“I learn best through hands-on experience. Northeastern was the perfect fit.
J. Nicole James ’12
In her very first co-op, J. Nicole James got to experience firsthand the tactics and planning that go into trial preparation. “I was working at the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, and the lead attorney included me in the strategy discussions for a tax case,” Nicole recalls. “I was hooked.”
Nicole used the rest of her co-ops — including an internship with the US Attorney’s Office in New York City — to develop her skills as a business litigator. After law school, she accepted a position as an associate with her former co-op employer, McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney and Carpenter, where she handled cases related to bankruptcy, commercial law and corporate restructuring. In 2013, signed on for a yearlong clerkship with the New Jersey Superior Court. “I wouldn’t be who or where I am today if it weren’t for Northeastern,” says Nicole, who today works as an associate in the banking and finance group at Mayer Brown. “I learn best through hands-on experience. Northeastern was the perfect fit.”
Massachusetts Department of Revenue – Litigation Bureau, Boston, Massachusetts
Nicole performed legal research and analysis, drafted pleadings and assisted attorneys in case development and preparation for actual trials.
- Black Law Students Association (chair)
- Council on Legal Education Opportunity
- Student Bar Association
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Newark, New Jersey
Under the supervision of the Honorable Joseph A. Greenway, Nicole received a “boost of confidence to take control of who I am as a legal writer.”
After researching and analyzing issues related to corporate free speech, Nicole wrote a case comment on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.
McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney & Carpenter, Newark, New Jersey
Nicole explored in depth the branch of law she’s most passionate about: business litigation, including bankruptcy and taxes.
- Bankruptcy
- Legal Interviewing and Counseling
- Sustainable Income Development
US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, New York
Nicole worked in an office that is at the forefront of many important areas of criminal law enforcement, including terrorism, white collar and cyber crime, mortgage fraud, public corruption, gang violence, organized crime, international narcotics trafficking and civil rights violations.
Community Business Clinic
Nicole made a difference for small business owners in Boston by helping them secure tax ID numbers, negotiate leases and understand tax requirements.