Library Association of Greter New York CLE Program

Do you need NY CLE skills and ethics credits? The Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY) will be presenting three NY CLE sessions. The programs have been approved for New York CLE credits for both newly admitted and experienced lawyers. The program features two skills sessions on legal research, European Union Legal Research and New York Legal Research: Finding Legislative Histories & Regulations, and one ethics session, Researching Ethical and Legal Issues in Data Privacy & Social Media. The registration fee is $75 for an individual session and $200 for all three sessions, which includes breakfast and course materials. The program will be held at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, 919 3rd Avenue (Entrance on 56th St.) from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm on Friday, December 14, 2012. To register go to: http://bit.ly/R9ptRE for a description of each session and more information. Registration begins at 8:30 AM. The three programs are: * European Union Legal Research – 1 NY Skills Credit * New York Legal Research: Finding Legislative Histories & Regulations 1 NY Skills Credit * Researching Ethical and Legal Issues in Data Privacy & Social Media – 1 NY Ethics Credit Experienced law librarians and attorneys will teach the sessions. If you would like more information, please email us at: llagnybtg@gmail.com

Annual Winter Alumni Reception

Don't miss the 2013 Annual Winter Alumni Reception on Thursday, January 24th, starting at 6:30 p.m. This year's reception will be held at the firm of Duane Morris LLP located at 1540 Broadway, New York City. Through our prestigious Alumni Awards Program, the Exceptional Law School Service Award will be presented to Randy Schaefer '92 of Silverman Acampora; the Public Service Award will be presented to Ray Malone '09, Attorney at Law; the Keith Romaine Elected Official of the Year Award will be presented to Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice '91; the Emerging Leader Award will be presented to Michelle Schmitt '07 of Certilman Balin Adler & Hyman LLP and the Alumni Council Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to Jeff Donato '00, Attorney at Law. Please visit wwww/tourolaw.edu/winteralumnireception to register today or contact the alumni office at (631) 761-7064 or e-mail alumni@tourolaw.edu. Tickets are $50 per person - special discout rates for current members of the Alumni Association. To learn more about our Alumni Association and benefits of membership, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniassociation.

The Howard A. Glickstein Loan Forgiveness Program - Apply Today

The deadline to apply for the Howard A. Glickstein Loan Forgiveness Program has been extended until Monday, December 17, 2012. Touro Law Center has a longstanding commitment to support our graduates who choose to pursue careers in the public interest. To that end, we created a Loan Repayment Assistance Program to offer graduates who work full-time in the public interest sector grants to help with the repayment of loans used to finance their legal education. The program was recently renamed the Howard A. Glickstein Loan Forgiveness Fund. The program has awarded grants in varying amounts to hundreds of graduates for more than 15 years. Funds are raised for the program through donations at the annual PILOT (Public Interest Law Organization at Touro) Wine and Cheese Reception, alumni donations to the fund solicited through the annual fund mailing, and the generosity of friends of the law center. To learn more about the program, or to download an application, please visit our website at http://www.tourolaw.edu/Alumni/?pageid=122

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers needed to serve as judges for the Empire Mock Trial Association’s Tournament Empire City Invitational – visit http://www.empiremocktrial.org/site/judge

FREE Boot Camp 2012 Program for Alumni - NYC Bar - Oct. 2 & 4

Touro Law Center is co-sponsoring Boot Camp 2012 at the New York City Bar Association on October 2nd and October 4th. The program is designed to assist alumni in their job search and prepare them for their first post-graduate jobs. Touro L aw Center's Assistant Dean for Career Services Margarett Williams will be participating in the presentation on Cover Letters and Resumes on Day #2 (Oct. 4th) There is no charge for Touro Law alumni to attend. If you are interested in attending, please register in advance by visiting the website below. http://www2.nycbar.org/EventsCalendar/show_event_new.php?eventid=1974

Touro Law Center presents the Jewish Law Institute's Distinguished Lecture Series with Rabbi Yona Reiss

A Comparative Look at Jewish Law and Civil Procedure with Rabbi Yona Reiss Friday, September 21, 2012 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Auditorium Continental breakfast will be served. The Fall 2012 Distinguished Lecturer is Rabbi Yona Reiss, Dean of Yeshiva University’s affiliated Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS). Rabbi Reiss is an attorney and jurist who served from 1998 to 2008 as Director of the Beth Din of America, the largest rabbinical court in the United States. RIETS is one of the leading centers for Torah learning and training for the rabbinate in the world. If you are interested in attending, email cle@tourolaw.edu or call Barbara Hakimi at (631) 761-7005

Jen Lupo '95 named September 2012 Alum on the Month

Congratulations to Jen Lupo '95, Touro Law Center's alum of the month for September 2012. Ms. Lupo is a leader in her profession, is very committed to her volunteer work with Touro Law Students, was on the Student Bar Association and Moot Court Board while in law school and remains engaged with the law center through her work with the Alumni Council. Please visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniofthemonth to view her accomplished bio.

