Patricia (Tricia) Feighan ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½94 and her daughter, Michelle, a current 2L at Haub Law, have deep family ties to Pace. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½My father, Philip B. Blank, was Associate Dean for External Affairs and Professor of Law at what was then known as ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ School of Law,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said Tricia. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½He was a huge advocate for the Law School and for women to pursue legal careers. He encouraged me early on to pursue my dream of following in his footsteps.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ Deciding to attend Haub Law was a natural choice for Tricia. She was working full-time and while she wanted to pursue her dream of the law, she also needed to continue working. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Haub Law was known to have a great part-time program with many night classes and the location was ideal. I knew if I attended Haub Law, I would have a solid foundation to begin my law career.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
While it was at an early age that Tricia started thinking about going to law school, the decision came a bit later to her daughter, Michelle. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½As a history major in my undergraduate studies, I had a strong interest in American History,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said Michelle. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I developed an appreciation for the American justice system and enjoyed learning about how the development of our country shaped our laws and the U.S. Constitution. I also took note of the attorneys throughout history who brought about positive change to our world through their careers. I noticed how a legal degree could advance someoneΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s skills and knowledge, and also give them the ability to bring positive change to peopleΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s lives. While my motherΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s career as an attorney had made me consider law school, my interest in my studies was ultimately why I decided to pursue a legal career. Once I took an interest in attending law school, my mother was extremely excited for me. The strong family affiliation with Pace was a bonus for me once I decided to pursue a law degree. Between that, and the positive experiences I had heard of students who did attend Haub Law, I was confident that I would receive a high-quality education to prepare me for my future legal career.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Thus far, MichelleΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s law school experience has been an extremely positive one. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I have truly enjoyed my classes and am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such intelligent and experienced professors. I have spent the past year interning as a law clerk at an immigration law firm, which has provided me with valuable hands-on experience working at a small firm. However, having taken an interest in criminal law classes throughout my 2L year, I have recently accepted an offer as an intern with the Westchester County District AttorneyΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s Office for this upcoming summer. I feel that the education I am receiving and the experiences I have had in and out of the classroom are preparing me well for my legal career.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Looking back, Tricia had a similarly positive experience during her time at Haub Law. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I was working during the day, attending law school at night, and I had my first two children while I was in law school. Haub Law allowed me, as a working mother, to be able to fulfill my dream of being an attorney. After a number of years practicing post-law school, I decided to leverage my technical undergraduate degree in addition to my law degree. Having graduated college from ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ with a Bachelor of Science in computer science, I was eligible to take the patent bar. I am a registered patent attorney with the USPTO and employed by IBM as an IP law attorney. I am currently Counsel and Manager of a patent department.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
For both Tricia and Michelle, attending the same law school has played such a positive role in both of their lives and careers. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½My mother has truly supported me along the way and helped me pursue this path,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said Michelle. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½When deciding which school to attend, I had the chance to listen to her experiences as a student at Haub Law and understand how this school helped her get to where she is today. She was a strong influence on my decision to choose Haub Law. Now, as a 2L, I enjoy talking to her about my current classes and sharing my experiences. We even discuss professors that we now both have had the opportunity to learn from. I am truly grateful to get to share this part of my life with my mother, it has been a very special experience for both of us.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
For Tricia, life has come full circle with her daughter attending Haub Law, albeit a bit bittersweet. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½I think so highly of Pace and was so excited when Michelle decided to attend the same law school that I did, but also that my father was so proud to work at for so many years,ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ said Tricia. ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Although my father passed away while I was in college, I know he was watching over me as I pursued my dream and I want Michelle to know that I will always be cheering her on and encouraging her, just as my father did for me. I graduated from law school on my fatherΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s birthday. I know in my heart he is so proud to see Michelle and I have carried on the family legal legacy and even more proud we both attended Pace, a school he believed in, was dedicated to and was so passionate about.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
On Monday, February 10, 2025, the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½ welcomed Professor Michael C. Dorf, Robert S. Stevens Professor of Law at Cornell Law School as the speaker for the 2025 Dyson Distinguished Lecture. His lecture was entitled: ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½Play in the Joints of the Religion Clauses and Law More Broadly.ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½
Elisabeth Haub School of Law Professor Bennett Gershman speaks with CBS News about the legal battle over NYCΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½s congestion pricing program, noting that a judge has already upheld the plan and that President Trump does not have the authority to overturn it.
Bennett Gershman, professor of law at ΒιΆΉ΄«Γ½, told Newsweek: "Trump's Executive Order seeking to outlaw so called Birthright Citizenship is itself unlawful and will be easily struck down. "Mr. Trump may not like the constitutional rule. But however much he would like to, he does not have the power to flout the Constitution. He would need to get and the states to amend the constitution to implement his objective."