Cardozo Dean Matthew Diller Announces Marcia Nan Levy as New Associate Dean of the Office of Career Services and Professor of Professional Development

NEW YORK, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Dean Matthew Diller has named Marcia Nan Levy as the Associate Dean of the Office of Career Services, and Professor of Professional Development at Cardozo School of Law. Dean Levy has more than 25 years of experience working with students and new lawyers in both the public and private sectors, helping them to reach their career aspirations and to develop into thoughtful and skilled professionals. Levy's distinguished legal career includes experience as a professor, clinical director, program administrator and practicing attorney.

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From 2007 to 2011, Levy worked at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP as Special Counsel for Pro Bono and Professional Development, overseeing eight staff members. She directed the professional and associate development programs for the firm, which has over 750 lawyers. Levy was responsible for overseeing the firm's policies and practices in mentoring, associate review, upward reviews, assignments, training and continuing legal education. She presented numerous panels, workshops and conferences on oral advocacy, international training programs and developing competencies from law school to practice. As Special Counsel for Pro Bono, Levy developed and supervised litigation and transactional pro bono opportunities for the entire firm.

Prior to her years at Sullivan & Cromwell, Levy spent 14 years in legal education, working as the Dean of Skills Programs at Hofstra University School of Law, the Director of the Clinical Law Program at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and as a Clinical Law Professor and the first Director of the Eric Neisser Public Interest Program at Rutgers University School of Law.

In the Fall 2011 semester, Levy worked as a Professor of Law at New York Law School. There, she taught Legal Practice, a course that covered writing, research, interviewing, counseling and negotiation.

Levy has served as an assistant federal defender for the Federal Defender's Office in the Eastern District of New York. In addition, she has worked as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society Prisoners' Rights Project. She was counsel and now is Special Advisor to Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman's Task Force on Access to Civil Legal Services. She is a member of the NYC Bar Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and served as the Chair of the AALS Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service.

In addition, Levy has developed, directed, and taught in advocacy training programs­­––working domestically with organizations such as the National Institute for Trial Advocacy, and internationally with ABA-Roli, Pilnet, and others. She designed and taught a one-week interactive teaching workshop for 24 professors from eight law faculties in Egypt, and organized a pro bono panel for the Global Alliance for Justice Education conference in Spain.

"Marcia brings a unique package of skills and experience to Cardozo," Dean Diller said. "She is thoroughly familiar with the process of preparing new lawyers, from the perspective of both law schools and legal employers, and will be able to communicate to our students the goals and expectations of employers, while at the same time educating employers about the excellence of Cardozo graduates and the superb education that they have received here. Marcia has a passion for working with students and will help guide them individually in fulfilling their aspirations. She is an ideal leader in this field and I am delighted that she is joining the Cardozo community."

"I am thrilled to be joining the dynamic team in the Office of Career Services, and to be a part of and to work closely with the exceptional community that is Cardozo," Dean Levy said. "I look forward to the challenges ahead, and to using my skills and experience to enhance our program and create opportunities for our students as they prepare for and embark on their careers."   

Jeff Becherer has been serving as Interim Assistant Dean of Career Services since November, and will continue to serve in that capacity through January.

"I am grateful to Jeff for playing a key role in this transition period," Dean Diller said. "Our students are fortunate to have his help in launching their professional careers, and he will continue to be an integral part of the career services effort."

Dean Levy will assume the post on January 30, 2012.

SOURCE Cardozo School of Law