Success Stories

What brought you to law school? 

After working in the court system for many years, I realized that law is meant to be a part of my journey. Both my personal history and what I have learned while working in the court system has contributed to a personal sense of wanting and needing to give back to my community. Attending law school and becoming a lawyer is one way that I can do that.

Why did you choose Haub Law?

I chose Haub Law primarily because of its location in Westchester County. It is close to home and work for me. I am a Pace University alumna, so I knew firsthand the quality education that Pace provides. I was also attracted by the Pace Women's Justice Center. The Flex JD scheduling option solidified my decision. It allows me to still be able to work full-time, while balancing a rigorous course load.

You are a 1L, but so far, which professor has stood out to you? 

Professor McLaughlin made our first semester Civil Procedure class interesting and engaging. He challenged us, but also shared a wealth of knowledge as well as practical advice, words of wisdom, and a bit of humor.

What are your goals post-law school?

I am interested in family law, based on my work experience. Presently, I work in the Ninth Judicial District Administrative Judge's Office. Six years ago, I started working in the Westchester County Family Court. It was my experience with the Family Court that helped inspire my decision to attend law school and I see myself continuing on that path after law school. I believe that the Family Court system makes incredible strides in rehabilitating troubled youth and reuniting families. Additionally, I am interested in mental hygiene law and would like to explore that area in more depth. I was enrolled in Pace University's Mental Health Counseling Program before deciding to begin law school. I enjoyed the material and believe that mental health and the law are inseparable. Whichever path I take in my law career, I hope to keep psychology a very relevant part of my work.

Let’s talk hobbies outside of law school – what else are you interested in?

I'm a cat-mom, I like to cook, and I like to practice ballet. I also love printed books and the art that goes into making them – prior to law school I worked for a book publisher as a trade production assistant.

Sarah Cinquemani graduated from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2018. She started her career as a New York State Excelsior Fellow with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. In October 2019, Sarah became an Assistant Attorney with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in Albany. In her role, she serves as a program attorney for the Division of Water working on the NYC Watershed and water quality issues.

What brought you to law school?

I have my Political Science professors at Adelphi University to thank for planting the idea of going to law school and studying environmental law in my head. Originally, I planned to go into the public policy field, maybe earn a Masters in Public Administration, but through my college courses I learned that environmental policy work takes years, even decades, to develop and implement and thought environmental law would be a more effective way to make a positive impact on the environment. Looking back, it is a bit funny because developing law- either through legislation or the courts- takes years, even decades. And now that I am a public policy attorney, I’ve come to appreciate that developing policy takes time and public input, but I recognize the really important work is implementing the policies effectively, so that they address the environmental concerns and help the public.

Why did you choose Pace? 

I only applied to law schools with environmental law programs; so naturally, Pace was at the top of my list. In addition, Pace's close proximity to NYC and to my family in central Connecticut significantly factored into my decision to come here. I also received a substantial scholarship and met with environmental faculty from whom I was excited to learn.

Were you always interested in public interest work?  

I didn't know when I came to law school what 'public interest' work was, but I quickly realized it was exactly the type of work I envisioned myself doing. I saw myself working for a state or local government agency where attorneys work with scientists, engineers and policy specialists in a more holistic process to protect the environment within the constraints of the law. I am grateful to be working in a position where I get to do exactly that.

How did the Public Interest Law Center assist you during your time at Pace?

I can't say enough about the dedication of Elyse Diamond. She reviewed countless cover letters and iterations of my resume, helped me with interview preparation, checked in with me after interviews, and ultimately assisted me in making the decision about accepting the position as a NYS Excelsior Fellow. Even after law school, Elyse has kept in contact, checking in on me in my new role.

What specific experience at Pace helped you prepare you for a career in public interest law?  

 All of my summer internships were with government agencies; my first summer I was at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene where I gained confidence appearing in administrative hearings representing the Department in restaurant health code violation matters. I also interned at the NYS Attorney General's Office in the Environmental Protection Bureau where I gained a better understanding of the breadth of issues that come up when dealing with environmental cases; I was exposed to real property, bankruptcy and corporate law when researching questions for issues attorney’s raised. I was fortunate to be selected as a Federal Judicial Honors student where I interned in Judge Kenneth Karas's chambers in the Southern District of New York in White Plains, and I also worked at the Pace Environmental Litigation Clinic representing Riverkeeper, a non-profit organization, where I learned from attorneys who are extremely passionate and knowledgeable about protecting our environment and improved my oral advocacy skills through the intensive mock trial and working on a case where I appeared before a judge in the Brooklyn Supreme Court.

 Can you describe your career path since graduation?

