Around Syracuse Law

Professor Mary Szto Uses a Mock Shareholder Meeting to Teach Corporate Governance

Professor Mary Szto’s Business Associations class recently held a mock shareholders meeting that featured a class-wide role-playing exercise. Students portrayed corporate C-suite executives, potential board members, and shareholders to demonstrate various legal issues and challenges in shareholder meetings.

Students selected the company, Nvidia, the AI computing giant; volunteered for roles (CEO, CTO, Chief Legal Officer, Board of Director candidates, and more); and created shareholder proxy materials. They also drafted and presented shareholder proposals.

“They created a shareholder meeting that demonstrated how C-suite leaders tackle critical aspects of running a company,” says Szto. “The whole course came to life!  They demonstrated corporate governance of a public company, fiduciary duties, and risk management, among other concepts. I am proud of how well the whole class participated.  It was very lively and a lot of fun.”

Food for the shareholders meeting was provided by LexisNexis.

Report of the Mock Nvidia Shareholders’ Meeting

By the Media Team of Carlos Dominguez Scheid LL.M’24, Firdevs Okatan LL.M.’24, and Rabiya Shamim LL.M.’24.

In late March, in a culmination of weeks of preparation, the Business Associations course led by Professor Mary Szto, held a captivating Mock Nvidia Shareholders’ Meeting. The students immersed themselves in the complexities of corporate governance, bringing theory to life in a practical setting. J.D. and LL.M. students worked together to recreate a shareholder’s meeting as real as possible.

As the room buzzed with anticipation the attendees took their seats. Executives took center stage, delivering compelling presentations.  CEO LL.M. student Paulo Andrade, Chief Legal Officer (CLO) 2L Ahmad Salman, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) 2L Charles Sirotek, and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) 2L Amanda Winn each delivered speeches that captured the essence of leadership and vision.

The meeting covered the CEO’s vision of AI’s potential, the CFO’s positive financial report, and the CTO’s presentation of technological advancements. The Chief Legal Officer reassured shareholders about the company’s standards, while shareholder proposals for governance transparency and concerns about AI misuse were discussed. The meeting also involved electing a new Board of Directors, a Q&A session, and a dialogue on balancing technological progress with ethical responsibilities, concluding with the CEO’s call for ongoing engagement.

The agenda was meticulously planned, covering crucial aspects such as the approval of board nominees and shareholder proposals. Yet, what set this event apart was the students’ involvement in every facet. Teams orchestrated catering, music, media coverage, and financial reports with precision.

The atmosphere mirrored a real shareholders’ meeting, offering participants a glimpse into the process of corporate decision-making. As the event drew to a close, attendees departed with newfound insights and a deeper understanding of the corporate landscape. The Mock Nvidia Shareholders’ Meeting stood as a testament to the academic rigor and practical learning fostered within the Business Associations course.

JDi Program Allows Tax Manager to Pursue Career as Tax Counsel at Private Trust Company 

Kathryn Martin headshot

“I’m working with the best of the best, and that makes class discussions so much more diverse and valuable.”

Kathryn Martin L’24

With a background in finance and accounting, Kathryn Martin L’24 was working as a tax manager for a private trust company in 2011 when she started considering law school as a way to advance her career. It was the company’s president who told her that working in the private trust company industry would require a law degree if she wanted to move up the ladder.

Martin was living in Reno, Nevada, with her husband and children, while also caring for her dad and her mother, who has Parkinson’s disease. There was no way she could leave Reno to attend a residential law school. So, she put that idea on hold and instead earned a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Nevada, Reno, and became a CPA.

Seven years ago, Martin moved to another private trust company and again was told that a law degree was essential. A long-time fan of Syracuse Men’s Basketball, she looked into the JDinteractive (JDi) program at Syracuse University College of Law and thought an online program might work for her. “It was the one and only law school I applied to,” she says. “I just felt that I had to go there.”

The JDi program has proven to be a good fit with the demands of Martin’s job. “Time was a concern. I knew law school would be a lot of work, but, like any overachiever, you make it work,” she explains. “It’s not easy, but the flexibility of the program has really allowed me to keep my job, be with my family and go to law school at the same time.”