Thomas Rosicki ’97 named August 2012 Alum on the Month

Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Thomas Rosicki ’97 has been selected as the alum of the month for August 2012. Mr. Rosicki is a leader in his profession, on the Law Center’s Board of Governors and is a strong supporter of the law school and graduates. His accomplished career is highlighted in the bio below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Thomas Rosicki. Thomas Rosicki and his wife Cynthia are the Founding Principals of Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, Attorneys at Law, a leading mortgage banking real estate law firm, with main offices located in Plainview, New York. Their firm has five offices throughout New York State and employs over 350 attorneys and paralegals, and counts JP Morgan Chase, Citibank and FannieMae among their clients. To read his accomplished bio, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniofthemonth.

Touro Law Alum - Women Judges

A new national report on the number of women on the state and federal benches prepared by the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society reveals a small gain for women, and ranks NYS as 11th in the nation for the number of women judges (412 women judges or 30.9%). I am happy to report that the Touro Law Center has contributed to this number with 8 women alumnae on the bench in NY and one in Nevada (which just trailed New York with 30.7% of the judiciary comprised of women). In addition, Touro Law Center claims both a retired and a former woman judge. These distinguished alumnae include: Hon. Rhonda Fischer ’93 Nassau County District Court Hon. Lisa Rana ’92 East Hampton Justice Court Hon. Barbara Wilson ’92 Town of Southhampton Hon. Anna Anzalone ’86 Nassau Cty Dist. Court, 1st District Hon. Gayle Nathan ’88 State of Nevada 8th Jud. Dist. Ct. Hon. Margaret Char ’93 Kings County Hon. Ellen Fishkin ’91 Head of Harbor Village Hon. Jennifer Henry ’93 Dist. Ct. Judge, Central Islip Hon. Lynn Kotler ’91 Manhattan Criminal Court Hon. Eileen Nadelson ’84 New York City Civil Court (ret.) Hon. Sonia Veras ’90 Suffolk County District Court (former) The full report can be viewed at the link below: http://www.albany.edu/womaningov/publications/summer2012_judgeships.pdfv

Animal Law For The Pet Lover Seminar & Discussion (complimentary)

By Carol Ryder, Attorney-At-Law Thursday June 21, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at: Northport Library, 275 Laurel Ave, Northport, 11768 (just north of 25A/Ft. Salonga Rd. @ Scudder Ave)-25A west is last exit on Sunken Meadow Pkwy [SM5W]; Go approximately 5 lights west. When you see McDonalds, make right @ next light onto Laurel Ave. You’ll see a Dunkin Donuts on left, Stop-n-shop FAR left. If you go too far (e.g. pass Stop-n-Shop), make right at next light then another right at light @ Scudder Ave *Seminar is 7:00-8:30 BUT attorney will be there 5ish to set-up Power Point and discuss subjects of interest to attendees • Subjects include important things every pet owner should know including: animal ownership laws, rules and regulations, licensing, dog bite situations, what to do if you purchase a sick pet (Animal Lemon Law), landlord/tenant laws/regulations regarding pets, the Americans With Disabilities Act and Service Animals, pets in elder facilities, Estate Planning with Pets (incl Pet Trusts done RIGHT), ways to economize on pet care and still get great care, balancing Western and Eastern veterinary medicine, animal abuse laws pending in Congress (NYS and U.S. Congress, federal and on Long Island), how you can adopt any breed and/or age pet you want, the animal abuse : human violence connection (incl. FBI info and the Gilgo Beach Serial Killer(s), and what you can do to help the police and prevent being victimized), what can be done to help animals in need even if you are super busy/what can also be done in one’s spare time, Q&A, and so much more. • If you want a specific topic of interest to you covered, or you have any questions, please feel free to contact Carol Ryder, Esq. at Carol.Ryder@ymail.com (631) 848-1204. Additional animal law information is available on www.CarolRyderLaw.com Note: Information &/or opinions expressed at the seminar/discussion, websites, telephone and in any other form or context is not to be construed, interpreted as or inferred as legal advice, although we welcome the opportunity to meet with you and, as applicable, sign a written Retainer. Information is provided in a general context to form a basis for you to seek legal services as necessary. Our office also handles, with an eye on animals in the family where applicable, of course: family law/divorce, foreclosure defense, estate planning, including Pet Trusts & wills, obtaining Medicaid & other funds to pay for home care and/or nursing homes, litigation, real estate, personal injury, criminal defense & more

