Around Syracuse Law

College of Law Hosts Swearing-In Ceremony for Spring 2024 Law Clinic Student Attorneys

The College of Law recently held a swearing-in ceremony for on-campus and online student attorneys participating in one of the six law clinics this semester. Dean Craig Boise provided the welcome address while guest speaker the Hon. Deborah H. Karalunas L’82 administered the Student Attorney Oath. Judge Karalunas is also a College of Law adjunct professor teaching New York Civil Practice.

The College of Law Office of Clinical Legal Education provides a practical educational experience to second and third-year student attorneys while delivering much-needed, otherwise unavailable legal resources to the communities and people of Central New York.

The clinics are:

Bankruptcy Clinic*

Betty & Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic

Criminal Defense Clinic

Disability Rights Clinic

Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic*

Transactional Law Clinic*

*Clinic is offered online for the Spring 2024 semester.

JDinteractive Students Kick Off 2024 with Syracuse-based Residencies

To kick off the New Year, two cohorts of Online JDinteractive Program students traveled to Syracuse for experiential Residencies before the beginning of the spring semester.

First year students came for their Legal Applications Residency, their second of six total Residencies through the course of their legal education. Meanwhile, second-year students returned to Dineen Hall for concurrent Residencies three and four, immersing themselves in Professional Skills courses tailored to their interests and career aspirations. This vibrant start set the stage for a year of profound learning and growth.

student holding up two fingers in front of shuttle, wearing a syracuse hat and scarf

Legal Applications Residency

Prior to their second semester in the JDi program, first year students returned to Syracuse for the Legal Applications Residency. This problem-based course utilized experiential learning techniques to help students integrate the doctrinal subjects with practical skills. Students worked on interviewing, public speaking, negotiating, writing, and researching during their week in Syracuse.

three images of instagram stories from syracuse residency, the first in front of the fireplace at dineen hall, the second of food at a table and the third of a colorful mural outside on a wall of a woman swinging on a swing made of flowers
Click the image to view an Instagram takeover from the Syracuse Legal Applications Residency.

JDi students attended a reception along with fellow Syracuse University Martin J. Whitman School of Management Online MBA Students to introduce the two online programs and network with other people also pursuing their degrees virtually.

four students sitting around a table smiling, with otto the mascot in the background

Venturing beyond the classroom, JDi students also explored downtown Syracuse, met for dinner in small groups at local area restaurants, and ate local cuisine at the Salt City Market. They also had a networking event with the Student Bar Association (SBA) where they were able to meet with their On-Campus J.D. classmates.

two students smiling and eating at a table together at salt city market

two students standing in front of a mural at salt city market

two students standing in front of a salt city bar lit up sign and greenery in the background

Professional Skills Residencies

As they enter their second year in the JDi Program, students partake in Professional Skills Residencies spanning topics like negotiation, client counseling, trial advocacy, and more. Best of all, this one week fulfills the requirement for both the third and fourth Residential Courses concurrently with just one trip to Syracuse.

three images of instagram stories from syracuse residency, the first a description of the takeover student, the second of beth kubala and the third of four students smiling at the camera
Click the image to view an Instagram takeover from the Syracuse Professional Skills Residency.

Over the six days of the residential experience earlier this year, students learned from professors and experts in their fields including the Hon. Jamie Baker, Director of the Institute of Security Policy and Law, Professor Beth Kubala, Director of the Veterans’ Legal Clinic, and Professor Todd Berger, Director of the Advocacy Program.

Teaching Legal Ethics in National Security, Judge Baker addressed the ethical challenges that arise in national security policy and legal practice from the perspective of someone with extensive experience in the field as a previous Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.

judge jamie baker talking to two students in front of a large white board
Judge Jamie Baker talks to students taking his Legal Ethics in National Security class.

Professor Berger provided an introduction to Trial Advocacy, coaching students to perform as trial counsel in a variety of simulated courtroom exercises. Students engaged in direct examination, cross-examination, an introduction of exhibits, opening statements and closing arguments.

professor todd berger standing in a courtroom with wooden walls, teaching four JDi students sitting down in the jury area
Professor Todd Berger teaches Advocacy in the Bond, Schoeneck & King Courtroom.