Students sit in a classroom

Aside from the flexibility, Martin has been pleased with the opportunities that the JDi program offers. She finds it interesting to learn about the backgrounds of others in her cohort, most of whom are high-level professionals. “I’m working with the best of the best, and that makes class discussions so much more diverse and valuable,” she explains.

Another advantage has been the variety of speakers who have come into online classes from wherever they are located—something that would not be possible in a residential program. “I took a class on activist investing and corporate governance from Adjunct Professor Jared Landaw, and he brought in very accomplished speakers almost every week to give their perspectives,” Martin says. “Having access to all of these different people from a variety of backgrounds has been completely rewarding.”

Martin has also attended six of the residency programs during her time in the JDi program. Most recently she traveled to Los Angeles for a residency on bankruptcy law with Distinguished Lecturer Richard Levy L’77. She says the highlight of the trip was listening to distinguished alumna and Chair of Syracuse Law’s board of advisors Melanie Gray L’81 talk about her experience as a woman in law and how she’s faced diversity in her career.

Students stand in a group and listen to an alumna speak
Melanie Gray L’81 interfaces with students at the Bankruptcy Residency in Los Angeles, California

“I soaked in everything she said like a sponge,” Martin says, noting she also had the opportunity to attend a bankruptcy hearing and ask questions of three judges afterwards. “It was interesting because a lot of times, people think of bankruptcy as a negative thing, but the judges spoke about how it allows people to take risks and have a safety net to fall back on.”

She’s been to the Syracuse University campus for all the other residencies: notably one on elder law with David M. Levy L’48 Professor of Law Nina Kohn. “This was my favorite residency, particularly because I’ve had to navigate the nursing home system due to my mom’s Parkinson’s disease,” she says.

“…I am grateful to the professors at Syracuse Law who helped me map out my career choices and prepared me for this next step. The Syracuse Law JDi program has been an excellent experience that has allowed me to build on my finance and accounting background by adding critical components of the law to my experience. It has opened a door to an exciting new chapter for me.”

Kathryn Martin L’24

As Martin gets ready to graduate this spring, she is also preparing for a career change from tax director to a tax counsel position, working in tax and estate planning with her current employer.

“As a tax director, I often come into transactions once they are already underway, but having a law degree will allow me to help create strategies to assist our clients from the start,” Martin says. “I am looking forward to this shift in my career, and I am grateful to the professors at Syracuse Law who helped me map out my career choices and prepared me for this next step. The Syracuse Law JDi program has been an excellent experience that has allowed me to build on my finance and accounting background by adding critical components of the law to my experience. It has opened a door to an exciting new chapter for me.”

Students walk down a street in Los Angeles

A Serendipitous Connection

George and Sheliah smile for the camera at brunch

As a JDinteractive (JDi) student, George Saad L’25 has never let the distance from campus dampen his school spirit. On weekends, Saad often sports his favorite Syracuse University pullovers and baseball caps for comfortable afternoons around Phoenix, Arizona. It was one such weekend during brunch at a local diner that Saad’s Orange pride caught the attention of a fellow diner, Sheilah (Ragan) Lavelle ’59, L’62, leading to their introduction and the beginning of a remarkable bond.

Saad was fortunate to pursue his education in the United Kingdom before furthering his studies in Canada, where he attained both undergraduate and master’s degrees in economics. Subsequently, he ventured to the United States to embark on a career path centered on education and curriculum development. Despite achieving success in his field, Saad found himself grappling with frustration stemming from the complexities of the K-12 education system. Motivated by a desire for meaningful change, he pursued a career shift, earning a master’s in business administration (MBA) from Northeastern University.

It was during this transformative period that Saad discovered his passion for the law and commenced his quest for a J.D. He was particularly drawn to Syracuse Law’s JDi program, which offered him a pathway to realize his aspirations. Now enrolled as an online student, Saad is enjoying learning about the diverse practice of law and the deep bond he’s forged with his fellow JDi cohort, noting that “many have become lifelong friends.” Despite the physical distance separating him from campus, Syracuse Law is close to his heart, as evidenced by the Orange sweatshirt he proudly wore that fateful day in Phoenix.

