CENTER PIECE
The Mattone Institute Teams With Alumni to Make Career Connections Just about five years ago, the Mattone Family Institute for Real Estate Law first opened its doors at St. John’s Law with a generous endowment from Joseph M. Mattone, Sr. ’53C, ’55L, ’94 HON, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Mattone Group. In that time, from its home base in a well-appointed suite on the Law School’s third floor, the Mattone Institute has helped to prepare hundreds of aspiring real estate attorneys for success in the field. In the classroom, students learn about commercial leasing, real estate development, real estate finance, and other key subjects through an innovative curriculum taught by renowned scholars and practitioners. They also participate in co-curricular programs, like the Real Estate Law Fellowship Program, the Real Property Law Society, and the N.Y. Real Property Law Journal, and engage with leaders in the field at site visits, fireside chats, and a range of in-person and virtual events. At the heart of all the Mattone Institute offers is a group of St. John’s Law alumni who are committed to helping students make career connections. “The Institute exists to support students who are interested in real estate law, and we fulfill that mission year after year 8 l ST. JOHN’S LAW MAGAZINE
by teaming with alumni who work in the industry,” says Robert J. Sein ’03, who has been the Mattone Institute’s director since 2017. “A number of those alumni partners serve on the Institute’s Advisory Board, and all understand how important it is for students to build real-world experience hands on.” Helping students gain that experience is a full-circle opportunity for Kelly Porcella ’07. When she was a St. John’s Law 1L, Pamela McCormack ’96 hired her for a summer internship at a top
Kelly Porcella
Pamela McCormack
