Syracuse University College of Law JDi was the only program of its kind involving a university with a stellar reputation. The unique program allowed me to continue to be present with my kids, help my parents and attend law school while providing the flexibility to move across the nation and live in three different states; the Syracuse University College of Law name provided legitimacy and access.
I dreamt of going to law school for about 30 years. My dad was an attorney, and it was always in the back of my mind; however, other opportunities presented themselves so the dream just stayed there—in the back of my mind. When the opportunity was ripe, this program allowed that dream to come true.
I am currently an assistant general counsel in the Office of the General Counsel for an agency within the Department of Defense. I so enjoy national security lawyering that I cannot express my excitement and love for lawyering in words. The strength of College of Law professors (with an extra dose of gratitude for my National Security professor, Judge Jamie Baker) enabled me to conduct impactful legal reviews from day one.
My favorite time during JDi was during a residency when I was staying up late working on a project in the law library and my study buddy was with me, entertaining herself as I worked. We left at probably three in the morning and there was a snowstorm. We were crossing campus and were just silly kids in the storm heading back to the hotel from the library knowing we had a presentation to make in just a few hours. I think that the beauty of this program is that you create such strong connections, and you have these moments and memories that mean so much. It has nothing to do with the law but everything to do with this program.
When I was applying to law school, I was living in Alaska where there are no law schools. I was trying to find something I could do remotely. This was the only program that enabled me to sit for the bar in my state and still be remote.
My J.D. means freedom and independence. While in law school my husband had some serious health complications, and we weren’t sure if he would be able to continue working. I was so grateful to be in the program and knew no matter what happened, I would be able to work and support our family.
I am currently working for the state of Alaska as a public advocate for the Department of Public Advocacy. I represent respondents in guardianship cases and parents in cases where the state has stepped in and taken custody of children.
My favorite times were Zoom study sessions with my study group and study partner for three years straight, multiple times a week. These people knew me the best and commiserated with me and knew what I was going through. Lou Lou Delmarsh introduced me to my study partner night one and she’s become my lifelong bestie. I would never have made it through law school without that connection.
I chose the program for the flexible, online schedule. It allowed me to continue working while obtaining my law degree. Also, I’m from Rochester, NY so getting a degree from Syracuse University made it even more appealing.
I had wanted to go to law school for a very long time. It was a career idea I had in high school, but ultimately, I didn’t pursue it right away and went into education. After years in public education, the itch to go to law school wouldn’t let up. So in 2018 I started to look at law schools and am very thankful that Syracuse had the JDi program that allowed me to continue working professionally while working toward my J.D.
I am currently the Curriculum Leader for the World Languages and English Language Learners department and Title III Coordinator for the Hampton City Schools in Hampton, VA. I oversee two program staffs and work closely with students, parents, staff, administrators, and district leadership to ensure we have robust programming for our students and to ensure that our English language learners have equal and equitable access to our educational programming.
My favorite part was the residencies. From meeting my cohort to hands-on experiences to discovering Syracuse, the residencies provided us with a lot of wonderful experiences that forged lasting relationships that helped us as we went through the classes and in study groups where we relied on each other when things got rough.
I had a full-time job and wanted a law degree. I wanted a program that would accommodate my schedule and allow me to pursue my degree in a non-traditional way as I didn’t think I could quit my job and become a full-time student. I looked for a program that understood and embraced that and could work around my very busy schedule.
Law school was a thought in the back of my mind, off and on. I graduated college in 2005 with a degree in public policy and pursued a master’s in public policy as I started working. As I began working closer to the law but also in a private sector operation capacity, I started thinking more deeply about this. After talking with my family, I started looking at law schools in 2017 and started the Syracuse program in 2019.
This degree means a lot to me. It has been a dream of mine and something I wanted to do. When you layer on being an older student, a non-traditional student, it meant a lot of sacrifice in family time, work time, and community time. There were a lot of personal things I had to wrestle with, such as: can I do this, do I have time to do this, can I do this well, can I thrive? My degree is now one of the things I am most proud of. It really takes a village and am very grateful to everyone who came alongside me to help me achieve this goal.
