CUNY School of Law, Class of 2019
Currently at: Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department – Tort Division, Brooklyn
Jessica Orellana was born and raised in Jamaica Queens, New York to parents of El Salvadoran decent. She is currently an Assistant Corporation Counsel with the New York City Law Department, Tort Division in Brooklyn. She graduated from CUNY School of Law in 2019.
Jessica graduated from Queens College and earned a B.A. in Urban Studies and Sociology in 2010. She grew up in a bilingual household, and while in college, she was a volunteer at the Women’s Prison Association, a non-profit organization that promotes alternatives to incarceration and works with women at all stages of the criminal justice system. She continued her studies at New York University, completing an ABA Paralegal Diploma in 2012. Prior to enrolling in law school, Jessica worked as a paralegal at Panzavecchia & Associates, PLLC, where she focused on immigration rights, criminal defense and torts litigation and at the New York Legal Assistance Group in the Foreclosure Prevention Project helping save the homes of distressed families.
At CUNY School of Law, Jessica traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to promote justice and human rights for people in the South in partnership with other civil rights organizations in Mississippi. During her first-year, Jessica served as a legal intern for the Latino Judges Association working with several judges in several courts throughout New York State. Jessica was chosen as the Puerto Rican Bar Association recipient of the Justice Sallie Manzanet –Daniels Dare to Dream Scholarship. Thereafter, she interned with Ahmuty, Demers & McManus alongside Judge Lourdes Ventura earning the Hispanic Bar Association scholarship award. As a product of the NYC School system, Jessica will continue to work at the Law Department representing the City. She aspires to follow the steps of her mentors and become a Judge one day.
Reflections: Interning with the Latino Judges Association was one of the greatest opportunities in my life. I met Judges who became my mentors and have helped me become who I am today.
You must be logged in to post a comment.