Around Syracuse Law

Syracuse Law Pointed Student Leader Toward Career with U.S. Army JAG Corps

A man with short brown hair and a beard, wearing a gray suit, striped shirt, and patterned tie, smiles confidently while leaning on a white partition in a modern office or academic setting. The background features glass windows, bright lighting, and a blurred figure walking in the distance.

Brett VanBuren L’25 went to college at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with the intention of serving his country. But, his college plans were sidelined by an injury that resulted in an honorable discharge. Still, he remained true to West Point’s mission of creating “leaders of character” who were “ready for a lifetime of service” on a new path that led him to Syracuse University College of Law.

After finishing his bachelor’s degree at Marist College and working in marketing in New York City, he enrolled at Syracuse Law in 2022. Today, VanBuren is a 3L who has made the most of his time at Syracuse Law, taking on leadership roles in several of the School’s societies, including president of the Corporate Law Society and treasurer of the Military and Veterans Law Society, the Intellectual Property Law Society and the International Law Society.

During the 2022-2023 academic year, he served as president of the Class of 2025. And, in 2023, VanBuren was issued the Unsung Hero Award by the Syracuse Student Bar Association (SBA) in recognition for the hard work and achievements in organizing many in-person and virtual events, volunteering at SBA functions and raising the most money in recent history for a first-year class at Syracuse Law. VanBuren is the former law school representative to the Syracuse University board of trustees, which is the highest appointed leadership position for a Syracuse Law student.

Two men sit at a table engaged in discussion, looking at each other. One wears a blue polo shirt and glasses, while the other wears a gray Army West Point sweatshirt. A laptop covered in various stickers and an open book or notebook are on the table. The background is bright and modern, suggesting a study or work environment.

“I’m involved in a lot of activities. When I was a 1L, I was the person organizing a happy hour during orientation week, so we could all get to know each other, or, this year, planning the General Counsel Symposium through the Corporate Law Society that brought students together with alumni and other general counsels from across the country,” he explains. “I’m grateful that others see me as a leader and someone who will advocate for them or acknowledge that their complaints or ideas have been heard. I think it’s important to be a leader wherever you go.”

His original intention was to work in corporate law. But, it was Teaching Professor Elizabeth Kubala, director of Veteran and Military Affairs and Executive Director of the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, who knew VanBuren had attended West Point and asked if he’d ever considered the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). According to VanBuren, JAGs serve as lawyers in a wide range of legal roles for the Army, covering a wide gambit of topics. In a legal assistance capacity, JAGs help with divorce, child custody issues, immigration, writing wills and any other legal assistance that soldiers, veterans or their dependents need. They also handle administrative law issues related to labor and employment, environmental law, working with international partners, and issues related to laws or war and laws of armed contract, as well as criminal law and court-martials.  

A man in a gray suit and striped tie speaks into a microphone while gesturing with his hands at a podium bearing the Syracuse University seal. A blue banner with the Syracuse University College of Law logo and an orange 'S' stands beside him.

With his interest piqued, VanBuren was accepted into the highly competitive JAG Corps Intern Program, which only takes 30 1Ls each summer from across the country. Following his first year of law school, he spent the summer at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, where he helped soldiers and their dependents in the Legal Assistance Office. The following summer, he continued with the program, this time in Italy, where he was sent to Caserma Ederla, an Italian military base outside of Venice. There he worked with Italian legal authorities and assisted the commander of the U.S. 173rd Airborne Brigade, a contingency response force in Europe. He also enjoyed having the chance to soak up the culture of Italy during his three-month stay. These experiences convinced him that the JAG Corps would be an excellent career path for him. So, when VanBuren was recently offered a  commission into the JAG Corps following the completion of law school, he was honored to accept.

“My career path wasn’t the one I had originally planned, but it seems it is working out. Syracuse Law has been a big part of making my dream of being a lawyer come true, while at the same time helping me find my way back to the U.S. Army.”

—Brett VanBuren L’25

“I’m excited to work not only as a lawyer but also as an army officer. It forces me to not only be competent in my legal tasks but also my warrior tasks,” he explains, noting that while he doesn’t yet know where he’ll be stationed, he hopes to work his way up to be a brigade judge advocate, someone who serves as a general counsel to a brigade commander. “It’s really rewarding work assisting a commander in getting the mission done.”

A group of professionally dressed individuals, including students and faculty, pose for a group photo on the steps of a historic stone building with intricate carvings and a wooden door. Some are wearing ID badges on orange lanyards. The engraved text 'WTO OMC' on the building suggests a visit to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland.
VanBuren poses with classmates and professors outside the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland during the International Tax Law short course in 2024.