I am a patent litigation associate. I typically support defendants who are accused of patent infringement and support their efforts to litigate matters in federal court. Coupling my law degree and educational experiences allows me to better fight for educational equity. I am excited about what the future holds.
Even though the program was fantastic from a remote perspective, I had a great time being in person as well. I enjoyed attending the in-person residencies and getting to know my classmates in a casual setting, even renting a house together for residencies, and creating study groups when we were not in person. The residencies and friendships are the hallmark of the program. The cherry on top at the end is the law degree.
The main reasons for me were flexibility and convenience. Going into the program, I was working full-time as a patent agent at a law firm, which already had a demanding workload. Adding coursework to that is intimidating, and I was starting to question whether there were enough hours in a week to get everything done. On top of that, in a traditional night school setting a lot of time is lost commuting from work to school and then back home, settling into class when you arrive, all of which can cost you a couple of hours each week. While in the JDi setting, we log in and get down to business right away. As a working professional, this was exactly the efficiency I needed in a law school program.
All my previous education and professional experiences were in engineering. I was working as a pipeline engineer until 2018 when a legal recruiter contacted me and asked if I ever thought of working in patent law for a law firm. It had never crossed my mind but was open to it. While I was not required to go to law school to work at the firm, earning my law degree is definitely an advantage in my career.
Having a law degree and having passed the bar exam significantly broadens the scope of what I can do professionally. While being a patent agent is a great career, the scope of the matters I can advise on and the scope of my practice grows significantly now that I am a patent attorney.
After graduating and passing the Massachusetts bar exam, I transitioned from being a patent agent to a patent attorney at Cooley LLP in their Boston office.
Our class had a bit of an unusual situation. For our first residency in August 2020, we had to meet remotely due to COVID restrictions. Our second residency in August 2021 was our first time meeting in person for most of us. We knew each other from an academic setting quite well, but did not know each other personally. At the second residency, I finally got some good face time with some of my classmates and really developed a great kinship with these folks. I’ve gone through three different degree programs at three different universities, and the kinship I have with the folks I met during the JDi program is the best level of connectivity I’ve had with a cohort. It’s ironic because it’s a program that is a majority online. That second residency was a great week where we got a lot done academically and had a great time with our colleagues.
The AI discussion touched on recommended protocols for applying AI within the practice of law, and the risks AI technology could pose on election cycles across the globe, among other aspects of Artificial Intelligence, law, and national security.
Last September during Law Alumni Weekend, nearly 50 members of the College of Law Class of 1973 gathered at Eleven Waters Restaurant in the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for their 50th Anniversary Law School Reunion Dinner. This was the College of Law’s best-attended reunion dinner for any class in recent memory.
“I really enjoyed the company of friends old and new,” remarked M. Jack Rudnick L’73, the former director of the Innovation Law Center and Teaching Professor. “Differences melt away as time goes by. This is the only time we’ll be together as a group for this particular occasion and I think we all recognized that without speaking about it. So, the 50th reunion brought us back together with strong ties that were unspoken but surely felt.”
Many of these same classmates also attended the University-wide Orange Central 50th Anniversary reception for the Class of 1973 at the home of Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud and his wife, Dr. Ruth Chen—held before the College of Law dinner—and other College of Law events throughout the weekend, including the Law Honors Awards presentation, a tailgate event, and the Syracuse vs. Clemson football game.
“Thank you to our amazing alumni who made the 50th Law School Reunion such a resounding success,” said Adrienne Lutz, Director of Alumni Relations. “I enjoyed the opportunity to meet so many alumni and hear about their law school days—the Class of ’73 sure has some stories to tell! Special thanks also to Bonnie Fisher L’73 who met with our Women’s Law Student Association to share her memories and thoughts about being one of only a handful of women attending law school.”
When you ask Adam Katz G’04, L’04why he wanted to be a lawyer, you can feel his exuberance for the very familiar reason many decide to pursue law: to serve the public and do the right thing, every day.
