NYCLA CLE I NSTITUTE SO YOU RE INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN THE COURTS Prepared in connection with a Continuing Legal Education course presented at New York County Lawyers Association, 14 Vesey Street, New York, NY scheduled for March 16, 2015 Program Co-sponsor: NYCLA's Young Lawyers Section Program Chair: Daniel Wiig, Municipal Credit Union Faculty: Clara Flebus, Appellate Court Attorney, Appellate Term, 1st Department; Megan McHugh, Law Clerk, Hon. RIchard B. Lowe III; Charles Small, Chief Clerk, Civil Term Kings County Sup. Ct., Phyllis Sambuco, Referee, NY County Sup. Ct., Civil Branch This course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 2 Transitional and Non-Transitional credit hours: 1 Law Practice Management; 1 Ethics. This program has been approved by the Board of Continuing Legal education of the Supreme Court of New Jersey for 2 hours of total CLE credits. Of these, 1 qualifies as an hour of credit for ethics/professionalism, and 0 qualify as hours of credit toward certification in civil trial law, criminal law, workers compensation law and/or matrimonial law. ACCREDITED PROVIDER STATUS: NYCLA s CLE Institute is currently certified as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the States of New York and New Jersey.
Information Regarding CLE Credits and Certification So You re Thinking of Working In the Courts March 16, 2015; 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM The New York State CLE Board Regulations require all accredited CLE providers to provide documentation that CLE course attendees are, in fact, present during the course. Please review the following NYCLA rules for MCLE credit allocation and certificate distribution. i. You must sign-in and note the time of arrival to receive your course materials and receive MCLE credit. The time will be verified by the Program Assistant. ii. iii. iv. You will receive your MCLE certificate as you exit the room at the end of the course. The certificates will bear your name and will be arranged in alphabetical order on the tables directly outside the auditorium. If you arrive after the course has begun, you must sign-in and note the time of your arrival. The time will be verified by the Program Assistant. If it has been determined that you will still receive educational value by attending a portion of the program, you will receive a pro-rated CLE certificate. Please note: We can only certify MCLE credit for the actual time you are in attendance. If you leave before the end of the course, you must sign-out and enter the time you are leaving. The time will be verified by the Program Assistant. Again, if it has been determined that you received educational value from attending a portion of the program, your CLE credits will be pro-rated and the certificate will be mailed to you within one week. v. If you leave early and do not sign out, we will assume that you left at the midpoint of the course. If it has been determined that you received educational value from the portion of the program you attended, we will pro-rate the credits accordingly, unless you can provide verification of course completion. Your certificate will be mailed to you within one week. Thank you for choosing NYCLA as your CLE provider!
New York County Lawyers Association Continuing Legal Education Institute 14 Vesey Street, New York, N.Y. 10007 (212) 267-6646 So You re Interested in a Career in the Courts Monday, March 16, 2015, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Program Co-sponsor: NYCLA's Young Lawyers Section Program Chair: Daniel Wiig, Municipal Credit Union Faculty: Clara Flebus, Appellate Court Attorney, Appellate Term, 1st Department; Megan McHugh, Law Clerk, Hon. RIchard B. Lowe III; Charles Small, Chief Clerk, Civil Term Kings County Sup. Ct., Phyllis Sambuco, Referee, NY County Sup. Ct., Civil Branch AGENDA 6:00 PM 6:30 PM Registration 6:30 PM 6:40 PM Introductions and Announcements 6:40 PM 8:30 PM Discussion
New York County Lawyers Association Continuing Legal Education Institute 14 Vesey Street, New York, N.Y. 10007 (212) 267-6646 So You re Interested in a Career in the Courts Monday, March 16, 2015, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Program Co-sponsor: NYCLA's Young Lawyers Section Program Chair: Daniel Wiig, Municipal Credit Union Faculty: Clara Flebus, Appellate Court Attorney, Appellate Term, 1st Department; Megan McHugh, Law Clerk, Hon. RIchard B. Lowe III; Charles Small, Chief Clerk, Civil Term Kings County Sup. Ct., Phyllis Sambuco, Referee, NY County Sup. Ct., Civil Branch Table of Contents Outline Job Descriptions Articles Ethics Rules Faculty Biographies
OUTLINE 1. Introductions 2. Career Paths Interacting with Judges Working in the Courts Pre and Post law School Transitioning from Law Clerk to Referee Commercial Division Clerkship program 3. Specific Job Functions/Issues Deal With on a Daily Basis Functions of Clerks/Court Attorneys do -- Differentiation between the two roles. Function of the Referee in the state court system. Role of the Chief Clerk 4. Ethical Issues Encountered on the Job Interactions with Attorneys in and Outside of Court Issues Encountered By Chief Clerk s Office? 5. Interacting with Court Personnel Any off-putting experiences with attorneys? 6. Practical Advice for Seeking a Career in the Courts. How to find openings? Does who you know play a role in finding jobs? What are the criteria for each job represented?
