Around Syracuse Law

The View from the Corner Office: Stories Book 2020

ALUMS REFLECT ON THEIR JOURNEY FROM LAW SCHOOL TO C SUITE

The College of Law has produced countless leaders throughout its 125-year history. These include a vice president of the United States, a state attorney general, college presidents, numerous judges, public servants, business and nonprofit executives, entrepreneurs, and many others in positions of influence.

In this new Stories Book section, we celebrate some of the journeys that alums have taken from the classroom to the business executive suite, and we learn that for an Orange lawyer, almost any career is advantaged by a Syracuse law diploma.

We present four alums in this issue. Look for more stories in future issues!

Taking Flight: Joanna Geraghty L’97

President, COO, JetBlue Airways

Headshot of Joanna Geraghty L’97

The College of Law’s 2020 Commencement Speaker Joanna Geraghty is no stranger to leadership challenges, especially during the COVID-19 public health crisis that has dramatically affected her industry, as well as her plans to visit her alma mater in person in May 2020.

Nevertheless, the College of Law community looks forward to a memorable and inspiring Commencement address shared via the College’s online channels and in the 2020 Yearbook this summer.

A trailblazer in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Joanna Geraghty joined JetBlue Airways in 2005, working her way up to become the company’s President and COO in 2018. Today, JetBlue is the sixth largest airline in the US and a Fortune 500 company, with a fleet of more than 250 planes, a workforce of more than 20,000 employees and service to more than 100 destinations across the US and internationally. Demonstrating her leadership during the COVID-19 crisis, in late March 2020 JetBlue began offering free flights to medical professionals volunteering to help fight the pandemic.

In her role, Geraghty oversees the airline’s day-to-day operations, including customer experience, flight operations, technical operations, and commercial functions. She is the first female president at a large US airline since the early 2000s. Her job has been described as one of the most challenging in the airline industry.

“Through her rise in a competitive industry,” observes Dean Boise, “Joanna has never forgotten the value of a Syracuse law degree, citing it as important training for the problem-solving and leadership required in her high-profile career.”

A joint degree student at Syracuse, Geraghty earned a master’s in international relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs along with her juris doctor degree. Before joining JetBlue, she was a partner at Holland and Knight, a New York law firm. She was a member of the airline’s legal department, before being promoted to Associate General Counsel. She then became head of the company’s human resources team—what JetBlue calls its “Chief People Officer”—before being named Executive Vice President of Customer Experience in 2014.

Dr. Kimberly Townsend L’01

President and CEO, Loretto Management

Headshot of Dr. Kimberly Townsend L’01

Kim Townsend is President and CEO of Loretto Management, a continuing health care organization that provides services for older adults throughout Central New York. Townsend oversees 19 specialized programs throughout Onondaga and Cayuga counties, more than 2,500 employees, and more than 9,000 individuals and their families who are under Loretto’s care.

In addition to her J.D. (magna cum laude) from the College of Law, Townsend holds Master of Business Administration and Executive Master of Public Administration degrees from Syracuse University and an Ed.D. in executive leadership from St. John Fisher College. An expert in health care management, governance, and leadership, she is the author of Lifecircle Leadership: How Exceptional People Make Every Day Extraordinary (Advantage Media Group, 2018).

Did you imagine in law school that you’d eventually land in a corporate leadership role?
Absolutely! I felt strongly that my experiences at the College of Law would prepare me for executive leadership. I thought I might land in a general counsel or a chief legal officer role, but chief executive officer is close enough!

How did law school prepare you for your current role?
I had so many great professors during my time at the College. It would be hard to pick one, but I tried to take every course that professors Lisa Dolak L’88 and Margaret Harding offered. Professor Christian Day was an extraordinary mentor to me. He also introduced me to Professor Jack Rudnick L’73, then General Counsel at Welch Allyn and now Director of the College’s Innovation Law Center. Jack hired me at the end of my first year of law school.

What elements of your legal training do you apply in your position at Loretto?
Law school teaches you to think about problems differently than other disciplines. The precise and systematic evaluation of data, as well as the brevity and clarity of presentation, are skills that I honed in law school and that I continue to use every day.

In a rapidly changing world, what innovation has most affected your industry?
The use of business intelligence tools in operations and artificial intelligence in health care delivery. It’s an exciting time to be in health care, with the growing demand for high quality at low cost. That is a quadrant of the cost-quality matrix that was viewed as unachievable when I got my M.B.A. at Whitman in 1999. Through intelligent use of data, health care can meet both cost and demographic challenges.