College Of Law Opening Convocation Keynote Speaker 2019 – Adam Katz G’04, L’04
“I’ve wanted to pursue a career in law and public service for as long as I can remember—at least since middle school. I always enjoyed learning, particularly about government and history and contemporary societal issues and observed that the very few lawyers I knew growing up seemed to have intellectually stimulating and challenging careers. I felt that I could use a career in the law to make a difference in society, particularly if I devoted a career to public service,” explains Katz.
Katz, a native of Miami, FL, started on his journey to a career in public service at the University of Maryland for his undergraduate studies then applied to the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Public Affairs to obtain a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) before applying to law school. “I planned to do that for a year, and then pursue a career in law, but decided to apply for the accelerated J.D./M.P.A. program with the College of Law which allowed me to pursue both degrees in three years, and have never regretted that decision,” says Katz.
It was a fortuitous decision for many reasons, laying the groundwork for his personal life and professional career. First and foremost, he met his future wife, Michelle (Cavalieri) Katz L’04, early in his law school days. “She’s been my best friend since day one of law school. She did far better than I did academically and she’s an all-around terrific person. Yet, despite all her great qualities, she still agreed to marry me.”
Academically, Katz recalls how impressed he was with Professor William Wiecek, Chester Adgate Congdon Professor of Public Law and Legislation Emeritus. He found Wiecek intellectually stimulating and demanding of his students while being a kind and well-rounded person. “He would teach about the 5th Amendment in the morning, and, in his spare time, teach at Maxwell and deliver babies as an EMT. I admired that,” he recounts.
Becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) and establishing a home in Upstate New York were both outcomes of his time at the College of Law. Two internships, at the encouragement of the Office of Career Services, influenced his career path. First was an internship at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office during the summer after his 1L year. The second was when he heard that the Hon. Norman A. Mordue ’66, L’71 was seeking interns. Knowing Judge Mordue was an alumnus of the Onondaga County DA’s office and the College of Law, Katz applied and was hired to be an intern. He served in that role for two years when Mordue was a U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of New York. It was there that Katz watched the work of AUSAs in that court and decided to make it his professional goal to become an AUSA in an area closer to his wife’s family in Albany (rather than return to sunny Miami.)
While interning with Judge Mordue, Katz developed a close personal and professional relationship with the judge that would carry forward until Mordue passed away in December 2022. “I learned so much about law and life from a man who had seen—and endured—during his life more than most could imagine. He embodied public service at its finest. And, beyond that internship, he remained my professional mentor, helping me land my first job out of law school, connecting me with former law clerks when I was searching for jobs, all with the understanding that my ultimate goal was to obtain sufficient experience to one day serve as an AUSA in his district.”
Judge Mordue ’66, L’71 with Adam Katz G’04, L’04 at Katz’s graduation from the College of Law.
After taking positions at firms in Washington, D.C. post-graduation and then at the Department of Justice, Katz’s goal of becoming an AUSA in the Northern District of New York became reality in 2012 when he was hired to be an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York in the Albany office. Today, he coordinates the district’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement and Civil Health Care Fraud programs.
Being new to the Albany area and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Katz did what many have done in a similar situation; he sought out professional organizations that would introduce him to colleagues and provide a sense of community. “When I moved to town in 2012, I didn’t know a soul aside from my wife and her family. I wanted to meet like-minded people, and the Federal Court Bar Association’s mission statement appealed to me: to foster the highest ethical and professional standards for attorneys practicing in the Northern District of New York,” says Katz.
Not only did he join the Federal Court Bar Association for the Northern District of New York (FCBA NDNY), he also held the presidency for two terms, the last ending in December 2023. During this time, he points to the development and implementation of a free trial advocacy training program for attorneys who practice in the district as a distinct highlight of his presidency. “The district court was faced with two issues: First, there are fewer trials these days, so there are fewer opportunities for attorneys (especially younger attorneys) to get experience in the court. Second, several civil pro se cases are trial ready where the court wanted to appoint pro bono counsel,” explains Katz.
Working in partnership with court leadership, the FCBA decided to create a trial-skills training program where experienced litigators would provide hands-on training to newer attorneys who agreed to handle a civil rights case on a pro bono basis. Late last year, the FCBA graduated the first class of 12 attorneys to complete the training program. Each of those trained attorneys will provide pro bono representation to a litigant, giving them experience in the courtroom and helping to ensure access to justice for the client.