George and Sheliah smile for the camera

It was Lavelle who first noticed the Orange pride, asking Saad if he was a Syracuse alumnus. They were excited to learn they both shared a connection to Syracuse Law. While Saad is one of the early cohorts in the school’s JDi program, Lavelle was a trailblazer in her own right, being one of only two females to graduate in the Class of 1962. Lavelle always wanted to be a lawyer, even as a child growing up in Central New York. However, in those times, many—including her own family—didn’t see the value in legal education for women. It was her stepmother that encouraged her to pursue her J.D., after receiving her undergraduate degree from Syracuse’s Martin J. Whitman School of Management. In 1975, she relocated to Arizona with her late husband, John, where she established her own practice advocating for indigent youth who had experienced sexual and physical abuse. Lavelle’s dedication to serving her community continued until her retirement. Now a widow, Lavelle lives alone with her two rescue dogs, Trixie and Lily.

What began as a casual conversation over coffee has blossomed into a profound friendship grounded in mutual respect and a love for Syracuse University. Despite their differing backgrounds and life experiences, Saad and Lavelle found common ground in their alma mater, forging a connection that has become dear to both. “She’s such a gem,” Saad remarks, sharing how he and his partner, Jason, have become close to Lavelle, often helping with chores around the home or enjoying conversations over brunch.

Along with Saad’s partner, Jason, the three have become pillars of support for each other, offering guidance, encouragement, and a listening ear when needed most. In February 2023, Lavelle was deeply saddened by the passing of her classmate and dear friend, Charlie Raffe ’60, L’62. After one of Saad’s visits to campus for a JDi Residency, he returned to Phoenix with a heartfelt gift for Lavelle—a printed copy of her Class of 1962 composite, featuring photos of the young Lavelle and Raffe. This thoughtful gesture, along with the friendship and camaraderie, was a touching moment for Lavelle. Whether it’s assisting with home projects or simply enjoying each other’s company, their bond continues to strengthen with each passing day.

As they reflect on their journey from strangers to friends, Saad and Lavelle are reminded of the profound impact a chance encounter can have on one’s life. Through their friendship, they exemplify the enduring spirit of the Syracuse University community—a community built on connections, shared experiences, and a commitment to making a difference in the world. Though their paths may have diverged, George Saad L’25 and Sheilah LaValle ’59, L’62 will forever be united by their love for Syracuse Law and the special bond they share.

3L Amie Mbye Selected as the Inaugural Recipient of the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship

3L Amie Mbye is the inaugural recipient of the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship. The Scholarship was established with a generous gift from Syracuse University Trustee and College of Law Board of Advisors Member Richard M. Alexander L’82, a partner at Arnold & Porter, and his wife Emily, to honor the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75.

Mbye is the Diversity & Inclusion Chair and Computers Editor for the Syracuse Law Review. She is also a member of the Black Law Student Association and the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society’s Black Law Student Association Mock Trial Team, which advanced from the regional round of the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial competition in 2023 and 2024.

She has spent two summers as a Law Clerk in Barclay Damon LLP’s Syracuse office. After graduation in May, she plans on taking the patent bar and returning to Barclay Damon as a first-year associate with the Intellectual Property practice group.

Mbye holds an undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Agnes Scott College.

The Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship provides Syracuse Law students with the education and cultural context to enable them to carry forward the legacy of Judge McKee, who has served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit for more than 27 years.

Judge McKee graduated from the College of Law in 1975 magna cum laude and as a member of the Order of the Coif and the Justinian Honorary Law Society. He began his legal career in private practice in Philadelphia, PA, before entering public service as an Assistant US Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He then served as Deputy City Solicitor for Philadelphia, as a lecturer at Rutgers Law School, and as General Counsel for the Philadelphia Parking Authority.

Judge McKee first took the bench in 1984 on the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. After a decade of service, he was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit by President William J. Clinton in 1994, receiving his confirmation and commission later that same year. Judge McKee served as the court’s Chief Judge from 2010 to 2016.

If you are interested in supporting the Hon. Theodore A. McKee L’75 Endowed Law Scholarship, please click here.

