Charles “Chase” Newman shares insights into his legal journey, blending his passion for labor law and entertainment with experiences in compliance, journalism, and business development. Discover how his diverse background—from managing COVID compliance at NBCUniversal to researching employment law—shapes his approach to law school and future career.
Can you share some of your experiences working as a Legal Intern for the New Jersey Reentry Corporation, particularly in assisting with vacating fines and warrants?
At NJRC, we assess whether clients have time served and use this to justify vacating various fines and warrants. Generally, a day in jail or prison is worth about $50. During our legal assessments, we look for evidence of time served, such as a Judgment of Conviction document, or we check online databases such as PROMIS/Gavel. We then attach the days to a well-written letter advocating for vacating the client's fines or warrant bail. Finally, we emphasize in the letter what NJRC does for the client and what the client is doing to change their own circumstances. We really work with clients and give them agency as they get their lives back on track, which I feel is the most important aspect of what we do—giving people a sense of self-ownership and freedom. The client is involved in every step of the process.
What motivated you to pursue a Juris Doctor at Seton Hall University School of Law, and how has your background in journalism influenced your legal studies?
Because of my background working with compliance in film and television (which extensively encompassed employment and labor laws), I knew that I wanted to practice that kind of law. Seton Hall was a great fit for me for several reasons—its proximity to New York City meant there would be many opportunities to explore issues related to labor and employment. Furthermore, New Jersey is a strong state for unions, which means there will always be opportunities to learn more about labor relations in industries beyond film and television.
On a personal note, my partner and I wanted to live in a city with a strong improv comedy scene, which NYC has in spades, and we wanted to be closer to family (I have family in Boston, and my partner’s father and stepmother live in upstate New York).
Journalism has influenced my legal studies by providing me with the skills to write clearly and efficiently. I approach choosing cases to cite much like I would select quotations from interviews—whichever quote drives the point home the hardest is the one I latch onto and incorporate effectively. Moreover, journalism gave me the tools to tell a story.
As President of the Labor & Employment Law Forum, what initiatives or projects are you most excited about for the upcoming year?
We are excitedly working year-round to host an engaging event that discusses the intersectionality of immigration law with labor and employment law. There is significant topical overlap here that is ripe for discussion—questions about the process of obtaining a work visa for foreign nationals so they can work in the U.S. and issues surrounding migrant labor, where companies often bypass compliance officers to avoid enforcing labor laws. We want all our events to inspire thoughtful conversation and diverse perspectives, so we encourage all students, even those not planning to practice labor and employment law, to attend. Labor and employment law touches on nearly every other legal field, from criminal to entertainment to immigration and beyond.
How did your role as Manager of COVID Compliance at NBCUniversal Productions prepare you for a career in law, especially in terms of compliance and labor laws?
Working in compliance opened my eyes to how labor laws function on a day-to-day basis. In addition to learning critical skills such as statutory interpretation and application, I gained valuable insights into organized labor, hourly wages, corporate investigations, contract law, and business associations. (Fun fact: every production is its own LLC, and if a show returns for a second season, a new LLC is created for tax and legal purposes—something I hope to explore more after taking Business Associations this year). Furthermore, I served as a liaison between the production and various labor organization officers to ensure everything was above board. I love the entertainment industry because it's a microcosm of so many different issues that touch broader industries.
What are some of the challenges you faced while working as Director of Business Development at TWFG Insurance, and how did you overcome them?
As Director of Business Development at TWFG Insurance, the biggest challenge I faced was learning about a new industry from scratch and gaining a deep understanding of it. My clients primarily bought or built homes in developing areas near major metropolitan cities. New builds were for build-to-rent communities, while houses purchased already built were renovated and resold. Understanding this dynamic and how these businesses operated to best serve their needs was a significant undertaking, but I enjoyed learning more about the housing markets in various states.
How do you balance your interests in live comedy production, music, and the film and television industry with your law studies?
I make it a point to go into the city every weekend to do something! I have friends from both my comedy and music backgrounds who live in the city, and we plan activities together—usually seeing a friend's comedy show or bands we enjoy. I am also a huge fan of classical music, and I’m looking forward to seeing the NY Philharmonic perform a Pierre Boulez piece this winter with a high school friend.
I manage my time wisely so that studying, briefing, and applications don’t fall by the wayside, but these activities ground me. I look forward to taking improv classes again after earning my JD, but for now, I’m happy to support the comedy community in NYC as an audience member.
Can you describe your experience working as a Legal Research Assistant to Professor Timothy Glynn and the kind of contributions you made to the Employment Law casebook?
Working as a Legal Research Assistant has been a great experience. I work with one of his co-authors, Professor Alexander, to review her book chapters, ensuring everything is up to date and adding interesting stories or relevant discussions. I've enjoyed including updates on California's Proposition 22 (classifying Uber and Lyft drivers as "independent contractors" rather than "employees"), Johnson v. NCAA (whether college athletes are "employees"), and updating the casebook with more information on the Hollywood labor strikes last year.
How did your involvement in the First Generation Law Student Association support your transition into law school, and what advice would you give to other first-generation law students?
The First Generation Law Student Association helped me feel like I fit in at law school, and it also identified classmates who were first-generation students. It created an environment where I knew who I could reach out to with questions right away. There’s a lot that law school doesn’t teach, and First Gen filled in those gaps.
My advice to other first-generation law students is to recognize that if you’ve made it this far, you are meant to be here. The school wouldn’t admit people it didn’t believe in. I’d also encourage all students to get involved in clubs and activities to incentivize positive performance and have people to commiserate and laugh with.
What skills did you develop while working as an Assistant in Production Resources for Stone Management that you find valuable in your legal career?
From a legal perspective, working as an Assistant in Production Resources taught me a lot about contracts and other legal concepts I hadn't encountered before. My job involved ensuring that no redlining occurred in brand integration clearance forms sent to different brands by their legal counsel. Unfortunately, lawyers love redlining things, so this was a constant challenge. I learned about choice of forum clauses, injunctive relief, and contract interpretation, among other topics.
Beyond legal skills, I learned about business transactions between companies and how to draft professional emails in B2B relationships. I also got to read amazing scripts from films we supplied products for, from first draft to completion, including Hustlers, Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Ad Astra, Yellowstone, and many more.
How has your training as a classically trained saxophonist and self-taught musician influenced your approach to problem-solving and creativity in the legal field?
Being a classically trained saxophonist taught me the discipline to make mistakes, learn from them, and move forward with corrections. I also learned how to practice effectively. Mistakes no longer scare me because I know I can fix them later. If I were afraid of making mistakes, I'd never improve.
Being a self-taught musician taught me that I can teach myself. Much of law school and legal practice involves teaching ourselves so we can best help our clients. I used to be terrible at guitar, but I kept learning using online tools, and over the years, I improved. Similarly, as lawyers, we often get asked questions we don’t have direct answers to. It takes time researching to find the solution.
