November 1, 2021
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of St. John's Law magazine.
As much as she looked forward to working with the Legal Aid Society's Juvenile Rights Practice this summer,Alessia Nestico ’22 never imagined that the job would tap her creativity. But there she was, helping her young clients get through long and intense interviews by playing her ukulele and showing off her artwork.
Nestico gained this hands-on experience advocating for youths in neglect and parental rights cases as one of 12 St. John’s Law students who received Summer 2021 Rose DiMartino Women in Public Service Fellowships. Established with a generous gift from Rose DiMartino ’81, the fellowships are awarded to women through the Law School’s Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program. In addition to Nestico’s Legal Aid placement, this year’s DiMartino Fellows worked in a range of practice settings—from the New York City Office of Labor Relations, Administration for Children’s Services, and Nassau County District Attorney’s Office to Catholic Charities and judicial chambers and courthouses.
“The Law School’s Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program builds on St. John’s Vincentian mission of serving marginalized individuals and communities and recognizes a lawyer’s ethical obligation to promote justice,” says Associate Dean for Career Development and Externships Jeanne Ardan. “We were able to award 60 student fellowships this summer, with funds raised through our annual Public Interest Auction, alumni giving, partner programs, and other sources. Rose DiMartino’s multi-year gift provides an invaluable opportunity for women students to build knowledge and skills while serving the greater good.”
Nestico was thrilled to be supported by the DiMartino Fellowship as she worked on a variety of assignments at Legal Aid. “I enjoyed researching and writing,” she says. “But my favorite part of working with the Juvenile Rights Practice was speaking with my clients, learning their stories, and discovering what they desire when it comes to their lives.” Interacting with clients was also a highlight for DiMartino Fellow Abigail Sloan ’23, who spent the summer interning with Catholic Charities' Immigration and Refugee Project.
It was challenging, but rewarding work, Sloan shares. “In addition to attending trainings on immigration law topics, I worked directly with clients to prepare them for court hearings and attended consultations for new clients,” she explains. “I also helped the attorneys research country conditions and changes in immigration policies.” Complementing the hands-on learning, Sloan says, were the diverse networking opportunities the placement provided. “I made great connections with immigration attorneys and gained access to resources, such as the American Immigration Lawyers Association, which will continue to guide me moving forward.”
Like Nestico and Sloan, Katherine Chung ’23 thrived as a DiMartino Fellowship recipient. She spent the summer as an intern for United States District Judge Nelson S. Román in White Plains. “I assisted Judge Román and his law clerks in drafting judicial opinions, researching case law, and preparing for a jury trial,” she says. “I also sat in on a trial, arraignments, and sentencings. I grew exponentially within that two-month time period, and I know that the internship has prepared me well not only for the next two years at St. John’s Law, but also for my future legal career.”
Considering the doors of opportunity she has opened for women at the Law School, Rose DiMartino says: “I’ve always thought of the law as a helping profession. There are so many issues of real significance that are crying out for the talent and energy of young lawyers. I want to use my resources to encourage law students to jump in and try to tackle them. For the fellowship, I focused on women students because I see myself in them—wanting to learn as much as I could and as quickly as I could, so I could make a difference. I hope the fellowship affords them practical experience that will make their classroom work more meaningful but, more importantly, help them see their law degree as an amazing credential for the betterment of our world.”
If Alessia Nestico is any indication, DiMartino’s generosity is already having its intended impact. “Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,’” Nestico notes. “Receiving the DiMartino Fellowship has made my dream of being of service as a lawyer more tangible. It’s inspired me to follow my passions, and I look forward to honoring Ms. DiMartino by providing opportunities for others to shine.”