Vanessa M. Sheehan ’76

“Ethics should be at the foundation of your practice."

“People remember you for your words and actions - be true to both and you will cultivate a reputation of being a diligent and upstanding legal practitioner,” notes Vanessa M. Sheehan ’76.

Whenever possible, Ms. Sheehan fulfills her Continuing Legal Education coursework with long retired St. John’s Law faculty member, and fellow alum David D. Siegel ’58. She does so because of her appreciation for his amusing, brilliant and illuminating manner of teaching that has carried through from the mid 70’s until today. Her firm and practice, which focuses on education, municipal and employment law, is rich with fellow St. John’s Law alums well versed in these disciplines and attests to the strength of alma mater in these areas.

Not inclined to be a spectator on the sidelines, Ms. Sheehan has served as President of the New York State Association of School Attorneys. In addition, Ms. Sheehan has lectured extensively on Education Law for the Academies of Law of the Suffolk and Nassau County Bar Associations, the New York State Association of School Attorneys and the New York State School Boards Association.

Outside the sphere of education and municipal law, Ms. Sheehan is actively involved in her community. She has served on the Board of Trustees for her local community hospital and presently serves as a Director of the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk County (VIBS). The Mission of VIBS is to serve as a resource and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault and to prevent the incidence of these crimes through education and services while raising community awareness of the need for justice and compassion for said victims.

Ms. Sheehan, who is involved with the screening, hiring and mentoring of incoming attorneys at her firm, extends the following advice to those seeking employment - “Embrace the fundamental skills of interviewing. Do not take anything for granted. Have a strong knowledge of the strengths associated with your potential employer and how they relate to your skill set and competencies. Be able to demonstrate why you are the best hire for the position. If the position is extended to you set out to prove that you were indeed the best candidate by consistently delivering a sound work product.”