Your Professional Career Begins Here
This year you will take a six-credit year-long course called Introduction to Lawyering.
The course will provide you with opportunities to exercise and receive intensive feedback
on a broad range of practical lawyering skills including research, writing, interviewing,
counseling, negotiation, and oral advocacy. It will be taught in small groups by professors
who will work closely with you to hone your skills and build critical professional
habits.
The course will begin with a full day orientation for all students where we will introduce
you to your Introduction to Lawyering professors and classmates. We will also discuss
the building blocks of legal interpretation, and the importance of collaborating across
differences and cultural competency for attorneys.
"From the very first class, the lawyering program provided an opportunity to get comfortable
with being a law student. Not only were we trained to think like a lawyer, but my
classmates and I all quickly developed a tight bond that has lasted throughout my
time at seton hall.
The small class sizes allows for the professors to give tailored, in-depth feedback
on assignments and the professors are always more than happy to meet outside of class
hours for additional support.
The practical exercises in the class provide the most important takeaways. Students
learn brief writing, oral arguments, and how to work carefully with clients or partners
through simulations. Employers are regularly impressed with the quality of work from
seton hall students, and I have no doubt this directly results from the lawyering
program."
Timothy O’Connor '25
Law Student
Meet the 2023-24 Lawyering Professors
Pablo N. Blanco
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
BA, MA, JD, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey
[email protected]
Pablo N. Blanco is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction to
Lawyering. Professor Blanco was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1965. He is head
of a general practice law firm in Montclair, NJ, concentrating his practice in family
law, workers compensation, social security disability, civil appeals and trials. He
is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association,
the Passaic County Bar Association and the New Jersey Hispanic Bar Association. Mr.
Blanco argued Rowe v. Mazel Thirty before the New Jersey Supreme Court and has appeared
numerous times before the Superior Court, Appellate Division. Published cases: Rowe
v. Mazel Thirty, 209 N.J. 35 (2012); Kocanowski v. Township of Bridgewater, 237 N.J.
3 (2019); Lechler v. 303 Sunset Avenue Codo. Assoc. 452 N.J. Super 574 (App. Div.
2017); Moran v. Board of Trs. of the Police & Firemen's Ret. Sys., 438 N.J. Super.
346 (App. Div. 2014); Bellino v. Verizon Wireless, 435 N.J. Super. 85 (App. Div. 2014);
Chiarello v. Board of Trs. of the Public Employees Ret. Sys., 429 N.J. Super. 194
(App. Div. 2012); Sellers v. Board of Trs. of the Police & Firemen's Ret. Sys., 399
N.J. Super. 51 (App. Div. 2008).
Sarah Connelly
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., American University Washington | B.A., Binghamton University
Professor Connelly is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction
to Lawyering. She is Counsel at the law firm Littler Mendelson, and practices labor
and employment law with a focus on wage and hour class action work. Professor Connelly
graduated from American University, Washington College of Law, where she served as
a member of the International Law Review and was an active participant in the International
Human Rights Law Clinic. Professor Connelly earned her Bachelor of Arts from Binghamton
University.
Lee Larson Cornwell
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., Yale Law School
[email protected]
Professor Cornwell earned her J.D. at Yale Law School where she was an Articles Editor
for the Yale Journal of International Law and a Co-Director of the Lowenstein Human Rights Program. She clerked for Hon. J.
Harvie Wilkinson III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with High Distinction from the University Virginia with a B.A. in English Literature.
In her career as a litigator, she worked as a Trial Attorney in the Honors Program
at the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and as a Senior Trial
Attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. She also worked in private
practice at the law firm Donovan, Leisure, Rogovin & Schiller. Professor Cornwell
is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction to Lawyering course,
and has also taught Appellate Advocacy and Legal Writing in the LEO Program. In addition,
she teaches a variety of online courses including Introduction to Legal Writing and
Reasoning and substantive courses in the areas of Corporate and Securities Law.
Daniel A. Edelson
Assistant Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., Fordham University | B.A., Brandeis University
[email protected] | Rm 409
Professor Edelson is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction
to Lawyering. Professor Edelson is an attorney admitted to practice in New Jersey
and New York. He graduated from Fordham University School of Law where he was a Notes
and Articles Editor for the Fordham International Law Journal and was selected as
a Crowley Scholar in International Human Rights. After graduating from law school,
Professor Edelson practiced with two international law firms in New York City. He
currently manages his own practice where he represents clients in business litigation
matters in state and federal courts. Before joining Seton Hall, Professor Edelson
taught at a law school in New York City and has also taught US law to students overseas
and online.
