Alumni Spotlight

   Matthew Zappen '03

          Matthew Zappen ’03, former Managing Editor of Albany Law Review, took the time to answer some questions posed by Rachel Clattenburg.  Mr. Zappen is currently working as a law clerk to the Honorable Roger J. Miner, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

What is one thing you enjoy about your current work as a law clerk?

          While there are many things I enjoy about my work, I consider myself very blessed to be in a position of service where I am challenged daily and where I am able to examine and assist with the research of difficult and precedential legal issues in so many of the cases before the court.  To be in the position of service that I am, where I am exposed daily to veteran and learned legal minds, is very humbling.

When did you start working as a law clerk?  What did you do before that?

          I began clerking in June 2004. Prior to clerking, I was an associate at the Albany-based law firm of Girvin & Ferlazzo, P.C. I graduated from Albany Law School in 2003.  Prior to law school, I earned the degree of Master of Arts in Criminal Justice from the State University of New York at Albany.  I earned my degree of Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

What role did you have on the Law Review Editorial Board?

          I was the Managing Editor of the Editorial Board. Of note, at that time the position of "Managing Editor" was termed the "Executive Editor for Production."  I am a fan of the title change made by the Law Review as to the position of "Managing Editor," as that title seems to be consistent with the same substantive position at most law reviews in the country.

What would you tell a current law student who is on Law Review and wonders what they should be getting out of the experience of photocopying and editing?

          The editing process, and responsibilities attendant to that process, that a 2L law review member endures is, in my view, the "meat and potatoes" of the Law Review experience.  Just as an athlete might garner the most progress and growth through hard work in the gym and through difficult and, at times, isolating training, so does the Law Review member benefit from time spent in the law library gathering sources and studying any relevant grammar and "Bluebooking" rules applicable to the articles that they are responsible for working on.  Many of the skills needed to adequately perform the 2L editorial duties must be self-taught (i.e., the Bluebook), and in this regard, there is simply no substitute for, or shortcut to, putting in the time to read through, and become acquainted with, the rules of the Bluebook, the Chicago Manual of Style, the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual, or any other authoritative source that the Law Review relies upon.  The student who embraces this self-teaching process will be the type of student who is able to actively acquire (and refine) the skills necessary for service on the Editorial Board as a 3L.  Moreover, these skills will carry over into practice as a new attorney, as many of the new attorney’s duties involve cite and substance checking, legal research, and the drafting of legal memoranda, briefs, or motions.

          The editorial process is also important from an institutional perspective. As we know, "Albany Law School was the first institution to produce a student edited legal periodical," Albany Law School, Albany Law Review, History, at http://www.albanylawreview.org/sub.php?id=10 (last visited Feb. 19, 2010), and to continue to honor this tradition and maintain institutional credibility, exceptional accuracy is required for each article and the footnotes and all textual propositions therein.  Moreover, prompt and exceptional editing provides the Law Review with the ability to represent itself to the legal community, and authors of the articles published in the Law Review, that the Law Review is an up-to-date and current law review, whereby articles are edited and published in a timely manner.

How do you think Law Review helped you?

          My experience on the Law Review was the most important experience that I was privileged to have during law school.  While the substance of cases and statutes studied in second- and third-year courses may fade from memory over time for some students, the lessons and training that I acquired through my work on the Law Review, in my view, do not.  The agonizing (at times) attention to detail and location of sources, to "Bluebooking" rules, to grammar rules (beyond those tersely covered in the Bluebook—i.e., those set forth in the Chicago Manual of Style and/or the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual), and to proper citation and inclusion of authority for every textual proposition are all lessons that carry over and serve as the genesis of effective, accurate, and credible legal writing in the practice of law.  The skills learned on the Law Review not only distinguish a student’s research and writing skills within the law school and Law Review community but also help a new attorney distinguish her research and writing skills in the practice of law, wherever she finds herself working, whether it be in government, in private practice, or clerking.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

          I spend most of my free time at the YMCA playing basketball and lifting weights.  I also enjoy running long/middle distance, whether on the indoor track at the YMCA or outdoors, weather permitting.  I also enjoy playing tennis, and I play tennis indoors during the winter months and outdoors during times of suitable weather.

          When I’m not exercising and staying active, I enjoy non-legal academic interests as well. Most important to me, I find great interest, comfort, and personal growth in my faith in God from Bible study, and I have tremendous appreciation for my many blessings.  I am also currently studying for CompTIA’s A+ examination, see CompTIA, A+ ("The CompTIA A+ certification is the industry standard for computer support technicians."), at http://www.comptia.org/certifications/listed/a.aspx (last visited February 17, 2010).

          Down the road, and after A+ certification, I also hope to pass CompTIA’s Network + and Security + examinations in the next couple years.  See CompTIA, Network + ("The CompTIA Network+ certification is the sign of a competent [computer] networking professional.  It is an international, vendor-neutral certification that proves a technician’s competency in managing, maintaining, troubleshooting, installing and configuring basic [computer] network infrastructure."), at http://www.comptia.org/certifications/listed/network.aspx (last visited February 17, 2010); CompTIA, Security + ("CompTIA Security+ is an international, vendor-neutral certification that proves competency in [computer] system security, network infrastructure, access control and organizational security."), at http://www.comptia.org/certifications/listed/security.aspx (last visited February 17, 2010).

          Other trivial, less-active recreational interests of mine are watching movies, playing video games, and spending time with family/friends.  I particularly enjoy watching and attending college sporting events, especially basketball games.