Candice Cho ’12 Awarded First NYC Corporation Counsel Clerkship

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New York, April 3, 2012—Columbia Law School student Candice Cho ’12 (pictured right) has been awarded the New York City Law Department’s inaugural Corporation Counsel Clerkship. She was chosen from a group of more than 400 applicants for the singular position funded by private donations.

Michael A. Cardozo ’66, New York City’s corporation counsel, created the one-year clerkship to provide a unique combination of public service experience and insight into the operations and governance of New York City. The clerkship—the first of its kind in New York City—is modeled on a traditional judicial clerkship. 

Cho’s public sector experience and academic credentials are well suited to meet the challenges of the position. She externed last spring in the corporation counsel’s law department, and for the full fall semester at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. She also served as a summer associate at Foley & Lardner in San Francisco last summer, and as a law clerk in the domestic violence unit of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office in the summer of 2010. 

Prior to attending law school, Cho worked as a legislative staffer for Senator Richard J. Durbin, D.-Ill. In that capacity, she helped advance the senator’s legislative priorities related to food safety, consumer product safety, and public housing. Cho earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Georgetown Public Policy Institute and a B.A. from Harvard University. 

“Columbia’s externship programs have been a defining part of my law school experience,” said Cho. “As an extern, I’ve been able to build on my passion for, and professional experience in, public service by taking on real responsibilities and working closely with lawyers who make it impossible to be cynical about the power of government to make a meaningful, positive impact on people’s lives. I am honored to be selected [for the clerkship] and thrilled about the opportunity to serve the city that’s become home for me.” 

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As a clerk with the corporation counsel, Cho will work closely with the Law Department’s executive staff, senior attorneys, and city officials. She will take on a broad range of responsibilities that may include trial court–level litigation, appellate work or counseling, and drafting legislation on matters involving significant policy initiatives, such as criminal or juvenile justice, the environment, education, social policy, municipal finance, land use, and economic development. 

 “We had an extraordinarily competitive pool of applicants,” said Cardozo (pictured left). “However, I cannot think of a better candidate than Candice Cho. She combines both a razor-sharp intellect with a strong and abiding interest in public affairs.”