The Center for Judicial Events & Clerkships (CJEC) has named its 2023–2024 Peer Clerkship Council (PCC), a leadership cohort of six members of the J.D. Class of 2024 who worked closely with the Center in pursuing and securing their post-graduate clerkships with federal and state court judges.
“The PCC initiative was initially launched by the Center in its second year in recognition of the importance of peer engagement to fostering a clerkships-oriented culture at the law school. It is now a mainstay for the CJEC infusing the Center with a dynamic set of student-led initiatives,” said Assistant Dean Suzanne M. Endrizzi ’96. “It has also been a wonderful opportunity to watch our students grow professionally and give back as mentors.”
Each year the new cohort of PCC members helps to foster a broad and inclusive clerkship-oriented culture through:
- Interacting with 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.
“These six impressive student leaders will help fulfill the PCC mission of outreach and creative engagement on clerkships,” said James J. Brudney, Joseph Crowley Chair in Labor and Employment and faculty director of CJEC.
Meet the 2023-24 Members of the Peer Clerkship Council
Sonia Autret ’24
Sonia Autret ’24
Hometown: New York, NY
Education: M.A., University College London; B.A., Washington and Lee University
Clerkship: Judge Zachary N. Somers, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, August 2024–2025; Judge Claire V. Eagan ’76, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma, September 2025–2026
“I serve as the managing editor of the Fordham Law Review. I have also competed as a member of the Fordham Moot Court Board and the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center.
“I developed an interest in clerking while externing in judges’ chambers during my 1L summer (with Judge Eric N. Vitaliano in the Eastern District of New York) and the spring of my 2L year (with Judge Jane A. Restani at the U.S. Court of International Trade). Through those experiences I decided that I wanted to clerk to improve my writing and to learn more about what makes for effective (and ineffective) advocacy from judges with immense depths of knowledge.
“Members of last year’s PCC were instrumental in helping me set goals for myself and navigate the application process, which can feel daunting. I hope to act as a resource to other students and serve as an active liaison between current students and alumni.”
Emma Bellows ’24
Emma Bellows ’24
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education: Barnard College, Columbia University ’20
Clerkship: Judge Paul Nieves, Union County Superior Court, Family Division, August 2024–2025
“I am a notes and articles editor for the Fordham International Law Journal.
“As a future litigator, the idea of spending a year learning how a judge works and thinks seemed like a no-brainer. I know that the skills and mentorship gained in a clerkship are unlike those obtained through law school or traditional employment settings, and I felt that I owed it to myself and to my future clients to have the best training possible.
“Working with Dean Endrizzi and members of the PCC is what made my application process so seamless. I am extremely thankful for all the guidance I was given and wanted to pay it forward.”
Daniel Caballero ’24
Daniel Caballero ’24
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
Education: B.A., Wesleyan University ’15
Clerkship: Judge Dulce Foster, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, August 2024–2026
“I am a member of the Fordham Evening Division Society (FEDS), the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), the Fordham First Generation Students (F1GS), and the Stein Scholars Program in Public Interest Law and Ethics. I am a staff member for the Fordham Urban Law Journal and the deputy commentary editor for the Voting Rights and Democracy Forum.
“I want to get an inside look into the judicial decision-making process, gain unique legal writing experience, work as a public servant, and develop a mentorship relationship with an accomplished attorney.
“I couldn’t have gotten through three years of law school without the help of family, friends, Fordham faculty, and work colleagues. The PCC is an opportunity for me to share some of the support I received. As a 4LE and the first (future) lawyer in my family, I believe I can bring a unique perspective to the council and help both traditional and non-traditional law students navigate the clerkship application process.”
Noah Mathews ’24
Noah Mathews ’24
Hometown: New York, NY
Education: B.A. in Economics, Grinnell College ’17
Clerkship: Judge Claire C. Cecchi ’89, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Either the 2024–2025 term or the 2025–2026 term
“I am an articles and notes editor for the Fordham Law Review as well as a member of the Fordham Law Moot Court Board. I was also a legal writing teaching assistant.
“I decided to pursue a clerkship because it is a unique opportunity to strengthen my legal research and writing skills under the guidance of a judge. Clerking also allows you to observe court proceedings almost every day and provides a richer understanding of the judicial process more generally.
“The CJEC (and all of the Center’s infrastructure) has helped me tremendously. The CJEC helped me decide whether I wanted to apply to clerkships, helped me put myself in the best position to apply to clerkships, and ultimately helped me secure my position with Judge Cecchi. I decided to become involved with the PCC because I want to be a part of this amazing infrastructure and support students interested in clerking in whatever way I can.”
Samantha Mitchell ’24
Samantha Mitchell ’24
Hometown: Cedar Grove, NJ
Education: B.A. in Political Science, Villanova University ’20
Clerkship: Judge Cathy Seibel ’85, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, April 2025–October 2026
“I am an articles & notes editor and the associate symposia editor for the Fordham Law Review, a member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center, and the 3L president of the Housing Advocacy Project. During my 2L year, I was also an academic success tutor and a research assistant. This year, I will be an Evidence teaching assistant.
“I decided to pursue a clerkship due to my interest in prosecution and litigation generally. I felt that a clerkship would provide me with an opportunity to learn how to be a better litigator by observing each stage of the litigation process from the bench. I also wanted to strengthen my legal research and writing skills and to gain a long-lasting mentor in a judge, all of which will both help me grow as a lawyer and maximize my opportunities after law school.
“The clerkship application process can feel long and daunting, but the CJEC and the PCC are there to help guide you through the process. I really value mentorship and wanted to pay it forward by sharing my own experience and advice to those who may be interested in pursuing a clerkship.”
John Tsimis ’24
John Tsimis ’24
Hometown: Manhasset, NY
Education: B.A. in Political Science and Philosophy, Boston College ’21
Clerkship: Senior Judge Paul J. Kelly, Jr. ’67, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, September 2024–September 2025
“I am the executive symposia editor of the Fordham Law Review. I was also the president of the Hellenic Law Students Association during my 2L year.
“I spent my 1L summer as a judicial intern for the Honorable Loretta A. Preska ’73, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. I loved the experience of being in chambers and seeing litigation from the perspective of the Judge. I plan to work in litigation after I graduate, and I have heard time and time again that there is no better learning opportunity for an aspiring litigator than clerking.
“I really wanted to pay it forward! I can wholeheartedly say that I would not have gotten through the clerkship application process without the help of PCC members who came before me. Those peer mentors were an invaluable resource in helping me strategize, select my application materials, and understand the intricacies of the process. I am excited to help a new year of Fordham students through the process!”
