Broadview Opens Doors for Aspiring Law Students

By Arlenis Marmolejos

Students interested in law and justice careers had the opportunity to connect with Broadview attorneys at “The Law at Work” panel on Oct. 9. 

Jennifer Uleman delivering opening remarks to the attendees of the panel. (Photo by Arlenis Marmolejos)

A panel of seasoned attorneys, including Nadia Bernstein, Barbara Felton, Michael Garrett, Raymond Green, David Klingsberg, Victor Metsch, and Paul Rosenfeld, spoke about their careers at the event, which drew over 60 attendees. Of those present, 27 students subsequently signed up for mentorship opportunities. 

“Law school opened the door to enormous growth, potential and possibilities, but step one is charting a path that gets you into law school, and we’d like to be your partners in that journey,” said Metsch, a commercial litigator. 

The Chair of the Law and Justice Studies department, Jennifer Uleman, organized the event alongside faculty from the School of Liberal Studies and the Broadview senior living community residents, calling the panel a “major success” for the program. 

Victor Metsch welcoming the attendees at "The Law at Work" event. (Photo by Arlenis Marmolejos)

Uleman acknowledged Metsch as a driving force behind mobilizing the Broadview residents for the panel. Metsch welcomed attendees by highlighting the “rewarding and fulfilling” career paths in law as other residents shared their experiences.

Luke Shamburg, a junior law and justice studies major, found the insights of the retired attorneys valuable since changing majors and discovering an interest in law.

Shamburg noticed a growing support for law-related opportunities on campus. “I see the support happening and it’s better late than never!”

Garrett, a law firm partner, emphasized the wide range of career opportunities that a legal education offers in “teaching you how to think, write, and speak clearly and rationally.” He continued, “No other graduate education can provide such a broad range of possibilities at every stage of your career.”

Rosenfeld, a recently retired prosecutor at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, reflected on his years of experience investigating homicides and presenting cases to Grand Juries by describing his work as “the best career anyone could ask for.”

“I spent my life in the office working for the people of Bronx County, trying to bring justice for those victimized by crimes,” said Rosenfeld. “I can’t think of any other calling that could be more worthwhile.”

Rosenfeld admitted that as an 18-year-old college student, he struggled academically and had no clear career direction but found clarity and growth through volunteer work.

“I liked that [Rosenfeld] was really honest about not being a great student and having a hard time finding his direction in life, but it all worked out,” said Hanna Khan, a senior law and justice studies major. “It’s a really good eye-opener that you don’t need to have it all figured out then and there.” 

David Klingsberg sharing his career insights to the audience. (Photo by Arlenis Marmolejos)

The Chair of the New York Legal Aid Society who has argued two death penalty cases before the United States Supreme Court, Klingsberg, expressed how valuable it is to gain real-world experience early on in your career.

“If [a law career] is of interest to you, I suggest that if you have some free time one afternoon, take yourself down to White Plains, where they have a federal courthouse and a state courthouse,” Klingsberg said. “Watch a couple of trials—it’s very different from what you see on TV!”

As a working paralegal, Khan appreciated that the Broadview residents “brought up things like volunteering and going to courthouses to watch trials and get you more open-minded and in the zone of becoming an attorney.”

When struck with uncertainty about her future after college, Bernstein eventually found her path into law and became the first woman to make partner in the litigation department of “one of the largest and most respected” New York City law firms.

“What I really liked about litigation is that I didn’t have to specialize in anything. You’re continuously learning new things and not becoming stuck in a rut,” Bernstein said.

Garrett attributed his success to networking and serendipity, urging students to stay connected with classmates since unexpected connections might lead to career-changing opportunities.

Beyond law school, Green, an administrative law judge for the National Labor Relations Board, encouraged students to take writing courses and become proficient in other languages, particularly Spanish, to enhance their skills as aspiring attorneys.  

During her time as a public defender, Felton noted, “I had to find my way” in a male-dominated criminal justice system. She learned that while “you can’t win everything, you can still try hard.” 

Felton admired her work, saying, “You see so many unbelievably different people, I wanted to help everybody and see what the issues were."

“My mantra was to zealously represent my client and make the prosecution prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt,” Felton said, reflecting on her shift from traffic court to felony court, where she handled several cases including aggravated murder.

Panelists listed from left to right: David Klingsberd, Barbara Felton and Paul Rosenfeld

speaking to the attendees. (Photo by Arlenis Marmolejos)

For students contemplating applying for law school, Klingsberg recommended his memoir, “And You Shall Be Heard: In the Courts of Law and Beyond,” to offer further insights and advice. He donated two copies to the Purchase College Library.

Broadview’s Director of Programming, Kate Abate, described the Broadview residents as being “driven by continuing to suck the marrow out of life.” She added that the residents aim to be “directly generative” by sharing their knowledge and experience to build meaningful relationships with students.

“They have chosen to live on a college campus because they want to participate in lifelong learning,” Abate said. “They want to give back everything that they’ve learned to students.”

“I was impressed by the diversity of their experiences—types of law, types of careers—and by their honesty and enthusiasm,” Uleman said, in hopes the event encourages students to think about life after Purchase.

The panel left a lasting impression on Kevon Joseph, a junior political science major, who expressed how growing up he often questioned “whether pursuing law school was even feasible without the connections.”

However, his perspective shifted after listening to the panelists’ experiences of overcoming adversity. “Despite the innate challenges I face, success in this field is not only possible but achievable,” Joseph said.