Adam Katz (far left) and Tyriese Robinson (middle) join family and friends to celebrate the contributions Judge Norman Mordue ’66, L’71 made during his extraordinary life.
Another lasting achievement from Katz’s time as president of the FCBA was the establishment of the NDNY FCBA Hon. Norman A. Mordue ’66, L’71 Law Scholarship. Katz spearheaded a campaign that successfully endowed the scholarship in 2023 in honor of his mentor. The Scholarship provides Syracuse Law students with the means to pursue a legal education and follow in Judge Mordue’s footsteps with a preference for military-connected students. The first scholarship was awarded in September 2023 to 2L Tyriese Robinson,a U.S. Air Force veteran.
“It’s incredibly gratifying to see how much money we were able to raise for the Mordue Scholarship in such a short time and from many people that are not Syracuse Law alums, which speaks volumes about the man and the countless lives that he touched, including my own.”
Growing up in St. Lucia, Yendi Fontenard L’26 thought her life-long interest in science and healthcare would lead her to become a hematologist. But, due to unforeseen circumstances, Fontenard’s career took another path that eventually led to the Syracuse University College of Law’s JDinteractive (JDi) program.
At 19, Fontenard pursued a medical degree at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago. Throughout her life, she had battled sickle cell disease, but in her fifth year of medical school she had a severe episode that required six months of recovery. She wasn’t able to complete medical school but, fortunately, had enough credits for a bachelor’s degree in medical sciences. Once recovered, she pursued a master’s degree in public health (M.P.H.) from the University of Miami, her first time experiencing higher education in the U.S.
After finishing her M.P.H., Fontenard took an administrative fellowship at Jackson North Medical Center, part of a community health system in Miami, FL, enabling her to work on both the clinical and non-clinical areas of healthcare.
“It was an invaluable experience that allowed me to understand the inner workings of a hospital,” she explains, noting that in the last year of the fellowship she was offered a year-long role at the flagship hospital working on process improvement projects. Fontenard went on to work as a senior labor relations specialist for the same health system. Over the past eight years, she has continued working in labor relations, currently holding the position of employee labor relations manager.
“My role at Jackson Health requires me to work collaboratively with my colleagues and directors, many of whom are attorneys,” she explains. “I am fascinated by their way of thinking, as I witnessed my colleagues navigate negotiations with the union, conflict resolution and responses to discriminatory complaints or lawsuits. I was surrounded by advocacy—each with different styles, but equally effective.”
This sparked a desire to bridge her healthcare background with the law, so she began looking into law schools. “Full-time school was a non-starter for me since I was building my professional reputation at Jackson Health Systems,” she says. “I was only interested in online or hybrid programs.”
Fontenard eventually enrolled in the Syracuse Law JDi program and has since successfully balanced her full-time career with law school. She appreciates the faculty support, specifically crediting Distinguished Lecturer Linda Whitton, Professor of Law Nina Kohn, formerly the Faculty Director of Online Education; and Distinguished Lecturer Daan Braveman for teaching the importance of being more critical of legal issues, noting each values the contributions of the diverse cohort.
While a hybrid online program was the right option for Fontenard, she raves about the required residencies in the JDi program. “The in-person residencies are invaluable. Advocacy does not occur in a vacuum or solely through an electronic device. The face-to-face experiences make us better advocates and help foster professional relationships,” she says. “Hands down the best residency was my most recent on trial advocacy with Professor Todd Berger and Adjunct Instructor Raul Velez III, L’18. I selected this option not because I hope to be a trial attorney but because I wanted to be quicker on my feet and understand the courtroom dynamics.”
Professor Todd Berger and Adjunct Instructor Raul Velez III L’18 teach class in the courtroom
Fontenard is looking forward to her first international residency, which will take place in Rome, Italy, in March 2024, to tackle the Comparative Legal Systems course.
“While I set out to be a physician, I had to have the flexibility to create my dreams in other ways that I never could have pictured years ago—but I found a way,” says Fontenard. “That unexpectedly put law school in my path, which is a rigorous but impactful addition that will only help to enhance my career moving forward. I look forward to where the information learned through the JDi program takes me.”