What memory from your law school days is dearest to you?
My favorite memory is of then-Sen. Joseph R. Biden L’68 speaking at my graduation in 2001. Who knew that one day he would become Vice President of the United States?!

Luke Cooper L’01

CEO and Founder, Fixt

Photo of Luke Cooper L’01 holding a box that says Fixt

Luke Cooper is CEO and Founder of Baltimore- based Fixt, the first enterprise-level, on-demand device repair platform that supplies “concierge technicians” to businesses as a cost-effective tech solution. A renowned entrepreneur, Cooper has been named EY Entrepreneur of the Year and one of Baltimore’s “40 Under 40” business leaders. Before Fixt, Cooper was a founding team member of CTS Inc.— a leader in cybersecurity information assurance systems that was acquired by Paradigm Holding Solutions and CACI International.

Did you imagine in law school that you’d eventually land in a corporate leadership role?
Yes. Being a lawyer puts you right in the mix of things, but you need to see the whole picture. To build something great, you need a holistic perspective of your business, your market, and yourself. I learned this from a mentor at Skadden Arps. This aspect of my journey was very intentional.

How did law school prepare you for your current role?
Two professors in particular stick out for me: professors Travis H.D. Lewin and David Dreisen. As a 21-year-old black kid from one of the toughest housing projects on the East Coast, I was certainly a little rough around the edges. Both men spent time outside of class feeding my intellectual curiosity, coaching up my oral and critical thinking skills and, most importantly, encouraging me to have purpose in everything I do. I still recall much of my evidentiary rules and use strong oratory excellence to advocate for outcomes in my own company.

What elements of your legal training do you apply in your position at Fixt?
Critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and time management are just a few I use daily. Additionally, research skills are quite important to all aspects of my business. This is a skill I did not have before law school but—after a great first year Legal Research and Writing class—my strength in this area has never stopped flourishing. Consequently, I know I can get to 70% of the right answers by knowing how to access the most accurate data really fast.

In a rapidly changing world, what innovation has most affected your industry?
Cloud computing has hugely impacted the way people interact with the goods and services they buy. For Fixt, cloud-based payment solutions like Stripe are embedded in our product, making it possible to automate payments to our techs. Plus, machine learning has unlocked huge benefits by allowing our logic to automatically dispatch the right tech for any job in four hours or less, globally. Advanced GPS and map capabilities have helped us achieve a 95% on-time rate. Today, if you are not a technology company first, you die. As a trustee of the University of Maryland Baltimore, I know this applies to law schools too.

What memory from your law school days is dearest to you?
I once convinced Wegmans to stay open until 2 a.m. so a fellow law school friend and I could continue sparring over contracts law in preparation for finals.

A close second: I remember one football game when Donovan McNabb, sacked with five seconds to go, tosses one up to the tight end for an amazing win—so deeply emblematic of our underdog culture. Go Orange!

Jared Turner L’06

President and COO, Young Living Essential Oils

Headshot of Jared Turner L’06

Jared Turner has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Young Living Essential Oils for four years. He joined the company as Associate General Counsel in charge of international legal affairs. “But within weeks, the owner and board promoted me onto the business track,” he recalls.

Young Living is a nearly $2 billion company based in Lehi, UT. It has 3,500 global employees, 25 farms, and does business in 25 countries. The Young Living Foundation supports around 250,000 children a year with malaria abatement, trafficking rescue, education, and other initiatives.

“We’re very focused on sustainability and are currently working toward a goal of zero waste,” says Turner. Recently, his company donated more than 19 square miles of Utah wilderness in the Uintah Mountains to the Nature Conservancy. “It will be called the D. Gary Young Wildlife Sanctuary, to honor the founder of Young Living,” Turner says.

Did you imagine in law school that you’d eventually land in a corporate leadership role?
From the time I decided to attend law school, I wanted to practice international business law. I loved the idea of working with multinational companies. I probably knew early on that this passion for international law and business could translate into a business-related job; what I didn’t realize was how advantageous my legal training would be for a corporate leadership role.

How did law school prepare you for your current role?
Professor Donna Arzt’s international law courses were my foundation, and the Community Development Law Clinic was invaluable, as it taught me creative problem-solving strategies to help create value for Syracuse community nonprofits. The corporate law classes were very important for helping me understand how the corporate world operates within legal frameworks, something I deal with every day as an executive.

