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Many of our Tulane Law students are interested in working as post-graduate judicial law clerks, either in state or federal court. However, not as many are aware of the opportunities with Administrative Law Judges (ALJ), officials within federal or state agencies who preside over administrative hearings to resolve disputes between the federal government and other parties. ALJs hire law clerks to assist in their case management, just as federal and state court judges do. Finding these positions can be a tricky process, as there is no uniform hiring process across the various agencies.

To assist our students in learning about ALJs, what they do, and how to find positions within these agencies, the CDO invited Judge Lee L. Romero, Jr., an ALJ at the US Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Administrative Law Judges to speak about his duties and experiences and about the Department of Labor’s hiring process. Judge Romero sits in the DOL’s Covington, LA branch, about 30 minutes across Lake Ponchartrain from New Orleans. His office annually recruits Tulane Law students and graduates to apply for clerkship openings within the agency. One of our recent graduates, Gillian Gurley (’11) is currently serving as a law clerk for Judge Patrick Rosenow in the same office, so we invited Gillian to share her experiences as well. Judge Romero discussed the types of cases heard by the ALJs in the Department of Labor. He also mentioned that interest and experience in admiralty/maritime law would be a huge advantage, given the DOL’s large docket of Longshoremen’s disputes. Gillian served as President of Maritime Law Society while a student at Tulane and received the certificate in Maritime Law  at graduation, making her an ideal candidate for this position.

Judge Romero mentioned that the DOL would again be hiring externs for the summer and law clerks for Fall 2012 and encouraged the students to apply. Attendees were given the chance to ask questions about what the ALJs look for in an applicant, which was valuable for any student planning to submit an application. Thanks to Judge Romero and Gillian for their participation in this program!

Tulane Law is extremely fortunate to have a pre-eminent Sports Law Program. Many of our students choose TLS specifically for the extensive sports law curriculum providing students with an unparalled exposure to the relevant issues encountered by practitioners in the sports law arena. TLS also offers a Certificate of Specialization in Sports Law which includes a coherent foundation preparing students for the various practice areas encountered by the sports law practitioner. In addition to the certificate program, TLS offers its students the opportunity to participate on the staff of The Sports Lawyers Journal. Students may write short articles or assist in editing. Additionally, TLS has an active student-run Sports Law Society that regularly meets with important sports figures to discuss legal issues, and often sponsors public programs involving leading sports attorneys and business leaders. In the spring, Tulane's Moot Court Board will host the annual Mardi Gras National Moot Court Competition, based on a contemporary legal problem confronting the sports industry. Finally, we are very proud to have Professor Gabe Feldman as an Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Sports Law Program at TLS. Professor Feldman has appeared on radio and television programs and is regularly quoted in newspapers throughout the country, including recently in The Salt Lake Tribune and in USAToday. If you have any further questions about our Sports Law Program, please review the Sports Law Brochure located on this website.

Tulane Law also has a very active alumni group practicing in the sports law industry. These alumni work for teams, governing bodies, firms, and many other disciplines practicing sports law. One of our alumni, Dean Warren Zola, recently testified before the US Congress on “The Impacts of Back-Room Deals, Payoffs, and Scandals in American Collegiate Student Athletics.” Warren K. Zola is the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in the Carroll School of Management at Boston College. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Tulane University in 1992 where he founded the Sports Law Society.