Pre-Law Fraternity holds a Judicial Law Clerk Conversation

By Ashley Kurz, Managing Editor

The Raichle Pre-Law Center, in collaboration with Phi Alpha Delta, the pre-law fraternity, held a judicial law clerk conversation for students on Wednesday, Nov. 19 – or rather the 162nd anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. They welcomed Rebecca Izzo, a judicial law clerk to the U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo (a Canisius ‘77 alumnus), and Patrick Sheldon, a judicial law clerk working in the NYS Appellate Division. A law clerk is a legal professional who works directly under a judge as an assistant and writes briefings, opinions and memos based on what that judge is working on. 

Both speakers discussed their undergraduate, graduate and law school experience, the process of working as a law clerk and answered questions from students. Rebecca Izzo works as a law clerk for Judge Lawrence Vilardo. She attended Boston College for undergrad, New York University for her master’s and Yale University for law school. Izzo began her career at a large Boston law firm; she left with a plan to clerk for a year and then return to a big law firm in New Jersey. She loved being a law clerk as she was able to advise judges on cases and advocate for the district. Izzo worked for an appeals court judge for a year then moved back to her hometown of Buffalo, where she began a term clerkship under Judge Vilardo. She moved to Conners LLP and then the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as a complaints attorney while waiting for a position to open up as Vilardo’s law clerk. Back in his office, Izzo researched cases and tried to figure out what the right result was. She works on bench memos, gathering the issues, noting her initial take and questions to be asked. Judge Vilardo takes her work and uses it to understand the case at issue. Law clerks write in the judge’s perspective, Izzo explained, and the judge takes their case briefings into heavy consideration, using their work to navigate complex legal issues before coming to their own decision. 

Patrick Sheldon attended Georgetown for undergrad and worked in management positions for eight years before attending law school at the University at Buffalo. Sheldon completed an externship (short-term immersive experience) in his third year of law school for class credit. He worked at Phillips Lytle LLP, a full-service law firm in Buffalo, and then began clerking for Judge Shirley Troutman, an associate judge of the NYS Court of Appeals. Judge Troutman would see 160-200 cases a month and would sit on about half of them, meaning Sheldon was writing about 16 reports a week. Sheldon explained that he writes about 1,000 pages a year. These briefs, records and orders would summarize the case information, apply the law to the case and then make recommendations for the judge to read. As for opinions, the documents that examine the reasoning behind the decision made by the court, Sheldon writes one every few months. 

Judge Foote-Beavers, a Phi Alpha Delta advisor and co-director of the Raichle Pre-Law Center, asked how Izzo and Sheldon stay ahead of their heavy workload. Izzo described the 600-700 cases that are on a docket at a time and that caseload docket management is key. The internal organizational systems need to be good so that law clerks can stay proactive and understand their priorities. She constantly checks the motion reports to make sure that nothing falls through the cracks. Sheldon answered with the fact that all their writing has to be a mix of thorough and concise because of the large quantity of writing they do. Law clerks need to stay in the middle of the two because judges can't work with a briefing that is too far on one side or another. 

A student asked if they have any suggestions for majors undergraduates should go into. Sheldon answered with anything – he said that students should find what they enjoy now and stick with it. There is no specific major that will aid students because any major can apply to law school, as the law can be applied to anything. His main suggestion was developing writing and research skills, which will be taught in law school, but having a solid grasp beforehand sets students up well. Izzo said that students should choose what they're passionate about and agreed that research and writing skills are necessary. She was an English major and uses those skills every day. Scott Sroka, also an advisor for Phi Alpha Delta, co-director of the Raichle Pre-Law Center and former federal attorney, talked about his case experience. Sroka explained that he had to adapt to the nature of the case as needed, whether that be medical malpractice or chemical exposure; he researched the law based on the case. 

One of the last questions was what advice Izzo and Sheldon would give to undergraduates. Sheldon suggested that students have life experience before going to law school, rather than rushing in. He also said that any credit students can get outside of the classroom is invaluable. Izzo said that students should take some time to work a professional job before law school as well. Working in a law office as a paralegal, for example, can give students the experience of a firm before spending time and money on school. Having a professional job and building work experience can happen beforehand instead of learning to work professionally while also learning how to be a lawyer. She also said that students should meet more people, work within the alumni network and talk to Canisius alumni because they want to give back. Their last note was that students should watch proceedings, as they are usually livestreamed and open to the public. Phi Alpha Delta is currently planning a trip for students to watch Supreme Court proceedings in Washington, D.C. next semester.

Please contact Phi Alpha Delta president Alexa McKenzie with any questions regarding the pre-law fraternity or upcoming events at mckenzi7@canisius.edu!