Practicing law wasn’t the original career path for third-year Hofstra Law student John Margolies. However, all that changed when he received the opportunity to work at the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office before his junior year of college. There he “fell in love with the job and its responsibilities” and since then has committed his life to becoming a prosecutor.
Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association (HTAA)
Coming into Hofstra Law, John knew that he had to refine his trial advocacy skills to make his dream of becoming a prosecutor a reality. Though he made it on to the mock trial team he struggled to secure a position on the interscholastic team after his first year.
After working diligently and taking advantage of the summer workshops that were offered, he earned the opportunity to compete on one of the interscholastic teams. Since then he has excelled in many different competitions, even winning the title of Best Summation for the Kelly Trial Competition last semester.
For John, his mock trial experience has been the “defining” highlight of his law school career. He even accredits it to playing a crucial role in receiving his postgraduate position at the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
“I was able to make connections with people in my field who have been there and done that,” he says. “It also has helped a lot with my confidence as far as pertaining to the legal field. One of the biggest things that cripples law students is imposter syndrome where you don’t know if you’re actually good at what you do. It’s given me a place where I’m able to compete against people who are objectively good and come out strong.”
The Clinical Prosecution Practicum
Last semester John participated in Hofstra Law’s Clinical Prosecution Practicum, where students get the opportunity to work in a local district attorney’s office and participate under a student practice order in the prosecution of criminal cases under the supervision of Professor Fred Klein, as well as an assistant district attorney, who serves as the field placement supervisor.
“Nothing is going to have a greater impact on my boots on the ground day one, ability to do my job than the stuff I learned in that Clinic,”
While in the Clinic, John worked in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and prosecuted over a dozen cases. He gained exposure to arraignments, plea bargaining, case assessment, and more.
“Nothing is going to have a greater impact on my boots on the ground day one, ability to do my job than the stuff I learned in that Clinic,” he says.
The Clinic also gave him a good sense of what the working environment will be like once he starts his new job at the Queens District Attorney’s Office.
“The Clinic experience was indispensable as well as working in the DA’s office. It’s a lot about comradery and team work,” he says. “You get a certain sense of comradery through shared hardship of going through the very intense Clinic together. It created a bond between the people in the Clinic with me that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Being Present in the Community
Being active within the community and having a positive impact on those he serves is very important to John. He currently serves as the Student Bar Association president and as a mentor to other law students on campus.
“I just try to be present. I try to be an ear to anybody who needs it, I try to be a mouth for the people that can’t speak up for themselves, and I try to do the best I can to advocate for the people who rely on me.”
His commitment to serving others and making a difference in their lives is something he would like to take into his new position as a prosecutor.
“When somebody has a problem the issue is more important than the most pressing problem, it’s deeper. You have to ask questions, try to see what the root of the issue is and try to treat the root of the issue to make it better. I see that as part of my role as a prosecutor.”
Law School Necessities
Throughout his busy law school career John has kept two pieces of advice in mind that have helped him succeed in and out of his classes.
He believes that if you’re a student you should “keep your mind open and try everything. Doubt and challenge yourself and find yourself a good group of people who will ride or die with you through it all. If you have those two things, whatever you end up doing you can’t fail.”
The post John Margolies 3L on Preparing to be a Prosecutor appeared first on Hofstra Law News.