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Matt Bruno began his journey into the legal world during his time at Rutgers, but his passion for law began even before that. Matt explained that his uncle, who is an environmental lawyer, initially inspired him to consider law as a profession. Once he committed to Rutgers, he “wanted to pick a curriculum that kind of matched or complimented where [he] was hoping to go.” This helped him to choose a double-major in Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior (EPIB) and Political Science, where he would select coursework that aligned with his interests in law. During his time at Rutgers, he became very involved in the Alpha Zeta professional fraternity on campus, worked on research with Professor Emeritus George Clark, and began taking LSAT preparation classes to gain valuable experience that would become useful to his career path.
After taking his LSAT, Matt was accepted into Fordham Law School, where he took various courses in “environmental litigation, and labor and employment law.” However, after taking these courses, his interests shifted to commercial and complex litigation. After law school, he took two one-year clerkships, which Matt describes as “kind of like your classic apprenticeship. You help the judge write his opinions, you help in deciding how to rule on different issues.” He clerked for both an appellate and federal judge in New Jersey, spending a year with each judge. After his clerkships, Matt worked for a law firm called Greenberg Traurig for three and a half years before moving to Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, where he is currently working. After working there for four years, he was promoted to partner, which is his current position at the firm.
Litigating at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips
As a litigator and partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Matt explains: “I build cases when I’m representing companies to sue for antitrust violations, I also defend companies and businesses that are being sued by shareholders, contractual disputes, those are the types of cases.” Matt was recently in a jury trial for an antitrust lawsuit that he litigated in, which he expressed was rather rare. At Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Matt argues in front of courts, prepares briefs, and takes depositions. However, becoming a partner means that he has the added role of generating business for the firm. Matt explains that as a partner, “you’re kind of constantly trying to pitch yourself to other clients and generate more business for the firm, and so it’s kind of a balance of not just being a lawyer but also being a businessman.” This role, he states, is the next step in his career and is expected of partners at a law firm.
Influence of EPIB on Matt’s Career
Something that Matt loved about the EPIB curriculum was how you can customize the courses you take to your own interests and career goals. Since he knew during his entire undergraduate experience that he wanted to be a lawyer, Matt took multiple courses that involved law and policy. He also explained that these law courses in the Human Ecology department, especially Environmental Law and Policy, were structured the same way that classes in law school would be, with similar content. When discussing law courses offered in the EPIB program, Matt explained, “I thought that was a really good thing that I think is not all that available in other programs, like I think of my Poli-Sci coursework and I don’t think there was any actual law school type courses that were available there.”
In addition, Matt brought up how helpful it was for him to have peers in EPIB who were also interested in pursuing a career in law, noting that this program helped them all to prepare for law school. He also thought that it was valuable that students in the program were exposed to many different courses and career options, like advocacy, law, and environmental justice. He explained how he “think[s] it’s great…that EPIB can cover all different things; if you want to get into policy work, you want to be a lawyer, you want to do advocacy work, environmental justice work,” you can find courses and opportunities that are right for you.
Advice for Students and Recent Grads
Matt suggests that EPIB students who are still in school should be “keeping an open mind” so that they can “have a broader mindset to what other things are available to pursue and consider.” He expressed that EPIB prepares students well for anything that they want to go into in the future and that “regardless of what your career path is going to be, there’s going to be a sense of advocacy that’s needed.” This sense of advocacy is something that Matt thinks EPIB does a great job instilling in its students. Matt tells students to focus on strengthening their advocacy skills, which will benefit them in any industry or field that they will end up in.
For recent graduates, whether they have recently completed an undergraduate or law school degree, finding jobs can be extremely difficult. Matt says that his biggest piece of advice would be “not being afraid of failure and not being deterred by rejection.” He thinks that it is important to “push yourself to apply, not [to] be afraid of getting rejected from nine out of ten places, that tenth one maybe being somewhere where you should be at.” Matt explained how important it is to be an advocate for what you believe in, especially after you have graduated. Instead of only saying something that you think employers would want to hear, Matt suggests, “it’s more important that your true colors shine and you really show what you’re passionate about.” He states that “when you start to interview at places where you are passionate about the work that’s being done there, you’ll make yourself an even better, stronger candidate for that position.” If you advocate for yourself and let your personality and individuality show, Matt believes that you will find a place where you can have a strong impact.