While VanBuren plans to stay with the Army for a while, his long-term goal is to be a general counsel for a Fortune 500 company. However, for now, he is concentrating on his studies as a 3L and passing the New York State bar exam, while continuing to be involved with various activities at Syracuse Law.

“My career path wasn’t the one I had originally planned, but it seems it is working out. Syracuse Law has been a big part of making my dream of being a lawyer come true, while at the same time helping me find my way back to the U.S. Army,” he says. ”I’m grateful for everyone here who was part of my law school experience.”

A man with a beard, wearing a black jacket, stands in front of a breathtaking snow-covered mountain range under a clear blue sky. He is smiling, and the bright sunlight highlights the rugged peaks and icy terrain. A metal railing is visible in the foreground, suggesting an observation point or scenic overlook.

Lu Weierbach L’25 Attended the Military Commissions Proceedings at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as a National Institute of Military Justice Observer

Luis “Lu” Weierbach L’25, a U.S. Army Captain, attended the Military Commissions proceedings at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba this past summer as an observer with the National Institute of Military Justice (NIMJ.) Weierbach was nominated to participate by Professor Elizabeth Kubala, a NIMJ Fellow, and submitted a paper to the NIMJ detailing his observations.

Weierbach flew to Guantanamo Bay along with other trial observers, family members of victims, and personnel from the Pentagon’s Office of Military Commissions. He observed a week of pretrial motions in the 9/11 Case, which is a joint trial of four men charged with crimes tied to the events that occurred on September 11, 2001. Weierbach observed motions from the defense to exclude evidence that the defense contends was derived from unlawful interrogations. Defense expert testimony included extensive evidence from Dr. Charles A. Morgan III, a clinical and forensic psychiatrist and an international expert in memory and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These pretrial hearings were to determine whether the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Letterhead Memoranda (“memoranda”) that details the Defendants’ confessions will be admissible during the trial which has not yet been scheduled. For most Defendants, the memoranda are a substantial part of the Government’s body of evidence.

In a presentation recounting what impacted him the most, Weierbach encouraged others to put themselves in the place of the family members of the 9/11 victims. “Imagine the family members, boarding a plane with the team that is defending the detainees and the judge who makes the rulings. And imagine, too, the press, a huge organization that has its own tilt. Certain members of the press have advocated heavily for the detainees. Imagine being a family member and being in such close physical proximity to all these individuals on the flight there.” 

Weierbach continued sharing his thoughts. “Then, imagine a week of interesting testimony with an expert who is suggesting key evidence against the accused should be excluded. Imagine yourself as a family member of a 9/11 victim being on the flight back with that witness.”   Weierbach astutely shared these and other unusual aspects of the legal proceedings occurring in Guantanamo Bay that differ greatly from legal processes back on U.S. soil.

NIMJ was founded in 1991 to advance the fair administration of military justice and to foster improved public understanding of the military justice system. Following President George W. Bush’s order that authorized military commissions, NIMJ studied and commented on the procedures established to hold and prosecute detainees by the Department of Defense. NIMJ continues to appear regularly as amicus curiae in cases involving detainee issues, to publish reports related to the military commissions, and to educate the public on the military commissions through its website.

The Department of Defense invites a few non‐governmental organizations to observe military commissions in an effort to satisfy the right to a public trial. As part of this program, NIMJ has been sending observers to the military commissions at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, since 2008. While several other organizations observe the proceedings, NIMJ’s observations are unique because of the military justice background of NIMJ board members and fellows. NIMJ’s leadership includes former judge advocates, private practitioners, and legal scholars. NIMJ’s observers attempt to put the proceedings in the appropriate historical, legal, and military context.

Syracuse Law Students Achieve Strong Bar Passage Rates Through Continued Investment in Student Success

A person with curly black hair, wearing a white sweater and a brown coat, sits at a wooden table. In front of them is a silver laptop, a stack of papers with the "Syracuse University College of Law" logo, and a black smartphone placed on top. A red coat hangs on the back of a chair in the background.

Syracuse University College of Law continues to demonstrate its commitment to student success with recent bar exam passage rates. Among all jurisdictions, 86% of recent graduates—those who earned their degrees between 2022 and 2024—successfully passed the bar exam in the February or July 2024 administration. In Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) jurisdictions, which covers 41 states, the pass rate for the same cohort was an impressive 88%. These results also reflect a 163% increase in bar success among those students most at risk on the bar exam, which was achieved through individualized, data-driven support strategies.

“By strengthening academic support and bar preparation programs, we ensure our graduates have the best possible chance of success on the bar exam and in their legal careers.”

—Kelly Curtis, Associate Dean of Students

These results highlight the effectiveness of Syracuse Law’s strategic investments in bar preparation and academic support. “Our targeted initiatives are making a significant impact on student outcomes,” said Associate Dean of Students Kelly Curtis. “By strengthening academic support and bar preparation programs, we ensure our graduates have the best possible chance of success on the bar exam and in their legal careers.”