Harold M. Somer ’83 named June 2012 Alum on the Month

Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Harold M. Somer ’83 has been selected as the alum of the month for June 2012. Mr. Somer is a leader in his profession, is president of Touro Law Center’s Alumni Association and is an active member of the Law Center’s Alumni Council. His accomplished career is highlighted in the bio below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Harold M. Somer. Harold M. Somer received his J.D. from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center as a member of the first graduating class in 1983 and currently serves as president of Touro Law Center’s Alumni Association and as a member of the Alumni Council. As a member of the Alumni Council, Mr. Somer meets with current and accepted students and volunteers to help judge student competitions. Mr. Somer has his own law office which he opened in July 2002 where he practices mainly in the area of bankruptcy law representing both debtors and creditors. He also handles mortgage foreclosure defense matters. To read his complete bio, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniofthemonth

The Alumni Association of Touro Law Center is pleased to present a 2 credit CLE on Ethics with Dean Lawrence Raful.

The Alumni Association of Touro Law Center is pleased to present a 2 credit CLE on Ethics with Dean Lawrence Raful. This CLE program is free for current Alumni Association and Alumni Council members or $25 for non-members. 2012 Ethics Update with Dean Lawrence Raful Friday, June 29, 2012 8:30 a.m. – Registration & Breakfast 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. – CLE Program Not a current member of the Alumni Association? Visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniassociation to learn more and join today! Questions – please contact the Alumni Office at (631) 761-7063 or e-mail alumni@tourolaw.edu To Register, please contact Kristin Matthews, Touro Law Center, 225 Eastview Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722, fax to (631) 761-7069 or e-mail alumni@tourolaw.edu

Valerie Cartright ’03 named May 2012 Alum on the Month

Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Valerie Cartright ’03 has been selected as the alum of the month for May 2012. Ms. Cartright is a leader in her profession, is very committed to her volunteer work in the public service sector, was a member of the Black Law Students Association while in law school and remains engaged with the law center through her work with Touro Law students and special event committees. Valerie M. Cartright is an associate at the Law Offices of Frederick K. Brewington practicing primarily in the areas of civil rights litigation and criminal law. Since her admission to the Bar, Ms. Cartright has worked at several law firms, gaining additional experience in construction law, civil law, education law and family law. After receiving her undergraduate degree in International Studies from West Virginia University, Ms. Cartright received a Juris Doctorate from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. During her law school career, she served a term as President of the Black Law Students Association and earned numerous awards including the National Association of Women Lawyers Outstanding Achievement Award, the CALI Academic Excellence Awards for Contracts I and Racism and American Law, and Touro Law Center Awards for Special Service, Exceptional Contributions to the Growth of the Law Center, and Exceptional Service to the Public and the Community. Ms. Cartright was named the 2008 Public Service Attorney of the Year by Touro Law Center and has published an article in the New York Law Journal. Visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniofthemonth to read her accomplished bio.

Meet & Greet With Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes

The Russian American Bar Association Criminal Law Committee is pleased to host a Meet and Greet with the Brooklyn District Attorney, Charles Hynes, pioneer of many innovative criminal justice strategies since 1990. The event will be held on Thursday, May 10th starting at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the Downhouse Lounge, 250 Ave X, Brooklyn, NY 11223. Attendees will enjoy free appetizers (7 to 9 p.m.) and will enjoy two mixed drinks for the price of one (from 7 to 8 p.m.) For questions or additional information, please e-mail events@rabausa.org.

Alumni-Student Networking Event - Thursday, April 19th, 6 p.m

Touro Law Center is pleased to host an Alumni-Student Networking event on Thursday, April 19th, starting at 6 p.m. at the Law Center. This program is co-sponsored by the Student Bar Association, and the Alumni and Career Services Office. Alumni are invited to attend to meet with current Touro Law Center students. The event has been designed to be quick, fund and informative. Hope you are able to join us. RSVP to alumni@tourolaw.edu or call (631) 761-7063 for additional information.

Touro Law Center's April 2012 Alum of the Month - Greg Rinckey, Class of 1998

Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Greg Rinckey ’98 has been selected as the alum of the month for April 2012. Mr. Rinckey is a leader in his profession, is very committed to his clients and the community, was a member of Moot Court while in law school and remains engaged with the law center through the Alumni-Student Mentor Program.