Karla Y. Foy
Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Bar Support
J.D., Harvard Law School | B.A., American University
[email protected] | 973-642-8715 | Rm 427
Professor Foy teaches the Introduction to Lawyering course to first year students.
She is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and the Associate Director of the
Academic Success program. Professor Foy has practiced Education Law in various contexts.
She has also managed and maintained a general law practice in Hackensack, New Jersey
since 2005. Prior to coming to Seton Hall Law School, Professor Foy served in the
Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Education. She also
worked for the New York University, Equity Assistance Center providing technical assistance
to school districts on race, gender and national origin issues. She earned her J.D.
from Harvard Law School and her B.A. in Criminal Justice, cum laude, from American
University.
Jamie Gottlieb Furia
Adjunct Professor & Director of Persuasion & Advocacy
J.D., Seton Hall University | B.A., New York University
[email protected]
Jamie Gottlieb Furia is the Director of both Persuasion & Advocacy and Deposition
Skills at Seton Hall University School of Law, as well as a professor of Lawyering.
Prior to joining the Law School, Professor Furia was a partner at Lowenstein Sandler
LLP. In her practice, Professor Furia represented corporations, government entities,
and individuals in white collar criminal defense matters, internal and external investigations,
regulatory compliance matters, and commercial litigation.
Adrian D. Newall
Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Lawyering
J.D., The Catholic University of America | B.A., The Catholic University of America
[email protected] | 973-642-8082 | Rm 401
Professor Newall serves as Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Lawyering.
She teaches Introduction to Lawyering and Appellate Advocacy.
Professor Newall’s law career began as a law clerk to Administrative Law Judge Jerome
Nelson at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Professor Newall was an associate
for LeBoeuf, Greene and MacRae in Washington, D.C, and then continued her energy practice
as Assistant General Counsel at Exelon Corporation in Philadelphia. Most recently,
Professor Newall was Associate Counsel in the Federal Regulatory group at PSEG in
Newark, NJ.
Lara B. Pennington
Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Appellate Advocacy
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law
[email protected] | 973-642-8783 | Rm 510
Professor Pennington teaches Introduction to Lawyering and directs the Appellate Advocacy
Program and Gressman Competition at Seton Hall Law. Professor Pennington began teaching
Appellate Advocacy and Legal Research & Writing at Seton Hall in 2004. Professor Pennington
also served as a private legal writing consultant, conducting seminars on writing
content, style, and organization, and she provided individualized writing counseling
to attorneys and paralegals at law firms in New Jersey, New York, and Washington D.C.
Before teaching, Professor Pennington spent eight years in private practice, at Kelley
Drye & Warren LLP and Dillon, Bitar & Luther, LLC, specializing in general litigation
matters at both the trial and appellate levels. Professor Pennington earned her J.D.
with High Honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law where she was elected to the Order
of the Coif, and she earned her B.A. in Psychology magna cum laude from Lafayette
College.
Melanie J. Perez-Vellios
Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of LEO Program
J.D., B.A., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
[email protected] | 973-642-8478 | Rm 423
Professor Perez-Vellios serves as Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director
of the LEO Program. She teaches Introduction to Lawyering, Appellate Advocacy, and
Becoming a Lawyer for the Legal Education Opportunities (LEO) program. Prior to joining
Seton Hall Law School, Professor Perez-Vellios practiced employment and education
law, serving as Of Counsel to a New Jersey law firm. She also conducted anti-harassment
training and other workplace seminars. Prior to that, Professor Perez-Vellios was
an Associate at Reed Smith LLP where she practiced complex commercial litigation.
Professor Perez-Vellios has also served as contributing author for XpertHR. Professor
Perez-Vellios graduated from Rutgers School of Law – Newark, where she served as Senior
Managing Editor of the Rutgers Law Review. She earned her B.A. from Rutgers University.
Beth Liss Shuman
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
LL.M. Georgetown University Law Center | J.D., Marquette University Law School | B.A.,
University of California, Santa Barbara
Professor Shuman teaches Introduction to Lawyering. She previously served as a Supervisory
Attorney with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She litigated
waste and water quality cases in state and federal courts.
Professor Shuman also worked at a Philadelphia law firm where she focused on complex
civil litigation and toxic tort cases. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable
Theodore O. Rogers of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania. Before joining Seton
Hall, Professor Shuman taught legal writing and research at a Pennsylvania law school.