Over the past several years, the College has implemented key initiatives that position grads for the rigors of the exam and their legal careers. These include:

  • Improved admissions profile with higher median LSAT scores and GPAs.
  • Curricular enhancements designed to focus on bar-related coursework.
  • Expanded academic success programming, offering earlier interventions and targeted support starting before the third year.
  • New staff hires in the Office of Academic and Bar Success and increased resources focused on bar preparation.

The results speak for themselves: This marks a 15-year high for first-time bar takers. In February 2024, Syracuse Law was ranked No. 8 for ultimate bar passage and No. 27 for first-time bar test takers by preLaw Magazine in its Winter 2024 edition. Additionally, for seven of the past eight graduating classes, the College’s ultimate bar passage rate exceeded 90%, demonstrating consistent, long-term success.

“At Syracuse Law, we are dedicated to equipping our students with the tools they need to excel academically and professionally.”

—Terence Lau L’98, Dean

Building on this momentum, Syracuse Law has partnered with Kaplan Bar Review to further enhance student readiness. “At Syracuse Law, we are dedicated to equipping our students with the tools they need to excel academically and professionally,” said Dean Terence Lau L’98. “The partnership with Kaplan strengthens Dean Curtis’s comprehensive approach to bar preparation, ensuring that students receive structured support throughout their law school journey, culminating in a robust bar review program to set them up for success.” This partnership provides expanded resources and preparation strategies, ensuring even greater success for future graduates.

Looking ahead, Syracuse Law is proactively preparing for the NextGen Bar Exam, which launches in July 2026. Faculty and administrators are actively working with students to adapt to this new era of attorney licensure, ensuring that Syracuse graduates remain well-prepared.

Syracuse Law’s commitment to student success is evident not only in its strong bar passage rates but also in its forward-thinking approach to legal education. By continually enhancing programming and investing in student success, Syracuse Law is setting the standard for bar exam preparation and legal education excellence.

College of Law Adds the Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership Law Clinic Starting Spring 2025

(Syracuse, NY – January 23, 2025) Syracuse University College of Law is adding the Syracuse Medical Legal Partnership (SLMP) to its Office of Clinical Legal Education starting with the Spring 2025 semester. Professor Suzette Meléndez will be the co-director of the new clinic along with Dr. Steven Blatt of Upstate University Hospital and Professor Sarah Reckess L’09 of Upstate Medical University.

The SMLP is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the pediatric unit at SUNY Upstate Medical University and Syracuse University College of Law. SMLP provides legal advocacy to improve the overall health and well-being of vulnerable patient populations. SMLP also works to achieve systemic change through the multidisciplinary education of law students, medical students, residents, and other professionals whose expertise is important to this goal. Doctors and lawyers will learn to work collaboratively to attain favorable outcomes for patients. Through this Partnership, patients receive critical legal assistance while professionals learn about using community resources and employing cooperative strategies to benefit patients and clients in their practices.

“The main goal of the SMLP is to educate law students about the role lawyers can play in positively affecting the lives of children that are facing significant medical and sociological obstacles,” says Meléndez. “Likewise, we hope to educate medical and social work professionals in how to best work with legal representation to deliver the best outcomes to patients.”

The SMLP combines a clinical offering and the Child Health Policy and Legal Practice course for students interested in developing legal skills and policy analysis in children’s health. Students will provide non-litigation legal services (intake, advice, research, and referrals) for a busy pediatric clinic in Syracuse around legal issues that impact healthcare access and outcomes. This may include children’s access to education, safe housing, medical equipment, family court issues, government aid programs, transition-age youth, and more. Special populations served by SMLP will be patients who have complex medical needs and patients who are aging out of pediatric health care and social services and need to preserve their legal rights.

“The SLMP is a unique approach to bridging the legal and sociological gap among a vulnerable population that is often faced with navigating the complicated systems during a crisis,” says Dean Terence Lau L’98. “Likewise, Syracuse Law students will gain critical skills such as interviewing clients and researching legal and policy solutions that are invaluable to their legal careers.”

Students can register for the clinic when they select classes for the Spring 2025 semester. Students enrolled in the SMLP must be co-enrolled in Child Health Policy and Legal Practice as the classroom component of this experiential course.

The College of Law offers students the opportunity to participate in seven clinics: Bankruptcy, Betty & Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic, Criminal Defense, Housing, Sherman F. Levey ’57, L’59 Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, Syracuse Legal Medical Partnership, and Transactional Law. 