3L Dana Shearer Receives the John Goerner L’23 Memorial Scholarship

3L Dana Shearer has been selected to receive the inaugural John Goerner L’23 Memorial Scholarship. Goerner passed away in 2021 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer while studying for his J.D. degree in the College’s JDinteractive (JDi) program.  To honor his legacy, members of the JDi class of 2023 dedicated their fundraising efforts to establish the John Goerner Scholarship with the intent of supporting JDi students facing demonstrated adversity who nevertheless persevere in their study of law at Syracuse.

At the College of Law, Shearer is a member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society’s Virtual Advocacy Division, the First Generation Law Students Association, and the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity.

“Following law school, I plan to pursue criminal law. My passion and knack for oral argument have led me to the courtroom as an advocate. I was initially interested in wrongful conviction exoneration but have chosen to pursue the path of prosecution— a mission to do it right rather than make it right. I am still living in the mountains of North Carolina but have felt the tug to explore new possibilities recently. My ties to Asheville dissipate as my stepdaughter, who was by my side through the toughest of times, heads to Duke University this fall on a full scholarship. I am so proud of where she and I have landed in the face of seemingly insurmountable adversity. Thank you for helping me along my journey in the pursuit of law. And thank you to John for being an inspiration to us all in the pursuit of kindness and generosity,” says Shearer.

Professor Cora True-Frost Named 2024–2027 Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence

Cora True-Frost L’01, the Bond Schoeneck and King Professor of Law at Syracuse University College of Law has been honored with the title of Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence. This prestigious award recognizes True-Frost’s exceptional contributions as both a teacher and a scholar within the university community.

The Meredith Professorship is among the highest teaching accolades at Syracuse University, bestowed annually upon two tenured faculty members. Those who receive this honor are expected to actively engage with the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence (CTLE) to enhance the teaching and learning environment across campus and stimulate discussions on teaching excellence.

True-Frost specializes in constitutional law, European and international disability law , and public international law. Her recent research focuses on the right to travel, accessibility and reasonable accommodation law within the Council of Europe, as well as conflicts between interpretations of international human rights and regional human rights law. True-Frost co-edited and authored “The First Global Prosecutor: Promise and Constraints” with Martha Minow and Alex Whiting. Her published works cover a range of topics, including international disability law and human rights, ICC prosecution, terrorism and human rights law, and the UN Security Council. 

During the 2021-2022 academic year, she was an Erasmus Fellow at Bialystok University School of Law and during the 2022-2023 academic year, she was a Fulbright Research Scholar at the PluriCourts Centre in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oslo, Norway.  Her scholarship is enriched by her experience parenting a child with severe disabilities and her international legal practice.   She has defended individuals accused of crimes against humanity and war crimes, worked in the post-conflict settings of East Timor and Sierra Leone, and, at UN headquarters,ledthe Nongovernmental Organization Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security, in its advocacy to the UN Security Council.

True-Frost also serves as the faculty director of Impunity Watch News, the Journal of Global Rights and Organizations, and the Journal of International Law and Commerce. She has taught at Harvard Law School, the Academy of European Law in Florence, Italy, and Mackenzie School of Law, in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

As a newly appointed Meredith Professor, True-Frost will receive a supplementary salary award and additional funding for professional development each year of her appointment. Meredith Professors are lifelong members of the Meredith Symposium, providing a permanent platform for the discussion of teaching and learning.  True-Frost’s Meredith project will focus on cultivating students’ sense of belonging in classrooms and involvement through universal design for learning.

College of Law Honors 3L Michael Roy Ortizo with the 2024 IAPP Annual Westin Scholar Award

Syracuse, New York – 04/9/24 – Syracuse University College of Law is pleased to announce the 2024 Kurt Wimmer IAPP Westin Scholar Award honoree as 3L Michael Roy Ortizo.  With the growing need for well-qualified privacy and data protection professionals, the annual Westin Scholar Awards were created by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) to support students who are identified as future leaders in the field of privacy and data protection.