Each semester, the College’s LL.M. program for foreign-trained attorneys brings highly accomplished and experienced attorneys to the College for an education on American laws. While most return to their home countries with this knowledge, some choose to remain in the States, even the Syracuse area.
Three recent LL.M. graduates —Chiebuka Christiana Okezie LL.M.’23, Beheshta Rasekh LL.M.’22, and Ahmad Raza Riaz LL.M.’23— have made Syracuse their destination to pursue professional opportunities for meaningful impact. All are Law Associates with the Hiscock Legal Aid Society (LAS) in the Immigration Program, working under the supervision of a licensed attorney.
The LAS Immigration Program serves 18 counties in Central and Upstate New York, with funding from the New York State Office for New Americans. The program provides a full suite of immigration legal services except for H-1B Visas and sponsorship for employment. Riaz focuses on the Central New York area while Okezie works in the southern Mohawk Valley. Rasekh works directly with fellow natives from Afghanistan who are in the Syracuse area after the U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan in August of 2021.
Gregory Dewan, Executive Director, President, and Chief Executive Officer of the Hiscock Legal Aid Society, is grateful that an international law school is in their backyard. “When we post open positions, we are looking for the best people we can find. We’ve had great success finding highly qualified, educated, motivated, experienced graduates from the LL.M. program,” says Dewan.
Dewan notes that the immigration system moves incredibly slowly, with cases pending for years. Even with the drawn-out legal processes, the impact of the LL.M. graduates is being felt in the Central New York community. “We’ve had tremendous success as a program. There are a lot of avenues to relief for people that are incredibly complex to navigate so assisting people through that process is rewarding. Beheshta, who has been with us for two years now, has had success getting Afghan clients’ asylum applications approved which gives them status in the U.S., thus they don’t have to return to a country that is unsafe for them.”
“Having our LL.M. students come to Syracuse from all corners of the globe, gain further legal education, and apply their unique experiences and perspectives that address a need in our community has been a dream of mine since the College established the LL.M. program,” says Andrew Horsfall L’10, Assistant Dean of International Programs. “The alumni benefit by gaining valuable hands-on legal experience and exposure to another legal culture, and our community benefits from their skills as judges and lawyers, second and/or third language proficiency, cultural competency, and a desire to contribute meaningfully to the important mission of the Legal Aid Society.”
Chiebuka Christiana Okezie LL.M.’23 (Nigeria)
Okezie received an LL.B. from Babcock University in Ogun State, Nigeria in 2019 where she held several internships assisting with human rights litigation, contracts, and compliance matters. Okezie also worked at law firms where she handled various legal matters, with a particular focus on criminal and human rights cases.
While Okezie came to the College of Law to study under the distinguished faculty, the University’s commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning atmosphere played a pivotal role in her decision. In addition, she was the recipient of the JAF Foundation scholarship award that is dedicated to fostering the growth of LL.M. students from developing nations in Sub-Saharan Africa with a profound and demonstrated passion for social justice. While at the College of Law, she served on the Class Act! Committee.
She echoes the LAS’s commitment to justice and ensuring accessibility to legal services for underserved communities and individuals. “My role aligns perfectly with my passion to help people,” she says.
“Working in immigration law is important to me because as an immigrant myself, I understand firsthand the struggles and uncertainties that immigrants face, which drives my passion for advocating on their behalf and assisting them according to the provisions of the law,” she says. “It also gives me the opportunity to help individuals navigate complex legal systems and overcome significant challenges.”
That experience allows Okezie to build trust and rapport with clients from diverse backgrounds, effectively communicate with them, and tailor legal strategies that address their specific needs and concerns. “My personal experiences navigating immigration processes gives me insight into the challenges my clients may encounter, allowing me to provide more informed and compassionate representation,” she says.