What elements of your legal training do you apply in your position at Young Living?
The mindset and practices built into me as a law student, and then leveraged heavily while practicing law at a large regional firm, were instrumental in allowing me to succeed. The drive, resilience, critical thinking, discipline, and time management that are demanded by legal studies and practice are hugely beneficial too.

In a rapidly changing world, what innovation has most affected your industry?
The digital world is changing how we do business Amazon has established consumer expectations for product range, price, and availability, along with shipping and customer interaction. If companies aren’t willing or able to adapt to this new digital shopping landscape, it’s very difficult to keep up with competitors.

What memory from your law school days is dearest to you?
Lifelong bonds are formed in the challenging work, and I still maintain friendships from this time in my life. I had special relationships with professors Deborah Kenn and Donna Arzt. I was a graduate assistant to Professor Arzt at the Global Law and Practice Center, and I enjoyed dialoging with her on international legal topics when I assisted her at the school and at her home helping her to landscape her backyard.

To current law students, I recommend building relationships with faculty mentors, immersing yourself in the adventure of legal practice, and canoeing on the Finger Lakes!

Hank Greenberg L’86 Concludes His Term as NYSBA President

Photo of Hank Greenberg speaking at podium

“At the forefront of shaping the future of the legal profession.”

At the end of May 2020, Henry (Hank) Greenberg will conclude his term as New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) President. It’s been a highly productive term, with Greenberg addressing diversity in the profession, launching global initiatives, embracing emerging technologies, and— as his term comes to an end—responding to COVID-19’s impact on our profession and law students.

Among the many accomplishments during Greenberg’s tenure:

Diversity in Leadership Roles

  • Appointed a diverse chair, co-chair, or vice-chair to all 59 of NYSBA’s committees.
  • Adopted an association-wide diversity and inclusion plan.

“I am most proud of our diversity initiatives, among these many other achievements.”

Global Membership Initiative

  • Entered into memoranda of understanding with bars associations in Seoul, Korea, Tokyo, and elsewhere to meet its members–180,000 who work outside of New York–where they live and work.
  • Launched a quarterly global newsletter to international members.

While NYSBA is the voice of the New York state legal profession, the Association has members in all 50 states and in more than 100 countries, making it a global organization. These global initiatives will contribute to the Association’s Virtual Bar Center.

Virtual Bar Center

  • Launched Virtual Bar Center initiative, which involved deep investments in technical infrastructure for virtual meetings, online education, and enhanced communications with and among members and the public at large.
  • Launched a new website, online store, and member database.

The Virtual Bar Center currently provides information about COVID-19 and serves as a command center for COVID-19 related communications with members and other constituencies worldwide.

Cutting-Edge Public Policy Initiatives

  • Rural Justice (investigating the impact of rural attorney shortages on access to justice, challenges in delivering legal services in rural areas, and the unique practice needs of rural practitioners).
  • Free Expression in the Digital Age (examining how free expression has evolved in the digital age and, in particular, how the law has impacted—and can impact— this evolution).
  • Autonomous Vehicles and the Law (investigating how the law and legal profession adapt to the rise of autonomous vehicles as autonomous vehicles, raise novel and potentially far-reaching challenges to the law in a variety of areas.)
  • Legalization of Cannabis (providing NYSBA lawyers with shared educational resources, and otherwise helping New York set the highest possible legal and business practices, including advice to medical professionals and standards for legalized cannabis products).
  • Domestic Terrorism and Hate Crimes (examining the factors that have led to the increase in hate crimes, including legislative and policy recommendations, suggestions for improvements to the federal and state legal system’s response to hate crimes, and helping to better educate the public on the value of diversity and inclusion).
  • Parole Reform (studying the current system of parole, focusing on release practices and revocation and reincarceration.)
  • Future of the New York Bar Exam (investigating the experience and impact of New York’s adoption of the Uniform Bar Examination).

“The Association has never been more prolific in developing policy positions on cutting-edge topics that lawyers are grappling with now. From our groundbreaking initiatives to support and save local news outlets to our efforts to examine autonomous vehicles, NYSBA is at the forefront of shaping not only the future of the legal profession but also the societal trends impacting us all.”

National and State Leadership

  • Led the American Bar Association’s adoption of a resolution to explore innovative approaches to expand access to justice and the adoption of a resolution encouraging online providers of legal documents to adopt the ABA’s “Best Practice Guidelines for Online Legal Document Providers.”
  • Led effort to successfully remove mental health questions from the New York bar admissions application.
  • Worked with the chief judge of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York to announce a future convocation on civics education.
  • Influenced nationwide policy dialogues through op-eds, commentaries, and interviews in The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, Northeast Pubic Radio, The Capitol Pressroom, and elsewhere.
Photo of Hank Greenberg speaking at a podium
Hank Greenberg, on the New York State Unified Court System’s decision to remove mental health-related questions from the state bar application: “Future generations of New York lawyers no longer need to live in fear that bravely and smartly seeking treatment for mental health issues could one day derail their careers.”

