The Center for Judicial Events & Clerkships (CJEC) has named its 2025–2026 Peer Clerkship Council (PCC), a leadership cohort of six members of the J.D. Class of 2026 who have worked closely with the Center in pursuing and securing their post-graduate clerkships with federal and state court judges.
“Each year, the members of the PCC help to foster a clerkships-oriented culture at the Law School,” said Assistant Dean Suzanne M. Endrizzi ’96. “It was a pleasure working with each of these students as they went through their own process, first deciding whether a clerkship was the right fit and then putting the effort into applying. I know they will be an invaluable source of support and mentorship to their law school colleagues.”
The new cohort of PCC members helps to foster a broad and inclusive clerkship-oriented culture through:
- Interacting with first-year J.D. students and serving as a peer resource to upper-division J.D. students
- Developing initiatives to promote and assist students with building faculty relationships
- Serving as a liaison to the student groups with clerkship initiatives including Fordham Law’s first-gen population
- Building bridges with/to Fordham Law’s alumni clerk community through participation in events
The PCC’s programming will be posted on the CJEC’s Post Graduate Judicial Clerkship LawNET page, and it will also be sent out via email to J.D. students.
Meet the 2025-26 Members of the Peer Clerkship Council
Katherine Bartley ’26
Hometown: Bedford Hills, NY
Education: B.A., political science and ancient studies, Barnard College ’20
Clerkship: Hon. Denny Chin, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
“A clerkship is a unique opportunity to develop your research and writing skills and learn about a broad range of legal areas directly from a judge. As someone who loves writing and wants to litigate, a clerkship seemed like an incredible learning opportunity to have at the start of my career.”
“I wanted to join the PCC to help 1Ls and 2Ls learn more about clerkships and how to apply for them. I hope to be a useful resource and mentor for students who are applying for clerkships and deciding whether to pursue them. The best advice I was given about the clerkship application process was to write a note for a journal. Publishing a note provides you with invaluable research and writing experience, an opportunity to forge faculty relationships, and an excellent discussion topic for interviews.”
“I am the managing editor of the Fordham Law Review and an associate bench editor on the Moot Court Board. I was also a legal writing teaching assistant and am a member of OUTLaws and APALSA. As a 2L, I externed for Judge Denny Chin at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, for whom I am clerking after law school.”
Devon Brostoff ’26
Hometown: Weston, CT
Education: B.S., business and economics, Lehigh University ’17
Clerkship: Hon. Cathy Seibel, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
“There are a few reasons I chose to pursue a clerkship: I thoroughly enjoy analyzing complex issues, legal writing, and research. I was invigorated about strengthening these skills through a clerkship and learning from a member of the judiciary. As a future litigator, a clerkship provides a unique and invaluable view of the judicial process. Lastly, I was very interested in the public service aspect of clerking.”
“Members of the former PCC helped me decide to pursue a clerkship and provided invaluable advice as I began the application process. I want to pay it forward and help the next class of law students navigate this process. The best advice I was given was to ‘think deeply about what clerkship opportunities are right for you, and don’t second-guess your decision.’ Trust your gut!”
“I am currently a fourth-year evening student. During my 3LE year, I was a judicial extern for Judge Gary S. Katzmann in the U.S. Court of International Trade. I am currently the editor-in-chief of the Fordham Law Review. After law school, I will work in litigation, and I hope to continue to refine my research and writing skills.”
Teresa Clark ’26
Hometown: Chatham, NJ
Education: B.A., history and philosophy, University of Michigan ’21
Clerkship: Hon. Claire C. Cecchi, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
“My goal is to be a litigator, and clerking develops the research and analytical skills necessary for that path. I love writing, and clerking is an opportunity to get feedback on your legal writing from your fellow clerks and the judge. I became involved with the PCC because it was an invaluable resource from my first year on campus. Members of the PCC helped me along every step of my applications, from developing faculty relationships to navigating the OSCAR portal, and made the process enjoyable and exciting.”
“During my 1L summer, I interned at the Civil Division of the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York. I also externed in Judge Lorna G. Schofield’s chambers at the Southern District of New York. I am the editor-in-chief of the Fordham Law Moot Court Board, a member of the Fordham Law Review, and a decennial fellow.”
“The best advice I was given about the clerkship application process is that there is not just one path to clerking, and there is not a ‘perfect’ clerkship applicant. This is very true! For example, some things that I thought would be weaknesses in my application turned out to be strengths, by making me a unique candidate or creating opportunities for meaningful conversations during the interview process.”
Casey Epstein ’26
Hometown: Fairfield, CT
Education: B.A., political science and government, University of Chicago ’21
Clerkship: Hon. Jessica Allen, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
“I decided to become a clerk because I wanted to hone my research and writing skills. I also wanted to understand how effective advocacy both written and oral advances clients’ interests. I decided to join the PCC because I found this process so daunting and benefitted tremendously from the advice of upper year students as I navigated this process. The best advice I was given was to proofread everything again.”
“During my 1L summer I had a judicial externship with Judge Madeline Cox Arleo, district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Currently, I serve as a notes and articles editor on Fordham’s Urban Law Journal. After law school, my goals are to work at a large law firm doing litigation, develop strong research and writing skills, and counsel clients.”
Christina Lopez ’26
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Education: B.A., Italian, art history, Georgetown University ’15; Ph.D., comparative literature, Italian studies, Columbia University ’21
Clerkship: Hon. Jeffrey R. Jablonski, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division
“There are two aspirations I have for my legal career: to be of service to others, and to bring precision and skill to my work. I feel that a clerkship is an ideal way to begin a legal career defined by these values. The work of a judge is inherently in the service of others, and a clerkship would give me the chance to work in the public interest. Furthermore, clerking would provide me unparalleled training as I begin my legal career. I can think of no better way to develop precision and skill than by working in a judge’s chambers.”
“Fordham is an incredibly collegial and friendly place, and I’ve been very fortunate to experience the kindness and encouragement of this community. Being a member of the PCC is giving me the chance to support other members of our community as they navigate the clerkship application process. The best advice I was given in the application process is, ‘don’t count yourself out.’ If a clerkship is what you want, apply widely and persistently—clerkships are attainable!”
“In 2024 I interned in the chambers of Judge Katharine H. Parker, U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of New York, and in 2025 I interned in the chambers of Judge Jenny Rivera, associate judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. This semester I am interning with the Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project in the Southern District of New York. I am currently the editor of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition Team and a member of the International Law Journal. After law school, I plan to work as a public defender, and I hope to one day work as a federal defender representing indigent clients in federal court.”
Patrick Scariano ’26
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Education: B.S., civil engineering, Villanova University ’23
Clerkship: Hon. Paul J. Kelly, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
“I pursued a clerkship to become a better legal writer through constant practice and mentorship from experienced judges, and to learn how judicial decisions are made firsthand to make me a more effective litigator. My best advice for the clerkship application process is to decide exactly where you want to apply well before applications open so you can just submit material as soon as possible without any potentially paralyzing decision-making left.”
“At Fordham Law, I am a staffer for the Fordham Law Review, the Mulligan Editor for Fordham Moot Court Board, a Kelly Competition Editor for the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center, and a captain emeritus for Fordham Law Softball. During my 1L summer, I interned for a New York Supreme Court Criminal Term judge. I want to do trial work, eventually at a U.S. attorney’s office.”