When one reminisces about their first day of school, they’re likely flooded with memories of meeting new people, learning new names, finding classrooms, and undertaking their first assignments.
However, when one alum looks back on her first day in White and MacNaughton halls, a special memory comes to mind: meeting her husband.
Jennifer and Eric Klee met on the law school’s third floor. Jennifer, a new student, was assigned the orientation group that Eric led as a 2L. The two became close as they discovered what they shared in common, not just a passion for the law but childhoods spent on Long Island. Eric graduated in 1997, Jennifer followed in 1998, and the two wed that August. Now, the Syracuse-made couple resides in the Westchester County community of Somers, NY, with their two daughters—Alyssa and Sammy—and their, dog Brody.
Together as a couple for more than 20 years, Jennifer and Eric practice in different areas of law. Eric’s background is in consumer and business law, with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, securities, and corporate governance. He is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer at American Media LLC, a New York-based publishing company specializing in news and entertainment publications, including Men’s Fitness, The National Enquirer, OK!, and Star. As head of the legal team, Eric’s role includes branding, trademark, and copyright issues.
Jennifer’s practice, on the other hand, has included work with the New York City Law Department and with law firms specializing in insurance defense and real estate. Now a stay-at-home mom, Jennifer’s interest in the law is undiminished.
“Eric and I have this common history and bond, along with shared experiences,” Jennifer explains. “Even though we practice different areas of the law, we are both attorneys, so we can always relate to each other.”
Whether it be understanding the pressures and demands that lawyers endure, or picking each other’s brains on legal issues, the Klees believe their shared background in law makes their personal bond that much stronger.
The couple’s favorite relationship quote is “Marriage is a mosaic you build with your spouse. Millions of tiny moments that create your love story.” The Klees’ relationship has had no shortage of those moments, thanks to that fateful day back at their alma mater!
Words to Love By: “Marriage is a mosaic you build with your spouse. Millions of tiny moments that create your love story.”
The Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93 Builds a Tradition of Hiring Orange Law Clerks
The Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93, G’93 graduated in 1993 with a J.D. from the College of Law and a master’s of public administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, both of which he earned while on a full tuition scholarship. Now a New Jersey Superior Court Judge, Thompson grew up in Trenton, NJ, and pursued a legal education so he could give back to the community that raised him.
“Most of the people I grew up with—people who look like me—were good, honest, hard-working folks,” says Judge Thompson. “It was often difficult, however, to locate an attorney who was from where you were from and who understood your circumstances. I just really wanted to help my community.”
Front Row (l to r): William Gould L’19 and Tanner Kingston L’19. Back Row (l to r): Athena Pantelopoulos L’19, Isaac Signorelli ’20, Judge Thompson, and Luke Edmondson ’19.
“I needed a law clerk—a Syracuse law clerk.”
That spirit of service and giving back extends to graduates of Judge Thompson’s alma mater, who have assisted him since his elevation to the Superior Court.
Thompson’s gubernatorial appointment to the Superior Court was confirmed in November 2016. Judicial clerks usually start their clerkships the last week of August, so Thompson was worried.
“I knew I needed a law clerk, and I wanted it to be a Syracuse law graduate,” he says. Thompson called his College of Law contact and friend, Director of Development Melissa Cassidy, and she immediately thought of Anna Maria Castillo L’16. A perfect match for the position, Castillo started in November 2016 and served until 2018. “She did very well, and she took over at an extraordinarily challenging time,” Thompson recalls. “She had to jump into a very difficult docket, and she did an outstanding, phenomenal job. After Anna, it was a wrap.” Judge Thompson decided he would only look to Syracuse for his clerks moving forward.
Thompson has demonstrated to his colleagues that Syracuse graduates “have a strong work ethic, are critical thinkers, and are effective communicators.”William Gould L’19
Since Castillo, a number of Syracuse graduates have worked for Judge Thompson. Lishayne King L’18 was his second clerk, and Ursula Simmons L’19 served as an extern in his chambers. William Gould L’19 is his third and current clerk, while Isaac Signorelli L’20 started a nine-month externship last September. Omar Mosqueda L’20 is set to become his fourth clerk in August 2020.
“They all liked her.”
Castillo got to know the other family court judges, and her relationships and job performance continue to benefit College of Law students and graduates. “They all liked her and appreciated her work ethic,” Thompson says, “Anna was the perfect clerk. She was tough. She was smart. I could depend on her to work independently, including day-to-day assignments, drafting opinions, and dealing with court staff, attorneys and stakeholders. She also had excellent sports IQ.”
Thompson says he travels to Syracuse every September for the College’s annual Law AlumniWeekend and interviews an average of 10 students during his visit. He can only hire one clerk, but he distributes the information he acquires on other quality candidates to his colleagues. “Students get hired partly based on my recommendations, but partly based on the fact that my judicial colleagues knew Anna,” Thompson says.
To date, three other Syracuse graduates have been hired at the Mercer County Courthouse because of Judge Thompson’s recommendations. Current clerk William Gould says by hiring Syracuse graduates, Thompson has demonstrated to his colleagues that Syracuse graduates “have a strong work ethic, are critical thinkers, and are effective communicators.”
“Nothing is ever too serious.”
Castillo says clerking for Thompson was one of the best experiences she has had. “Walking into his chambers is like walking into your father’s living room. Nothing is ever too serious. He is very relaxed, which made for a good work environment.”
On Castillo’s last day, Thompson called her into his office, Castillo recalls, “It was like a family goodbye, like ‘talk to you later.’” Gould describes Thompson in the same terms, “as a well-liked and down-to-earth person” making Gould feel like part of the team.