Libby Reichard Sims
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., Case Western Reserve University | B.A., College of the Holy Cross
Professor Reichard is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction
to Lawyering. She graduated from Case Western Reserve School of Law, where she was
the Editor-in-Chief of its Journal of International Law. Prof. Reichard practices in the area of immigration and nationality law at Fragomen,
Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy in New York, NY where she provides guidance on complex legal
issues, monitors and analyzes federal and state immigration law developments, and
liaises with government agencies and Congress on cases and policy matters. Prof. Reichard
earned her B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross.
Allison Sigmund
Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Externships
J.D., New York University
[email protected] | 973-642-8082 | Rm 508
Professor Sigmund serves as an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and is the Director
of Externships at Seton Hall Law School. In her capacity as Director of Externships,
Professor Sigmund administers all aspects of the externships program, including designing
the curriculum and teaching the General Externship Course, the Judicial Externship
Course, the Advanced General Externship Course, and the Advanced Judicial Externship
Course. Additionally, Professor Sigmund supervises all Seton Hall Law students who
enroll in the externship program. Professor Sigmund also teaches Introduction to Lawyering
I & II. Previously, Professor Sigmund taught Introduction to Law and Legal Writing,
Torts, Fundamentals of Business Law, Managing Legal Issues in the Workplace, and Conducting
Internal Investigations in Seton Hall Law’s masters in legal studies program.
Samuel M. Silver
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., American University – Washington College of Law | B.A., University of Wisconsin
– Madison | LL.M., Stetson University College of Law
[email protected]
Professor Silver is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice teaching Introduction to
Lawyering to first year students. Professor Silver serves as a Deputy Ethics Counsel
with the Office of Attorney Ethics. Professor Silver previously served as the Deputy
Director of the New Jersey Law Revision Commission. Prior to joining the Law Revision
Commission, he was a solo practitioner who engaged in civil and criminal litigation
as well as appellate practice. He has litigated matters before the New Jersey Superior
Court, Law Division, Appellate Division, the New Jersey Supreme Court, and the United
States District Court. In 2018, he was appointed as a panelist to the District VIII
Fee Arbitration Committee. In 2022, he was appointed to the District VIII Ethics Committee.
Professor Silver graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, cum laude,
with a B.A. in Political Science. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the Washington
College of Law – American University, and a LL.M. in Advocacy, with distinction, from
Stetson University College of Law.
Kenneth J Soriero
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., Seton Hall Law School | B.S., Villanova University
[email protected]
Professor Soriero is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction
to Lawyering. He currently manages his own practice where he provides counsel to individuals
and businesses in the areas of construction law, contracts and other general business
matters. Professor Soriero was previously a partner at Lindabury, McCormick, Estabrook
& Cooper specializing in construction, contract and litigation matters and as in-house
Counsel for a large, national construction company. Professor Soriero graduated from
Seton Hall Law School, magna cum laude, and earned his B.S. in Accountancy, cum laude,
from Villanova University.
Laura B. Stuart
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., Rutgers University School of Law | B.S., Rutgers University
[email protected]
Professor Stuart is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction
to Lawyering. Professor Stuart began her legal career serving as a law clerk in federal
court in the District of New Jersey. After her judicial clerkship, Professor Stuart
was an associate for a number of years at a large New York City law firm where she
focused mainly on securities law litigation and white-collar criminal defense. Following
that, she transitioned to a suburban New Jersey firm where she practiced general commercial
litigation and employment law. Over time, employment law became the main focus of
her practice. Professor Stuart graduated from Rutgers School of Law – Newark, where
she served as Senior Managing Editor of the Rutgers Law Review and was a student teaching associate for Legal Research and Writing. She earned her
B.S. from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, majoring in Finance and Political Science.
Andrew L. Weinstein
Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
J.D., University of Maine School of Law | M.S.W., University of Southern Maine | B.A.,
Colby College
Professor Weinstein is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction
to Lawyering. Professor Weinstein began his legal career as an Assistant District
Attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office where he prosecuted blue collar
crime. Thereafter, Professor Weinstein was an Assistant Attorney General in the Public
Integrity Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office where he handled
long-term white collar investigations and prosecutions involving public officials
and State funds. Subsequently, Professor Weinstein moved to the private sector and
opened a boutique practice that focuses on criminal defense and real estate transactions.
Professor Weinstein earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Maine School
of Law where he served as a Legal Writing Teaching Assistant while also overseeing
the Maine Law Review as Editor-in-Chief.
This legal writing class enables 1L students to acquire comprehensive lawyering skills
in their first year.
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