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Success Stories

Non-Traditional Student

Patricia Petrosky, '19

Studying to become an attorney is difficult and time consuming; however, here at Pace Law we recognize that our students have obligations other than their studies. Patricia is not only able to rank strongly in her class, but is a wife and mother of two young children.

While it may be arduous to for her to juggle so much, she credits her success to the accommodating and collegial atmosphere here at Pace Law. Patricia explains, “While some level of competition amongst students is evident, the overall culture of the school can be best described as a place where students, faculty, and staff are accommodating, resourceful, and respectful to one another.” Patricia especially highlights the willingness of upper level students to share their knowledge and help our underclassman in any way that they can. Through the Dean Scholar Program, all first year classes are assigned an upper level student who has completed that class with high marks, and is able to provide insight and support. Patricia has found it helpful to reach out to those students, converse substantively regarding the subject matter, and obtain tips and tricks for the class.

Upper level students are not the only ones ready and willing to help our students. Patricia was able to obtain a prestigious internship at the New York State Attorney General’s Office this past summer and credits a large portion of her success obtaining this position to the help of our Center for Career and Professional Development. Career Development staff guided Patricia throughout the application process, helped her revise her resume, and conducted several mock interviews to guarantee her preparedness. Pace Law’s collegial and community environment has been hugely beneficial to Patricia in ensuring her success, while also allowing her to support and enjoy her family!

Location

Savannah Bowling, '19

Pace Law offers a diverse population of students. While a large portion of that may consist of students from the local tristate area, students travel from across the nation to attend law school at Pace Law. Savannah, originally from Emerson, Georgia, was drawn to Pace Law for a multitude of reasons.

Savannah recognizes that the Pace Law campus is extremely conducive to a scholarly environment, as it is separated from the other two Pace University undergraduate campuses. This results in a quiet, secluded campus, while still affording our students the opportunity to travel into NYC or enjoy all that White Plains has to offer. Because of this synergy, Savannah finds that campus is warm, comfortable, and less distracting. Pace Law’s geographical location also allows our students to participate substantively in the legal world at large.

After completing one of her first year courses, Savannah was able to form a strong bond with one of her professors due to her frequent participation in class and shared interest in environmental law. Her professor allowed Savannah to join him at the Corporation Counsel Roundtable, a New York State regulatory meeting regarding environmental law and land use projects. Savannah helped her professor draft zoning initiatives, shared parking agreements, and plans to revitalize industrial zones while maintaining industry. Looking back, Savannah had a rewarding experience, where she felt she really made an impact on New York State environmental procedures – all thanks to the willingness of her professor to teach and include her, and the conducive nature of Pace Law.

Environmental Law Review

Zach Berliner, '18

One way that law school students hone their legal writing skills is on the law review. Pace has three different law reviews for which students can write and edit: the Pace Law Review, Pace International Law Review and the Pace Environmental Law Review.

Zach participated in the law review write-on competition after he completed his first year in law school. After demonstrating strong writing skills, Zach was accepted as a Junior Associate on the Pace Environmental Law Review. During his second year, Zach drafted and finalized his own piece of scholarly writing on a topic of his choosing, while editing other articles for publication. He was then elected to serve as the Editor-in-Chief for the Environmental Review in his third year.

Zach is currently charged with leading the law review, accepting articles from scholars around the world for publication, and mentoring Junior Associates to ensure their skills are developed. He is currently pursuing post-graduation placements.

Pace Path

Kevin Douchkoff, '19

The Pace University community is large and tightly knit. It comes to no surprise when a student completes their undergraduate studies at Pace and then pursues their legal education at Pace Law. As a Pace Pleasantville alum, Kevin immediately knew that Pace Law was the school for him. Kevin is now in his second year, pursuing a concentration in Criminal Law. He aspires to work in the District Attorney’s office as a prosecutor upon graduation.

Kevin has been able to work towards his goal by taking advantage of the John Jay Legal Services Criminal Justice Externship. This past summer Kevin worked in the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office and had the opportunity to attend town and county court daily, draft memoranda, and submit a brief to the New York State Appellate Division. This experience cemented his goal of becoming a prosecutor.

Kevin is also a tremendous leader on Pace Law campus. He currently serves as the President of the Lambda Law Student Association, which strives to promote equality amongst all people and seeks out opportunities for reform. Kevin explains that these reforms first begin in our education institutions and, as future lawyers, particularly in our law schools.

Criminal Law

Crystal Dilone, '18

Geographically speaking, Pace Law is a central hub for our students to find opportunities and experiences from a wide array of institutions. With its proximity to New York City, New Jersey and Connecticut, our students are able to fully take advantage of all that the law has to offer.

Crystal has been able to do just that. While exploring her love for criminal law, Crystal has been fortunate to participate in various internships and placements including the Bronx Legal Services, the Town of Greenburgh Justice Court, and the Criminal Justice Clinic here at Pace Law. Once a student has exhibited interest and success in a particular field, Pace Law assists them in obtaining Student Practice orders, allowing them to act as a practicing attorney, under the tutelage of an attorney mentor. As a third year student, Crystal has been able to represent her own clients charged with misdemeanor offenses in the Bronx County Criminal Court.

