At Cardozo School of Law, our supportive community is here to help you succeed in your legal career. Our faculty are top ranked for scholarly impact and their doors are always open to students.
The Gates and Martinidez Scholars Program
The Gates Scholars Program recognizes students with significant potential who are first-generation college or graduate-school students or have experienced significant barriers or challenges on their path to a career in law. The program builds community, both within the school and with alumni mentors, and helps students overcome obstacles by providing special programming and support.
The David Martinidez Scholarship provides scholarship funding for applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion or have themselves overcome obstacles, financial and otherwise, in advancing their career objectives. The scholarship is named for a former dean of admissions who championed diversity at Cardozo Law.
Meet our Gates and Martinidez Ambassadors
Zoe Sheppard, 3L
Undergraduate School: St. John's University
Activities: Student Attorney, Criminal Defense Clinic; Inclusion Committee Chair, Moot Court Honor Society; Public Service Scholar; Former Co-President, Minority Law Student Association; Former Clinic Intern, Bronx Defenders Mainzer Family Defense Practice; Former Teaching Assistant, Lawyering and Legal Writing;
Stacy Moses, 2L
Undergraduate School: Hunter College
Activities: Clinic Intern, Kathryn O. Greenberg Immigration Justice Clinic; Teaching Assistant, Lawyering and Legal Writing; Vice President, South Asian Law Students Association
Leandra Ipina, 3L
Undergraduate School: University of San Diego
Activities: Staff Editor, Cardozo Law Review (Volume 44); Samuel & Ronnie Heyman Scholar; 2L Senator, Student Bar Association; Steve Madden Extern; Founder and President, Cardozo Wine Society; MetroLALSA Delegate, Latin American Law Student Association; 2022 Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholar; Student Ambassador, Mergers, Acquisitions & Corporate Control Contests Committee Appointment, NYC Bar Association
Breana Beaudreault, 2L
Undergraduate School: Barnard College
Activities: Public Service Scholar; Floersheimer Fellow; Clinical Intern, Bronx Defenders Mainzer Family Defense Practice; Co-President of MLSA
Makayla Manning, 3L
Undergraduate School: University of Miami
Activities: Staff Editor, Cardozo Law Review (Vol. 44); Treasurer, National Lawyers Guild; Black Law Student Association; Intellectual Property Law Society
Chantall Sanchez, 2L
Undergraduate School: Stony Brook University
Activities: 2L Staff Editor, Moot Court Honor Society; Alumni Chair, Latin American Law Student Association; Director of Events: Alumni Affairs, Sports Law Society; Cardozo Wine Society; Women in Tech
Sydney Clarke, 3L
Undergraduate School: City College of New York
Activities: Problem Editor, Cardozo Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Honor Society; Former Vice President, Black Law Student Association (BLSA); Selected Student Competitor, 30th Willem C. Vis. International Commercial Arbitration Moot; Performing Arts Co-Chair, Entertainment Law Society; Clinic Intern, Tech Startup Clinic and the Visual and Performing Arts Clinic.
Rebecca Malek, 2L
Undergraduate School: Penn State University
Activities: Staff Editor, Alternative Dispute Resolution Honor Society; BLSA; Cardozo Wine Society
Connect with Cardozo's Student Ambassadors
Our current Student Ambassadors have volunteered to share their law school experience with prospective students. If you are interested in hearing more about Cardozo’s community, student life, academic programs or about life in New York City, we invite you to be in touch.
To be connected with an ambassador, please email lawinfo@yu.edu with your contact information and specify if you would like to be contacted by a specific ambassador.
Meet our Student Ambassadors
Tatiana Sterling ’24
Undergraduate Major: Political Science
Undergraduate College: University of California, Riverside
Hometown: Palm Springs, CA
Extracurriculars and Experience: Staff Editor Moot Court Honor Society, Co-President of the Minority Law Student Alliance, Vice President of Know Your IX, Labor and Employment Law Society, Innocence Project, Public Service Scholar, 2023 Summer Fellow at Seyfarth Shaw LLP
Why did you choose to attend Cardozo? I choose Cardozo because of the wide variety of opportunities offered to students and the campus community.
What do you like most about Cardozo? The relationships I have been able to build with students and faculty. I have been able to gain such great mentorship and build important friendships.
