Friday, December 17, 2010

Wed. January 19, 2011- Unemployed/Underemployed Lawyers Group "Strategic Support and Solutions"


If you are currently unemployed or underemployed, you are in very good company. Join others confronting employment challenges at the Unemployed/Underemployed Lawyers Group, a new effort sponsored by the Lawyer Assistance Program ("LAP") Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association on January 19, 2011. There is no fee to participate, and an optional buffet lunch is available at a modest cost.

For more information, contact Peter Schweitzer, Director of the LAP, at PSchweitzer@nassaubar.org, or Annabel Bazante, Chair of the LAP Committee, at nhplaw@optonline.net.


Thursday, December 9, 2010

Honorable Merik Aaron ’92 Named December 2010 Alum of the Month



Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that the Honorable Merik Aaron ’92 has been selected as the alum of the month for December 2010. Judge Aaron is a leader in his profession, was an active member of the Touro Law community while attending law school and remains engaged with the law school as the Treasurer on the Alumni Association Executive Board, is a member of the Alumni Council, participates in the Law Center’s Mentor Programs, and attends a number of programs for current students. His accomplished career is highlighted in the profile below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to the Honorable Merik Aaron.  

Honorable Merik Aaron is the Principal Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Hempstead.  He was recently elected in 2010 as judge to the Nassau County Family Court and will be sworn in on December 14th to start on January 3rd.   He was endorsed by Republican, Conservative, Independence, and Tax Revolt Parties.  He was also endorsed by CSEA Local 1000, Court Officers’ Benevolent Association of Nassau County, Inc. (COBANC), Grand Council of the United Emerald Societies, Inc., Nassau County Police Benevolent Association (PB), Superior Officers Association of Nassau County, Detectives Association of Nassau County, Nassau Police Conference, Inc., New York State Fraternal Order of Court Officers (FOCO), Adjunct Faculty Association of Nassau Community College, Enterprise Association of Steamfitters – Local Union 638 - UA AFL-CIO, and United Food Commercial Workers International Union, CLC.   In 2006, the Governor of the State of New York nominated Merik R. Aaron to fill an interim vacancy on the Nassau County Family Court.

This nomination followed a finding by the Governor’s non-partisan judicial screening committee that he was “highly qualified” for appointment to the Family Court Bench.  On June 20, 2006, his nomination was confirmed by the New York State Senate with Deputy Majority Leader Senator Dean Skelos placing his name in nomination.  Judge Aaron lost the election in 2006 and returned to his former positions as Principal Deputy Town Attorney for the Town of Hempstead, Village Attorney for the Incorporated Village of Hewlett Harbor and private law practice.

To read Honorable Merik Aaron’s full bio, please click here

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Lawline.com Hosts “Bridge The Gap for Newly Admitted Attorneys” Series


Lawline.com- Continuing Legal Education Online, will be hosting a live series, “Bridge The Gap for Newly Admitted Attorneys”, on November 3rd, November 9th, November 30th, and December 7th. The series runs from 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m and is located at 55 Exchange Place (suite 501) New York, NY  10001.

Completion of the series will fulfill all 16 credits (3 hours of ethics, 6 hours of skills, 7 hours of law practice management). The fee for the series is $299 and is limited to 40 seats – so sign up for all 4 courses today.  Refreshments will be served.

For additional information, please call 1-877-518-0660 or visit http://www.lawline.com/law/bridge-the-gap.php

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Nov. 4-5th General Counsel Institute: “Managing through Change: The New Normal”


 The National Association of Women Lawyers ("NAWL") is holding its General Counsel Institute “Managing through Change: The New Normal” on November 4-5, 2010 in New York City.  The Sixth Annual General Counsel Institute for in-house attorneys and will be held at the Westin Hotel in Times Square.

This is a conference designed for experienced and motivated women in-house counsel seeking to build top tier professional and management skills. 

