Home  >  Current Students  >  Academics  >  Legal Skills Training  >  Introduction to Lawyering

Introduction to Lawyering   

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.

"Introduction to Lawyering is about building a strong foundation. The course provides the tools, resources, and guidance necessary to succeed at legal research and writing. Though challenging at times, this course is where the greatest transformation of 1L year takes place."

EMMA LOMBARD '21 

Meet the 2021-22 Lawyering Professors 

  • Pablo N. Blanco, Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice

    Pablo N. Blanco

    Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
    BA, MA, JD, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey
    | |

    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).

  • Daniel A. Edelson, Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice

    Daniel A. Edelson

    Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., Fordham University | B.A., Brandeis University
    | |

    Professor Edelson is an Adjunct 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.

  • Professor Karla Y Foy

    Karla Y. Foy

    Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Assistant Director of Academic Success
    J.D., Harvard Law School | B.A., American University
    | 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.

  • Granne

    Michael A. Granne

    Visiting Assistant Professor
    J.D., Columbia Law School B.A., Duke University
    | 973-642-8064 | Rm 522

    Professor Granne is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law, teaching Civil Procedure and Introduction to Lawyering. He has an international arbitration and litigation practice in New York City, at his firm, Provenzano Granne and Bader. Professor Granne also taught International Business Transactions, International Litigation and Arbitration, International Law and several other classes at Seton Hall, Duquesne, and Brooklyn Law Schools and at Sarah Lawrence College. He graduated from Columbia Law School and Duke University and was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Cape Verde.

  • Adrian Newall, Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice

    Adrian D. Newall

    Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., B.A., Catholic University of America
    | |

    Professor Newall is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching 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

    Lara B. Pennington

    Assistant Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law | B.A., Lafayette College
    | 973-642-8783 | Rm 510

    Professor Pennington is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and teaches Introduction to Lawyering and Appellate Advocacy. Professor Pennington also serves as a private writing consultant for Rosky Legal Education, conducting seminars on writing and providing individual writing counseling in the legal industry. Previously, Professor Pennington taught U.S. Legal Writing in the University of Pennsylvania Law School LLM Summer Program from 2012-2015 and worked in private practice at Kelley Drye & Warren LLP and Dillon, Bitar & Luther, LLC. 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. She earned her B.A. in Psychology magna cum laude from Lafayette College.

  • Professor Melanie Perez Vellios

    Melanie J. Perez-Vellios

    Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Lawyering
    J.D., B.A., Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    | 973-642-8478 | Rm 423

    Professor Perez-Vellios serves as Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Lawyering. 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.

  • Mitchelle Pierre-Poinsette, Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice

    Mitchelle Pierre-Poinsette

    Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., Rutgers University School of Law | MPA, New York University, NY | B.A., Drew University
    | |

    Professor Pierre-Poinsette is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction to Lawyering. Professor Pierre-Poinsette is AVP, Associate General Counsel at Healthfirst, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit health plans. Previously, Professor Pierre-Poinsette served as Senior Corporate Counsel at Quest Diagnostics and an Associate at Reed Smith. Professor Pierre-Poinsette earned her J.D. from Rutgers Law-Newark, where she served as Articles Editor of the Rutgers Law Review. She earned her M.P.A in Health Policy and Management from NYU and B.A. in Psychology from Drew University.

  • Professor Jacqueline Pirone

    Jacqueline C. Pirone

    Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and Director of Appellate Advocacy and Gressman Moot Court Programs
    J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law | B.A., Colgate University
    | 973-642-8424 | Rm 425

    Professor Pirone is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice. She teaches Introduction to Lawyering, Appellate Advocacy, and Becoming A Lawyer for the LEO Program. Professor Pirone is also the Director of Appellate Advocacy Programming, which includes directing the Eugene Gressman Moot Court Competition. Professor Pirone is Of Counsel to the firm Kirmser, Lamastra, Cunningham & Skinner, House Counsel for Chubb Insurance Companies. Professor Pirone earned her J.D., cum laude, from Seton Hall Law School, where she served as the Student Director of the Eugene Gressman Moot Court Competition; as President of the Peter Rodino Society; and as a member of the Honor Council, the Interscholastic Moot Court Board, the Student Bar Association, and the Sports Law Journal. She earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Colgate University.

