Cardozo School of Law Announces New Dean of Career Services
MAY 24, 2016– New York, NY– Dean Melanie Leslie has announced that Neil Sirota will become Cardozo’s associate dean of career services this June. He comes to Cardozo from The Pennsylvania State University, Penn State Law where he served as assistant dean of career services. A graduate of Columbia Law School, he practiced law for six years as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. In addition, he spent several years as a director and managing director for large legal recruiting firms.
“I am very pleased Dean Sirota will be leading us through the next phase of employment growth for our graduates,” said Dean Leslie. “Cardozo School of Law has made significant strides in improving our counseling and placement opportunities, and we have seen a substantial jump in our employment numbers. I am very confident he has the expertise and vision to build on that momentum.”
Associate Dean Sirota replaces Associate Dean Patricia Morrissy, who is leaving Cardozo to join a legal search firm. Under Morrissy’s leadership the law school increased the job placement rate for graduates by 10 percentage points over the previous year. This month The National Law Journal placed Cardozo among the top 50 law schools for placing graduates in full-time, long-term jobs requiring bar passage and not funded by the law school.
Sirota has played a key role at Penn State Law in boosting employment rates. He worked with faculty, students and staff to improve counseling and increase student engagement with career counselors. During the first year of his leadership the school saw a 20 percentage point increase in employment numbers. His accomplishments include implementing an employer outreach strategy that significantly increased recruitment on campus.
For more information contact:
John DeNatale
Assistant Dean, Communications and Public Affairs
212.790.0237
DeNatale@yu.edu