Through the Administrative Representation for Veterans course, Professor Kubala provided students with the opportunity to represent real clients in an administrative process with a goal of changing a veteran’s character of service. 

beth kubala behind her office desk talking to two students
Professor Beth Kubala meets with JDi students in her office to discuss representation for veterans.
group of four people sit around a desk talking to a veteran in front of a military and veteran law society sign
JDi students learned about navigating the complex regulatory requirements of the Army Review Boards Agency and applied those skills to assist our community’s veterans in upgrading their discharges to allow increased access to benefits.  

To wrap up the week, students in the Media Training for Attorneys course took advantage of the resources in the Dick Clark Studios with a taped on-camera interview in a mock studio with camera, lights, and sound. This course builds life skills that all attorneys will need at some point in their lives, and it helps the students gain confidence in speaking and writing for a public audience.

two people talk to each other at a news station for the newhouse communications center
Professor Kevin Noble Maillard works with JDi student in Media Training for Attorneys course in Newhouse’s Dick Clark Studios.

Headed West: JDinteractive Students Travel to Denver for Arbitration Residency

Embarking on the final stretch of their law school journey, upper-level Online JDinteractive (JDi) Program students face the pivotal and exciting task of selecting from a list of Advanced Legal Topics residencies that align with their interests. From busy cities in the United States to international landscapes of Geneva, Switzerland, and Rome, Italy, the options are as diverse as the students themselves.

three women smile and talk to each other outside on the streets of Denver, CO
JDi students arrive in Denver for a week of learning and networking.

This year, 17 JDi students selected to enroll in the Arbitration Residency, held in Denver, Colorado from January 2-5, 2024 at the turn of the New Year. Four Master of Law’s LL.M. students also elected to enroll in the course, enriching conversations from the perspective of foreign law graduates.

four LLM students smile at the camera, standing in a brightly lite room at a networking event
Four Syracuse Law LL.M. students enrolled in the Residential Course alongside their JDi classmates.

Jack Graves taught the class at the law firm of Sherman & Howard courtesy of Skip Netzorg L’76, providing an introduction to the law and practice of arbitration. Arbitration serves as a legally binding and fully enforceable mechanism for the resolution of commercial and other disputes. Expanding beyond the realm of U.S. federal law governing arbitration, participants delved into various institutional arbitration rules, elements of federal labor law, international laws overseeing arbitration, and an international treaty supporting the global enforcement of arbitration agreements and awards.

man stands behind a classroom full of students, holding up his hands and speaking to the group
Jack Graves speaks to Residency class students about Arbitration law.

While not categorized as a skills course, the program significantly emphasized the practical aspects of arbitration. Students drafted effective arbitration agreements, navigated the enforcement of such agreements during dispute occurrences, conducted fair and efficient arbitration proceedings, and learned about enforcing the final awards issued by the arbitrator(s). By the end of the intensive course, students gained a solid foundational understanding of arbitration’s use in conclusively resolving legal disputes, coupled with insights into the common issues arising during the drafting and implementation of arbitration agreements.

man stands in front of a classroom full of students with laptops open, teaching them
Students gather for class time to learn about Arbitration Law.

In addition to newfound knowledge about Arbitration, students enjoyed an alumni networking event at the Wynkoop Brewery to meet our Powerful Orange Law Network in the local Denver area. They also enjoyed a fireside chat with Mark Neporent L’82 and Dean Craig Boise, providing advice about entering the legal profession and navigating through the transitions that inevitably follow, which in Neporent’s case included moving from law firm to in-house practice, and then to the C-suite of one of the largest hedge funds in the world.

two men sit in front of students gathered in seats at a fireside chat in a classroom
Students gather for a “Fireside Chat” with Mark Neporent L’82 and Dean Craig Boise.

