Daniel Caballero ’24 wanted to become a lawyer, in part, because of his interest in public service. At Fordham Law, he was a Pro Bono Scholar, which allowed him to take the February bar exam and volunteer at the New York Legal Assistance Group, where he provided direct legal services in the Consumer Protection Unit. After graduating in May, Caballero will be clerking this fall for Judge Dulce Foster in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota and hopes to continue working in public service.
What is your hometown?
Chattanooga, TN.
Where did you study before Fordham Law?
Wesleyan University.
What are your areas of interest?
I’m interested in U.S. constitutional law, particularly criminal civil rights. For example, I wrote a note that was published by the Fordham Voting Rights and Democracy Forum that examined whether the First Amendment prohibits the government from prosecuting people for telephonically harassing public officials. I’m also interested in healthcare policy, specifically health insurance regulation.
Why did you choose Fordham Law?
I knew that I wanted to have a career in New York City, and Fordham Law provided an amazing opportunity to open doors for me through its well-established network and respected reputation. Public service was also a significant reason I decided to become a lawyer. The Stein Scholars Program seemed like a unique opportunity to develop that interest further.
What was the best thing about studying law in New York City?
The best thing was the immense network of attorneys and breadth of practice areas. New York City has a massive legal market, not just in terms of private firms but also well-developed nonprofit legal practices, pro bono services, and some of the most respected government attorneys in the nation. The professional opportunities here are limitless, which makes it both overwhelming and promising for someone just starting their legal career.
This past semester, I participated in the Pro Bono Scholars Program, which allowed me to take the February bar exam and then volunteer full-time for a legal non-profit for 12 weeks. I volunteered in the Consumer Protection Unit of the New York Legal Assistance Group. This was my first time providing direct legal services, and it was by far the most personally rewarding part of my law school experience. Although my efforts did not address the root causes of the nation’s access to justice deficiency, I am glad to have helped the individuals I could.
What was your favorite moment at Fordham Law?
My most memorable moment in law school was during a class on evidence. Professor Daniel Capra asked a question about a type of scenario that was not directly covered in the reading. There was a brief pause as everyone thought it over. I raised my hand, and, using the principles we had learned, I reasoned my way to my answer, which was the right one. At that moment, I realized I had learned to “think like a lawyer.”
What are your career plans?
This fall, I am very excited to be clerking for Judge Dulce Foster in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Long-term, I would like to pursue a public service career. In particular, I am interested in investigating and prosecuting health insurance fraud.
What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming 1Ls?
Brief every case in the first semester, or at least try to brief as many as possible. Learning how to read legal opinions is a foundational skill in law school. Doing a formal brief can be time-consuming and tedious, especially when you’re just starting. But, doing so improved my legal reading comprehension significantly and made the rest of law school easier than it would have been otherwise.
Did you have any important mentors during law school?
By far, my most important mentor has been my wife. We met before I even studied for the LSAT. She was a 3L at another law school. She showed me what the law school experience looked like and gave me the confidence to go for it. She has also served as a guide and given me key advice on studying, networking, and planning my post-graduate career. I may have gone to law school without meeting her, but it would have been a more difficult path.
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