Rapid Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Crisis

  • Oversaw transformation of NYSBA’s website, social media outlets, and other digital platforms to provide real-time information regarding the crisis through eblasts, webinars, publications, and an online information center.
  • Partnered with the NYS Court System to build and coordinate a statewide pro bono network of lawyers to handle the expected surge in legal matters resulting from pandemic and enduing economic fallout.
  • Recommendations from Task Force regarding next bar exam in New York immediately adopted by the Court of Appeals.
  • Created an Emergency Task Force for Solo and Small Firm Practitioners impacted by the crisis.

NYSBA’s communications channels continue to provide updated resources to assist attorneys, law firms, the court system, and others navigating the crisis.

A Boost to the Annual Meeting

  • Posted record attendance at dozens of events at the 2020 Annual Meeting.
  • Held a centerpiece Presidential Summit on Domestic Terrorism, moderated by Dean Craig M. Boise.
  • Hosted a sold-out Gala Dinner at the American Museum of Natural History honoring US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan and the judges of the New York Court of Appeals.

Greenberg says he is confident that president-elect Scott Karson L’75 will maintain NYSBA’s momentum: “Scott’s many years of leadership experience in bar associations— from the local level to the national level—and his forward-thinking agenda will continue NYSBA’s upward trajectory as we face new challenges and opportunities.”

Scott Karson L’75 Reflects on Becoming NYSBA President-Elect and on an Ethos to Live By

Photo of Scott Karson speaking at a podium.

“Lawyers Are the Guardians of Justice”

For Scott Karson, a partner at Lamb & Barnosky LLP in Melville, NY, being active in bar associations at any level is a defining part of being a lawyer. “Bar associations enable me to be involved with the community of lawyers,” he says, looking back on 40 years of local, state, and national bar participation.

Karson’s rise through the ranks of the Suffolk County Bar Association started after his seven-year stint as a county assistant district attorney, during his career as a law secretary to Justice Lawrence J. Bracken of the Appellate Division, Second Department. “As a prosecutor, I spent a significant portion of my time in court and regularly interacted with my peers in the profession. However, as a law secretary, you lead a monastic life, spending hours alone in a law library researching and writing. After being so visible in court nearly every day, I seemingly disappeared. That’s when Justice Bracken suggested that I get involved in the bar association.”

And get involved he did. In addition to attaining the presidency of the Suffolk County Bar Association in 2004, Karson became more involved with the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) over the years. His involvement included, among other things, election to the NYSBA House of Delegates, serving as chair of the Committee on Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction and the Audit Committee, serving on the Committee to Review Judicial Nominations, and election to three one-year terms as Treasurer. He also became a member of the American Bar Association House of Delegates.

Unique Position

This ascension up the ranks will culminate on June 1, 2020, when Karson becomes the 123rd President of NYSBA. He will take over from fellow alum Henry (Hank) Greenberg L’86, marking the first instance of back-to-back College of Law alums serving as NYSBA President, and he will be the 10th graduate overall to hold the position.

Giving back to the legal community and supporting bar associations are important to the partners of his firm. “My partners at Lamb & Barnosky understand that the NYSBA presidency is virtually a full-time job, and they are supportive of me and my service to our bar association,” he says. In fact, two of his partners currently serve as chairs of NYSBA sections, and another is a county bar committee chair. At the firm, Karson is a commercial, municipal, and real estate litigator concentrating on appellate work, taking advantage of his experience in appellate courts. He has argued more than 100 appeals during his career. Upon taking office, Karson says he plans to maintain the same mantra that has guided him throughout his career: Lawyers are the guardians of justice. “By virtue of a license to practice law, attorneys are in a unique position to ensure that we live in a just society, representing clients and resolving disputes in accordance with the rule of law.”

“By virtue of a license to practice law, attorneys serve in a unique position to ensure that we live in a just society, representing clients and resolving disputes in accordance with the rule of law.”

To that point, Karson says he wants to place an emphasis on civic education. He and Greenberg have agreed to work together—along with New York Chief Judge Janet DiFiore—on a joint bar/bench convocation around this topic. “We have many citizens who can name all the judges on American Idol but who can’t name a justice of the US Supreme Court,” he observes. “A viable democracy requires an informed citizenry.”

