Student Ambassadors - Touro Law Center Long Island, NY
Admissions
Touro Law Student Ambassadors
Amber Nicole Barbone
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Queens, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: The City College of New York, Chemical Engineering
Area of interest: Patent Law
Law school activities: Rising President of the Intellectual Property Law Society, Honors Program Scholar, Law Review Staff Member
Interesting fact about me: Having been raised by Romanian immigrant parents, I am bilingual, speaking both Romanian and English fluently. English was actually my second language!
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Take a deep breath and come into your first year with a positive attitude. While your first year can seem very intimidating, once you figure out what works best for you, you will adapt in absolutely no time. I would highly recommend making use of all available supplemental hornbooks for your classes, as well as the Barbri 1L Mastery videos. Additionally, try to form a solid friend group that you feel comfortable studying with, two brains are always better than one! I wholeheartedly recommend making your own outlines and staying on top of updating them throughout the course of the semester. From a time management perspective, try to read at least 1-2 weeks ahead for every class so that you do not fall behind or become overwhelmed.
Taylor Bialek
3L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Jericho, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Washington University, B.A. Anthropology: Global Health & the Environment
Area of interest: Intellectual Property
Law school activities: Touro Law Review, Women's Bar Association, Student Bar Association, Curriculum Committee
Interesting fact about me: My favorite hobbies include cooking and yoga.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Stay organized! Adjusting to law school can be overwhelming. It is so important to stay organized because it is so easy to fall behind or miss deadlines. Stay on top of your assignments and if you start to feel that you are struggling to understand a topic, reach out to your professor right away so that you don't miss out on understanding fundamental concepts.
Samuel Bifulco
4L, FlexTime Program
Hometown: Centereach, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: St. Joseph's College, B.A., Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Human Relations
Graduate Institution/Major: Stony Brook University, M.A., Public Policy
Areas of interest: Cyber, Business, Contract, Land Use, and Municipal Law
Law school activities: Honors Program Scholar, Cyber Law Society President, Student Bar Association FlexTime Advisory Liaison
Interesting fact about me: I love international travel and learning about new cultures.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Be confident in yourself and your abilities, and enjoy the ride!
Contact Sam!
Danielle Blaustein
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Dix Hills, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Union College, Political Science (minor in Psychology)
Areas of interest: Municipal Law, Litigation, Tort, Property Law
Law school activities: Touro Law Review, Women's Bar Association, PILOT, and Honors Program Scholar
Interesting fact about me: I have a twin brother.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: The three years you attend law school are going to fly by. Take every day and embrace the opportunity to learn whether it's from success or from failure. Don't be afraid to ask for help from other students and faculty.
Darius Caceres
4L FlexTime
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate Institution/Major: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, B.S. Criminal Justice
Areas of Interest: Corporate Law, Workers' Compensation/Administrative Law, Criminal Law, Liability/Personal Injury Law
Law school activities: Mentor for the 3rd-year cohort of the FlexTime program
Interesting fact about me: I was born in Queens, NY, moved at the age of five to Guyana, South America, West Palm Beach, FL at the age of ten, back to Guyana, South America at 16, Queens, NY at 18. Law school wasn’t my first choice, life pushed me toward the law through experiences, bias, and discrimination. Having a life-changing diagnosis of cancer at 23 years of age, I realized that I had nothing to leave for my 2-year-old daughter. This was the catalyst that propelled me to where I am today and will continue to do so.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: You can read about law school, talk to students, teachers, graduates, and attorneys, however, no amount of information will compare to taking the step to attend law school for yourself. It was the best decision I have ever made. No matter the challenges I have faced, attending law school is worth the commitment. It has enhanced my life in numerous ways to date and I am excited for what’s in store after graduation. Touro and the Flex-time program have afforded me the opportunity to attend law school as well as continue working full time and still have time for my family. This program made law school possible for me and it can for you too.
Rachael Giannetti
2L, FlexTime
Hometown: Long Island, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Hofstra University, B.A. Public Relations with a Minor in Political Science
Graduate School: Bridgeport University, M.S.Ed.
Areas of interest: Criminal Law, Public Interest Law
Law school activities: Honors Program Scholar, Touro Law Review Junior Staff Member
Interesting fact about me: I love classic cars. My dream car is an original 1939 Ford Pickup.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Law school is an incredibly rewarding journey. There are a few steps that I have taken to ensure that I stay on track. First, be sure to complete all your assigned reading. Second, do not rely on third-party websites to brief your assigned cases – their conclusions are often wrong. Third, if you don’t know a word, look it up. Fourth, take time to make friends and enjoy the experience.
