Noah Centore ’25 has wanted to be a lawyer since high school. Today, he is well on his way to accomplishing that goal at the Syracuse University College of Law, where he has gained some valuable experience to help decide on his career path.
He credits his uncle, Chris Centore, a real estate attorney at Barclay Damon, LLP, in Syracuse, for being a role model to him as he considered studying law, as well as his late grandfather, Henry Centore, who “was always interested in what I was doing and always supported me.” One of the reasons the Syracuse native decided to attend Syracuse Law was because he wanted the support of his family nearby as he navigated law school.
Centore graduated from Nazareth College with a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in business leadership. Before starting law school, he decided to take a gap semester. He thought it would be filled with odd jobs and some time to himself, but instead he ended up as a long-term substitute teacher in the Rochester (NY) City School District—a role he found both interesting and challenging.
Now, as he completes his second year of law school, he is taking advantage of the many opportunities available to him. Currently, he is the vice president of the Class of 2025 and next fall will take on the position of executive president. He is also the social chair of the Student Bar Association (SBA), an editorial member of the Syracuse Law Review, and a member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society, Appellate Division.
“There’s a whole big University campus out there at Syracuse with a lot to offer, whether it’s time with friends, activities around the campus or going to a football game at the Dome. To be successful, you need to put the books down once in a while and enjoy all that Syracuse has to offer.”
Noah Centore ’25
He has also participated in the law school’s Youth Law Day, which brings 100 high schoolers from Central New York to Dineen Hall to give them a first-hand look at the legal profession. And as a 1L, Centore received two CALI (Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction): Excellence for the Future awards—one for professional responsibility and another for legal communications and research. CALI awards are given to students with the highest grade in the class.
Centore is not yet sure what area of law he’d like to practice, but he’s built up some great experience over the past two years. Last summer, he interned as a law clerk with the U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York, and, this academic year, he is a research assistant for Professor David Driesen, supporting the faculty member’s work in constitutional law and assisting in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court. As his 2L year comes to a close, Centore is eagerly waiting to start a position as a summer associate at the firm of Hancock Estabrook, LLP, where he will rotate through the various departments to get a better understanding of his career preferences.
“I am currently open to a variety of practice areas,” he explains. “I know I’d like to work for a large law firm, but I think I’d like to clerk for a judge first to gain some additional experience. I love my hometown of Syracuse, and I think I’ll come back and settle down here one day, but I would love to work in a larger city for a couple of years to see what possibilities are out there.”
Centore encourages others to tackle law school and not buy in to the stereotype that it’s too difficult. “Of course, you have to work hard. There’s no substitute for that, but sometimes people make law school out to be impossible,” he says. “You need time management and a good work ethic, but it’s worthwhile, so don’t let anyone deter you if you’re passionate about the law.”
He also encourages those in law school to take time to enjoy themselves. “Despite its reputation, law school can be a lot of fun,” Centore says. “There’s a whole big University campus out there at Syracuse with a lot to offer, whether it’s time with friends, activities around the campus or going to a football game at the Dome. To be successful, you need to put the books down once in a while and enjoy all that Syracuse has to offer.”