UCS-23 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM PLEASE POST ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 10501 A position will be filled in one of the following titles and will be dependent on the qualifications of the applicant selected. POSITION TITLE: ASSOCIATE COURT ATTORNEY (TRIAL PART) JG - 29 BASE SALARY: QUALIFICATIONS: $89,506 + $3,697 Location Pay Admission to the New York State Bar and Four (4) years of service in the Senior Court Attorney (Trial Part) title; or Six (6) years of service in any legal series title in the Unified Court System. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Associate Court Attorneys (Trial Part) research and analyze complex and difficult legal issues and questions and perform other related duties. They serve in a confidential capacity and under supervision for judges or groups of judges in Family and District Court; County and Surrogate`s Courts in counties with populations less than 400,000; the Criminal Court and the Civil Court of the City of New York, and in City Courts with two or more full-time judges. Associate Court Attorneys (Trial Part) may be assigned to judges designated as Acting Justices of the Supreme Court for one full term or less. POSITION TITLE: SENIOR COURT ATTORNEY (TRIAL PART) JG - 25 BASE SALARY: QUALIFICATIONS: $72,285 + $3,697 Location Pay Admission to the New York State Bar and Two (2) years of service in any legal series title in the Unified Court System. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Senior Court Attorneys (Trial Part) work with substantial independence from supervision and are responsible for researching and analyzing complex and difficult legal issues and questions and performing other related duties. They serve in a confidential capacity and under supervision for judges or groups of judges in Family and District Court; County and Surrogate`s Courts in counties with populations less than 400,000; the Criminal Court and the Civil Court of the City of New York, and in City Courts with two or more full-time judges. Senior Court Attorneys (Trial Part) may be assigned to judges designated as Acting Justices of the Supreme Court for one full term or less. POSITION TITLE: COURT ATTORNEY (TRIAL PART) JG - 23 BASE SALARY: QUALIFICATIONS: $64,834 @ + $3,697 Location Pay Graduation from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar within eighteen (18) months of appointment. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Court Attorneys (Trial Part) research and analyze legal issues and questions and perform other related duties. They serve in a confidential capacity and under supervision for judges or groups of judges in Family and District Court; County and Surrogate`s Courts in counties with populations less than 400,000; the Criminal Court and the Civil Court of the City of New York, and in City Courts with two or more full-time judges. Court Attorneys (Trial Part) may be assigned to judges designated as Acting Justices of the Supreme Court for one full term or less. LOCATION: CLASSIFICATION: ASSIGNMENT: NASSAU COUNTY DISTRICT COURT NON-COMPETITIVE/CONFIDENTIAL Researches and analyzes legal questions and issues; Confers with and advises judges on legal issues; Writes confidential legal memoranda and recommends decisions; Drafts confidential opinions, decisions, orders, jury charges, and correspondence; Arranges and conducts conferences with litigants and other parties to action. GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not necessarily require these duties. Although a position is available and situated at a specific location, the appointee may be subject to reassignment to any position in the same title in this promotion unit dependent upon the needs of the Unified Court System. All applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that may occur in this court or agency within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS-5 Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at www.nycourts.gov/careers/ucs5.pdf) and resume to: PAUL LAMANNA, ESQ. DISTRICT EXECUTIVE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 100 SUPREME COURT DRIVE, ROOM 136 MINEOLA, NEW YORK 11501 (516) 493-3001 APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EEO DATA COLLECTION FORM. POSTING DATE: January 5, 2015 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: January 27, 2015 The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
UCS-23 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM PLEASE POST ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 7404 POSITION TITLE: CHIEF CLERK I JG: 21 LOCATION: 7 th JUDICIAL DISTRICT WAYNE COUNTY SURROGATE S COURT BASE SALARY: $ 59,462 CLASSIFICATION: QUALIFICATIONS: EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL Bachelor`s degree from an accredited college or university and two (2) years of work experience involving managerial responsibilities such as human resources administration, budget preparation, and review of documents for compliance with policies, rules, and procedures; or Associate`s degree (or completion of 60 college level credits) from an accredited college and four (4) years of work experience involving managerial responsibilities such as human resources administration, budget preparation, and review of documents for compliance with policies, rules, and procedures; or An equivalent combination of education and experience. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Chief Clerks are the highest ranking nonjudicial employees in Supreme and County, City, Family, and Surrogate s Courts. Chief Clerks are responsible to Judge(s), regional court administrators, and the Office of Court Administration for managing all aspects of court operations and nonjudicial case processing activities. Chief Clerks serve in a confidential capacity and supervise subordinate personnel, allocate court resources, prepare annual budget requests, make employee selection decisions, and are responsible for the receipt, accounting and disbursement of fines, bail fees, and other public or custodial funds. Chief Clerk I also perform other related duties. ASSIGNMENT: This is the supervising managerial position in Wayne County Surrogate s Court. Duties and responsibilities include personnel management and supervision; budget management and control; management of case processing and statistical reporting operations; and a wide range of clerical and managerial duties. GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not necessarily require these duties. Although a position is available and situated at a specific location, the appointee may be subject to reassignment to any position in the same title in this promotion unit dependent upon the needs of the Unified Court System. All applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that may occur in this court or agency within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS-5 Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at www.nycourts.gov/careers/ucs5.pdf) and a resume and cover letter by email to 7thhumanresources@courts.state.ny.us or by fax (585) 784-4231 or mail to: AMY FIELDS - HUMAN RESOURCES SEVENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE HALL OF JUSTICE, ROOM 161 ROCHESTER, NY 14614-2184 (585) 371-3266 APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EEO DATA COLLECTION FORM. POSTING DATE: December 23, 2014 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: January 15, 2015 The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
UCS-23 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM PLEASE POST ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 23501 POSITION TITLE: ASSISTANT LAW CLERK JG: 23 LOCATION: SUPREME COURT, NEW YORK COUNTY - CIVIL TERM BASE SALARY: $ 64,834 + $ 3,697 LOCATION PAY CLASSIFICATION: QUALIFICATIONS: EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL Graduation from an accredited law school no more than three (3) years prior to appointment and admission to the New York State Bar within eighteen months of appointment. DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Assistant Law Clerks are appointed in the Civil Term by Justices of the Supreme Court or are assigned to Judges designated as Acting Supreme Court Justices for one or more full terms.¹ They research and analyze legal issues raised in complex civil term motions and are responsible for preparing memoranda, drafting orders, opinions and verifying citations. Assistant Law Clerks are appointed to a one year clerkship, renewable once, and are personally appointed by the Supreme Court Justice for whom they work and serve at their pleasure. ¹ Judges who appoint an Assistant Law Clerk agree to forego the appointment of a Secretary and waive the right to such an appointment under section 36 of the Judiciary Law for the period of service for the Assistant Law Clerk. ASSIGNMENT: This position is assigned to an Acting Supreme Court Justice in New York County Supreme Court and will commence in March 2015. Duties include, but are not limited to: researching and analyzing legal issues presented in briefs; preparing reports and memoranda summarizing the facts, applicable statutes, and case law; researching and analyzing legal questions and issues; writing confidential legal memoranda; and drafting confidential opinions. GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not necessarily require these duties. Although a position is available and situated at a specific location, the appointee may be subject to reassignment to any position in the same title in this promotion unit dependent upon the needs of the Unified Court System. All applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that may occur in this court or agency within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a resume, transcript, writing sample and cover letter by email to cpaszko@nycourts.gov or mail to: Catherine Paszkowska 80 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EEO DATA COLLECTION FORM. POSTING DATE: March 4, 2015 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: March 25, 2015 The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
UCS-23 EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM PLEASE POST ANNOUNCEMENT NO. 5409 POSITION TITLE: COURT ATTORNEY - REFEREE JG: 31 LOCATION: 5 th JUDICIAL DISTRICT OSWEGO COUNTY FAMILY COURT BASE SALARY: $ 101,593 CLASSIFICATION: QUALIFICATIONS: NON-COMPETITIVE/CONFIDENTIAL Admission to the New York State Bar and Two (2) years of service in the Associate Court Attorney title; or Eight (8) years of relevant legal experience gained after admission to the New York State Bar DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF WORK: Court Attorney-Referees act as special referees and research and analyze complex legal issues and questions raised in civil and criminal cases heard in trial courts or on appeal to certain County Courts and may be responsible for supervision of court attorneys and support staff who are located in one or more courts situated throughout a county, judicial district, or department. They serve in a confidential capacity and work with substantial independence from supervision in units located in the Court of Claims or special parts in the Supreme Court or in County, District, Family, and Surrogate`s Courts in counties entirely within cities or in counties that have populations exceeding 400,000. ASSIGNMENT: Under the supervision of the District Administrative Judge s Office and the Chief Clerk of Oswego County Family