Greg Rinckey is managing partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC., a full-service law firm with 30 plus attorneys and more than $7 million dollars in revenue in 2011. The firm is headquartered in Albany, and has offices in Washington D.C and Arlington, Va. In 2011, Greg guided the company as it achieved its highest INC 5000 ranking, coming in at No. 906 on the list of America’s 5,000 fastest growing companies. Under Greg’s watch, the firm’s expansion in 2011 led to the hiring of a former federal presidential appointee and a former New York congressman. He also celebrated another attorney’s achievement in receiving the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell, a peer review-rated list of nationally recognized attorneys. In 2012, Tully Rinckey PLLC, under Greg’s leadership, will open its fourth office - it’s second in New York State - in Syracuse. In addition to running the firm’s day to day operations, Greg has and continues to win many landmark cases in the fields of military and employment law. Greg’s landmark cases include Garcia v Dept of State, Savage v Savage and Weiberg v Dept. of Justice.

To view his full bio, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniofthemonth

A True Story of Faith and Preparing for the New York Bar Exam

A True Story of Faith and Preparing for the New York Bar Exam

Anthony T. Ballato, Esq. Class of 1988

www.li-law.net

Monday, January 16, 2012

This is a true story involving a dozen recent law school graduates from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center of Huntington, New York in 1988. Anyone who has prepared for the bar exam well knows the enormous amount of studying and effort involved to pass a bar examination, and notwithstanding same the high degree of failures. It even took John F. Kennedy, Jr. three (3) times to pass the New York State Bar Exam and even the famous line from the movie, My Cousin Vinny “six times a charm” for Vincent Gambimi to pass the Bar shows how hard it really is.
Having been well prepared after three (3) years of law school, completing bar exam preparation courses with Bar-Bri, John Pieper, Marino and others about a dozen friends, including yours truly thought of everything possible to maximize the chances of passing the bar exam and to avoid the obstacles and foresable problems such as delays or strikes with the Long Island Railroad and access to the Jacob Javits Center located in New York City. We therefore planned to reserve rooms at nearby hotels such as the Milford Plaza Hotel in Times Square the day before the examination. We further agreed that none of us should discuss the bar exam any further since it would only lead to unnecessary anxiety and not change the results. So off we went for a nice dinner at the Hard Rock Café and while walking back to our hotel it was decided that we would go to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral for prayer. Upon reaching Saint Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church only one person in our group of about twelve (12) persons from various faiths and ethnic backgrounds refused to enter the church and remained outside while the rest of us went inside to pray.
At that time in 1988 the New York State Bar Exam based upon local laws was among the most difficult in the country to pass and nearly forty percent (40%) of first time test takers failed with higher failure rates among second time or further repeat test takers. Likewise, the first time passing rate for our law school was then only about fifty-five percent (55%). In other words, according to the statistics about half of our group of recent law school graduates should have failed the 1988 New York State Bar Exam, however, all of us but for that one person who refused to enter the church, passed the New York State Bar Exam upon the first taking! That was a small miracle indeed.
There are a few more tips to share about taking the bar examination. The Javits Center in Manhattan is filled with about 7,000 people taking the test at the same time and it was impossible to get lunch during the break. Therefore, the well prepared lawyer-to-be should bring lunch and water, which must all be in clear containers to rule out cheat sheets. The next tip of bringing construction type ear plugs may sound odd at first, however, distractions must be avoided at all costs due to the extreme time pressure during the bar exam as there are no time extensions for any reason. Here are a few other real occurrences during my 1988 examination that made the ear plugs worth while. One of the folding tables behind me collapsed in the middle of the exam, which was quite startling to those around us and a loud noise like a gun shot echoed through the cavernous basement of the Javits Center. Another woman at the table next to me vomited during the exam and on the second day the woman sharing my table, after cursing and pounding her fists, stormed out without completing the examination in frustration. Rather then be upset with those nuisances surrounding me, I was trained to be like a ninja well focused on my task and to ignore everything else around me. The experience was most unpleasant as my own folding table was filthy and the metal edge was twisted and sharp and in fact was cutting my forearm during the exam that is clearly designed as a huge obstacle and process of elimination. The continued exam on the third day in New Jersey was a pleasure in comparison and the test takers were afforded better accommodations with cloth covered tables and ice water.
So therefore the lesson to be learned and shared with our successors is not only to study hard and best prepare for one of the most trying and important tasks in a professional’s life, but to thank God and pray for good results.
Should the reader be wondering what ever happened to this group of twelve law graduates from Touro Law School, while I don’t think it proper to furnish their names, it is fair to say that most are solo practitioners with their own successful law firms or partners in small firms located throughout Long Island and New York City, one fellow left the practice of law some ten years later to engage in other private enterprises of real estate development, another fellow took a position in a national healthcare firm, one lady works for the New York State Court System and the other lady that failed the New York State Bar Exam remains employed by the same large corporation in a job that she loves and never practiced law.