Texan Admires Diversity of Knowledge in His Cohort as He Works to Enhance HR Career

A man in a blue plaid blazer sits on a white chair, smiling warmly at the camera. He appears relaxed, with a bright, modern interior behind him.

Raised in Austin, Texas, Daniel Tyrone L’25 did not come from a family of lawyers. In fact, his happy, suburban childhood was thanks to the hard work of his parents, who ran their own small businesses. His dad had a contracting company, and his mom owned a small restaurant.

“My first real exposure to law was as a kid interacting with lawyers who would come into the restaurant,” he says. “As I started to get some insight into their world, it quickly became apparent to me the complexities of the situations they had to deal with and that that the job of an attorney included mental deep dives into heavy matters—a perception that never left me.”

After graduating from Texas State University, he admits he was a bit lost, but he could “hold a conversation with a brick wall,” which led him to his first professional job as a headhunter. That led him down a career path working in internal recruitment, employee relations and human resources at a number of companies. Today, he is the vice president for human resources for Bishop Lifting Products, Inc., a private equity-backed organization operating in the industrial lift niche. And, while he intends to stay in his current role, he is eager to soon be adding “legal counsel” to his title.

A man wearing a brown blazer and white shirt speaks animatedly, gesturing with his hands while sitting in a professional setting. The background shows a blurred office environment with other seated individuals.

It was his work in employee relations that reignited his thoughts about studying the law. “As an employee relations specialist, your job is to investigate and mitigate any employee-related matters, particularly those with legal ramifications,” he explains. “I found that I really loved exploring basic employment law and enjoyed the research, as well as the opportunity to talk to some of the employment counsel.”

As he grew to better grasp this type of work, he noticed that many  colleagues throughout every job function treated the law as a bit of an afterthought, noting that most smaller companies often do not have the luxury of inhouse legal counsel and avoid getting outside counsel due to cost. “I didn’t understand why others avoided researching the law, but I also realized it was an opportunity for me,” he says.

“Working in HR and also being in charge of legal makes me so much more valuable as an employee.”

—Daniel Tyrone L’25

It was the COVID pandemic that amplified his focus on the need for legal counsel in the workplace. He was still employed but stuck at home, so he took a practice LSAT one day. “I scored much higher than I thought I would,” Tyrone says. “So, I decided to run with it. I studied for the LSATs for four months and got a great score.”

A man in a blue plaid blazer sits at a desk, focused on typing on a MacBook. The office setting includes a wooden bookshelf and clean, modern decor.

Tyrone wasn’t looking for a change in his career path but an enhancement to the one he already had. “Working in HR and also being in charge of legal makes me so much more valuable as an employee,” he says.

However, he knew he couldn’t put his career on hold and, more importantly, he needed to be attentive to his wife and two children, so he sought out a program with flexibility.

“I didn’t know how limited my options were when it came to finding a hybrid law school,” Tyrone says. “I assumed that JD programs were like MBA programs and that every institution would have an online option, but I was wrong. I cannot tell you how happy I was when I found Syracuse Law’s JDinteractive Program (JDi). Not only was it what I was looking for, but it was at Syracuse University! That’s a brand. Everyone from Texas has heard of Syracuse!”

“My classmates are 25 to 60-plus with careers that range from a brain surgeon, a professional  gambler, Fortune 500 execs, a news anchor, a farmer and some stay-at-home parents. Words cannot describe how bright the people in my cohort are. That’s the beauty of this program is that it allows those with limited time and many responsibilities to earn their JD.”

—Daniel Tyrone L’25

Now a 3L at Syracuse Law, Tyrone is well on his way to enhancing his HR career. He has nothing but praise for the way the JDi program allows him to juggle law school with the rest of his responsibilities, but his real admiration is for the diversity in backgrounds of his cohort.

hree individuals sit together on a wooden bench, engaged in conversation. A woman with long blonde hair gestures while speaking to two men, one wearing a gray sweater and the other in a casual shirt and jeans. The setting includes modern furniture and greenery.

“My classmates are 25 to 60-plus with careers that range from a brain surgeon, a professional  gambler, Fortune 500 execs, a news anchor, a farmer and some stay-at-home parents. Words cannot describe how bright the people in my cohort are. That’s the beauty of this program is that it allows those with limited time and many responsibilities to earn their JD,” he says. “I’ve made great memories and formed great relationships, and I have the text chains over the past three years to prove it—filled with law theories, debates, sports conversations, parenting advice and more.”

Tyrone looks at his JDi experience as one of the best decisions he ever made and nothing short of “amazing,” as he looks forward to completing his degree and using his hard-earned legal skills in his career.

“I’m not sure I was anything exceptional to Syracuse Law,” he says with humility, “but Syracuse Law was exceptional to me.”

