A Brooklyn jury awarded Mr. Vargas $17.5 million for the City of New York’s violation of his civil rights for failing to provide him medical care while in custody. The jury found that the police officers involved failed to provide the necessary medical treatment and awarded $17.5 million to Mr. Vargas.
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HKG Law Supports NYLS in Launching Student Ambassador Initiative for Advocacy Program
New York Law School (NYLS) recently expanded its Harris Keenan & Goldfarb (HKG) Advocacy Program with the introduction of a new Student Ambassador initiative, bringing together the school’s three competitive advocacy teams: Trial Competition Team (TCT), Moot Court Association (MCA), and Dispute Resolution Team (DRT). This fresh initiative provides an exciting opportunity to promote collaboration, leadership, and skill-building for the next generation of lawyers.
What is the HKG Advocacy Program?
The HKG Advocacy Program—named after HKG Law—was created with the generous support of founding partner Seth A. Harris, and named partners and NYLS alumni Alison R. Keenan (’06) and Blake G. Goldfarb (’10). The program, directed by Professor Lynn Boepple Su, has become a cornerstone for law students looking to strengthen their trial advocacy and dispute resolution skills through practical training, expert faculty, and national competitions.
The Launch of the Student Ambassador Initiative
The Student Ambassador initiative aims to bring together student leaders from each of the three advocacy teams, creating a platform for them to share their achievements, enhance their skills, and foster a deeper sense of community within NYLS. It’s all about fostering collaboration and providing opportunities for students to further develop their skills and leadership abilities.
Professor Su shared her thoughts on the new initiative:
“This initiative brings together the energy, talent, and dedication of our advocacy teams in a new and collaborative way,” said Professor Su, who also serves as Faculty Advisor to TCT. “By creating a shared platform for student leadership, this initiative helps deepen the impact of our co-curricular programs and builds a stronger, more connected advocacy community at NYLS. I’m incredibly proud of our inaugural ambassadors and excited to see how they help shape the future of the HKG Advocacy Program.”
The Inaugural Student Ambassadors
The first group of Student Ambassadors includes representatives from each team:
- Kierin Geed ’26 and Sara Hosseini ’25 (TCT)
- Hallie Bader ’25 and John West ’26 (MCA)
- Jessica L. Kumar ’26 and Mark Kvinta ’26 (DRT)
Quotes from the Student Ambassadors
The ambassadors are enthusiastic about their role. Sara Hosseini (TCT) explains, “I wanted to be an ambassador because TCT has been such an important part of my development as a future trial attorney. I’m excited to help others access the same growth opportunities I’ve had through the program.”
Meanwhile, Mark Kvinta (DRT) shared how being part of the team has helped him grow: “DRT has pushed me to think critically, communicate effectively, and tackle problems with creative solutions. It’s been an incredible experience, and now as an ambassador, I want to bring that experience to others.”
How the Student Ambassador Initiative Strengthens the Advocacy Program
The HKG Advocacy Program continues to have a huge impact on NYLS students, giving them hands-on experience and preparing them for the realities of practicing law. The Student Ambassador initiative will only deepen the program’s reach, building an even more dynamic and connected advocacy community.
To dive deeper into the HKG Advocacy Program and learn more about the Student Ambassador initiative, click here to read the full article on NYLS News.
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Thank you so much for recovering my injury case from 9 years ago that was dead in the water since the company went bankrupt and there was nothing else to do. Miraculously, you resurrected my case and was able to get a settlement which completed for me the horrific accident and the suffering I endured because of it. HK&G makes miracles happen by getting the job done and seeing that justice is served. Thank you so much.
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