The Case for Diversity in the Profession: Monday, March 12, 2012

New York State Bar Association

The Case for Diversity in the Profession
Monday, March 12, 2012
Touro Law Center Campus
225 Eastview Drive | Room FCR/BDR 1st Floor | Central Islip, NY 11722 | 518.487.5688

Description:
The New York State Bar Association Trial Lawyers Section Diversity Committee is sponsoring an event on
March 12, 2012 to meet and greet Executive Committee Members of the Trial Section and Diversity Committee
members as well as Supreme Court Justice, Judge Woodard and other distinguished speakers. The program from
6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a networking reception from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. is at Touro Law Center Campus,
225 Eastview Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722. The no cost program will discuss courtroom etiquette with an
emphasis on diversity and professional values.

RSVP
by email to sbsc@nysba.org
re: The Case For Diversity in the Profession March 12, 2012 Touro Law Center
or by fax to the State Bar Service Center 518.487.5758
Name ________________________________________________________________________________
Email _________________________________________________________________________________
Phone ________________________________________________________________________________

Please check
❑ Yes, I will attend the program 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
❑ Yes, I will attend the reception 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Questions
Please contact: Patricia Johnson, Esq. before 2/17/12 and after 2/26/12 at 518.487.5688

For more information
Please contact: pjohnson@nysba.org

The last day to pre-register online is March 8, 2012.
Register online now!

2012 Public Interest Lawyer in Residence

2012 Public Interest Lawyer in Residence– The 2012 Public Interest Lawyer in Residence Program will be delivered by James Moreno, Esq. of the Federal Defenders Association of Philadelphia's Capital Habeas Unit on Wednesday, February 22nd. The program will begin with a reception at 5 p.m. followed by a lecture. For additional information or to respond, please call Courtney Klein at (631) 761-7064 or e-mail events@tourolaw.edu. Please visit www.tourolaw.edu to read more.

Senator John J. Flanagan ’90 named February Alum of the Month

Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Senator John J. Flanagan ’90 has been selected as the alum of the month for February 2012. Senator Flanagan 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 a speaker at a number of student programs and receptions. His accomplished career is highlighted in the profile below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Senator John J. Flanagan.
To view his accomplished bio, please visit www.tourolaw.edu/alumniofthemonth.

PILOT Wine & Cheese Reception

Public Interest Law Organization of Touro (PILOT) wine & cheese reception benefits Loan Forgiveness Fund on Tuesday, February 7th at 6:30 p.m. in the FCR/BDR. Please visit http://bit.ly/yDtlev for more information.

Jacquelyn O'Neil ’10 named January Alum of the Month

Touro Law Center's Office of Development, Alumni Relations and Communications is proud to announce that Jacquelyn O’Neil has been selected as the alum of the month for January 2012. Ms.O’Neil 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 center through judging competitions. Her accomplished career is highlighted in the bio below. On behalf of the entire law school community, we extend our congratulations to Jacquelyn O’Neil.

Jacquelyn O’Neil
Class of 2010
Law Clerk, United States District Court, Eastern District of New York

Jacquelyn O’Neil, Esq. currently serves as a Law Clerk for the Honorable Joseph Bianco, United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She was previously an associate in the Commercial Litigation department at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP. Ms. O’Neil received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Loyola College and her Juris Doctor from Touro Law Center, where she graduated summa cum laude, in May 2010. Upon graduation Ms. O'Neil received the award for Exemplary Contributions to the Quality of Student Life. During law school, she was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society where she placed first in the Annual Bainbridge Moot Court Competition and served as the Research Editor during the 2009-2010 academic year. Ms. O’Neil was also a member of the Women's Bar Association and the Real Estate Law Society. During the 2008-2009 academic year she served as the Vice President of the Real Estate Law Society. In addition, Ms. O’Neil interned for the Honorable Kenneth A. Davis of the Nassau County Supreme Court and the New York State Office of the Attorney General. She is admitted to practice in New York State, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. She remains active with the Touro Law Center community through judging Moot Court competitions and helping to mentor students.