John Kelly
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Stony Brook, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Pace University, Marketing Major
Areas of interest: Real Estate, Disability Rights
Law school activities: President of Disabled and Allied Law Students Association (DALSA)
Interesting fact about me: I am a second-generation Touro Law student. My father also received his JD at Touro!
Advice for prospective/accepted students:
Touro is a fantastic place for a legal education. Its ability to connect with great employers in this area is what separates Touro from other schools. Additionally, Touro also has an amazing community of people willing to help! Don’t hesitate to reach out to upper-class students, alumni, and Touro employees. Do your best to network with the folks around you, as these will be your colleagues when school is finished!
Michael Lieberman
2L, Full-Time Day – January Start
Hometown: Manorville, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: SUNY Oneonta, B.S. Economics
Areas of interest: Corporate and Injury Law
Law school activities: Journal of Race, Gender, & Ethnicity
Interesting fact about me: I am a movie fanatic. I would love to combine my love for movies and the law to hopefully work for a studio one day.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Don't be afraid to talk to upperclassmen, ask their advice on what classes to take and don't be afraid to ask them if they have outlines that may help you. If they do give you an outline, don't just copy it, and don't just read the outline and not your textbooks, make the outline your own with notes from the professor and the textbook. This acts as a great way to study for me. It makes me read the material several times.
Lisaann London
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: John Jay College - B.S. Criminal Justice Management with a minor in Philosophy
Area of interest: Juvenile Justice - Family Law and Criminal Law
Law school activities: Vice President of Family Law Society, Treasurer of Suffolk County Bar Association, Trial Advocacy & Practice Honor's Society "TAPS" member.
Interesting fact about me: I taught kickboxing classes in Queens, NY, for four years before law school.
Advice for prospective/accepted students:This is a new journey for you; step out of your comfort zone and network. Don't limit yourself and miss out on opportunities because you're shy. YOU GOT THIS!
Katie McCarthy
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Levittown, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Molloy College; B.S. in psychology and criminal justice. Minor in legal studies.
Areas of interest: Contract Law, Estate Law, & Malpractice
Law school activities: Women's Bar Association
Interesting fact about me: I love cooking/baking, hiking, & yoga!
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Make connections and stay organized! I’m a first-generation law student so it was difficult to adjust to law school since I didn’t know what to expect. I got involved with the Nassau County Bar Association immediately after starting law school and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made! Don’t be afraid to get involved or to ask for advice, everyone wants to help you succeed!
Stefania Quintero Munoz
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Saint Albans, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: John Jay College of Criminal Justice BA in Law and Society
Areas of interest: Criminal Law and Sports Law
Law school activities: Judicial Externship and Student Lawyer Athletic Movement (SLAM)
Interesting fact about me: My favorite thing to do is spend time with my dogs. I also enjoy watching football (Giants Fan).
Advice for prospective/accepted students: We’ve all heard the horror stories about the first year of law school but one thing that can make it easier is to start outlining the first day of class. It seems like a lot of work but in the end it will be worth it. First year is really important for summer internships so give it all you’ve got.
Alyssa O’Rourke
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Old Brookville, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Union College, B.A. in Economics, with Minors in Statistics and Psychology
Areas of interest: Elder Law, Litigation, Estate Planning, and Tax Law
Law school activities: Public Interest Internship, recipient of The Lefkowitz Family Scholarship for dedication to professional ethics
Interesting fact about me: My favorite hobbies include art, interior design, and books.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: All you can do is try your best. Just worry about what is in front of you and keep going, it will all get done and you will make it through!
Anjali Puri
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Merrick, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: St. John's University; Legal Studies Major
Areas of interest: Family Law and Criminal Law
Law school activities: Students Helping Students; Law Review Junior Staff Member (Spring 2023 Semester); Member of the Family Law Society
Interesting fact about me: I know all of the words to every Taylor Swift song.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Don't be afraid to change the way you study or the way you take notes, it will take time to figure out what method works best for you! Also, always remember that everyone feels overwhelmed and nervous at first, it is completely natural!
Raymond Pusateri
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Merrick, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: St. John's University, B.S. Criminal Justice
Area of interest: Intellectual Property
Interesting fact about me: I am a big fan of music and have been working on learning to play guitar. This interest has opened my interest in intellectual property and is something that I hope to work in the field of in my future.
