of their careers and an invaluable experience. Their affirmation, along with my experience with Judge Katzmann, made me decide to seriously pursue a clerkship.”
“I decided to pursue a clerkship late into my 2L year and, frankly, I had no idea what I was doing. I did not know which application materials I would need, what those materials should look like, and how competitive my application would be for certain courts. Dean Endrizzi was an incredible resource and oriented me in the right direction. In our first meeting, she read over my resume, told me which courts I was competitive for, what application materials I should start preparing, and when the application deadlines were for the courts she suggested. Without that initial push, I am certain I would not be clerking.”
Rebecca Spendley ’22
Becca Spendley ’22
Hometown: LaGrangeville, NY
Education: B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Criminal Justice, George Washington University ’16
Clerkship: Judge Claire Cecchi, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Late 2022 or early 2023
“I am an articles and notes editor for the Fordham Law Review. I am a member of the Moot Court Board and the Dispute Resolution Society, and competed in the Vis International Arbitration Competition last year.”
“My initial interest began when I interned for Judge Susan D. Wigenton and experienced how amazing and helpful her clerks were. As I was interviewing with different firms and networking with attorneys, I realized that many of them had completed clerkships and spoke incredibly highly of their experience in chambers and how it shaped their future careers. I wanted to have the opportunity to establish those foundational skills that a clerkship uniquely provides.”
“I want to give back to a community that has given me so much support during my first two years in law school. I think it is important to pay that forward and help those going through this process. The clerkship application process is difficult and confusing, and I could not have done it without the support of the Fordham community. I want to be able to help those who are anxious and nervous about applying, as I was last year.”