As a participating Westin Scholar Award school, the  College of Law’s 2024 Kurt Wimmer IAPP Westin Scholar Award Committee (Amber Lawyer L’17, Deputy Chair, Bond, Schoeneck & King Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice, Professor Lauryn Gouldin, Professor Shubha Ghosh, Professor Keli Perrin L’05, Professor Daniel Traficonte, and Assistant Dean Lily Yan Hughes) selected Ortizo to receive this year’s award in recognition of his passion and path that he has already forged for himself in privacy law.

Ortizo has externed with the data privacy division of Trillium Health since Fall 2023. He also has two pending publications related to privacy with the Journal of Science and Technology Law and the College of Law’s Innovation Law Center.  Ortizo will work at Crowe, LLP as part of their data privacy team in New York City after graduation and is also planning to take exams for the IAPP certifications.  “Thank you to the Kurt Wimmer IAPP Westin Award Committee,” said Ortizo.  “It is an honor to be selected, and I look forward to obtaining the IAPP certifications and contributing to the field of privacy.”

Michael will be awarded the following:

  • A $1,000 cash award
  • 2 years of membership with the IAPP
  • 3 complimentary exams for IAPP certifications (CIPP, CIPM, CIPT)
  • Unlimited access to online training for recipient’s selected IAPP certification exams

“The industry of privacy is fast growing and constantly evolving. We’ve created this award as a way to put the privacy profession at the forefront of students’ minds as they explore potential career opportunities,” said J. Trevor Hughes, IAPP President and CEO. “Congratulations Michael. We look forward to seeing the good work you will bring to the field of privacy”.

About the Westin Scholar Award and Kurt Wimmer

The Westin Scholar Awards pay homage to the late Dr. Alan Westin, a foundational voice in the field of privacy and data protection. Throughout his life, Dr. Westin researched and wrote about privacy, data protection, digital identity and the future of how societies will deal with issues at the intersection of law and technology. He is the namesake for the IAPP Westin Research Center and Fellowship Program, which was founded in 2013 and serves as a pathway for future leaders in the community. More information on the Award can be found at Westin Scholar Award.

Proud Syracuse Law alumnus Kurt Wimmer was an international leader in privacy, cybersecurity, technology, and media law, whose career at Covington & Burling spanned more than three decades, including as co-chair of the firm’s global data privacy and cybersecurity practice in Washington, D.C.

As a privacy and technology lawyer, Wimmer worked closely with clients including Facebook, Microsoft, Samsung and other multinational organizations, in addition to non-traditional clients such as the National Football League and National Hockey League.

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Orange Flex Success: Third Year Away as a Judicial Law Clerk Extern at U.S. District Court

Carly standing in front of the Western District of New York, United States District Court sign

Carly Cross L’24
US District Court, Western District of New York in Buffalo, NY

Carly Cross L’24 is a first-generation college and law student. During her undergraduate career, she completed an internship with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York (WDNY), where her passion for learning about the law came to fruition.

She later enrolled in Syracuse Law in 2021, soon undertaking more internship experiences as she planned her future career. Cross has since interned with the New York State Office of the Attorney General and Goldman Sachs Ayco Personal Financial Management. This semester, she elected to complete an externship with the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, working as a Judicial Law Clerk Extern for the Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo in Buffalo, NY. Taking advantage of the Orange Flex program, she is spending her final semester living and working in Buffalo while completing her classes online through the JDinteractive program.

Carly standing in front of a warmly lit space

“I love that I get to be in court every day. Whenever Judge Vilardo is on the bench, I am present to observe the proceedings…I will be walking away from this externship knowing that I have aided in the drafting, writing, and editing of various federal judicial orders.”

Carly Cross L’24

The Externship Opportunity Fund made this unpaid externship and year away from Syracuse a possibility for Cross. She explains that she knew going into her 3L year she would be working for free, but “it was a risk I was willing to take because I knew that the opportunity waiting for me at the WDNY was going to change the trajectory of my career and life.”

Through working at her externship, Cross has solidified her conviction that she is heading in the right direction for her career and has developed a heightened enthusiasm for public interest and governmental service.