Keynote speakers include DeeDee Myers, author of “Why Women Should Rule the World” and former press secretary of the Clinton Administration, plus Leslie Turner, General Counsel/CCNA of the Coca-Cola Company. The General Counsel  Institute will provide the opportunity to:
  • Attend CLE workshops on leading edge topics
  •       Network in a collegial and open environment
  •      Participate in frank discussions on what it takes to succeed in-house
  • Hear from the General Counsels of Coca-Cola, Consolidated Edison, National Public Radio, Nike, Southwest Airlines, Stuart Weitzman and others.
For additional information, please call Theresa Baker at 212-578-5119 or visit http://www.nawl.org/

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

November 4th 2010 Law Practice Management Symposium


The New York City Bar Association together with the New York Law Journal present The 7th Annual Law Practice Management Symposium, "Sowing the Seeds of a Successful Small Law Practice and Making it Bloom" on Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. The 2010 Symposium will help you grow your practice and provide the information you need to grow or start your own practice. From best billing practices to choosing malpractice insurance, the Symposium will address many of the practice management issues we as small law firm practitioners are facing today.

The Symposium will be held at the New York City Bar, located at 42 West 44th Street New York, NY 10036. Admission includes exhibition hall, workshops, networking breakfast and lunch, plenary sessions, and wind down reception with live music. As a sponsoring school, Touro Law Center students and alumni receive a discounted registration rate of $25, regardless of their City Bar member status.

Whether currently working in a solo or small law firm practice or just starting to consider this career path, this full day of workshops, trade-show, and one-on-one advice is a great program for Touro Law students and alumni. Attorneys can also attend valuable workshops for start-ups and growing firms, explore the ways to expand your client base, network at the breakfast, luncheon and late-afternoon live-music reception as well as in our "Seasoned Solo" Drop-In Center. There will also be sessions on Attorney Advertising, On and Offline Cost-Effective Marketing and Billing Practices, and the opportunity to stop by the LexisNexis Consultation Center to meet with a certified SEMPO Institute Consultant, discuss best practices for internet marketing, and have your website reviewed

Visit The New York City Bar website for more information.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Harris Zakarin ’95 Named October Alum of the Month



Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Harris Zakarin ’95 has been selected as the alum of the month for October 2010. Mr. Zakarin is a leader in his profession, was an active member of the Touro Law community while attending law school, was the Editor-In-Chief of the Touro Law Review, and remains engaged with the law school as a member of the Alumni Council and attends a number of programs for current students. His accomplished career is highlighted in the profile below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Harris Zakarin.

Harris Zakarin, a successful litigation attorney with an expertise and concentration in appellate practice, is a partner with the firm of Rivkin Radler. He has represented the Firm's clients in each of the four appellate departments in New York, as well as the New York Court of Appeals, New York's highest court, and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He has also represented the Firm's clients in appellate courts in other jurisdictions.

To view Mr. Zakarin’s full bio, please click here http://www.tourolaw.edu/alumni/alumniDetail.aspx?id=89

Monday, September 20, 2010

HNBA-Prudential Fellowship Program



The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is pleased to announce a partnership with Prudential Financial, Inc. (Prudential) to provide a meaningful fellowship opportunity to a highly-motivated recent law school graduate. Through this partnership, HNBA will select a recent law school graduate to join the Prudential Law Department as the HNBA-Prudential Law Fellow. Eligible candidates are 2009 or 2010 law school graduates. Deferred associates or other individuals with pending offers from a law firm or other employer are not eligible. The top three finalists selected for an interview at the Prudential headquarters in Newark, NJ will be eligible for travel expense reimbursement.

The Fellow will work full-time for 18 months in Prudential's Newark, NJ, offices beginning on December 1, 2010. During this time, the fellow may work in up to three Law Department divisions, which may include the Insurance, Investments, Litigation/Regulatory, Corporate Governance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Employment & Labor, Employee Benefits and International divisions. The Fellow will be paid an annual salary of US$60,000 with benefits. Employment and compensation is determined and provided solely by Prudential. The Fellow will be expected to seek employment outside of the Prudential Law Department after the end of the fellowship.

