Andrew M. Kepple

Andrew M. Kepple has made the most of his opportunities at the School of Law

2L
Rolsindale, Massachusetts

Summer 2005
Intern at the New York City Department of Correction Legal Division
Summer 2004
Intern for Justice Patricia P. Satterfield, Supreme Court of Queens County (Civil Division)

With hopes of working in civil litigation after he graduates, Andrew Kepple has tried to make the most of the externship opportunities afforded to him at the School of Law. They are experiences, he feels, that will prepare him in ways a classroom lecture never could.

“There are certain things you can’t learn in school. Books, teachers, and class participation cannot teach you how to argue in front of judges, counsel clients, or interact with opposing counsel. Those are things you have to learn outside of school. By participating in an externship, you get the chance to learn those things in a supervised setting, before you become a practicing attorney.”

In 2004, Andrew was an intern for Justice Patricia P. Satterfield at the Supreme Court of Queens County. The experience enabled him to closely observe attorneys on both sides of a particular issue and gain insight on how the different attorneys advocate for their clients in different settings.

“I also assisted the Justice in writing an opinion on a tort case. It was my responsibility to research an issue of law that had previously not been settled in that court. After researching the issue and writing a memo, the Justice was so pleased with my findings that she incorporated the memo into her decision and credited my work in a footnote.”

These are the kinds of experiences that one doesn’t normally anticipate when looking at law schools, Andrew says. But it is a solid reflection of the wide range of possibilities that students encounter at the School of Law.

“One of the best things about St. John’s is the wide range of opportunities like this that exist here. For instance, clinics. We have the domestic violence clinic, elder law clinic, securities arbitration clinic, child advocacy clinic, and others. This reflects a strong commitment on the part of St. John’s to the practical applications of law in a wide range of legal disciplines.”

To learn more about the opportunities at St. John's from our Students, Alumni and Faculty, visit our web page.