Calcaterra Pollack’s 2020 Diversity Pipeline Pre-Law Summer Internship
In cooperation with the State University of New York at New Paltz and the City University of New York at Hunter College Pre-Law Program, Calcaterra Pollack is currently hosting its first annual six-week paid internship program. As part of this program, diverse undergraduate students and recent graduates are selected to work alongside the Firm’s nationally recognized litigators to gain real life work experience and direct exposure to the field of law. During the course of the program, summer interns are introduced to the substance, business and ethics of the law and specifically the practice areas of social justice and consumer protection.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, our internship program is being conducted remotely.
Summer 2020 Interns
Esther Joseph: Born in St. Lucia and raised in New York City, Esther Joseph is a graduate of SUNY New Paltz (’20), where she double majored in Political Science and International Relations, with minors in Black Studies and Economics. As a student, she has performed in numerous roles that align with her passion for advocacy regarding diversity and inclusion issues, education policy and the furtherance of social justice. As the former Student Association Senate Chair and Representative for SUNY University colleges, she now plans to pursue a master’s degree in Public Administration at CUNY Baruch College this fall.
“Interning at Calcaterra Pollack has changed my image of what a diverse and inclusive law firm should look like. Having the opportunity to work with such wonderful, compassionate, and assiduous individuals who are determined to ensure justice for their clients has taught me so much about what it takes to be a well-rounded lawyer. I hope to one day be as brilliant and knowledgeable about the law as all the attorneys at Calcaterra Pollack.”
Montserrat Lopez: Montserrat Lopez is a Roosevelt Scholar at Hunter College (’22), where she majors in Political Science and minors in Public Policy. Born in Mexico, Montserrat is a DACA recipient and has previously worked and volunteered with nonprofits representing underserved, minority and immigrant communities including UnLocal, Peer Health Exchange, El Puente de Williamsburg, and Latino Justice. Montserrat is a NY Immigration Coalition Dream fellow this year. She also became an Eva Kastan Grove Fellow, where she worked alongside Dorchen Leidholdt at Sanctuary for Families to bring awareness to the dangers of domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Upon graduation, Montserrat plans to attend law school and become a public interest attorney to merge her interests in law and activism.
“Calcaterra Pollack is pioneering a future for firms focused on inclusivity, forward-thinking leadership, and a collaborative team environment. Coming into my experience, I knew I would learn valuable lessons on different areas of expertise, but I was pleasantly surprised to also learn about the practicalities of running a business and the ethics of law. My experience here has set the bar high for future prospects and who I want to be as a lawyer.”
Firm Staff:
Regina Calcaterra
Partner Regina Calcaterra co-manages the Firm’s Diversity Pipeline internship program. Prior to starting the program at Calcaterra Pollack, Regina oversaw several successful summer internships, working to highlight the importance of diversifying the professionals in the legal industry. As a proud SUNY New Paltz graduate, Regina is a strong proponent of professional mentorship and will facilitate workshops between attorneys and interns centered around each of the Firm’s practice areas.
Isidora Echeverria
Paralegal Isidora Echeverria assists Regina Calcaterra in managing the summer internship, where she brings her own legal research and litigation experience to the program. As a recent graduate of CUNY Hunter College and a former diversity pre-law intern, Isidora is eager to continue furthering the Firm’s values of social justice and impactful mentorship.