Syracuse University College of Law AALS 2025 Annual Meeting Participants

Several College of Law professors will be panelists, moderators, and discussants at the 2025 American Association of Law Schools Annual Meeting, Jan. 7 – 11 in San Francisco, CA.

January 8

Professor Robert Ashford

Section: Socio-economics

Event: Modern Monetary Theory, Pedagogy, and the Future of Socio-Economics

Event Role: Speaker

4:30 PM – 6 PM

Room 202, Level Two South

This panel will focus on the potential contributions of Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) to socioeconomics and the study of law. In particular, the discussion will consider the role of the state, mechanisms for achieving full employment (including job guarantees), the relationship (or lack of one) between fiscal policy and inflation, the importance of community investment, and how to make these topics accessible and relevant to law students and legal scholars.

January 10

Professor Lauryn Gouldin

Section: Criminal Procedure

Event: New Perspectives on Fourth Amendment Suspicion

Event Role: Moderator

12:50 PM – 2:20 PM

Room 210, Level Two South

In many respects Fourth Amendment doctrine has evolved to expand law enforcement power to act on suspicions, frequently to the disadvantage of disfavored groups. Reversing these patterns is not just a matter of academic interest but a pressing need, amplified with the advent of more intrusive and pervasive surveillance technologies. Participants in this discussion will address the ways that suspicion is defined and constructed, its role (or failed potential) in constraining government power, the need for alternatives to suspicion to regulate mass data surveillance, and the potential for suspicion to serve as cover for bias.

Professor Nina Kohn

Section: Aging and the Law

Section Role: Executive Committee Member

Event: Marginalization of Older Adults

Event Role: Speaker

12:50 PM – 2:20 PM

Room 211 Level Two South

In alignment with the conference theme of Courage in Action, this year’s program will focus on discussing the difficulties older adults experience in accessing basic needs, including healthcare and utilization of health technology; housing, aging in place, and long-term care; employment and retirement; and estate planning. As we age, we face significant life transitions that intersect with the law in these areas as well as others that can be challenging to navigate.

January 11

Professor Cora True-Frost

Section:  Law Professors with Disabilities and Allies

Section Roles: Speaker (True-Frost)

Event: Works-in-Progress

Role: Speaker (True-Frost)

8 AM -9:30 AM

Room 211, Level Two South

A key goal of the Section is to support our members in every aspect of their careers, including their scholarship. This panel provides section members with the opportunity to present a work-in-progress and receive feedback from senior scholars and other section members.

Professor Robert Ashford

Section: Socio-Economics

Section Role: Secretary

Event: The Future of Socioeconomics

Event Role: Speaker

9:50 AM – 11:20 AM

Room 158 Upper Mezzanine Level South

The Section believes that it is time to re-think the basic relationship between law and economics. Economics was introduced into legal scholarship as a tool for conservative political positions in the 1980s. It is time to recapture this valuable branch of modern knowledge and apply it to pressing topics such as climate change, automation and employment, and the relationships between the underregulation of finance, corruption, instability, and racial inequality. Participants will explore how a combined legal, economic, and social science approach can be productively applied to these topics.

Faculty Fellow Maria Cudowska

Event: Developing Courageous Leaders: Trailblazing and Diverse Approaches to Leadership Education for Law Students

9:50 AM – 11:20 AM

Room 207 Level Two South

It has been said that a “law degree is a leadership degree” and much has been written on the need for law schools to educate leaders. Fortunately, many legal educators have responded in interesting and courageous ways. Starting with visionaries like Dean Donald Polden and Professor Deborah Rhode–both of whom courageously fought for their vision of leadership development as part of legal education–the field has continued to evolve and grow. Fortunately, leadership development and leadership education–like leadership itself–is not limited to a one-size-fits-all approach. A plethora of different approaches to leadership development have emerged recently with different focuses, tactics, and desired outcomes. In this discussion group, we will discuss and celebrate these different approaches as we look at how law schools can best develop their students into good lawyer-leaders.

Gabrielle Amaturo L’25 Invited to Speak at the ASIL Midyear Meeting

Gabrielle Amaturo L’25, editor-in-chief of the Journal of International Law and Commerce (JILC), was invited to speak at the American Society of International Law (ASIL) Midyear Meeting on the Roundtable for International Law Journal Editors.

Amaturo answered questions about the conference and its impact on JILC.

Why were you invited to the conference?

As the current Editor-in-Chief of JILC, I was invited to speak on behalf of our Journal and to collaborate with others in our field by discussing current events and approaches to running a journal. My attendance would not have been possible without the support of our advisor, Professor Cora True-Frost G’01, L’01, and the entire administration at the College of Law.

What did you learn at the conference?

