This semester, eight Fordham Law students had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the dynamic field of data privacy law and regulations.
The new externship program is a partnership between Fordham Law School and New York City’s Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), the City’s lead agency focused on streamlining technology operations across the five boroughs.
“With the increase in the number and complexity of privacy laws and continued development and integration of new technologies into our daily lives, cultivating the next generation of privacy lawyers is a critical responsibility shared among law schools and those in practice,” said New York City Chief Privacy Officer Michael Fitzpatrick ’12. “It was a pleasure to host and engage these future attorneys in the dynamic work of the Office of Information Privacy, and I applaud their many accomplishments over the course of the semester.”
In addition to spending up to 10 hours per week doing field work at OTI, students gathered weekly for a class taught by OTI Director of Strategy and Operations Rebecca Blatt and Deputy Chief Privacy Officer Aaron Friedman. Through the externships, students obtained a first hand look at the city’s local privacy laws in action, as well as federal and state privacy laws, conducted legal research and writing, and produced a capstone project focused on privacy law and practice.
“The cohort quickly and seamlessly integrated into the Office of Information Privacy during their field work, which culminated with each student briefing the Chief Privacy Officer on a specific privacy issue,” said Blatt. “Students worked with their dedicated supervising attorneys over the course of the semester to research and prepare briefing topics ranging from neuro-privacy to a comparative analysis of foreign privacy regulatory regimes and New York City privacy governance.”
“The externship is a bridge between theory and practice for law students,” said Tom Norton, executive director, Center on Law and Information Policy at Fordham Law. “Through the partnership, we’re shaping the next generation of privacy advocates who will navigate the complex landscape of privacy laws with diligence and expertise.”
Second-year student Milan George ’25 was placed in New York City’s Office of Information Privacy (OIP), where she focused on learning about the legal frameworks and practices surrounding data privacy and security and compliance with federal, state, and local privacy laws affecting New York City agencies.
George said that her interest in data privacy is rooted in her experiences “growing up in a digital world.”
“Witnessing firsthand the transformative power of technology, as well as its potential for misuse, inspired me to pursue a career where I could contribute to shaping the legal landscapes that govern technology use,” she said.
Through her externship, George took a deep dive into privacy impact assessment (PIA) processes globally, comparing PIA toolkits used in New York City and in New Zealand to identify and manage privacy risks. She also developed recommendations to refine and enhance OIP’s approaches to privacy impact assessments. “This project was not only challenging but also exceptionally rewarding, as it allowed me to contribute to the accessibility and effectiveness of privacy practices in New York City,” said George.
Friedman said the students’ dedication and enthusiasm was “palpable,” noting, “For many, it was their first real look at how privacy protection is considered by New York City in solving problems and delivering services.”
“This externship has been pivotal in solidifying my desire to work in data privacy law,” said George. “Engaging with privacy issues and seeing lawyers’ direct impact on city policies has reinforced my commitment to advancing in this field after graduation. It’s been inspiring to see how the field continuously evolves, and I’m eager to be part of that ongoing change, ensuring technology serves the public good while respecting individual privacy.”
“I’m very happy that we have been able to expand our focused externship offerings to include an experience that is able to simultaneously preview for students what it is to be a lawyer working in the government sector and work in privacy law,” said Professor Ron Lazebnik, director of the J.D. Externship Program. “As a program, we’ll continue to seek these kinds of wonderful and unique experiences for our students.”