The Fellow's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following: executing legal transactions; securing, preparing, drafting, and processing legal documents; undertaking legal research; litigation support; and other special projects. The Fellow shall assist attorneys in providing legal advice to internal clients on a daily basis.

Qualifications

Member of HNBA
Minimum law school GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
Possess financial or business-related experience or interest
Excellent verbal and writing abilities
Strong conceptual thinking and analytical skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Ability to work and think independently
Forward thinking ability with a risk management perspective
Strong ethics
Ability to multitask
Ability to effectively interact with individuals at all levels
Received a J.D. or LL.M from an ABA-accredited law school in 2009 or 2010
Admission to a state bar. Alternatively, bar admission pending results from a bar exam is acceptable; however, such status may result in a conditional or delayed offer based upon bar admission results.

How To Apply

To apply, you must submit a cover letter, resume, a list of three references, two writing samples, and a copy of your transcript via e-mail and mail to:

Miguel Alexander Pozo
Partner
Lowenstein Sandler PC
65 Livingston Avenue
Roseland, NJ 07068
973.597.6212
mpozo@lowenstein.com

Please write "Prudential Fellowship" in the subject line of all correspondence. All materials must be received by September 30, 2010. Finalists must be available to participate in phone interviews between October 11 and 15, 2010. A finalist shall be selected and notified by November 1, 2010.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Alternate Dispute Resolution Society’s Intra-School Client Counseling Competition

**Volunteer judges and clients needed**


On Thursday, October 7, the Touro Law Center Alternative Dispute Resolution Society will hold their intra school Client Counseling Competition from 5:30 p.m. until approximately 8 p.m. at the Law School in Central Islip. The Client Counseling Competition provides students with an opportunity to develop the skills they will utilize in practice. The Competition simulates a law office consultation in which two person law student teams, acting as attorneys, are presented with a client matter. The students conduct an interview with a person playing the role of the client and then explain to the client how they would recommend proceeding further in the hypothetical situation. Each team is given forty-five minutes to conduct a client interview and a post-interview self analysis. While the judges are present during the interview and self-analysis, they do not interact with the students teams. The teams are judged on ten different criteria including, understanding the client’s goals and objectives, problem analysis, effective counseling, the client’s informed choice, and post interview reflection.


We hope you will be able to join us as a judge or client for the Client Counseling Competition. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kristin Matthews at (631) 761-7063 or e-mail to kmatthews@tourolaw.edu

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Alumni Mentor Program- Volunteer Alumni Mentors Needed

You can learn a lot in a classroom, but not how it feels to actually practice as an attorney day-to-day. Our Mentor Programs are designed to provide students with an opportunity to meet our outstanding alumni and learn about an area of law they are interested in pursuing to expands a student's legal education.

We are currently recruiting alumni volunteers for both our Upper Division Alumni-Student Mentor program and our Alumni-Student First-Year Mentor program. Both programs match students with practicing attorneys based on area(s) of practice and student interest. Please click here to view the Mentor Program Brochure which outlines both programs.

If you are interested in becoming a mentor for a student, please contact Kristin Matthews at (631)761-7061 or kmatthews@tourolaw.edu

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Violet E. Samuels '99 Named September Alum of the Month



     Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations, and Communications if proud to announce that Violet Samuels has been selected as the alum of the month for September. Ms. Samuels is a leader in her profession, was an active member of the Touro Law community while attending law school, and remains engaged with the law school through the Alumni Council and Alumni Mentor programs. Her accomplished career is highlighted in the bio below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Ms. Samuels.
     Violet Samuels attended Borough of Manhattan Community College from 1977-1980, where she graduated with an AAS with honors. In the summer of 1980, she entered City College, School of nursing where she graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing in 1983. She received her Masters in Nursing Administration from New York University in 1990.
     Ms. Samuels worked as a Registered Nurse in multiple units and intensive care units in New York Hospital Cornel Medical from 1983 to 1999. She also worked full time (12-hour shifts), every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as a Burn Nurse in the Burn Intensive Care Unit at New York Hospial Cornel Medical from 1995-1999.
     In January 1989, she started a home care nurse's agency which operated as an employment agency for health care professionals. To date, the agency sent out over 2000 health care workers. In 2005, she suspended services in the agency due to construction which went over schedule.
     While attending Touro Law School as a part-time day student, Ms. Samuels was a member of the Touro Law Review and was the PDP teaching assistant for Professor Post's Contracts II class. She was also the LEAP teaching assistant for Criminal Law.

To read Ms. Samuels full bio, please click here

Thursday, September 2, 2010

2010 Boot Camp: Basic Training for Lawyers




Tuesday, September 14, 2010 1 PM - 5:30 PM
Thursday, September 16, 2010 1 PM - 5:30 PM


This New York City Bar Association Program will address job search skills, communication skills, legal drafting, law practice technology and other important topics. (Touro Law Center is a sponsoring law school entitling our students and alumni to attend this program free of charge - registration is required.


To register for this great program, to be held at the NYC Bar Association (42 West 44th Street New York, NY), please visit https://www.nycbar.org/cgi-bin/event091410_s.pl

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Unemployed/Underemployed Lawyers Group at the Nassau County Bar Association




On Wednesday, September 15th at 12:30 p.m., the Lawyer Assistance Program Committee is sponsoring a meeting of the Unemployed/Underemployed Lawyers Group, discussing current employment challenges. There is no fee to participate, and an optional buffet lunch is available at a modest cost. For further information, please visit https://www.nassaubar.org/Calendars/September2010.aspx

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Thomas O’Connor '89 Named to Touro Law Board of Governors



Touro Law is pleased to announce that Thomas O’Connor, partner with the firm of Cooley LLP and Touro Law graduate class of 1989, has joined the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors, chaired by Howard M. Stein, a partner at Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman, LLP, includes approximately 45 members and has had a significant role in the development of the law center.

“Tom will be a great addition to our already outstanding Board of Governors,” said Dean Lawrence Raful. “The Board is comprised of both Touro Law alum as well as leaders from other law schools and colleges. I am extremely proud to have another dedicated individual join this prestigious group who is a graduate of Touro Law. I am excited to work closely with him and look forward to his help in steering the development of our law school.”

Thomas O'Connor is a partner in the Real Estate Group with the firm of Cooley LLP, in the business department. He serves as Chair of the Real Estate Group, Co-Chair of the Latin American Real Estate Group and Co-Chair of the Structured Real Estate Investments Group. Mr. O'Connor joined Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman LLP in 1997, which was merged into Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in 2006. He is resident in the New York office.

Mr. O'Connor practices in the area of commercial real estate transactions with particular emphasis on real estate finance, acquisitions and sales. He has extensive experience with both the lender and borrower side of real estate lending (including the origination, workout and restructuring of real estate debt). He represents several major institutional lenders and borrowers in originating and restructuring mortgage and mezzanine financing and in structuring preferred equity investments.

Mr. O’Connor was named Touro Law Center’s Alum of the Month in August 2010.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Thomas O'Connor '89 Named August Alum of the Month



Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Thomas O’Connor ’89 has been selected as the alum of the month for August 2010.

Thomas O'Connor is a partner in the Real Estate Group with the firm of Cooley LLP, in the business department. He serves as Chair of the Real Estate Group, Co-Chair of the Latin American Real Estate Group and Co-Chair of the Structured Real Estate Investments Group. Mr. O'Connor joined Kronish Lieb Weiner & Hellman LLP in 1997, which was merged into Cooley Godward Kronish LLP in 2006. He is resident in the New York office.

