New York State of Mind
Law students with a path to practicing law in the largest legal market in the country.
With an ideal location just minutes from New York City, Seton Hall Law, opens doors for students seeking to put their degree to work in the largest legal market in the country.
Located in Newark, NJ, Seton Hall Law attracts students because of its stellar academic programs, great bar passage results, and very strong employment outcomes – all reinforced by its proximity to New York for those who want to practice there. For three Seton Hall Law students, the path to New York was marked by rigorous course work and intensive training in practical skills.
Jennifer Randolph ’14, is now clerking for the Honorable Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court. Although Randolph grew up in New Jersey, New York offered the most challenging practice setting. “Seton Hall Law provided me the indispensable academic preparation and its proximity to Manhattan allowed me to spend a summer working in a Big Law firm,” she said.
"I worked towards making the grades and participating in moot court and Law Review
to build a more marketable resume for the New York area"Jennifer Randolph ’14
After graduation, she added to that resume by clerking with Justice Jaynee LaVecchia on the New Jersey Supreme Court and serving as an associate at Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett in New York before assuming her present position with Chief Judge DiFiore.
For current and future students, Randolph encourages a “layered” approach to shaping yourself into the ideal candidate. “Take the right classes,” said Randolph. “Meet people by going to events and gathering contacts. Most New York firms are looking for writing experience and someone who can coherently draft items, and a clerkship is invaluable in that regard.”
Eli Crozier, a current 3L student who will graduate in May 2017, is taking a different path. Although a native of Bergen County, NJ, he always wanted to practice criminal law in the City. “It was something I dreamed of as a child,” said Crozier, whose ambitions were only whetted by working for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office when he graduated from college and before he went to law school. Crozier wanted to do everything he could “to get back there as a strong applicant, not just a mere applicant” after law school. In September of 2017, Crozier will join the Manhattan D.A.’s office as an Assistant District Attorney. Although he also received offers from the Bronx D.A. and the Nassau County D.A., Crozier found Manhattan the right fit.
In addition to his studies, Crozier credits the connections he made with professors, his foresight, and his strong work ethic for getting him to where he is today. He is especially complementary about Seton Hall’s Criminal Procedure courses and professors as well as the school’s mock trial team and coach, Jen DiTommaso.
“Preparation was absolutely key in securing the position with the Manhattan D.A.’s office in New York,” explained Crozier.
"Everything I have done at Seton Hall Law was to prepare myself to be a strong litigator"
Eli Crozier ’17
Crozier’s advice for future lawyers seeking to work in New York? “It’s more than just books, it’s how you can apply skills. Reach out to those you are comfortable with in order to help prepare.”
James McClammy ’98, is currently a partner at Davis Polk & Wardell in New York City. Upon graduating from Yale with his undergraduate degree, McClammy decided to go back to school because “I didn’t find what I was doing, sales, challenging enough,” explained McClammy. “I was looking for something new every day, and the law gave me that.”
McClammy also attributes much of his success to his academic preparation at Seton Hall Law and his ability to capitalize on that in the job market. That led to a summer associateship at Davis Polk & Wardell and clerking post-graduation, first on the United States District Court for New Jersey and then for Judge Morton Ira Greenberg on the Third Circuit. McClammy made his way back to Davis Polk & Wardell in 2000 and hasn’t left since.
"I decided on New York because my Seton Hall professors counseled me about the Big
Law experience and the type of work I could find in New York,” recalled McClammy.James McClammy ’98
“I found it intriguing but was a bit hesitant about New York at first since there were no lawyers in my family. Now there’s a ton. I found out that there is really no better place to start a career. You can see and learn awful lot working in New York. There are a wide range of cases and people you have access to experience. That is an immeasurable benefit.”
McClammy currently practices commercial litigation in bankruptcy courts, general commercial litigation, and class action defense.
Whether you practice in New York, New Jersey, or any other state, the opportunities for the Seton Hall lawyer to secure great jobs are abundant.