Beheshta Rasekh LL.M.’22 (Afghanistan)
Rasekh embarked on her journey at the College of Law as a distinguished recipient of the Fulbright award, following the completion of an LL.B. degree at the American University of Afghanistan in 2020. Prior to Syracuse Law, she contributed significantly as a Program Assistant at Afghans for Progressive Thinking, a non-governmental organization committed to fostering dialogue on critical issues such as women’s rights, peace, education, and democratic principles within Afghanistan’s academic landscape. Subsequently, she furthered her impact as a legal fellow at a nonprofit organization, orchestrating workshops and training sessions tailored for legal professionals, including lawyers and judges. Upon graduation, Rasekh was awarded a Fellowship at the Hiscock Legal Aid Society (HLAS), where she enriched her practical experience in immigration law.
Rasekh chose the College of Law’s LL.M. program due to Syracuse University’s excellent academic reputation, diverse programs, and strong alumni network. She decided to remain in Syracuse for several reasons. “The city’s diverse community and the presence of a diverse immigrant population allowed me to continue working with the Afghan community and contribute to the local immigrant support network. Syracuse also provides a supportive and collaborative environment for professionals in the legal field, making it an ideal place for me to continue my work with Hiscock Legal Aid’s Immigration Program.”
Working in immigration law is essential to Rasekh because it allows her to impact the lives of individuals and families directly seeking a better life in the U.S., specifically Afghans. “As an Afghan immigrant myself, I understand the challenges and complexities of the immigration process firsthand, and I am passionate about helping others navigate this journey,” she says.
Her clients directly benefit from working with someone who has first-hand knowledge of the U.S. immigration system along with language skills which are hard to find in Central New York. “Being an immigrant gives me cultural sensitivity, linguistic skills, and a deep understanding of immigrants’ challenges. This personal connection allows me to establish trust with my clients, empathize with their experiences, and effectively advocate for their rights. Moreover, my immigration journey equips me with insights into the intricacies of the system, enabling me to offer more personalized and informed guidance to those seeking legal assistance,” she says.
“I plan to stay in Syracuse for the foreseeable future,” says Rasekh. “I am committed to making a positive difference in the lives of immigrants, and I believe that by staying in this community, I can continue to contribute to the ongoing efforts to provide legal aid and access to immigration pathways.”
Ahmad Raza Riaz LL.M.’23 (Pakistan)
Riaz holds an LL.B. from the University of Punjab, Lahore and is a Licensed Attorney in the Lower Courts and High Courts of Punjab, Pakistan. Since graduating in 2015, he worked as a legal associate at a private law firm. After passing the bar exams in 2016, he worked at a private law firm as an Attorney representing clients all over the Punjab, Pakistan.
Much like his colleagues, Riaz chose the College of Law’s LL.M. program due to the curriculum that provides a nuanced exploration of different areas of the law. “I was impressed by the faculty’s research and expertise in their field which I believed would provide me exceptional mentorship and learning opportunities. Moreover, the program’s diverse student body and robust alumni network offer unmatched possibilities for networking and building connections within the field. I am happy with my decision as the expectations I developed during the program have came true.” Riaz excelled in his studies, culminating with a CALI Excellence for the Future Award (The Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction) for his top performance in the Professional Responsibility course.
Landing a job in his chosen field, immigration law, in Syracuse after graduation meant Riaz could stay in a city he grew to love during his studies. “I fell in love with the city’s pleasant weather and the welcoming community, which made it an easy decision to put down roots here. Additionally, I appreciate the city’s vibrant cultural scene, outdoor recreational activities, and small-town charm. I was blessed with the birth of my daughter Anfa right before my graduation and have grown to appreciate the quality hospitals and doctors that are located so close to campus.”
For Riaz, working in immigration law is important because he believes in the fundamental principle of equal opportunities and rights for all individuals, regardless of their national origin or immigration status. He continues, “I want to help ensure that everyone has access to a fair and efficient process and that families are reunited and protected from persecution. I’m driven by the desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives and contribute to a more inclusive society.”
Like his colleagues, Riaz sees his background as an immigrant as a distinct advantage when working with his clients. “Being from another country provides me with a unique perspective and understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds, which helps me better relate to and empathize with clients from various countries and backgrounds. I’m able to ask informed questions, understand cultural nuances that might impact a case, and develop tailored strategies that consider multiple perspectives. This diverse experience allows me to provide more comprehensive and thoughtful representation for my clients.”