Through this work, Crystal has participated in arraignments, submitted motions and memoranda of law, negotiated with Assistant District Attorneys, prepped for trial and advocated for her clients in court. Like so many of our students, Crystal acknowledges that her work in the clinic has given her a more rounded understanding of the law and real-life experiences which set her apart.

Crystal is looking forward to working in the area of criminal law as a trial attorney after graduation. In the meantime, Crystal explains: “The more I learn about criminal law and its procedures, the more excited and eager I become towards working to achieve justice for all.”

Federal Judicial Honors Program

Kristyn Francese, '18

While Pace Law may be centered in White Plains, New York, that does not limit the opportunities for our students to seek gainful employment in the tristate area. With her track record for academic excellence, and deep understanding and appreciate for business law, Kristyn was able to obtain a clerkship in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California, in San Diego.

Kristyn is no stranger to the court room. In the summer after her first year, Kristyn interned at the Second Department of the New York Appellate Division. In her second year, she was selected to participate in the Federal Judicial Honors Program and was able to fully explore the federal court process. Kristyn was paired with a faculty mentor and able to emulate the judge-law clerk relationship in the fall semester. She was then placed in the District Court for the Southern District of New York, here in White Plains, in her spring semester.

In order to become a better-rounded student, Kristyn spent the summer between her second and third year as a summer associate at a leading financial services firm. Kristyn credits her prestigious post-graduate placement to the extensive opportunities afforded to her by Pace Law. Kristyn is looking forward to her new adventures in California, but will always be a proud Pace Law alumna.

Family Law

Meghan Hook, '19

In their second year, students sometimes feel the pressures of wanting to be involved in everything, and it can sometimes be overwhelming at first. Once a student obtains academic success, opportunities to be involved in various, prestigious organizations present themselves. After placing in the top 15% in her first year, Meghan is a testament to all that this campus has to offer.

During the conclusion of her 1L year, Meghan attended the Public Interest Fair held at NYU campus. With careful prepping by faculty and Career Development staff, Meghan was able to speak to institutional representatives and was afforded the opportunity to interview with several of them. Ultimately, Meghan was able to receive a student practice order and worked for the Pace Women’s Justice Center Family Court Legal Program. There, she was able to advocate for her clients in court to several family court judges. In her second year, Meghan is volunteering for the Courtroom Advocates Project where she files orders of protection for victims of domestic violence.

These hands-on experiences, coupled with her involvement in Pace’s Family Law Society and Women’s Association for Law Students, has given Meghan the tools and expertise she needs to be a strong advocate for public interest cases.

Joint Degree

Alix Dobles, '18

An ordinary student pursuing their Juris Doctorate at Pace Law will usually spend three years on campus. However, Alix is no ordinary student. Through her academic success and the substantial connections at Pace Law, Alix was able to enroll in a dual degree program and will graduate with a J.D. from Pace Law and a Masters in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Alix enrolled at Pace Law as a full-time student in the fall of 2014. She then spent two years studying environmental law at Pace before spending a full year at the Yale University campus, obtaining her Masters. Alix rejoined the Pace Law community for her final year and will be walking at graduation in May of 2018.

Alix credits her substantial success to the extensive pool of Pace Law alumni. She explains, “I find this web of alumni to be very comforting as I plan to enter the workforce, but also it shows that the industry has confidence in the legal skills that Pace Law cultivates in its students.” Alix has helped solidify the relationship between Pace Law and Yale, and has set a precedent for future students to follow her tremendous footsteps.

Student Bar Association

Sarah Cinquemani, '18

Due to the small and intimate campus at Pace Law, our students are able to really make a name for themselves. Sarah has been able to do just that, and was elected by the student body to serve as our Student Bar Association President.

Sarah was able to rise to such heights due in large part to her dedication to campus and involvement in various organizations. In her first year at school, Sarah was elected to represent the first year class and advocate on their behalf. She was then able to serve as Secretary to the Association in her second year because of the skills she exhibited right from the start. Sarah was set on being involved in the betterment of the student body as soon as she arrived on campus. Now Sarah is charged with overseeing the numerous student groups on campus, maintaining a budget, and planning events for the entire student body.

This tremendous leadership role, coupled with her certificate in Environmental Studies, has placed her in an ideal position to pursue her passions in the years to come. Any Pace Law student will tell you that student life on campus has soared to new heights because of Sarah’s efforts.

Law Review

Lydia Rainey, '18

A work-life balance is key for a successful law student. Lydia has proven that being involved on campus and maintaining good grades is not impossible. Her focus in English during her undergraduate studies at SUNY Brockport led Lydia to pursue an Executive Board position on the Pace Law Review. She currently guides underclassmen as they write their own case notes and comments for potential publication in the Review.

Lydia has also been able to hone her oral advocacy skills through her involvement in the Oral Advocacy Honor Board. As a second year student, Lydia served as the captain of the Black Law Student’s Association Thurgood Marshall Mock Trial Team. Under the tutelage of her professor, and through collaboration with her teammates, the team won the Northeast Regional competition, continuing onto the final round. Due to Lydia’s success, she has been asked to continue as the captain on the trial team in her third year.

Lydia is looking forward to taking the skills she has developed at Pace Law to her hometown of Fairport, New York, and applying to the State Appellate Division Courts. The Pace Law community will miss Lydia’s involvement and dedication to campus!

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