I learned a lot about the variety of fields that International Law touches. I heard from scholars and professors about their upcoming research publications, and from seasoned legal practitioners about the real-time effects international law and policy have across so many sectors of life.

How will this impact your work on JILC?

From this experience, I was able to take away a deeper knowledge of running a journal and a broadened view of the level of scholarship that is being submitted for publishing. Knowing what legal scholars and professors are researching helps open our eyes to what issues of international law and commerce we want to highlight next.

How will this impact your future legal career?

Personally, this experience showed me the ways legal interests can intersect. As someone who comes from a business background and is now focusing on pursuing litigation while having interests in international law, I saw that there are career avenues that blend it together.

Is there anything else you would like current and prospective students to know about the conference?

I would recommend that students seek out and take up opportunities to attend conferences such as these. It was amazing to listen, learn, and let the legal world know about the amazing programs we have here at Syracuse Law!

First published in October of 1972, the Syracuse Journal of International Law and Commerce is one of the oldest student-edited international law reviews in the United States.

Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic Students Successfully Represent Appellant in Lengthy U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Case

A woman standing at a podium with the Syracuse University logo, delivering a speech in a formal setting. She is wearing a professional outfit with a blazer and light-colored top, speaking into a microphone with wood-paneled walls in the background.
Beth Kubala, Executive Director of Clinical Education

Over several semesters, student attorneys in the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Veterans Legal Clinic (VLC) worked under the supervision of VLC Executive Director and Professor Beth Kubala to represent the Appellant in Phillips v. McDonough a case adjudicated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC). This included many hours of research, outlining, and writing briefs, among other legal tasks.

“This case illustrates the dedication of VLC students to ensure our client received the best legal representation possible, no matter how long the case takes to be resolved. I am also impressed by the work produced by our students which measures up to that of professional law firms and the military.”

—Beth Kubala, Executive Director of Clinical Education

The Appellant in this case was a long-term client of the VLC, first representing him at the VA Regional Office (RO) and before the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA).  This appeal resulted from a BVA decision denying an earlier effective date for the onset of his claim after a 26-year fight to secure veteran’s benefits

“Veterans claims cases can take years to come to a resolution as Phillips reflects,” says Kubala. “This case illustrates the dedication of VLC students to ensure our client received the best legal representation possible, no matter how long the case takes to be resolved. I am also impressed by the work produced by our students which measures up to that of professional law firms and the military.”

VLC students provided written support to their client throughout the legal process that started in 2020. The case was stayed in 2021 due to pending decisions Arellano v McDonough (Supreme Court) and Taylor v McDonough (Federal Circuit) that had major implications for arguments raised in Phillips and impacted the VLC’s strategies and subsequent filings.

“Not only did the law students research, outline, and draft the briefs, but if the case were called to oral arguments, one of the students would have argued it. We knew the contested issues inside and out because Professor Kubala demands excellence from her students, and our veteran clients deserve excellence in our work. After the precedential decisions above, over a hundred hours collectively went into re-strategizing this case to draft a reply brief within the 30-day window of the Secretary’s filing once the stay was lifted.”

—Seth M. Owens L’24

The CAVC issued a Memorandum Decision, on 5/31/2024, remanding the case to the BVA with specific, express instructions to consider certain aspects of the evidence of record when adjudicating the claim for an earlier effective date. Re-adjudication before the BVA is still pending.

A man seated at a desk, writing in a notebook with a laptop in front of him. He is wearing glasses, a light blue shirt, and a brown blazer, with shelves of books and a globe visible in the background. Bright orange flowers are in the foreground, slightly blurred.
Seth M. Owens L’24

Seth M. Owens L’24, now a Staff Attorney with the VLC, worked on the case while a student in the VLC. He noted that Professor Kubala provides her VLC students with a “firm-like” atmosphere that leads to professional growth and experiential learning in the clinic. “Not only did the law students research, outline, and draft the briefs, but if the case were called to oral arguments, one of the students would have argued it,” says Owens. “We knew the contested issues inside and out because Professor Kubala demands excellence from her students, and our veteran clients deserve excellence in our work. After the precedential decisions above, over a hundred hours collectively went into re-strategizing this case to draft a reply brief within the 30-day window of the Secretary’s filing once the stay was lifted.”

Fulbright Grant Allows Mozambican Lawyer to Combine Private Legal Practice and Human Rights Advocacy Through LL.M.

A portrait of the student in a blue suit, standing confidently with hands in pockets, in a well-lit modern library space.

Sinésio Sambo ’25 LL.M. has been a practicing attorney and human rights activist since 2016 in Mozambique. The combination of private legal practice and corporate in-house counseling with human rights and/or sustainability pursuits are rare in his home country, but Sambo is spending a year in the U.S. earning a Master of Laws (LL.M.) at Syracuse University College of Law in an effort to help change that.  
 
