In the thick of the Information Age, the Rutgers Institute for Information Policy and Law (RIIPL) is a much-needed hub for interdisciplinary research and policy work, illuminating legal issues impacting software, media, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and more. But for two alumni, RIIPL was a jumping off point for prestigious careers in pharmaceuticals.
Carl J. Minniti III ‘17
Carl J. Minniti III ‘17 already held a biology degree when he arrived at Rutgers Law School and immediately expanded his scientific interests to include intellectual property law as it pertained to the pharmaceutical industry. Soon, he began working on a blog for the RIIPL website.
“Prospective employers want to know that you’re thinking about the current issues of the day,” he says. “The blog provided an outlet for me to demonstrate my critical thinking skills regarding these hot topics.”
Minniti’s article focused on the administrative and policy law questions surrounding the case of a hedge fund manager who was leveraging patent filings to his advantage by shorting stocks. For Minniti, this was his first foray into legal writing.
“It entailed legal research and going through the editing process with RIIPL Co-Director Michael Carrier,” he says. “Ultimately, it was a piece of work that I could use to demonstrate my interest in the field, and it was a great way to set myself apart in the job market.” Today, Minniti is a litigation associate at Paul Hastings LLP in New York City, where he focuses on complex patent and IP-related litigation matters in the life science, medical device, and chemical sectors.
Daryl Wander Daly ‘11
Daryl Wander Daly ‘11 leveraged her time with RIIPL by working on an academic paper assessing whether filing citizen petitions with the FDA was a tactic used by pharmaceutical brands to delay the entry of generic products into the market. For over a year, she worked alongside Professor Carrier reviewing citizen petitions and examining allegations; in 2012, the paper was published by the Cardozo Law Review. It has been cited by multiple federal appellate and district courts.
This experience was invaluable for Daly when she landed an internship at a pharmaceutical company for her 2L summer and 3L year. “Having a handle on the scientific terminology and FDA approval process assisted my ability to understand the issues I was facing as an intern at a pharmaceutical company with no background in pharmaceuticals,” she says. Daly is currently counsel for Bristol Myers Squibb, where she supports the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products.
In addition to these writing opportunities, RIIPL connects students with moot courts, events, job openings, and interdisciplinary collaboration with experts in computer science, economics, and other industries.
“RIIPL is an infrastructure consisting of diverse class offerings, a student organization, externships with federal judges, and more,” says Minniti. “All of this helps students set themselves up for life after law school.”