A few students opted to bring their families to Denver along with them to enjoy the city while they were in class. Spouses and children were able to attend the night and networking events and had a chance to meet their classmates and other families, fostering a sense of community and connection that extends beyond the confines of the program.

three images of instagram takeovers, featuring JDi students smiling for the camera, and the iconic Denver blue bear looking into a building window
Click the image to view an Instagram takeover from the Denver Arbitration Residency.

four students stand in front of a Sherman & Howard sign and smile
man sitting with four classmates speaks using his hands
birdseye view of Denver, CO, with building tops and mountains in the distance
two students stand with their arms around each other smiling at the camera
woman sits at a desk and works in front of a window with the buildings of Denver in the background
two students talk to each other and smile in front of lit trees outside on the streets of Denver at night
students gather in a group of four in the hallway, talking to each other, two standing up and two sitting down
four students smile at the camera and hold their arms up in front of the Denver blue bear statue
a woman sits at a desk and speaks using her hands up in the air
The Arbitration Residency held in Denver, CO and hosted by Sherman & Howard L.L.C. provided students with learning experiences, networking events, and time to explore the city.

Lawyers in Love: Adam Shoshtari and Marlana (Shaw-Brown) Shoshtari

A couple poses together at Disney

As law school graduation loomed on the horizon, the prospect of Marlana Shaw-Brown G’17, L’17 moving across the country filled Adam Shoshtari L’17 with a sense of dread. That was until he realized that his classmate and best friend, Marlana, was the one for him.

Their story began in their 1L year when a mutual friend introduced the two at a Black Law Student Association (BLSA) meeting. From that moment on, they were inseparable—but just friends. They shared weekend getaways to Skaneateles, enjoyed countless dinners with friends, and spent many late nights poring over law books together. With graduation only a few short weeks away, Adam was faced with the very real possibility of losing his best friend. After graduation, he was headed to D.C. and Marlana across the country to Los Angeles. As Adam recounts, “I was falling in love with my best friend and could not imagine life without her.”

For Marlana, the seeds of legal ambitions were sown young. Nestled by her grandmother’s side, evenings spent enthralled by the TV show Matlock sparked a six-year-old’s declaration: “I want to be a lawyer!” With laser focus, she pursued her dream, beginning by enrolling in the Legal Studies Academy at Virginia’s First Colonial High School. However, the new experiences brought a shift in Marlana’s focus and Matlock’s courtroom drama gave way to the allure of entertainment law. For Marlana, her experiences at Syracuse Law led to positions at the Food Network and Netflix, ultimately leading her to NBCUniversal, where she now works in Legal Affairs counseling on all legal matters concerning the development, production, and delivery of scripted materials.

Adam’s journey was driven by a different yet equally powerful force: a passion for advocacy and writing. Though a career blending these skills with his love for technology never crossed his mind, fate had other plans. Through an opportunity to participate in Syracuse Law’s D.C. summer externship program, Adam was able to merge his love of advocacy and technology by externing with the Electronic Discovery Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to emerging issues in law and technology. That opportunity led to his current role as an Associate for Shook, Hardy & Bacon’s Complex Litigation Strategic Counseling practice group.

Following graduation, Marlana and Adam spent the first few years of their relationship long-distance, only seeing each other every few months, but bonded by the friendship and foundation they built at Syracuse Law.

After three years of dating and with their dream careers in full swing, Adam was afforded the opportunity to join Shook’s Los Angeles office to be closer to Marlana and they were married soon after. So, what’s it like being married to a fellow lawyer? As Adam puts it “As lawyers, we love to argue our side of the case, so it’s about constantly reminding oneself that (most of the time), your wife is correct.”

Marlana and Adam’s story is one of passion, dedication, and a little bit of Syracuse magic. Their time at law school not only ignited their individual dreams but also brought them together, creating a love story as remarkable as their careers. As they continue to climb the ladder of success, one thing is certain: their journey began at Syracuse Law, and the memories and lessons learned there will forever hold a special place in their hearts.

Lawyers in Love: Marshall Read and Gabriella Kielbasinski

A couple dancing in front of Dineen Hall

For Marshall Read L’22 and Gabriella Kielbasinski L’22, the path to law school was quite different.

Gabriella, a Syracuse native, found law’s calling unexpectedly. Exposed to family court as a child, she had an attorney who made her “feel seen, heard, and advocated for,” igniting a lifelong desire to champion others. That experience solidified her purpose and inspired her to pursue a profession where she could advocate for those in need, just as her attorney did for her all those years ago.

Marshall’s journey was fueled by a different flame. As a student at Stephen F. Austin State University, he was a debater with a rebellious streak and saw public defense as the ultimate act of defiance: “There was nothing more punk rock than getting paid…to fight the man,” and so, he set his sights on law school.