  • Professor Kathryn Quaglia

    Kathryn E. Quaglia

    Assistant Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law | B.S., Rutgers University
    | 973-642-8839 | Rm 508

    Professor Quaglia is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice and she teaches Introduction to Lawyering. She also teaches a variety of online courses in the Center for Health and Pharmaceutical Law and Policy. Professor Quaglia practiced law at K&L Gates, where she practiced health care law and assisted with a variety of state and federal trial and appellate proceedings. Professor Quaglia graduated cum laude from Seton Hall Law School and received a B.S. from Rutgers University. During law school, she served as a legal intern at Epstein Becker & Green in Washington, D.C. After graduating law school, she served as a law clerk to Justice Virginia Long of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

  • Allison Sigmund

    Allison Sigmund

    Assistant Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., New York University | B.S., Cornell University
    | 973-642-8082 | Rm 401

    Professor Sigmund is an Assistant Professor of Legal Practice. She teaches Introduction to Lawyering and several courses in Seton Hall Law’s Master of Science in Jurisprudence online program. Professor Sigmund also serves as Counsel at the law firm Nukk-Freeman & Cerra, P.C. Previously, Professor Sigmund practiced employment and employee benefits law at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP and practiced complex commercial litigation at Cravath, Swaine and Moore. Professor Sigmund graduated cum laude from New York University School of Law, and earned her B.S. from Cornell University. One year following law school, Professor Sigmund clerked for the Honorable Barbara S. Jones, U.S. District Judge, in the Southern District of New York.

  • Samuel M. Silver, Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice

    Samuel M. Silver

    Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., Washington College of Law | LL.M., Stetson University College of Law | B.A., University of Wisconsin
    | |

    Professor Silver is an Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice, teaching Introduction to Lawyering to first year students. Since 2019, Professor Silver has 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. 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.

  • Professor Claudette St Romain

    Claudette L. St. Romain

    Associate Professor of Law
    J.D., Harvard Law School | B.A., University of California
    | 973-642-8290 | Rm 403

    Professor St. Romain earned her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and a B.A. with highest honors from the University of California, Davis. She clerked for Hon. Anne E. Thompson in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Professor St. Romain litigated at Hudson County Legal Services Corp., representing indigent individuals in trial and appellate courts. She served as the Chairperson of the District VI Ethics Committee and has been appointed by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Special Master at ethics hearings. Professor St. Romain served as the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, taught Gender and the Law, and in the Family Law Clinic at the Center for Social Justice. In addition to Introduction to Lawyering, she currently teaches Family Law, Marriage, and Divorce.

  • Laura Stuart, Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice

    Laura B. Stuart

    Adjunct Professor of Legal Practice
    J.D., Rutgers University School of Law | B.S., Rutgers University
    | |

    Professor Stuart is an Adjunct 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 commercial litigation, including securities law and white-collar criminal defense. Currently, Professor Stuart works part-time at a smaller firm, concentrating her practice on employment law and litigation.

  • Professor Charles Sullivan

    Charles A. Sullivan

    Professor of Law
    LL.M., New York University | LL.B., Harvard University | B.A., Siena College
    | 973-642-8870 | Rm 413

    Professor Sullivan received his B.A. from Siena College, his LL.B. from Harvard University and his LL.M. from New York University. He practiced in New York and previously taught at the University of South Carolina and the University of Arkansas. Dean Sullivan has published in the areas of employment discrimination, employment law, contracts, and antitrust. He is co-author of Employment Discrimination: Law & Practice, now in its Fourth Edition; Cases and Materials on Employment Discrimination, now in its Ninth Edition; Employment Law: Private Ordering And Its Limitation, now in its Third Edition; and Cases and Materials on Employment Law (1993). Professor Sullivan has published in a number of law reviews, including Cornell, Wisconsin, Boston University, Ohio State, Georgetown, Northwestern, and William & Mary. An elected member of the American Law Institute, he joined the Seton Hall Law faculty in 1978. He was honored with the Catania Chair from 2010 to 2016, named in memory of a deceased colleague, friend, and co-author. He served as Associate Dean at Seton Hall from 1995 until 2001 and directed the Rodino Library from 2008 to 2015. He served as Associate Dean for Finance and Faculty from 2015 to 2019. 

This legal writing class enables 1L students to acquire comprehensive lawyering skills in their first year.
 

READ MORE