Prior to joining Kronish Lieb, Mr. O'Connor worked in the real estate group of Weil Gotshal for eight years. Mr. O'Connor was a high school teacher for ten years before becoming a lawyer.

Mr. O'Connor earned his J.D. in 1989 from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, where he was Valedictorian and editor of the Touro Law Review. He is a member of Touro Law Center’s Alumni Council and volunteers for programs and events for Touro Law students. He graduated in 1979 from Clark University with a B.S. in History with honors.

Mr. O'Connor is a member of the British American Business, Inc. and a member of the New York Executive Council's Financial Services Advisory Board. He also frequently speaks at industry conferences including Information Management Networks's (IMN) Borrowers' & Investors' Forum on Real Estate Mezzanine Loans and US Real Estate Opportunity and Private Fund Investing Forum.

To read Mr. O'Connor's full bio, please click here. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Thomas O’Connor.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

City Bar Summer Series - August 3-5, 2010



The New York City Bar Association is holding its City Bar Summer Series on Tuesday-Thursday, August 3-5 at the NYC Bar located at 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. All programs start at 6:30 p.m. As one of the sponsoring law schools of this program, Touro Law Center alumni and students receive free registration for the series. The following sessions are open for registration. Please click on the links below to learn more about each program and to register:

Technology – Tuesday, August 3, 2010 - http://www.nycbar.org/EventsCalendar/show_event.php?eventid=1442

Immigration– Wednesday, August 4, 2010 - http://www.nycbar.org/EventsCalendar/show_event.php?eventid=1443

Healthcare – Thursday, August 5, 2010 - http://www.nycbar.org/EventsCalendar/show_event.php?eventid=1444

Friday, July 23, 2010

CLE Program - The Immigration Reform Debate: Getting Beyond the Rhetoric



Touro Law Center and the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association present "The Immigration Reform Debate: Getting Beyond the Rhetoric" Continuing Legal Education Program on Thursday, September 16, 2010 from 6:00-9:30 p.m. at the Law Center in Central Islip.

This CLE program, worth three CLE credits, will provide an overview of Immigration Law and analyze the constitutionality of the recently enacted Arizona Law and other state and local laws designed to address immigration related issues. It will also explore the practical realities, limitations and misconceptions faced in addressing immigration related issues.

Thomas R. Suozzi, former Nassau County Executive, will be the featured speaker. Local judges, lawyers and law professors will also share their expertise in issues relating to immigration law.

The cost of the program is $25, which includes sandwiches, refreshments and CLE credit.

For more information and to register online, visit www.tourolaw.edu or contact Barbara Hakimi at (631) 761-7005 or BHamiki@tourolaw.edu.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Donna Wanser '98 Named July Alum of the Month



Touro Law Center''s Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Donna Wanser has been selected as the alum of the month for July. Ms. Wanser is a leader in her profession, was an active member of the Touro Law community while attending law school, and remains engaged with the law school.

Donna is currently the Vice President of Legal at Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. She has been with the company for nearly ten years, starting with one clerk and now overseeing a department of 24 - including six lawyers. Her legal practice has evolved from specializing solely in real estate to a more broad scope of corporate work including labor/employment law, corporate contracts, managing litigation, etc. In addition to assisting with legal counsel on transactional and employment and labor issues, she has been instrumental in bringing Panda''s real estate legal services to a heightened level of proficiency as well as expanding the License/Franchise practice.

Donna received her B.A. from the University of Maryland and her M.B.A. from Dowling College. During her years at Touro Law, Donna was a member of the International Law Review. Donna is a believer in continuous learning, and she is currently in the dissertation stage of a doctorate program - her dissertation topic is on the emotional intelligence of lawyer leaders and the possible implication in the preparedness in leading the new millennial lawyers.

To read Ms. Wanser's full bio, please click here. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Donna Wanser.