What are your career goals? After graduating, I want to work as a Labor and Employment attorney at a big firm.
Jamie Eimbinder ’24
Undergraduate Major: Accounting, Marketing
Undergraduate College: Binghamton University
Hometown: Stamford, CT
Extracurriculars and Experience: Staff Editor, Cardozo Law Review; Legal Intern, Filmmakers Legal Clinic; Summer 2022 Intern, New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Division. Prior to law school, I worked for two years in Management Consulting at PwC.
Why did you choose to attend Cardozo? I spoke with many students and got a sense of their genuine enthusiasm about the school. It seemed that the Cardozo environment was a wonderful place to learn and build connections (all of which has been true in my experience!).
What do you like most about Cardozo? The faculty have been incredible in guiding my development as a future lawyer. I am grateful for the time and energy they put in to ensure the students succeed.
What are your career goals? I am looking forward to gaining transactional experience following law school, with a possible transition to working in-house in the entertainment field.
Jeremy Lamstein ’24
Undergraduate Major: Social Policy, Political Science
Undergraduate College: Northwestern University
Hometown: Syosset, NY
Extracurriculars and Experience: Staff Editor, Cardozo Law Review; Vice President, Intellectual Property Law Society; Summer Intern, Boyarski Fritz LLP. Prior to law school, I worked for a year on the Music team at Peloton.
Why did you choose to attend Cardozo? I chose Cardozo because of its location in New York City as well as its reputable FAME Center.
What do you like most about Cardozo? The people. Cardozo does a superb job of recruiting classes full of inclusive, diverse and dynamic individuals.
What are your career goals? My dream is to start an independent music label showcasing unique global dance music talent.
Michelle Lavrichenko ’23
Undergraduate Major: Doctor of Pharmacy
Undergraduate College: St. John’s University
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Extracurriculars and Experience: Senior Teaching Assistant, Lawyering and Legal Writing; Notes Editor, Cardozo Law Review; 1L Summer Scholar - Pfizer Global Supply, Pfizer; ADR Field Clinic Extern, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; IP Summer Associate, Venable LLP
Why did you choose to attend Cardozo? I chose to attend Cardozo because of its collaborative and welcoming environment and its strong Intellectual Property program.
What do you like most about Cardozo? The relationships I have developed with students and faculty.
What are your career goals? My goal is to practice patent litigation in the life sciences space after graduation.
Grayson Moronta ’22
Undergraduate Major: Political Science
Undergraduate College: Florida Atlantic University
Hometown: New York, NY
Extracurriculars and Experience: Staff Editor, Cardozo Law Review; Academic Chair, BLSA; Secretary-General, MLSA; Events Coordinator, Labor & Employment Law Society; Legal Extern, New York City Law Department Labor & Employment Division; Business & Legal Affairs Intern, ViacomCBS. Prior to law school, I worked as a business immigration paralegal at a small law firm in New York City.
Why did you choose to attend Cardozo? I chose Cardozo because, during my initial tour, I enjoyed the welcoming and collaborative environment driven by the kind nature of the staff and student body. All of the students and professors that I met were eager and open to answering any of the endless questions that I had prepared. Some law schools give a competitive and "cut-throat" vibe, but I didn't get that at all when speaking with students (I was right about this - everyone here has been so delightful and so helpful). Also, being right in the middle of New York City is incomparable.
What do you like most about Cardozo? The relationships that I have fostered and developed. I enjoy being surrounded by such genuine, talented and intelligent peers.
What are your career goals? My goal is to join a law firm after graduation where I will be practicing Employment Law and Litigation.
Meet the Class of 2022
Nigel Pura-Bryant
Undergraduate Major: Political science with a minor in business administration
Areas of Interest: "As it stands I’m very interested in intellectual property law, but I am open to new things and just happy to learn."
Extracurriculars: "I am currently my class’s SBA senator, but I look forward to getting involved with the IP Law Society and Black Law Students Association."
Hobbies: Producing music, DJing and watching Lakers basketball.
Jenna Dunton
Undergraduate Major: B.S. in biochemistry and M.S. in forensic biology
Areas of Interest: Criminal law
Extracurriculars: "I am a Public Service Scholar and also hope to get involved in the Suspension Representation Project and Criminal Law Society. Eventually, I would love to be part of The Innocence Project clinic and/or Criminal Defense Clinic."