The Republic of Mozambique became independent in 1975 after four centuries of Portuguese rule. Located on the southeast coast of Africa, it is rich in natural resources and both biologically and culturally diverse, but it is also considered one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 181 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index. According to Sambo, the culture of Mozambique in relation to human rights and sustainability is, for the most part, a pursuit of local civil society organizations, international NGOs and multilateral agencies.

“I knew gaining multijurisdictional exposure in a richly developed legal system, while qualifying for the New York State Bar exam, would help me reach my goals. And, I was attracted to Syracuse Law for its innovative and student-centered approach to legal education and genuine concern about academic and bar success of foreign-trained attorneys.”

—Sinésio Sambo ’25 LL.M

 “While awareness of human rights and sustainability has been increasing over the past few years, the fact of the matter is that there is a not so openly discussed perception that legal practitioners must choose between going into private practice or corporate in-house counseling or going down a more human rights and/or sustainability-related career path,” he explains. “In fact, based on experience, I think that business and human rights are still viewed as mutually exclusive by many fellow legal practitioners.”
 
According to Sambo, in lawsuits involving large corporations and disadvantaged rural communities, the former are commonly represented by well-established law firms and the latter by organizations that prioritize free legal aid. He suspects that is because well-established law firms and lawyers are not willing to take the risk of losing large corporate clients—and profit.

A student in a blue suit and glasses seated at a desk in a library, engaged in reading and speaking.

“Private practitioners seem to forget that our role should go far beyond representing clients. It entails upholding the rule of law even through publication statements against human rights violations,” he says.
 
From the earliest days in law, Sambo knew that getting an LL.M. would benefit his goals to pursue an international career and embark on global legal practice. While he has a law degree equivalent to an LL.B. from Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique and an LL.M. in human rights and democratization in Africa from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, Sambo wanted more. So, when he recently received a Fulbright grant, he headed to Syracuse Law to earn another LL.M.
 
“I knew gaining multijurisdictional exposure in a richly developed legal system, while qualifying for the New York State Bar exam, would help me reach my goals. And, I was attracted to Syracuse Law for its innovative and student-centered approach to legal education and genuine concern about academic and bar success of foreign-trained attorneys,” he explains.

A group discussion in a library setting, with the student in a blue suit leading the conversation, gesturing to a book while two other individuals listen attentively.

Since beginning the program, Sambo is pleased with the vast number of resources available to foreign-trained legal professionals in order for them to succeed academically and professionally wherever in the world they decide to practice. He notes the one-on-one mentoring, the free bar prep course and the state-of the art Dineen Hall, as well as the diversity of his cohort, which has afforded him multijurisdictional exposure and allowed him to gain insight and some understanding into how law works in unfamiliar jurisdictions. Sambo has been inspired by a number of others in his cohort, including Igor dos Santos L’25, a “brilliant” mentor from Brazil who is a student in Syracuse Law’s J.D. program.

“There are so many takeaways I will bring back from my experience here at Syracuse Law, particularly highlighting the problem-solving approach that U.S. law takes to today’s pressing concerns in the world and to the constitutional principles, such as separation of power.”

—Sinésio Sambo ’25 LL.M

While Sambo intends to gain some work experience in the U.S. after completing his LL.M. next year, he will eventually return home to Mozambique with the intention of making a contribution to the country’s further development.

Three individuals in professional attire walking past the exterior of Dineen Hall, Syracuse University College of Law, with the building's name prominently displayed on the brick wall.

“There are so many takeaways I will bring back from my experience here at Syracuse Law, particularly highlighting the problem-solving approach that U.S. law takes to today’s pressing concerns in the world and to the constitutional principles, such as separation of power,” he says.
 
In the meantime, Sambo is committed to taking advantage of every learning opportunity he can before he completes his LL.M. in 2025. He says, “My experience at Syracuse Law is helping me focus on business-related legal disciplines in order to become an expert combining both business and human rights—and allowing me to be the change I want to see in the world.”

The student in a blue suit walking through the library, looking down at a phone, with the text of Article III of the U.S. Constitution displayed on the wood-paneled wall behind.

Syracuse Law Alum Receives ‘CUSE50 Award for Founding Risk Management and Security Consulting Firm

A man wearing a blazer standing at an outdoor location with blurred stadium seating in the background, looking at the camera.

When you attend a concert or baseball game, it’s become routine to go through a metal detector or be screened by security, but most people don’t think about what goes on behind the scenes to make sure that large venues, like stadiums, airports or government entities, are safe from acts of terrorism, cybersecurity breaches or other risks that impact the public. Thankfully, Akmal Ali L’06 and his team at Aluma think about it every day.

