Written By: Stephanie Mangano
Debbie Moore’s journey to Syracuse University College of Law began with a lifelong fascination with the law. Growing up in Nashua, New Hampshire, Moore developed an early interest in
Supreme Court decisions, which increased during her study of history and political science at
Skidmore College. Although she always knew she wanted to attend law school, it took her a
little longer than she expected to get there.
After earning her bachelor’s degree and starting a family, Moore set her sights on both an MBA
and a JD, ultimately making a strategic decision about which to undertake first. She initially
received her MBA from Syracuse, recognizing that pursuing both degrees simultaneously would
have meant forgoing the scholarship support she needed to achieve her JD. Four years after
completing her MBA, Moore followed through on her goal to attend law school, choosing to
apply exclusively to Syracuse University College of Law. By the time Debbie arrived at
Syracuse Law, her two sons were in middle and high school.
Debbie came to Syracuse Law with a sense that she might want to pursue a career in
employment law; but, after taking courses in Constitutional Law and Legal Writing and
Research, her interests turned in a different direction.
Moore was the first one in her family to go to law school; and, growing up, she did not know any
lawyers and had never been in a court room. Fortunately for her, Professor William Banks, her
Constitutional Law Professor, suggested that she look into the possibility of obtaining a judicial
internship in federal court. Debbie had never considered a judicial internship and, in fact, had no idea what a judicial intern did, but she took Professor Banks’ advice and applied for and accepted a judicial internship with Judge Neal McCurn for the summer after her first year of law school. This experience changed the trajectory of her legal career and led her to where she is today.
After graduating from law school, Moore accepted a two-year term clerkship with Judge
McCurn in the Northern District of New York, which was converted into a career clerkship
position. She clerked for Judge McCurn for 5 years and then for Judge Munson for 2 years.
Moore spoke enthusiastically about both Judges, emphasizing how intelligent they were and
what excellent mentors they proved to be.
After her initial clerkships, Debbie ventured into private practice with the thought that she could
gain some valuable experience from attorneys who practiced before the court and accepted a
position at Mackenzie Hughes LLP in their litigation department. She quickly learned that
litigation was not a good fit for her but that she enjoyed appellate work, eventually arguing cases before the Third and Fourth Departments. She explained that appellate work appealed to her because it involved the same type of research and writing skills that she had honed as a law clerk and that she felt much more comfortable analyzing the legal aspects of a case rather than arguing the facts of a particular case.
Although Moore emphasized that she learned a lot from her time in private practice, which
helped her to be a better law clerk, she felt compelled to return to the federal court system. For
the past twenty-five years, Debbie has served as a career law clerk for Judge Scullin in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. As Judge Scullin’s career law
clerk, she has had the opportunity to work on a wide range of federal matters, which has allowed her to combine her love for research and legal analysis with the opportunity to mentor and work collaboratively with both law students and newly-admitted attorneys, who have served as interns and term clerks in Judge Scullin’s chambers.
Moore remembers the Syracuse Law faculty as exceptionally supportive and approachable. As a
non-traditional student, she also found community among other students with families, creating a support network that helped everyone succeed. She also enjoyed attending classes and forming friendships with students of all ages, which helped her to understand and analyze legal issues from many different perspectives. Moore noted that she has stayed in contact with several of her classmates since her graduation in 1991, and it has been interesting to see the many things her classmates have done in the more than 30 years since their graduation.
For current students and recent graduates, Debbie offers clear and practical advice: work as a
judicial intern at some point during law school or as a law clerk early in your career. She stresses that much of the experience gained from working in a judge’s chambers simply cannot be obtained elsewhere. Judicial internships and clerkships offer unique opportunities to observe the entire judicial process, understand how judges think and make decisions, see how juries respond to attorneys and litigants, and experience criminal proceedings that many lawyers never encounter in their own practice. It’s a perspective on the justice system that cannot be replicated in any other legal setting.
Moore also speaks passionately about how much she has valued working with people from
different age groups and backgrounds both during law school and in her current position. She
notes that, when you do something for a long time like she has, you sometimes lose perspective
or “don’t think outside the box” and gaining insight from another person’s perspective can help
you identify issues you may not have initially considered. It’s a philosophy that has clearly
served her well throughout her career, and one that keeps her engaged with her work after
decades as a Career Law Clerk.
Moore’s dedication to the administration of justice was recently recognized when the Northern
District of New York Federal Court Bar Association presented her with the Lawrence K.
Baerman Award, honoring her contributions throughout her more than thirty-year career in the
Northern District. This recognition holds special meaning for Moore because it comes from the
community of attorneys who practice in the Northern District of New York, many of whom have
served as judicial interns and/or judicial law clerks with her. It’s a fitting tribute to a career built
on collaboration, mentorship, and an unwavering commitment to the judicial process.