Thompson takes the time to mentor his clerks. “I encourage them and take them to various bar association functions so they can make connections. I see it as my responsibility to mentor clerks, to get them out into the legal profession.” Gould says that the opportunity for mentorship is why he took the position with Thompson. “I appreciated the chance to learn from Judge Thompson about what attributes make an attorney effective” he observes.
“Many of my clerks have also participated in one of the College’s legal clinics or externships and therefore bring valuable real-world experiences on day oneHon. Rodney Thompson L’93
“I couldn’t be prouder.”
Castillo is currently an appellate attorney at the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, DC. The high workload and outputs of Thompson’s docket prepared Castillo for her current position. “He provided me with the type of independence I need here,” she says. “I was not micromanaged, and that sort of independence to address a problem on my own really helps me in this job.”
Gould adds, “Judge Thompson has a demanding docket of cases, and each day presents a different challenge that I must work through. However, from day one, he has offered his advice and support.”
Thompson says he feels that Syracuse uniquely prepares graduates for clerkships because of the strong legal writing and research curriculum. “Most of the students I interview participate in some sort of law journal. Many of my clerks have also participated in one of the College’s legal clinics or externships and therefore bring valuable real-world experiences on day one,” Thompson explains.
Thompson, Castillo, and Gould emphasize the need for excellent writing, communication, and interpersonal skills for law clerks, as well as being calm under pressure. “Dean Boise and the current leadership team are moving the College in the right direction, preparing lawyers for the future,” Thompson notes. “I couldn’t be prouder of my Syracuse education.”
Syracuse University was a major part of Sarah Shepp L’19’s childhood in Allendale, NJ, situated close to the New York state border. She recalled family gatherings to watch Syracuse games as a child when she and her cousin would wear cheerleading outfits and root for the Orange.
“Syracuse was always an important place for our family,” Shepp says. She is keenly aware of following in the footsteps of her family members who have attended Syracuse for undergraduate study, and for a law degree from the College of Law.
Family Tradition
The family tradition began with Sarah’s great-grandfather Walter Rose, who attended Syracuse on an athletic scholarship. Rose lettered in cross country and graduated in 1919. Rose then graduated from the College of Law in 1922. He went on to take over his father’s furniture store, Joseph Rose & Sons, which was originally located in Manhattan and then relocated to Astoria, Queens.
Rose continued to support the Orange and attended homecoming games up until he was 99 years old. He passed away in 1999 at the age of 101, when Shepp was 4 years old.
Walter Rose was not Shepp’s only family member to attend Syracuse, however. On her maternal great-grandmother’s side, Shepp had two great uncles who graduated from Syracuse: Bill Gold who graduated from the College of Law in 1922, the same year as Walter, and Abe Gold, whose graduation date is unknown. Bill introduced Walter to his sister Rose Gold who later became Walter’s wife. Walter and Rose were married for over 60 years.
Loyalty & Service
Walter had two sons, Martin and Stanley Rose. Stanley studied business and graduated in 1952, and Martin studied communications and graduated in 1967. Bill and Abe Gold’s nephew Barton Stein graduated from Syracuse University in 1960. Shepp’s uncle KennethReichner graduated in 1984, and Shepp’s cousin—and Walter Rose’s grandson—GordonRose graduated from the College of Law in 1993.
Walter, Stanley, Martin, and Kenneth were all active in the Sigma Alpha Mu (Sammy) fraternity at Syracuse, and there is a Sammy scholarship named after Walter. In 1990, Walter received the Eggers Senior Alumni Award, which honors alumni whose leadership and service to society has been joined with loyalty and service to the University.
For Shepp, Syracuse University has been a family tradition for four generations, and the tradition is set to continue. Shepp currently has a second cousin, Margaret Rose, who is a first-year student at Syracuse in the honors program majoring in public health. Margaret is the great-granddaughter of Walter Rose, the granddaughter of Stanley Rose, and the daughter of Gordon Rose. That makes à Syracuse University connections in her family.
“With this family history, it just seemed appropriate for me to go to Syracuse and continue the legacy.”Sarah Shepp L’19
Continue the Legacy
Shepp says she pursued a legal education in order to advocate for individuals and to help people with complex issues in their time of need. The College of Law seemed the supportive, collaborative environment that Shepp was looking for, and she found that the professors wanted their students to succeed.
“To top all that off with this family history, it just seemed appropriate for me to go to Syracuse and continue the legacy,” she explains, praising the quality of the legal education she received at Syracuse.
Currently, Shepp works as a law clerk for the Hon. Alan G. Lesnewich, J.S.C., a civil division judge in Union County, NJ. She passed the New Jersey bar exam and works on a variety of civil cases, from contract disputes to personal injury litigation.
Shepp is interested in insurance defense, medical malpractice defense, and product liability, and she hopes to pursue that work in the future. She notes that her education at Syracuse prepared her for her current position thanks to opportunities such as the Hancock Estabrook 1L Oral Advocacy Competition, the Lionel O. Grossman Trial Competition, and the Bond, Schoeneck & King Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition, as well as her service as the Associate Editor of the Journal of International Law and Commerce. Her article “Priceless Kidney: The Ineffectiveness of Organ Trafficking Legislation” was published in the Spring 2019 edition.
When reflecting on her family’s Orange history, Shepp says, “I hope I made Walter Rose proud. It’s really nice to be involved in a profession that so many of my relatives chose for themselves.” Before she arrived in Syracuse, she imagined being on the same campus they lived on decades before her and reading the same legal cases that they did. Reflecting on what it felt to be at the College, and reading those cases, she says, “It’s been a blessing and an incredible experience.”
