A Career-Centric and Convenient New Space
Career Development and Public Service Law Center Hosts Grand Opening at 250 Joralemon
The Career Development and Public Service Law Center suite held its grand opening today, celebrating a convenient new location on the first floor at 250 Joralemon St., in the space just beyond the library, which was formerly home to the Law School’s Clinics.
“This is an exciting and important development,” Dean David D. Meyer said in announcing the news to students. “It marks the first time in 40 years that the Career Development Office has been located in the main Law School building and the first time in several years that the Career Development Office and Public Service Law Center has had office space large enough to accommodate the entire team together on campus. Reuniting the newly expanded team, in person and on campus, readily accessible to students on their way to classes and other activities, is a significantly important step in a larger plan to increase the Law School's support of students in achieving their professional goals.”
The move will help build upon a strong record for the Law School's graduates. In 2023, the Career Center had its highest placement rate on record. Nearly 87 percent of 2023 graduates were employed in full-time legal positions within 10 months of graduation.
Associate Dean of Career & Professional Development Heather Spielmaker said that she is pleased to have a new home which can accommodate the whole staff and one that is more convenient for students. Previously the team members were situated at Feil Hall, but students were largely not taking advantage of the residential hall’s drop-in office space.
Now, it is easy for students to arrange appointments before or after classes, and if a job, summer associate or internship opportunity pops up, the center has them covered.
“One really cool feature we have now is counselor of the day,” Spielmaker said. “Students can stop in without an appointment if they have quick questions or if they need emergency help.”
There are also two rooms set aside for students who need a quiet space to conduct remote interviews. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and evening appointments are available for part-time students, who coordinate with Director of Career & Professional Development Dina Adler. International students work with Associate Director of Career & Professional Development Elizabeth Gradinger, while Spielmaker is the designated adviser for transfer students.
Alumni, too, are encouraged to call or email the Career Development Center for an appointment so they can be connected to a career counselor with relevant expertise, Spielmaker said.
“We are so excited to welcome publicly interested students and alumni to our new home,” Executive Director of the Public Service Law Center Amy Hsieh ’11 said. “As the hub of public service for the school, we hope it will be a space where the BLS community feels comfortable dropping into or intentionally visiting both to support others and be supported in any and all endeavors to co-create for the public good.”
Among the students dropping in to tour the center and to enjoy the fruit, coffee, and breakfast tacos that were served for the open house was Isabela Llevat ’27, who was pleased at the convenient location. “I do think it’s really well-placed, it hits the main arteries of the common space,” Llevat said.
What’s more, she had a chance to meet with her career adviser for the first time. “I had received my first email from her, and it was good to put a face to the name,” said Llevat, who hopes to pursue a career in sports and entertainment law.
Being able to meet with advisers in person was important to Pamela Armas ’27 as well. It was a sharp contrast to the career center at her undergraduate college, which was “difficult to reach and defeated the purpose,” she said.
“I think this is great,” Armas said, while picking up breakfast. As an Edward V. Sparer Public Interest Law fellow, she is hoping to use the Public Service Center’s resources to make connections with others who have gone through the program, and the Career Development team to help her find an internship.
Armas understands the value of counseling and mentorship. Prior to starting at Brooklyn Law School, she spent four years working at Catholic Charities of New York New Jersey, where she had an opportunity to work side by side with immigration lawyers assisting migrants. Armas is an immigrant from Ecuador, so immigration law is meaningful to her, and the attorneys she worked with at Catholic Charities served as her “pre-law advisers,” before her arrival at Brooklyn Law, she said.
Photos from the Student Open House breakfast can be found here. And photos from the Staff Lunch Open House can be found here.
The Career Development Center’s email is career@brooklaw.edu and the phone number is (718) 780-7963. The Public Service Center’s email is publicservice@brooklaw.edu
and the phone number is (718) 780-0689.