Varied Audience

Gun violence is another focus area for Karson. “NYSBA has had two task forces looking at the topic of gun violence. The reports and recommendations of those task forces will be evaluated to determine what NYSBA’s next step ought to be in its continuing effort to curb the horrific and all-too-frequent incidents of gun violence that we have witnessed.”

Having practiced his entire career on Long Island—but with substantial time spent on statewide NYSBA activities—Karson says he understands the challenge of bringing together an organization that stretches over a geographically large and diverse area, from metropolitan Manhattan to rural Upstate.

“The state bar association serves a varied audience of practitioners,” notes Karson. “Topics such as gun violence may mean something different to someone in Upstate New York compared to a New York City attorney. It’s not always an easy task to develop positions that fairly represent all voices, but I am confident we can establish agreeable policy positions on guns and other important issues.”

While at the College of Law, Karson served as the senior editor of the Syracuse Law Review Annual Survey of New York Law. He returned for Law Alumni Weekend in 2019 to reengage with alums and to see Dineen Hall for the first time. Karson observed, “The new building is magnificent and will serve future generations of law students well.”

Karson concludes, “Representing the members of NYSBA as its President is truly an honor. I look forward to leading the association and building on the important work of advancing our great profession, the public which it serves and, of course, the cause of justice.”

Lawyers in Love: Patrick Kennell L’02 & Dawn Krigstin L’03

Patrick Kennell and Dawn Krigstin and two children

Since the mid- 1980s, the College of Law has been home to countless trial practice classes taught by Adjunct Professor Donald J. Martin L’68, Principal of The Donald J. Martin Law Firm PC.

For two alums, one particular class stood out from the rest: It was where a future husband and wife met.

Patrick Kennell and Dawn Krigstin joined Professor Martin’s trial practice class in fall 2001. The rest, as they say, is history. The two spent the remainder of law school together, and they look back upon their law school experiences with fond memories.

One particular memory stands out to the couple—meeting in New York City for the first time when Patrick was on the school’s trial team. Little did the couple know at the time that the city would be their future home.

Patrick and Dawn say their relationship is stronger thanks to their Syracuse bond.

“Syracuse means a lot to our marriage, and our shared connection with the College has kept us very involved with our alma mater,” Dawn explains. “We visit it more frequently than our friends, and we have turned one of our sons into a die-hard Orange fan!”

Beyond their love for all things Orange, Patrick and Dawn say that learning their profession in Syracuse has given them a deep appreciation and respect for each other. “We speak the same language, we argue well, and we even use our negotiation skills on our kids,” Dawn observes. “Our kids have learned so much. They now think like lawyers and out-negotiate us!”

The children the couple speaks of are 12-year-old Gabe and 9-year-old Teddy, who it appears may have a future at the College of Law like their parents. The family—which includes puppy Leah—live in lower Manhattan, where Patrick is a partner at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP, whose headquarters are close to Wall Street. At Kaufman, Patrick is Co-Chair of the Insurance Coverage and Litigation Practice Group, and he represents US and UK market insurers in professional negligence, breach of contract, fraud, conspiracy, and other cases.

Dawn runs her own business. As CEO of Envoy Specialty—a company she founded three years ago—she handles specialty claims for a wide variety of policies, including commercial general liability, environmental liability, professional liability, and contractor’s pollution insurance. In addition to her work at Envoy, Dawn is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Development School for the Youth, a nonprofit educational organization.

As a couple, Dawn and Patrick have one simple piece of advice for their children, fellow lawyers, and couples alike: “Be kind.” Although this advice may seem simple, they say you never know where kindness may lead you—perhaps even to falling in love in your trial practice class!

Words to Love By: “Be Kind.”

Lawyers in Love: Eric Klee L’97 & Jennifer Klee L’98

Jennifer and Eric Klee smiling in photo.

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.”

Syracuse Graduates Find a New Home in New Jersey

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. IN courtoom
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.

Lishayne King L’18 and Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93, G’93 in courtroom with SU COllege of Law flag
Anna Castillo L’16 and Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93, G’93 in courtroom with SU COllege of Law flag
Ursula Simmons L’19 and Hon. Rodney Thompson L’93, G’93 in courtroom with SU COllege of Law flag

“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 Alumni Weekend 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.”

A Family Legacy That Spans a Century

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 Kenneth Reichner graduated in 1984, and Shepp’s cousin—and Walter Rose’s grandson—Gordon Rose 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.”