Law Students Learn from Experts in the Field at Securities Regulation Institute

 Ravin Shah ’12 and Andrew Cali-Vasquez ‘12 recently spent three days rubbing elbows with some of the top securities experts in the country at the Practising Law Institute’s (PLI) annual Securities Regulation Institute in Manhattan. The Institute brings together industry experts and practitioners from the private and public sectors for three days of panels and discussions on recent developments in corporate and securities law. Ravin and Andrew attended the Institute at no cost under a generous full scholarship provided by PLI.

This year marked the Institute’s inaugural Changing the Faces of Securities Law Scholarship Program. Created by Delaware Supreme Court Chief Justice Myron Steele and the Florida law firm of Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart P.A., the program aims to provide minority law students, who have historically been underrepresented in the area of securities law, an opportunity to network with practitioners and gain firsthand exposure to current issues in the field. Program panelists included SEC Chairman Mary L. Schapiro, SEC Division of Enforcement Director Robert S. Khuzami, Chief Justice Steele, law firm practitioners and in-house counsel.

In addition to attending panels on a wide range of issues, Ravin and Andrew engaged in a number of formal and informal networking opportunities. Reflecting on his conversations with an attorney from the general counsel’s office of a major automotive company and another from a biopharmaceutical firm, Ravin said, “The conference broadened my understanding of the opportunities available in the corporate and securities world. It’s not as limited as some may think.” Added Andrew: “The attorneys from Gunster did an incredible job of facilitating meetings and introducing us to people through all stages of the conference. Everyone was extremely generous with their contact information and took time to share their experiences and insights about the field. I think they were quite pleased to meet law students who are as enthusiastic about the practice area as they are. I would highly recommend that any St. John’s student interested in securities law take a serious look at this program.”

This kind of networking is critical to students’ career development and is a central feature of a St. John’s education. “Classroom education is only one step in a student’s career development. It is essential that they also gain experience and meet attorneys who have preceded them in their chosen career pathways,” said Larry Cunningham, Associate Dean for Student Services and Associate Professor of Legal Writing. “This scholarship was a wonderful opportunity for two of our best students to gain invaluable experience meeting and learning from the experts in their field. We hope to make additional opportunities available to our students.”