Before graduating from Pace, I was offered a spot as a NYS Excelsior Service Fellow, but all I knew about the position was that I would be placed with a state agency in Albany for a two year fellowship. I didn't learn until early June that I would be working at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, which was my top choice for a placement. I moved to Albany and began working in the Office of General Counsel in early September 2018 in the Bureau of Water and Natural Resources. In my position as a public policy attorney, I work on water issues related to the NYC Watershed, impaired water bodies, emerging contaminants, drafting rule making documents, and providing legal advice to technical staff on matters related to the Clean Water Act and the NYS Environmental Conservation Law. In my role, I interact with other state agencies, EPA, and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection as well as local organizations. In October, I accepted a permanent position in that same role as an Assistant Attorney. I am excited to grow in my role and take on new responsibilities.

 Please share what you find most rewarding about working in public interest law?

Working in a state agency where we are constantly asked to do more with less requires innovation and pushes everyone to develop creative solutions.  I learn from experts in the environmental field every day and I am exposed to technical areas like engineering, toxicology, and forestry which feeds my desire to ask more questions and try to learn as much as I can from the people I work with.

 In your opinion, what qualities makes a “good” public interest lawyer/advocate?

Someone who does not lose sight of the cause they are fighting for, which is harder than it sounds. At times, I’ve found myself stuck in the weeds researching a legal question, but I am reinvigorated when I remember that the work I am doing will help people and their communities. When researching doesn’t lead to a clear answer, the ability to think creatively to develop a workable solution is another necessary skill for a public interest attorney. 

Tell me about something you've participated in during your time here that has defined your Pace experience.

My most defining experience at Pace was while working at the Mediation Practicum, an opportunity I found through the externship programs. I decided to pursue the practicum to gain a practical understanding of alternative dispute resolutions. Working at the Mediation Practicum bolstered my negotiation and mediation knowledge and skills.

What have you gotten out of that experience, and how do you expect that it will enable you to pursue your goals beyond Pace?

I learned the most from the Mediation Practicum supervisor, Professor Danielle Shalov, who empowered me to grow intellectually and professionally. I left feeling more confident and prepared to pursue a career in mediation.

Is there anything else you'd like to add about your time at Pace?

I am proud to be the President of Pace Law's Muslim Law Students Association.  We have a fantastic group and I look forward to another fulfilling year in my new role.  We hope to create a safe, fun, and welcoming environment for everyone.

What made you choose to participate in the FJHP?

I decided to participate in FJHP to both hone my writing skills and experience the daily activities in a federal courthouse. Throughout my first two years of law school, I read a countless number of cases, but I had not given much thought to how those cases were written. I wanted to see how that was done, see the meticulous work that goes in to perfecting each decision both on a grammatical and substantive level. The FJHP program was the perfect opportunity. It permitted me to intern a few times a week during the semester in a federal courtroom, enabling me to pursue other forms of work experience during the summer. FJHP offered a unique opportunity to see what federal law clerks and judges do on a daily basis, while still maintaining enough time to fulfill my traditional law school duties.

Your FJHP externship was with Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith of the Southern District of New York.  Tell us about your experience.

I had an amazing experience working with Magistrate Judge Smith. I quickly realized that being a clerk involved a lot of learning on the job—learning a new area of law and applying the facts of each case. I am not an expert in any field of law so I found adjusting to each case I received a bit challenging at first. I also began to truly understand the importance of clear and concise writing in pleadings and briefs submitted to the court. Well-written pleadings and briefs made learning the law and facts much more manageable. Without well-written legal documents, the job of the clerks and the judge is significantly more difficult. I began to understand that the lawyers on any specific case will most likely be the experts on the facts and the law, not the judge or the clerks.

Being given the opportunity to draft a decision was the best part of the externship. I was tasked with drafting a decision for a Social Security appeals case, an area of law which I did not know existed until I received the case. The drafting took a significant amount of time, but both my research and writing skills increasing significantly just from externship. In addition, I received excellent feedback and advice from the law clerks in chambers, both about my work, and more generally about law school and post-graduate opportunities. In addition to the substantive assignments, working in a federal courthouse and seeing what goes on day to day was an invaluable experience.

This fall, you will be a law clerk for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel.  What does that entail?

The Panel hears administrative cases involving issues between nuclear reactor operators, environmentalists, and regulators at NRC. The cases will be quite unique, and instead of working for one specific judge, I will be assigned a certain case with three judges. On each case, there will be one judge with a legal background, and two judges with technical backgrounds. The technical judges specialize in some aspect of nuclear energy and come from various backgrounds such as engineers, physicists, and chemists.

FJHP played a huge role both in spurring my interest and improving my writing skills to get the job. I really enjoyed being in the courthouse, seeing the daily activities of the courtroom, and being privy to very interesting cases. However, as a general law clerk, the areas of law in which you work on are constantly changing and there is not really any way to specialize as a clerk. I knew, even before law school, that I wanted to pursue environmental law. Once I saw the job posting for the clerkship at NRC, I realized it was the perfect fit. It combined all the aspects I loved about FJHP—being in a courtroom, drafting decisions, legal research and writing—with my reason for coming to law school, environmental law.