Hobbies: "I have only lived in NYC for a year, and I love to explore new neighborhoods and check out new restaurants. I also enjoy running and indulging in anything true crime -- books, TV, podcasts -- when I need a break from my books."
Khensani Mathebula
Undergraduate Major: Double major in dance and political science
Areas of Interest: Alternative dispute resolution and corporate compliance law
Extracurriculars: "I would like to get involved in The Innocence Project, the Mediation Clinic, and the International Law club."
Hobbies: Jogging in Prospect Park, reading social-justice books, taking contemporary dance classes, and directing a project-based company, MATHETA Dance, that performs around the city.
James Raleigh
Undergraduate Major: Biomedical engineering
Areas of Interest: Patent law
Extracurriculars: "I am hoping to get involved with the Tech Startup Clinic and the Intellectual Property Law Society."
Hobbies: Running, watching movies and reading comic books.
Rebecca Tunis
Undergraduate Major: English
Areas of Interest: Criminal law
Extracurriculars: "I'm hoping to get involved in the Courtroom Advocates Project."
Hobbies: "Outside of school, I love seeing plays and concerts and generally exploring all that NYC has to offer."
Brian Wohlhieter
Undergraduate Major: Mechanical engineering
Areas of Interest: "I am interested in studying business law and IP law and hope to find a specific field where the two intersect."
Extracurriculars: "I'm really hoping to get involved in the Business Law Society and the Startup Society."
Hobbies: Fantasy football, going to the gym, reading nonfiction books and shuffleboard.
Meet Your First Year Faculty
Professor Myriam Gilles
Professor Myriam Gilles is an expert on class actions and aggregate litigation. She has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on forced arbitration clauses that strip individuals of the right to sue. She is the 5th most cited legal scholar in the country in the area of civil litigation. She was Cardozo's Vice Dean from 2016 to 2018.
Professor Michael Pollack
Michael Pollack is a Professor of Law and the Associate Dean for Faculty Development. Before joining Cardozo, Professor Pollack served as a Bigelow Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School. He also worked as a Trial Attorney in the Federal Programs Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice, defending major legislative and regulatory initiatives from constitutional and statutory challenges. Professor Pollack clerked for Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Janice Rogers Brown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
Professor Alexander Reinert
Professor Alex Reinert is the Director of the Center for Rights and Justice. He teaches Constitutional Law and was part of the legal team that successfully fought to end solitary confinement in New York State Prisons. He is currently part of an ACLU suit against the federal government for the separation of immigrant children from their parents.
Professor Jessica Roth
Professor Jessica Roth is the Director of the Jacob Burns Center for Ethics in the Law. She teaches Criminal Law and and has been a frequent commentator on CNN, MSNBC and elsewhere in the news on the Mueller investigation and the Impeachment Inquiry. She is a former prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Southern District of New York.
Professor Sam Weinstein
Professor Weinstein is the Co-Director, Heyman Center on Corporate Law and Governance. He began his career as a litigator at Munger, Tolles & Olson in San Francisco, after serving as a law clerk to Judge Edward R. Becker of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. He is a graduate of Haverford College, and received both his J.D (Order of the Coif) and Ph.D. from U.C. Berkeley. His research interests include antitrust, financial regulation, corporate law, and the history of the regulatory state.
Professor Saurabh Vishnubhakat
Saurabh Vishnubhakat is a Professor of Law and Director of the Intellectual Property and Information Law Program at Cardozo Law. He is also a Research Fellow at the Duke Law Center for Innovation Policy and a Senior Scholar at the George Mason University Center for IP and Innovation Policy. Previously, he held joint appointments as a Professor of Law and Professor of Engineering at Texas A&M University.Professor Vishnubhakat’s expertise is in intellectual property, administrative law and federal litigation, especially from an empirical perspective. His legal writings have been cited in federal judicial opinions, agency regulations and over two dozen Supreme Court briefs. His latest work is published or forthcoming in the Indiana Law Journal, the Washington and Lee Law Review and the Iowa Law Review as well as the peer-reviewed Journal of the Copyright Society of the USA and the Journal of Economic Perspectives.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Cardozo
Diversity and inclusion are central values at Cardozo Law School. Cardozo's supportive community is here to help you succeed in your legal career. Read more about our diverse community.