Court, the Court Attorney-Referee will hear and report or determine cases assigned. Cases include but are not limited to custody and visitation, cases in the Model Court for abused and neglected children, and cases involving temporary and permanent orders of protection. The Court Attorney-Referee will also provide coverage, as necessary, in the other Family Courts in the Fifth Judicial District. Travel is required. GENERAL INFORMATION: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this title. They do not include all job duties performed by employees in the title, and every position does not necessarily require these duties. Although a position is available and situated at a specific location, the appointee may be subject to reassignment to any position in the same title in this promotion unit dependent upon the needs of the Unified Court System. All applications received from this announcement may be used to fill any vacancies in this title that may occur in this court or agency within the next six (6) months. Position(s) available at the present time: 1. APPLICATION PROCEDURES: All interested persons meeting the minimum qualifications are encouraged to submit a UCS-5 Application for Employment form (obtainable from any administrative office in a court building or on the web at www.nycourts.gov/careers/ucs5.pdf) and a resume to: MICHAEL A. KLEIN, ESQ. DISTRICT EXECUTIVE FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 600 SOUTH STATE STREET, ROOM 300 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 13202 (315) 671-2111 APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE THE EEO DATA COLLECTION FORM. POSTING DATE: December 17, 2014 APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED OR RECEIVED BY: January 9, 2015 The New York State Unified Court System is an equal opportunity employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender (including pregnancy and gender identity or expression), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.
Faculty Biographies Clara Flebus is Court Attorney in the Appellate Term, First Department, where she resolves appeals in all types of civil cases, including commercial disputes, commercial and residential landlord-tenant proceedings, and small claims. Ms. Flebus also assists in the disposition of matters brought before the newly established International Arbitration Part of the Commercial Division of New York County Supreme Court. Ms. Flebus earned a BA and MA, summa cum laude, from the School of International Studies and Diplomacy, University of Trieste, Italy. She obtained her J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from the State University of New York Law School. Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Flebus served as law clerk to Magistrate Judge Hugh B. Scott in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (2006-2007). In that position, she prepared draft reports & recommendations and decisions & orders largely in federal habeas corpus petitions, prisoners civil rights suits, and social security appeals. Ms. Flebus began her career with the New York State courts as one of four candidates chosen from a pool of over 300 applicants to clerk for justices in the Commercial Division of New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan. She served as law clerk to Justice Helen E. Freedman (2007-2008), and Justice Barbara R. Kapnick (2008-2010). Her work involved handling complex commercial matters, and all aspects of pre-trial case management, including preliminary, compliance, and discovery conferences. In 2010, she was granted a permanent position with the courts in the Appellate Term. Since then, she has earned an LL.M. degree in International Business Regulation, Litigation, and Arbitration from NYU School of Law. Currently, Ms. Flebus serves as the Co-Chair of the Foreign and International Law Committee of the New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA), and was recently appointed as a representative of NYCLA to the United Nations. She is the Co-Chair of the International Litigation Committee of the New York State Bar Association s Commercial and Federal Litigation Section, and sits on the Executive Committee of that Section. For the past four years, Ms. Flebus has represented the New York State Bar Association at the New York sessions of UNCITRAL Working Group III on Online Dispute Resolution. Ms. Flebus is also a Board Member and Corresponding Secretary of the Columbian Lawyers Association, which comprises attorneys with an Italian ancestry. In addition, she serves as arbitrator in Small Claims Court. Ms. Flebus is a prolific writer who authors articles regularly on arbitration, contract law, and court procedures. She has recently written articles for the New York County Lawyer, a NYCLA publication, and bar journals of the New York State Bar Association, as well as the National Italian American Bar Association. Phyllis Sambuco is a Special Referee for the New York State Supreme Court, New York County. She began her legal career in private practice, focusing on commercial antitrust litigation. In 2002, she became a law secretary to the Honorable Walter B. Tolub (ret.), later becoming his principal legal counsel. Phyllis joined the New York State Judicial Institute in 2010 as Assistant Deputy Counsel, and served as Principal Court Attorney to the Dean of the Judicial Institute and Court of Claims Judge Hon. Juanita Bing Newton. She is the current editor of the annual supplement for Byer s Civil Motions (New York Legal Press), has lectured on civil practice and ethics at area law schools, and is a member of the New York State Bar Association s Social Media Committee. Phyllis received her JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut.