Although their paths to Syracuse Law were distinct, both Gabriella and Marshall were driven by a shared desire to fight for the underprivileged. Fate brought them together even before their first class, at an Admitted Students event. Despite the brevity of their initial encounter, Gabriella still remembers how Marshall stood out in his beanie and flannel shirt amidst a sea of suits.

For Marshall, love-struck during their 1L Fall class election when Gabriella confidently captivated the room with her campaign speech for class president. He remembers a clear-cut moment of realization: “Wow, it’s her! She’s it!” For Gabriella, however, it wasn’t a single defining moment. Instead, it was the good morning texts during their first year of law school, the reassurance during the anxious months of bar prep, and Marshall’s unwavering support during hard times that showed her what true partnership looked like.

In December 2023, their bond deepened as they got engaged. Both find solace and understanding in their shared career path. As Marshall aptly puts it, “It’s nice to come home to someone who understands what your day has been like…there’s a grace and understanding.”

Both Gabriella and Marshall acknowledge the impact that Syracuse Law has made on their lives. Through their experience as law students, they received opportunities that led to fulfilling careers, made lifelong friends and mentors, and, most importantly, found each other. When offering advice to current law students, Marshall playfully offers: “Be nice to the smart ones with curly hair. They may be the one.”

1L Carly Bastedo Wins the Hancock Estabrook First Year Oral Advocacy Competition

1L Carly Bastedo prevailed over 1L Allison Carlos in the 14th Annual Hancock Estabrook First Year Oral Advocacy Competition.

The competition was judged by the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks L’91, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York, the Hon. Anthony J. Paris ’70, L’73, retired Justice of the New York State Supreme Court and Special Counsel at Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC, Daniel B. Berman L’82, Partner in the Litigation Practice at Hancock Estabrook, LLP, Mary L. D’Agostino, Partner in the Litigation Practice at Hancock Estabrook, LLP, and Erica L. Masler L’21 is an associate attorney in the Litigation Department at Hancock Estabrook, LLP.

Thirty-four first-year students participated in the competition.

Erica Masler – Mary D’Agostino -1L Carly Bastedo – the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks – the Hon. Anthony J. Paris – Daniel Berman
Erica Masler – Mary D’Agostino – 1L Allison Cartos – 1L Carly Bastedo – the Hon. Thérèse Wiley Dancks – the Hon. Anthony J. Paris – Daniel Berman

3L Shannon Chamberlain Named the Recipient of the Communication and Media Law Student Research Paper Award

The recipient of the Carol Blanck ’70 and Robert Tannehauser ’66 Communication and Media Law Student Research Paper Award for 2023-24 is 3L Shannon Chamberlain. Chamberlain’s paper, Escaping Liability for the “Gravest of Threats”: Expanding Article 1, Section 6 Immunity and Narrowing Brandenburg Incitement, was selected by Roy Gutterman L’00, Director of the Tully Center for Free Speech, Associate Professor at the Newhouse School, and Professor of Law at the College of Law, from papers submitted in the Media and Communications Law class for consideration by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. 

Chamberlain’s paper analyzes the events surrounding the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, focusing on public officials’ use of social media and the implications of Speech or Debate Clause immunity. The article describes the violence, breach of the Capitol, and the involvement of government officials, while examining the history and various interpretations of the Speech or Debate Clause. The paper also highlights inconsistencies in the application of the Brandenburg incitement, referencing Thompson v. Trump, and explores the connections between incitement, First Amendment discussions, and public officials’ platforms. Chamberlain’s paper argues incitement speech should not be protected under the Clause, and asks for government officials to be held accountable for their influence on illegal acts, emphasizing a need to protect democracy.

With a passion for legal research, Chamberlain has worked with Teaching Professor Mary Szto as a research assistant to research the legislative history of late 1800s and early 1900s anti-Asian laws, as well as the recent rise in Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic and the restorative justice that followed. She  also provided research assistance to University Professor David Driesen by examining the political impact of the Massachusetts Government Act, and studied anti-Federalist concerns of tyranny when considering the role of the President within the Constitution. In part due to these experiences, Chamberlain has accepted a post-graduate position with Costello, Cooney & Fearon, PLLC as an associate attorney.