Aluma logo

In recognition for the success of Aluma, a risk management and security consulting firm founded by Ali, Syracuse University recognized him with a ‘CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award in November. In its second year, the ‘CUSE50 awards recognize 50 fastest-growing alumni businesses owned or led by Orange graduates University-wide.

The son of Afghan refugees, Ali was born and raised in Florida. He always had two dreams: go to law school and live in Washington, D.C. He’s achieved both, but his determination to do so brought him to Syracuse Law along the way.

The events of 9/11 left a permanent impression on Ali, who was an undergraduate at Rollins College at the time. So, when he decided to pursue law school, he chose Syracuse Law for its program on national security and counterterrorism law. Along the way, he discovered a mentor in now Professor of Law Emeritus William C. Banks, founder of the Syracuse Law’s Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT).

Although he enrolled at Syracuse Law, Ali never intended to become a practicing attorney. Instead, he wanted the skillsets of critical thinking and problem solving that came from a law school education.

man smiling and pointing to his photo on a class composite portrait from Syracuse University College of Law, with a full view of his face and finger extended.

After earning his J.D., he went straight to work at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in his dream city of Washington, D.C. In response to the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. government created the DHS, and Congress enacted the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effecting Technologies (SAFETY) Act, which incentivizes private companies to do more to reduce risk exposure.

Ali began as a research associate for the SAFETY Act Office at DHS. Two years later, he was named deputy director responsible for public and private partnerships, working in sports and large venue security, cybersecurity, risk management, mass transit security and more in collaboration with federal and state government agencies like the Department of Defense and the State Department. Ali was, in fact, vital in expanding the SAFETY Act program within the private sector, and today his work remains a primary feature of the program.

However, as Ali grew in his role with DHS, he began noticing that applications for SAFETY Act awards were primarily coming from the private sector, which could be better served by a consultant who understood both the security best practices and the legal background needed to traverse the DHS application processes. He knew he could do better, so with his degree from Syracuse Law and experience at the DHS, Ali entered the private sector at an existing consulting firm.

“To assist someone in getting a SAFETY Act award, you have to be a really good risk manager and security expert to help your clients with best practices, as well as offer recommendations and identify emerging technologies,” Ali explains.

Ali’s first client was the New York Yankees. Next came the New York Mets, and soon Ali was working with other sports teams, as well as venues like airports, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Madison Square Garden. He also starting giving security input during the design process of venues yet to be built.

In 2019, he founded Aluma. “I knew I had the experience, so I decided to hang out my own shingle and bet on myself,” he says.

“I’ve put a lot of work into my business, but much of my foundation was built at Syracuse Law. I soaked up so much information on counterterrorism and the law and learned skill sets that allowed me to create a business that is helping to keep people and places safer—and that’s very rewarding.”

—Akmal Ali L’06

Today, clients such as the NFL, Live Nation, and MGM Resorts come to Aluma to leverage its expertise in order to pursue benefits from the SAFETY Act with the priority of keeping people safe while still allowing for an outstanding guest experience.

Ali notes that security focuses have changed throughout his career. After 9/11, the biggest threats on people’s minds were sophisticated attacks of terror like the strikes on the World Trade Center, but, today there are other threats to be mitigated.

“What we’ve seen the most over the last decade are bad actors going for the low hanging fruit—less sophisticated actions like sniper threats, vehicles ramming into crowds, small firearm or knife attacks, and even drones,” he explains. “The impact might seem smaller, but any of these threats can add up to a lot of damage.”

Recently AI has come into play in the risk and security assessment sector, as technology continues to become more sophisticated and connect everything, everywhere. Aluma is continuously working to utilize AI positively, while also staying ahead of abuse of this sophisticated technology.

“If you’re sitting at 500 camera feeds in a command center looking to spot a bad actor, one person can only notice so much. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack,” Ali says. “But, AI can use video analytics to search thousands of people and then trigger an alert that prompts human action. AI is amazing technology that will eventually be used to help security professionals write or update their security policies, so we’re staying on top of that.”

His vast knowledge of law, government and security threats have certainly put him and his business on top. Ali is proud to have received a ‘CUSE50 award in recognition for the highly successful business he created in Aluma.

A man holding a 'CUSE50 2024 award plaque, standing between two other individuals in formal attire. They are smiling and posing in front of a dark background with flags.

“Visiting campus and walking through the new law school at Dineen Hall was a thrill, and it was an honor to come back to the University and receive a ‘CUSE50 award,” says Ali. “I’ve put a lot of work into my business, but much of my foundation was built at Syracuse Law. I soaked up so much information on counterterrorism and the law and learned skill sets that allowed me to create a business that is helping to keep people and places safer—and that’s very rewarding.”