Victoria Perkins Legal Careers Exploration Program
Dates: March 17-19, 2025
Location: Virtual
Time: 10 AM -1 PM, Daily
About
The Victoria Perkins Legal Careers Exploration Program is designed to help students interested in law learn more about what it takes to get into law school, investigate the breadth of careers available to those with a law degree, and succeed as legal professionals.
As part of the Victoria Perkins Legal Careers Exploration Program, the BOLD Center will hosting a 3-day online seminar featuring panel discussions and workshops involving Legal Careers. In this Virtual Engagement Program, students will hear from Rutgers Law Enrollment team, LSAT instructors, and Legal Professionals. On the last day of the program, students will have the opportunity to network with Legal Professionals in small group breakouts.
Keynote Speaker
Barbara Ungar, Esq., is the managing attorney and owner of the Law Office of Barbara Ungar in Edison, New Jersey for the last 26 years specializing in criminal defense, DWI/DUI defense, mental health law, family law, domestic violence, guardianships, estate planning, probate litigation, landlord tenant litigation and civil litigation. Prior to private practice, Barbara Ungar was employed as an Assistant County Counsel with the Essex County Counsel’s Office in Newark, New Jersey, Deputy Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice, with the civil RICO and forfeiture section, and the labor prosecutions section Barbara Ungar has also served or currently serves as Chair, Subcommittee Chair, and Trustee across various organizations, including Municipal Court, New Jersey State Bar Association, Middlesex County Bar Association. Additionally, Ms Ungar is an active member of the Lawyer Wellness Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Women’s Political Caucus of New Jersey, Middlesex County Regional Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Women’s Lawyer Association, and of the National College of DUI Defense.
Barbara Ungar is an attorney participant, mentor to Rutgers Douglass College students, and member of the Rutgers Legal Services clinic.
Agenda
Day One: March 17, 2025
10:00 - 10:15 AM: Welcome
10:30 - 11:30 AM: Rutgers, Law School Admissions
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM: Understanding the LSAT
12:45 - 1:00 PM: Wrap-Up
Day Two: March 18, 2025
10:00 - 10:15 AM: Welcome and Overview of Day
10:15 - 11:15 AM: Keynote Speaker
- Barbara Ungar, Esq., Law Office of Barbara Ungar, Edison, New Jersey
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Panel Discussion – Work, Life, Balance in Legal Careers
- Sharon Balsamo, Esq., Legal Counsel, New Jersey State Bar Association
- Catherine Finnerty, Esq., Goldman and Breslow, East Orange, New Jersey
- Ayesha Hamilton, Esq., Law Office of Ayesha Hamilton, Princeton, New Jersey
- Jeralyn Lawrence, Lawrence Law, Watchung/Red Bank, New Jersey
- Dina Mastellone, Jackson Lewis P.C., Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
- Lauren Micelli, Esq., Arndt, Sutak, and Miceli LLC, Edison, New Jersey
12:45 PM - 1:00 PM: Wrap-Up
Day Three: March 19, 2025
10:00 - 10:15 AM: Welcome and Overview of Day
10:15 - 11:15 AM: Pathways in Legal Careers – Professional Insights
- Barbara Ungar, Esq., Moderator, Law Office of Barbara Ungar, Edison, New Jersey
- Eugenia Lynch, Esq., Law Office of Eugenia Lynch, Toms River, New Jersey
- Honorable Andrea Sullivan, J.S.C., Middlesex County Courthouse, New Brunswick New Jersey
- Erika Vela, Baker & Hostetler LLP, Houston, Texas
11:30 AM - 12:45 PM: Virtual Networking – Connecting with Legal Professionals
- Bankruptcy
- Catherine Finnerty, Esq., Goldman and Breslow, East Orange, New Jersey
- Business and Commercial Litigation
- Maria Vallejo, Esq., Chasan, Lamparello, Mallon and Cappuzzo, P.C., Secaucus, New Jersey
- Immigration Attorney
- Cristina Carrero, Esq., Bramnick, Rodriguez, Grabas, Arnold and Managan, LLC, Scotch Plains, New Jersey
- Civil Litigation
- Diana Manning, Esq., Bressler, Amery and Ross, P.C., Florham Park, New Jersey
- Criminal Litigation
- Eugenia Lynch, Esq., Law Office of Eugenia Lynch, Toms River, New Jersey
- Kim Yonta, Esq., Yonta Law, LLC, New Brunswick, New Jersey
- Non Profit Sector
- Mary Coogan, Esq., Association for Children of New Jersey
- Policy Law/In-House Counsel
- Lisa Chapland, Esq., New Jersey State Bar Association
- Sharon Balsamo, New Jersey State Bar Association
12:45 - 1:00 PM: Wrap-Up