Charles Small, Esq., Chief Clerk for Civil Matters in State Supreme Court, Kings County, is the first minority to be appointed to the position of Chief Clerk in Kings County. Before his elevation to the Chief Clerk s position, Mr. Small held several positions in the court clerk series, including Case Management Coordinator for nine years. His current position succeeded a two-year period in the Part 72/Ex Parte Office of the Kings County Supreme Court, Civil Term as a Case Management Coordinator. As Chief Clerk, Mr. Small is the highest ranking non-judicial employee, and is responsible inter alia, for the budget and the administration of court staff. Mr. Small is a graduate of The State University of New York, Empire State College with a Bachelor Science in Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School. He was the recipient of the CALI Excellence for the Future Academic Award in Trial Advocacy from the Brooklyn Law School and the Outstanding Alumni Award from the State University of New York, Empire State College, Bedford Stuyvesant Chapter. A former Employee of the Month recipient - Supreme Court, Kings County, June 2000, he was presented with the Black Achievement Award in February 2011 by The Kings County Courts Black History Month Committee, on becoming the First African American to be appointed Chief Clerk in the Unified Court System in Kings County. He is also a recipient of the Caribbean Heritage Award presented by The Brooklyn District Attorney s Office in conjunction with One Caribbean Radio for contributing to the betterment of the citizens of Brooklyn; The Honorable Nathan R. Sobel Award presented by the Brooklyn Bar Association, for contributing significantly to the betterment of the legal profession in Kings County; and The Leaders in Law Distinguished Service Award by Judicial Friends in November 2012. Daniel K. Wiig is In-House Counsel to the Municipal Credit Union ( MCU ) and an Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John s University School of Law. Dan began his legal career as a judicial law clerk in New York Supreme Court s Commercial Division, first clerking for Justice Richard B. Lowe III and then for Justice Eileen Bransten. Prior to joining MCU, he spent four years in private practice, with a primary focus on commercial litigation. He earned his JD from Brooklyn Law School, cum laude, and holds an MBA from Fordham University and a Bachelor s Degree from St. John s University, cum laude. Dan currently serves as a member of the New York County Lawyers Association s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Nominations Committee; chairs its Membership Committee; and Co-Chairs its Young Lawyers Section. He also sits on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association s Commercial and Federal Litigation Section. Dan is a pro bono arbitrator, mediator, and special master with the NY State Court System, and is a member of the Chief Administrative Judge s Commercial Division Advisory Committee, New York County. He also serves on the New York City Bar Association s Council on Judicial Administration and Judiciary Committee, Delegate from New York County, and is a trustee of the Riot Relief Fund.