Advice for prospective/accepted students:Have a plan to get work done. Whether it is for writing an important paper or only for studying, a plan keeps the task organized and manageable. Getting swallowed up in the work can happen easily, which makes a plan of attack so crucial. Also, remember that you are here for a reason. The school believes in you and your ability, so you should be confident that your best effort will be more than enough to excel.
Shahzadi Raza
3L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Flushing, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Hunter College, B.A. Political Science (minor: Religion and Philosophy)
Areas of interest: Civil Rights Litigation, Intellectual Property, Torts, and Malpractice
Interesting fact about me: I was a visual merchandiser for Ann Taylor before I started my law school journey.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: You are meant to be here, remember that everyone is just as nervous as you are so try to breathe and enjoy this journey. It will be challenging and things will not always turn out how you want them. Find a support system and lean into them!
Madison Scarfaro
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Whitehall, PA
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Wilkes University, Double Major: Political Science & Criminology, Double Minor: Sociology & Women's and Gender Studies
Areas of interest: Criminal Law, Sports & Entertainment Law, Civil Rights
Law school activities: Touro Law Review; Women’s Bar Association, President; Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Secretary; Federal Bar Association – EDNY Student Chapter; Theodore Roosevelt Inn of Court; Breaking Barriers Pro Bono Project
Interesting fact about me: I played volleyball in college and coached after I graduated! I also love hot yoga/ hot pilates.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: I would say that I know how stressful law school can be, especially when you are first starting. My advice is to keep working as hard as you can and get involved as much as possible. If you are interested in something, learn about it, ask about it, and see how you can get involved. There is so much to learn and do throughout law school and we only get this opportunity once. I would also highly recommend getting involved in some kind of pro bono work because it truly gives you real life experience of what it is like to be a lawyer! Also, don't prematurely narrow your interests regarding what kind of law you want to practice. There are so many areas that you may not even know about yet that you might end up really enjoying.
Sarah Schick
3L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Sayville, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, B.A. Political Science, B.S. Criminal Justice
Areas of Interest: Elder Law, Estate Planning, and Real Estate
Law school activities: Advanced clinic, studying with friends (always fun, never boring!)
Interesting fact about me: I enjoy going to the beach and going on hikes to clear my head.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Keep your mind open to all the various types of legal practices you can go into one day. Step away from the books sometimes, it is good for you and will keep you from going crazy!
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Kelsey Truglio
3L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Sayville, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Stony Brook University, B.S. Biology, M.A. Bioethics
Areas of interest: Intellectual Property - Patent and Trademark Law
Law school activities: LEAP teaching assistant, Law Review staff member
Interesting facts about me: I am a powerlifter, I teach yoga, and I practice martial arts including kempo, karate, and jujitsu.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Do not compare yourself to anyone else. Focus on your own improvement and what activities, learning styles, and study techniques work for you. Instead of comparing, have compassion for yourself and take pride in your hard work and effort. Have confidence and be kind to others to be the most successful version of yourself.
Joshua Vaiman
2L, Full-Time Day
Hometown: Forest Hills, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Hunter College, B.A. History
Areas of interest: Sports & Entertainment, Real Estate, Financial Services
Law school activities: Student Bar Association 2L Representative, Sports & Entertainment Law Society President, Jewish Law Students Association Vice-President
Interesting fact about me: I work at the Fifth Avenue Apple Store when I am not hard at work studying.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Stay curious! Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and ask your professors questions. Here at Touro, we are lucky enough to not only have a group of professors who are some of the most knowledgeable scholars in their fields, but are also the most personable group of educators I have encountered in my academic career. They all have an open-door policy and are always available to help in any way they can, so do not be afraid to reach out and speak up when you think you need a helping hand.
Bethann Wolfe
3L Full-Time Day – January Start
Hometown: Stony Brook, NY
Undergraduate Institution/Major: Marymount Manhattan College, B.A. Communications
Graduate Institution: NYU School of Education, M.A. Media Ecology
Area of interest: Criminal Defense
Law school activity: Externship
Interesting fact about me: I am a single mom of three kids.
Advice for prospective/accepted students: Law school goes by quickly...it’s only three years. But the memory of your law school experience is going to be with you forever so take time to enjoy this historic, noble, and amazingly honorable study.