On April 3, the Center for Judicial Events and Clerkships (CJEC), the Center on Asian Americans and the Law, and the Corporate Law Center welcomed Judge Kyu Young (Mike) Paek ’08, who serves on the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Paek spoke with the Fordham Law community about his path to the bench in a fireside chat moderated by Judge Denny Chin ’78, United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Paek shared his personal journey to the bench, beginning with his family’s migration to the United States from South Korea when he was seven years old. “My upbringing prepared me to be a bankruptcy judge because we really struggled financially,” said Paek. His parents owned a series of businesses in Texas—“small grocery stores, a liquor store, and a gas station”—but they faced financial difficulties.
“It made me realize what people in financial distress go through,” said Paek. “So when I see individual debtors in my courtroom, I can level with them. I really try to meet them where they are, because I know what it’s like. They’re facing foreclosure, they’re facing big medical debt, and they’re filing bankruptcy because it’s their last hope.”
Paek said that his Fordham Law network was instrumental in launching his career as a jurist. He said, “When I told them, ‘I think I want to become a bankruptcy judge,’ they lined up behind me.”
Immediately prior to the fireside chat, Paek met informally with students in Professor Richard Squire’s Corporate Reorganization Class.
Paek’s interest in bankruptcy law was piqued when he took bankruptcy courses at Fordham Law. “I fell in love with the practice area thanks to all of my mentors, like Professor Susan Block-Lieb,” he said, referencing the Fordham Law Cooper Family Chair of Urban Legal Studies, who teaches bankruptcy, secured transactions, consumer protection, and other commercial law courses.
After graduating, Paek practiced at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP for four years before he applied for clerkships. He then worked for two Southern District bankruptcy judges—first, Judge James M. Peck, and then, Judge Stuart M. Bernstein—as a career clerk, where he gained invaluable experience as the lead law clerk on the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC under the Securities Investor Protection Act.
After Bernstein retired, Paek served as chief deputy clerk of court, an administrative role, for the Southern District Bankruptcy Court. While he had an untraditional trajectory toward the bench, Paek said this position was what granted him the experience necessary to become a bankruptcy judge.
“I was working for all nine judges in our Court,” said Paek. “And I gained a reputation as someone that’s dependable, reliable, smart, and knew how every document that came into our Court should be handled. And so when I was ready to apply for a bankruptcy judgeship, the sitting members of the Southern District bankruptcy bench enthusiastically supported my application.”
Paek was appointed as a United States bankruptcy judge for the Southern District of New York in July 2024.
“Learn to be an effective legal writer,” Paek advised current students in attendance. “Effective legal writing in law school is different from effective legal writing in the real world. As a summer associate, try to focus on writing that’s clear, concise, and organized.”
Paek also emphasized the importance of your network. “Maintain, as much as you can, a sterling reputation,” he said. “It’s the most important asset that you’ll have.”
“Judge Paek’s path to the bench is inspiring, and as he told our community it informs his approach to each case. It was an important reminder that judges are focused on serving the public – and Judge Paek’s approach is in keeping with the Fordham Law ethos “ in the service of others. We are fortunate to have him on the bench.” said CJEC Assistant Dean Suzanne Endrizzi ’96.