MEGAN MCHUGH 3 Hanover Square, #5B New York, NY 10004 Phone: 917-459-6616 Email: mmchugh1234@gmail.com QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY Strong commitment to pubic service demonstrated through fourteen year tenure as a Principal Law Clerk within the New York State Unified Court System Management expertise, including oversight of staff and operations within judicial chambers as well as supervision of staff within Appellate Term Clerk s Office Extensive judicial civil experience at both the trial and appellate level Proven efficacy in management and disposition of large-scale legal caseloads Highly skilled at mediation and dispute resolution Dedicated community service exhibited as active member within local community board for six years LEGAL EXPERIENCE New York State Appellate Term, New York, NY 2011 Present Honorable Richard B. Lowe III Serve as Principal Law Clerk to Presiding Justice. Assist judge in management of Appellate Term caseload, including monitoring the age of pending appeals to assure resolution in a timely manner. Conduct legal research on issues before the judge and prepare supplemental memos as directed. Maintain array of administrative functions, including oversight of daily operations of chambers and management of clerk s office of the Appellate Term. Research and draft opinions in response to inquiries of sitting judges to the New York State Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics. Continued management of remaining Commercial Division matters pending before judge. Through the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission on Minorities, work to ensure a diverse workforce within the court system by assisting the judge in compiling and processing complaints with regard to the treatment of personnel, litigants, and attorneys within the New York State Unified Court System. New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division, New York, NY 2003 2011 Honorable Richard B. Lowe III As Principal Law Clerk, researched and analyzed uniquely intricate and complex legal issues. Drafted decisions and orders resolving matters concerning commercial contractual disputes, commercial finance, insurance, UCC, commercial misappropriation, and unfair competition. Conducted conferences throughout every phase of a matter including discovery, settlement, and pre-trial conferences. Oversaw and managed a team of Special Masters consisting of experienced outside litigators who voluntarily assist the court with resolving discovery disputes. Reviewed and researched evidentiary issues both before and during trials as well as prepared jury charges and verdict sheets. Organized and developed a program providing students from high school through law school with internship and externship opportunities in the New York State Unified Court System. New York State Supreme Court Motor Vehicle Part, New York, NY 1999-2003 Honorable Richard B. Lowe III Served as Senior Law Clerk to Justice. Managed over 4,000 matters designated as beyond standards and goals and reduced the caseload by over 95% through disposition. Either issued pre-trial dispositions on pending matters or assigned non-disposed cases to appropriate trial judge. Conducted legal research and drafted opinions. Managed daily operations of judicial chambers.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND Regent University School of Law, Virginia Beach, VA Juris Doctor May 1999 Admitted: New York, September 2000 Activities: Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law Society, Secretary Arts Entertainment and Sports Law Journal, Online Editor Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, Art History May 1996 Awards: Award for Special Achievement in Art History: maintained above 3.8 Grade Average Activities: Extern; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Italian Art Study Abroad Program COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE Community Board 1, New York, NY 2008 Present Appointed as member by Manhattan Borough President for three consecutive terms. Serve on Financial District and Landmarks Committees. As highly engaged member, lead discussions on relevant issues affecting Lower Manhattan, deliberate with other stakeholders, and make prudent recommendations to government agencies about said matters. Conscientiously consider and advocate for particular interests of those living and working in the district. International Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Summer 2014 Served as teaching assistant in a class of fifteen grade school girls during a week long summer program for inner city youth. Community Access, New York, NY 2003 2007 Successfully co-facilitated various fundraising activities designed to publicize and garner support for non-profit mental health housing provider in New York. PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT Bar Admission, State of New York, admitted September 2000 Association of Law Secretaries to the Justices of the Supreme and Surrogates Courts, Member Law Secretaries & Law Assistants Collegium, Inc., Member New York County Lawyers Association, Member Committees: Judiciary Committee; Minorities and the Law; Art Law CLE Faculty, So You Want A Career in the Courts, March 2015 New York Law School, Volunteer Judge, Moot Court Competition, 2007 and 2009 New York State Bar Association, Member Volunteer Judge, National Moot Court Competition, 2009 New York State Judicial Institute, CLE Faculty, How to Be A Commercial Division Law Clerk, September and November 2008 St. Johns Law School, Guest Speaker, Courtroom Conduct: What Not to Do, March 2015 SPECIAL ACTIVITIES Making Strides for Breast Cancer (participant); National Alliance on Mental Illness (volunteer); New York Hedge Fund Roundtable (volunteer/participant); Paris Versailles La Grande Classique 16K Run (competitor); 3 Hanover Square Owners Corporation (Board of Directors 2006-2008) Megan McHugh Page 2 of 2