When she first toured the Law School, Celine Alhout ’25 was inspired by what she heard about Fordham Law Women—so much so that she knew Fordham was where she belonged. Now, as a 3L, she serves as the organization’s president. She discovered a passion for real estate law during her law school education, and she is excited to be joining the Real Estate group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher after graduation. In addition to preparing Alhout for a legal career, her time at Fordham has provided her with invaluable mentorship and a strong sense of community.
What is your degree program at Fordham Law and what are your areas of interest?
I am a 3L J.D. candidate in the day division at Fordham Law. I’m interested in real estate law. Fordham gave me the opportunity to take several real estate classes which confirmed my interest in the practice area.
What is your hometown and where did you study before Fordham Law?
I grew up in Fairfield, New Jersey, and I attended Drew University.
Why did you choose Fordham Law?
I was introduced to Fordham Law by my brother-in-law, who went to Gabelli School of Business for his M.B.A. and had the opportunity to take classes at the law school throughout his program. He took me to visit the Law School one day, and I absolutely loved it! I knew I wanted to practice law in New York City, and Fordham has an amazing alumni network. During admitted students day, I got a tour from a student who spoke about Fordham Law Women (FLW) and the community she found as a part of the organization. That sealed the deal.
Is there something special you have been involved in at Fordham Law?
The most special aspect of my time at Fordham Law was my involvement in FLW . During my first year, I served as a 1L representative for FLW and found the most amazing community of supportive women. When it was time for board elections, I applied to be the 2L President and got the position! The FLW presidency is a two-year role, where the 2L President automatically serves as the 3L President to help pass down institutional knowledge. With over 30 events each year and a strong mentorship program, FLW has afforded me the opportunity to give back to the Fordham community and help support other students through their law school journey.
What has been the best thing about studying law in New York City?
You can find Fordham alumni in any and all practice areas of law across the city. This makes it so easy to learn about a range of experiences, not to mention that Fordham alumni are always happy to chat with current students about their time in law. Also, so many major legal institutions, whether they are private firms or non-profit organizations, have offices or headquarters here. This makes pursuing externships and other opportunities more seamless because you can find something close to school.
Have you lined up a job for when you graduate?
After graduation and taking the bar, I will be joining the Real Estate group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. I spent my 2L summer at Willkie and had a great experience learning from extremely smart and hard working attorneys. Having enjoyed working on real estate assignments this past summer, I am fortunate that I will be working in a practice area I’m passionate about with veteran attorneys who will be able to show me the ropes.
Have you had any important mentors during law school? If so, who and why?
I have been fortunate enough to have two of the most incredible mentors during law school. The first is Abby Ryckman ’24, who was the 3L president of FLW when I served as the 2L President. Abby’s tenacity, kindness, and ambition informed me of what kind of leader I wanted to be as the 3L president. Luckily, Abby and I will have plenty more opportunities to work together as I will be joining her at Willkie, where she started this past October!
The second mentor is Philip O’Connell ’25. Philip and I were in the same section in the Law School’s house system, and he was the 1L Student Bar Association representative for our section. Now, he is the editor in chief of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy team. There is no task too big for him to take on, and he is always trying to figure out ways to bring students together. Having had a career before law school, Philip brings a unique perspective which I admire greatly. I am so grateful for both Abby and Philip, and all that I have learned from them.
What is one piece of advice you would give to incoming 1Ls?
One piece of advice that I give to every incoming 1L is to try to block out noise and focus on what works for you. Especially around finals season, students are nervous and it is incredibly important to not take on other people’s stresses or let others negatively impact how you feel about yourself or your studies.
Another piece of advice comes from my Professional Identity for Lawyers class: I would tell 1Ls to not fall into the trap of imposter syndrome. It is okay if you do not know what you are doing! You have never done law school before and it’s entirely new. You are right where everyone is expecting you to be as you as a 1L, so just take it all one step at a time.
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