“I have been honored to serve as a Teaching Assistant to Professors Monica Luna and Kristin Walker, and Faculty Assistant to Professor A. Joseph Warburton, and now as Research Assistant to two other faculty.  All these experiences have been tremendously rewarding,” Chamberlain said.

The Carol Blanck ’70 and Robert Tannenhauser ’66 Communication and Media Law Student Research Paper Award program is administered by Professor Gutterman. With the growing need for well-qualified communication law and policy professionals, this award supports law students who write or deliver original research regarding any topic related to mass communication and society by demonstrating excellence in law and journalism.

Alumni Gather and Network in Denver, CO

Our Denver-based alumni came together for a networking event at the Wynkoop Brewing Company in January of 2024. Online JDinteractive students in town for an Arbitration Residency also joined in on the fun – see a few photos below.

Two women smile and talk to eachother while holding a baby

Man smiles and looks to the left while holding a drink

Group of people stand around and chat in the brewery

Dean Boise talking to two people animatedly

Three alumni smile at the camera

A group of seven alumni smile at the camera together

Melissa Cassidy smiles and chats to an alum

Two alumni smiling in conversation, one holding a wine glass

Woman smiles and talks to someone while holding a wine glass

Woman smiles at the camera while holding her baby in front of foosball tables

Two men smiling and talking to each other

Man smiles and talks to another man while holding a wine glass

Two alumni smile at the camera

Sign of Mile High City text in the brewery

Five alumni talk outside in a circle outside of the Wynkoop Brewing Co.

Women smiles talking to other alumni in a group.

Three men stand in front of a pool table and smile at the camera

Dean Boise talks to a group of people

Group of alumni hold drinks and chat animatedly in a circle

Group of three men cheers with their drinks and smile

College of Law’s Innovation Law Center to Host “Venture to Victory: Pioneer Perspectives in Tech, Venture, and Private Equity” Symposium

(Syracuse, NY – January 24, 2024) Syracuse University College of Law’s Innovation Law Center (ILC) is hosting the “Venture to Victory: Pioneer Perspectives in Tech, Venture, and Private Equity” Symposium on Tuesday, February 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Melanie Gray Ceremonial Courtroom. 

The symposium will feature a panel of successful entrepreneurs, financial investors, and legal experts in a discussion on the challenges that high-growth, privately held tech companies face as they take on private equity, venture capital, or other forms of funding. Panelists will cover investment deals they have completed, trends in financing, and their career paths in the technology commercialization space.  

Those interested in the legal, financial, business, and entrepreneurial aspects of high-growth companies are encouraged to attend. The event is free.

Register

Brian Gerling L’99, Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the ILC, will moderate the discussion. 

The event will be streamed live and a recording will be made available for those who cannot attend. CART will be provided.

The symposium is co-sponsored by the New York State Science & Technology Law Center, the College of Law’s Corporate Law Society and Intellectual Property Law Society, and the Blackstone LaunchPad at Syracuse University Libraries. 

The panelists are: 

Peter Alfano L’94, Partner, DLA Piper  

Alfano represents private equity sponsors, corporations, and lenders in a wide variety of domestic and cross-border finance transactions, including leveraged acquisitions, corporate financings, dividend recapitalizations, restructurings, and asset-based lending transactions. He has experience across several tech industries and advises companies in connection with intercompany finance arrangements, corporate restructurings, and general corporate matters, including for private equity-owned portfolio companies.       

Luke Cooper L’01, Founding General Partner and Managing Director, Latimer Ventures 

Cooper is the Founding General Partner and Managing Director at Latimer Ventures. Latimer Ventures is an enterprise-focused Venture Capital firm dedicated to helping Black & Hispanic founders build and exit the next RedHat, Datadog, or Tableau. He spends most of his time fundraising and nurturing a strong pipeline of early-stage enterprise SaaS companies.  
 
Before Latimer, Cooper was a 2x successfully exited enterprise software founder (Cybersecurity & Insurtech) with both exits to Fortune 300 acquirers. In 2020, he sold his company, Fixt, an enterprise-focused third-party administration software, to Assurant (NYSE:AIZ), a Fortune 300 leader in insurance risk management. After raising a $6.5M Series A, he became one of three Black Founders to reach a profitable exit that year. 