Carly looking off into the distance in front of a fountain

“I love that I get to be in court every day,” she explains. “Whenever Judge Vilardo is on the bench, I am present to observe the proceedings. I have found that I can learn just as much by attending a status conference as I can learn from attending a trial. I get to observe bright and brilliant attorneys in practice every day, which is helpful because I am someone who learns by the examples set in front of me. I also love that I get to improve my legal research and writing skills. A lot of my time is spent preparing screening orders for pro se litigant complaints filed in our District. I will be walking away from this externship knowing that I have aided in the drafting, writing, and editing of various federal judicial orders.”

Despite not being on campus, Cross is still involved with her classmates and community back in Syracuse. She serves as a Notes & Comment Editor for the Journal of International Law and Commerce, assisting 2L members with their notes they are preparing in hope of publication, and works as a Research Assistant in the Appellate Advocacy Skills course. She also served as the Student Representative for the Law School Faculty Curriculum Committee for the 2022-2023 school year, is the Treasurer of the Criminal Law Society, and is an Appellate Division Member of the Travis H.D. Lewin Advocacy Honor Society.

Carly sitting in a coffee shop writing in front of a window

Cross is optimistic and excited about her post-graduate career. “Spending my third year of law school in the format of an externship has been truly invaluable for me,” she says. “I have been able to focus on fine-tuning my legal writing skills while learning how to write for an audience I have never written for. I also think this externship will give me a great edge when beginning my post-law grad career, as my knowledge and understanding of the federal court system is becoming vast (though I will never stop learning).”

She believes that taking advantage of externship opportunities as a law student will never hurt you. They will teach what you like and what you don’t like, and they may help you discover new passions you would have otherwise never thought of pursuing.

Carly crossing the street

Expressing enduring gratitude for the mentors and influences in her life, particularly during challenging times, she extends her heartfelt thanks to those who have supported her and encouraged her to pursue her goals. Because of that support, “I was able to keep trudging along,” she says. “And eventually, the trudging with my head down turned into walking steadily with my head held high.”

Syracuse University College of Law Recognized by preLaw Magazine as a Best Law School for Practical Training

Syracuse University College of Law was recognized in the Spring 2024 edition of preLaw Magazine in their Best Law Schools for Practical Training. Based on preLaw’s methodology, the College of Law received a B+ rating.

The rankings consider clinics, pro bono, externships, simulation courses, moot court, and other practical training such as legal communication and research courses.

The College of Law offers six legal clinics (with a seventh, the Housing Clinic, starting in Fall 2024) and many opportunities to participate in intracollegiate and intercollegiate moot court competitions through the Advocacy Honor Society. Students can further specialize in advocacy through our joint J.D./LL.M. in Advocacy and Litigation which provides a focused advanced degree option for those interested in a career in litigation or advocacy.

The Office of Career Services collaborates with local attorneys who perform public interest work to provide pro bono opportunities to students and to serve the community and works with students to secure externships around the country tailored to their individual career goals. Likewise, students have many experiential learning opportunities to choose from that provide practical training for careers in law.

preLaw Magazine Recognizes Syracuse University College of Law’s JDinteractive Program as One of the Best Online J.D. Programs

In the Spring 2024 preLaw Magazine, Syracuse University College of Law’s JDinteractive Program was recognized as one of the best online J.D. programs.

The magazine also spoke with Associate Dean for Online Education Shannon Gardner, who highlighted JDinteractive’s unique in-person residencies.

In each residency, students will engage with classmates through a condensed in-person class complemented by social and networking events. The collaborative nature of the residency programming encourages teamwork and enhances the learning experience and growth toward your career. Plus, Orange alumni who are leaders in their fields are lecturers and hosts at locations worldwide.

Students sit around a large oval table at JetBlue
Students went to JetBlue headquarters in New York City during a Residency in August 2023 to discuss asset finance.

“For example, Holland & Knight partner and alumnus Richard Furey taught an asset financing course in New York City last August,” Gardner said. “Our dean has expertise in international taxation and hosts a course every other year in Geneva, Switzerland, on international tax law.” 

As the legal profession continues to evolve, JDinteractive remains at the forefront, preparing students to excel in their careers with a comprehensive and innovative approach to legal education.