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Areas of Interest
May 21st, 2013
Views on the News: Graduation
Student newspaper, Brandeis Independent, quoted Jeffrey A. Greenbaum on the job market for college graduates.
College graduates enter the job market with a clear advantage over non-graduates. According to a recent New York Times article, unemployment for college graduates is 3.9 percent, almost half of the national average of 7.5 percent. Employment, however, is only part of what makes a Brandeis graduate “successful.” What do you think makes a Brandeis graduate successful? What advice would you give to the Class of 2013?
University President Frederick Lawrence
There are several Brandesian values that, I believe, distinguish our graduates and make them successful. These include the ability to recognize opportunity, to lead in formal and informal ways—from the organizational level to the personal level, and a willingness to take risks—especially for causes we believe in. This is particularly true in terms of our commitment to social justice. A steady moral compass is a prerequisite for true success. In my commencement address, I quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson. In his journal, he wrote: “Do not be too timid about your actions. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make, the better. What if you do fail, and get fairly rolled in the dirt once or twice. Up again, you shall never again be so afraid of a tumble.” Brandesians are not afraid of a tumble. Remember what you liked best about yourself at Brandeis and stay in touch with that person.
Frederick Lawrence is the president of Brandeis University.
Jeffrey Greenbaum ’90
My mother told me that “once you graduate from medical school, you can do whatever you want to do.” Thankfully, she was joking. To achieve what you have achieved so far, you probably have done a lot of things in your life for your parents or because you thought it was what you were supposed to do. Notwithstanding all of that, chances are, you have made some very good decisions. (You went to Brandeis, after all.) If you want to succeed in your career, however, it is time to start figuring out what it is that you want to do, for you. Don’t pick a job just because it is easy to get, it pays a good salary or because your parents were hoping to have another lawyer in the family. In the long run, that’s not going to make you happy or lead to success. So, what is the recipe for success in your career? Do what you love. It may take a while for you to figure that out. And, there may be many ups and downs along the way. But, if you can choose a career that truly interests and excites you, where you are truly doing what you love to do, the success will follow.
Jeffrey Greenbaum graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis in 1990 and from Columbia University School of Law in 1993. He is currently the managing partner for Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC.
Other Quoted
In Suits and Ties, Lawyers Protest Trump’s Attacks on the Legal System
The New York Times quotes Ronald C. Minkoff in its coverage of the May 1, 2025 National Law Day of Action, in which approximately 1,500 people in Manhattan protested the U.S. president’s threats against judges, lawyers and the rule of law. Legal groups organized attorneys across the country to show their opposition to the Trump administration’s defiance of court orders, targeting of law firms, and wrongful deportations. The lawyers reaffirmed their promise to uphold the rule of law and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Foley Square protest organizers requested that attorneys dress in suits—as if going to court and carry pocket Constitutions. “‘We want people to see that we treat this issue with utmost respect,’ said Ronald C. Minkoff, a defense lawyer and an organizer. ‘This is like the courtroom to us.’” View Article
May 1 2025
Attys Join Nationwide ‘Day Of Action’ Rallies For Rule Of Law
Law360 quotes Ronald C. Minkoff on the thousands of attorneys who rallied across the country on May 1, National Law Day, to publicly oppose the Trump administration’s attack on the rule of law. The article stated, “New York County Lawyers Association vice president and noted legal ethics expert Ron Minkoff of Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC, said the rallies came together fairly organically as bar associations across the country began looking at ways to spotlight the Trump administrations actions against judges and lawyers and then realized National Law Day of Action was just a few weeks away.” Mr. Minkoff stated that he doesn’t normally go to demonstrations but these are things that stir him to action. “’When the ability of lawyers to represent their clients is under threat, that is an attack on one of the pillars of the American system, the American experiment,’ he added.” View article. (Behind paywall)
May 1 2025
Jonah Brill and Spouse Emma Brill Featured on Cardozo Law School Podcast
Jonah Brill and his wife Emma Brill are interviewed on their alma mater’s audio publication SPARKS: A Cardozo School of Law Podcast | Cardozo Law. Having met as first-year law students at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, they discuss how their law school affected their personal lives and chosen career paths. They share their class recommendations, “insights into the complexities of tax law,” and “lessons learned along the way.” Listen here.
April 8 2025
