Oliver Vettoretti ’27 is spending his summer gaining invaluable real-world legal experience as a judicial intern for Judge Rosemarie Montalbano in Kings County Surrogate’s Court. A surrogate court manages the probate of wills and the administration of estates, disputed claims, and guardianships, and Vettoretti has had the opportunity to help people navigate complicated terrain after losing a loved one.
Where are you interning this summer?
I’m serving as a judicial intern for Judge Rosemarie Montalbano in Kings County Surrogate’s Court. The Surrogate’s Court hears cases involving the affairs of decedents, including the probate of wills and the administration of estates. It also handles adoptions.
I was exclusively interested in a judicial internship because I wanted to see how a court functions and how disputes are resolved. Coming to law school straight from undergrad, the judicial system was foreign to me, and I was eager to explore it.
I was specifically interested in being a judicial intern for Judge Montalbano because she has a wonderful reputation for investing her time in ensuring that her interns learn how to represent their future clients. I can happily confirm that her excellent reputation is well-deserved.
During my first semester at Fordham Law, I was fascinated by the present estates and future interests unit in Professor Carl Minzner’s property law course. I figured that interning for a judge in Surrogate’s Court would provide an opportunity to explore the complexities of how property is transferred from descendants to their named (or unnamed) heirs.
Judge Rosemarie Montalbano and Oliver Vettoretti ’27 at Kings County Surrogate’s Court
What excited you about this opportunity?
I am learning so much by observing how Judge Montalbano skillfully and honestly communicates with those who appear before her during her hearings and weekly calendar.
Judge Montalbano knows what litigants are looking for and how to make them feel understood, and has taught me invaluable lessons on how to ensure my future clients feel heard and supported.
What are you doing in this role?
I aid Kings County Surrogate’s Court in providing a speedy, inexpensive resolution of all matters from guardianship to administration. I rotate through the court’s administrative departments and complete relevant tasks to expedite any pending matters, and I will be assisting Judge Montalbano in drafting opinions for the court.
What has been your favorite part of the experience so far?
My favorite part of my judicial internship with Judge Montalbano so far has been getting to ask her so many questions. She encourages my intellectual curiosity and pushes me to think creatively when facing substantive or procedural legal problems. Her Chambers are always open for learning.
What is your degree program and what area of law are you interested in?
I am a full-time juris doctor candidate and a rising 2L. I am primarily interested in transactional work, but I am interested in litigation work as well. I enjoy the inherently collaborative nature of transactional work, but I admit that the competitive nature of litigation excites me.
After rotating through different transactional and litigation groups next summer (when I’ll be a summer associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges), I will have a better idea of what I want to specialize in. Both kinds of work present unique challenges that appeal to my passion for solving problems.
Where did you grow up and where did you attend college?
I grew up in New Canaan, Connecticut, Shanghai, China, and Atlanta, Georgia for equal amounts of time. I identify different parts of myself with each of these places. I received a B.A. from the University of Richmond and was a double major in cognitive science and philosophy.
How do you think this summer experience will help you when you return to Fordham Law or your career?
I know that this summer experience will help me in my future career by having taught me that my future clients need to know they can trust me and that I care about facilitating their transaction or resolving their dispute.
In Kings County Surrogate’s Court, I have seen that all kinds of people from many walks of life all eventually face an unfortunate commonality: death. No matter the magnitude of the estate they may stand to inherit, people want to feel confident that their concerns and feelings are heard. Judge Montalbano has provided examples of how to connect with people in a legal setting that I can only hope to replicate.
When I start at Weil, Gotshal & Manges next summer, my time with Judge Montalbano will ensure I have a genuine appreciation for the needs of Weil’s clients, and how I can best assist Weil’s attorneys in sincerely addressing those needs in a timely and precise manner.
This summer, hundreds of rising 2Ls and 3Ls from Fordham Law are gaining hands-on experience across the country and around the globe. Whether working as summer associates, judicial interns, or fellows, they’re building professional networks, sharpening their legal skills, and exploring their areas of interest through meaningful, real-world engagement. Follow @fordhamlawnyc to read more stories about Fordham Law students’ summer experiences in our #futurefordhamlawyers series.
