#FutureFordhamLawyers
These law students are ready to create a real-world impact in ways that make the Law School community, New York City, and the world better.
Photography by Anna Currell
Christian Veliz ’28 JD
Hometown Brooklyn, New York
College Georgetown University
Favorite Class Stein Summer Externship Seminar with Professor Gowri Krishna
Activities REAL Scholars Program, Stein Scholars Program, Fordham Law Review
“I’m interested in how the law can be used as a tool to hold institutions accountable and expand access
for underrepresented communities—particularly in areas like education, civil rights, immigration, and economic justice. Ultimately, I hope to practice at an organization where I can work on complex, high-impact matters at the intersection of law, policy, and structural reform.”
Amru
Palaniyappan ’28 JD
Hometown Andover, Massachusetts
College Carnegie Mellon University
Favorite Class Torts with Professor Chinmayi Sharma
Activities Fordham Business Law Association, Fordham Women’s Law Society, Fordham Information Law Society
“I think the law is going to need to move faster than it’s ever moved before.
The law needs people who have tech experience, and it also needs people who are thinking from a tech perspective—whether it’s writing AI policy or thinking about mergers and acquisitions where there is AI involved. We’re in a formative time in terms of how the law will shape AI usage and vice versa. That intersection is where I want to be. Now is the time to shape it into what we want it to be.”
Adetoun Adelana ’27 JD
Hometown Queens, New York
College Northeastern University
Favorite Class Foreign Relations with Professor Martin Flaherty
Activities Fordham Journal of Corporate and Financial Law, Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Center, Black Law Students Association, Board of Student Advisors Mentor, NYC Bar Ambassador
“I’m most interested in pursuing corporate law when I graduate. I’ve always enjoyed making strong arguments and thinking quickly on my feet.
I like the courtroom setting, the structure of legal procedures, and the challenge of legal writing and research. Litigation lets me do all of that while constantly learning more about the law in real time.”
Juan Lozano de Diego ’26 LLM
Hometown Valladolid, Spain
College Comillas Pontifical University
Favorite Class Corporations with Professor Richard Squire
Activities Fordham Business and Law Association, Fordham Corporate Law Center
“I chose Fordham Law primarily for its preeminent reputation in corporate and banking law, as well as its strategic location
and close connection to the New York legal market. Pursuing my LLM at Fordham has been a meaningful experience for me, both professionally and personally. I am grateful for the opportunities it has given me, and I would strongly recommend this path to any other lawyer with similar career goals.”
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