James Kelly L’99, Partner and Chair, New York Private Equity, DLA Piper  

Kelly is a strategic advisor to private equity funds and operating companies across many industries. He focuses his practice on representing private equity funds in all aspects of their investment activities, recently acting for Atlas Holdings, Bregal Partners, The Carlyle Group, Oaktree Capital Management, and Stellex Capital Management, among several others.  

He is recognized by The Legal 500 US in Private Equity Buyouts and has been recognized for numerous consecutive years by Chambers in New York M&A, has been featured in Buyouts, including a Buyouts Deal of the Year, The Deal, Bloomberg, and Law360 as well as other leading publications. He has presented for several education providers, including Practicing Law Institute and Strafford, and has received recognition for his pro bono work, including the Pro Bono Publico Award from The Legal Aid Society. Kelly is a member of the Syracuse University College of Law Board of Advisors.                                   

Lon Levin L’80 – President, SkySevenVentures  

Levin is President of SkySevenVentures, which invests in, advises, and provides executive services for space and other technology businesses. He has more than 40 years of experience as an executive and entrepreneur in the telecommunications, media, and aerospace industries. 
 
Recently, from 2017-2023, Levin was an executive for Lockheed Martin Space developing new businesses and markets. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of GEOshare, an entrepreneurial subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, and as Vice President-New Ventures. 
 
Levin co-founded XM Satellite Radio and played executive leadership roles in the formation and development of other satellite, space, and media companies including Mobile Satellite Ventures, XM Canada, Slacker Radio, American Mobile Satellite Corporation, TerraStar Networks (mobile satellite), GEOshare (condosats), and Parsec (lunar telecommunications). 
 
He served as a U.S. Delegate negotiating technology treaties at many International Telecommunication Union conferences and holds five telecommunication satellite patents. Levin has served as a Special Government Employee on the Defense Department’s Defense Business Board and the NASA Advisory Council. 

Levin is Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors of The Planetary Society and Board Member Emeritus of the Space Foundation, where has was Chairperson from 2014-16.  

Kevin Whittaker L’02, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Ripcord   

Whittaker is the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary of Ripcord, a NASA spinoff specializing in the digital optimization of data through robotics and AI. Ripcord is backed by Silicon Valley’s leading investors, including Kleiner Perkins and Google Ventures.

Whittaker provides counsel on Venture Financing, M&A, Operations, Human Resources, and Governance. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, he plays a pivotal role in aligning the company’s business strategies with legal and compliance standards, fostering collaboration with stakeholders, customers, and investors.

Whittaker was a speaker at Match-Up 2023, speaking on: “AI Unleashed: Pioneering a New Epoch of Innovation” which explored the profound impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on diverse industries and its pivotal role in shaping the future. Before becoming an in-house corporate counsel, he was a Partner at Reed Smith, and of counsel to Baker McKenzie and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.   

Raul Velez III L’18 joins the College of Law as an Adjunct Professor

Raul Velez III L’18 joins the College of Law as an Adjunct Professor. He will teach Deposition Practice.

Velez is currently a Trial Attorney with Sobo & Sobo, LLP, where he has tried to verdict and settled personal injury and other cases for hundreds of clients. Before that, he was an Associate Attorney with Goldblatt & Associates PC, with a primary focus on traumatic brain injury litigation, and with Cuddy Law Firm PLLC, where he represented students with special needs against the New York City Department of Education. Recently, Velez *was awarded the Young Alumni Award by the College of Law.

While in law school, he spent several semesters as an Honors Intern at the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in Washington, D.C. While at the SEC, he received a Certificate for Outstanding Service to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Inspector General. He was also an award-winning member of the Trial Team and competed both regionally and nationally.

Since graduating from the College of Law, Velez has been a Lecturer for the Introduction to Trial Practice Residency Program for the College of Law’s hybrid online J.D. program and a Guest lecturer for the Trial Practice Course and Deposition course. He also coaches Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society trial teams.

Velez earned a B.A. in political science in 2015 from the California State University – Northridge, and a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 2018.