Passion and Pride: Haub Law’s Chief Storyteller Builds Community at the Law School and in her Own Hometown

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Growing up on Long Island, Jessica Dubuss ’09, has fond memories of visiting her grandfather at his law firm when she was a child. As a young girl, she admired his career as a successful lawyer, which eventually inspired her own studies and career path.

Fueled by her passion for reading and writing, Jessica majored in English and Religious Studies at Fairfield University, with the intention of becoming a high school teacher or editor. However, as she approached graduation, she remembered the excitement that consumed her when she would visit her grandfather’s firm, and she reevaluated the trajectory of her career path to consider a career in law. She felt law school would enable her to hone and utilize her academic strengths in a more structured way.

After taking a year off in between Fairfield University and applying to law school to test the legal waters by working as a paralegal, Jessica applied to several law schools. Haub Law emerged as the front-runner because of the personal touches she received from Cathy Alexander and the admissions team, as well as a personal letter she received from Professor John Nolon, sharing the incredible work the Land Use Law Center was involved with.

Jessica was invigorated by her time at Haub Law. With each class she took, she became more inspired by the vast opportunities that existed within a legal career. Her breadth of knowledge quickly expanded based on the impassioned professors with whom she studied. “The professors are what really stick with me from my time at Haub Law. I think you would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated and knowledgeable faculty elsewhere,” said Jessica. During her 1L year she shared that Criminal Law caught her interest after taking a class with Professor Leslie Tenzer, that interest continued as she studied criminal procedure with Professor Bennett Gershman. “I was constantly discovering new areas of law that held my interest and challenged me – whether it was learning the intricacies of Civil Procedure with Michael Mushlin, a newfound passion for tax law after taking Professor Bridget Crawford’s tax class, education law after studying with Professor Emily Waldman, or arbitration and mediation after a semester in Professor Jill Gross’s class.” A highlight of her time at Haub Law was studying property law – she took every real property course with Professor Shelby Green and Professor John Nolon and landed an internship with the Land Use Law Center and as a research assistant for Professor Nolon as well.

When Jessica graduated law school, she held different positions in Westchester and New York City firms, but she slowly realized that although she enjoyed being an attorney, she did not love her field of practice. She started to explore non-traditional legal careers and came across a development position at Haub Law which she found interesting and a way to stay connected to the practice of law. She didn’t have any experience in fundraising, but she took a chance in applying and, in turn, Dean Emerita Michelle Simon took a chance on her and offered her the position. In 2011, Jessica rejoined the Haub Law community, this time as a staff member.

The development position led to additional responsibilities in alumni relations and communications, allowing her to apply her writing skills. After spending a little over three years in development, in early 2015, Jessica transitioned to the External Affairs and Communications team where she is currently the Executive Director of Communications, responsible for sharing stories of students, alumni, faculty and their achievements with the broader community, drafting press releases, and managing a variety of communications channels and publications, including Haub Law’s weekly newsletter and its annual magazine. Jessica admits it was an intimidating transition at first to tell the stories of Haub Law faculty because, as a student, she held incredible admiration for all her professors. As a staff member, Jessica still holds admiration for Haub Law’s faculty, but in a different light. “I think being a former student has been an advantage in my role because I have an understanding of the legal reasoning behind the work of the faculty and also have a pre-existing relationship with many of the faculty. It makes for a more natural and cohesive work environment,” Jessica shares.

On a personal note, Jessica moved back to her hometown of Floral Park/Bellerose Village with her wife Amanda, who also grew up in Bellerose Village and went to high-school with Jessica. Together, they have four children: Olive (10), Xander (8), Wells (5), Dash (2.5), and another one on the way this fall! They also recently adopted a golden retriever puppy, Lucky.

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Jessica is an active member of the Bellerose Village community, which has a population of around 1,200. In 2020 she was appointed Recreation Commissioner for the village, where she helps organize a summer camp and other recreation events for the town. She saw an opportunity to advocate for her small town to take a step forward in becoming more welcoming and inclusive of all residents, including her own family. In 2021, Jessica proposed the town host a Village PRIDE 5K Run/Walk, and with the support of the local Junior Women’s Club of Bellerose, her idea received resounding support from residents in her village, the neighboring village, and local businesses.

The Bellerose Village PRIDE Celebration has continued to grow each year with nearly 300 kids and adults participating this past June. Centered around family-fun, the event includes kids’ activities, a DJ, food, drinks, and raffle prizes provided by local businesses, with proceeds raised by the Junior Women’s Club donated to various LGBTQ+ organizations. “While this event is very personally important to me and my family and other LGBTQ+ families in the area, it is also a very important event for our entire larger neighborhood community,” shares Jessica. “At the end of the day, everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging and that’s what I hope results from this event and for our broader community.”

But Jessica hasn’t stopped there on her mission to create a more diverse and inclusive culture in her community. For the past few years, she has organized a “Chalk for Pride” event with the support of her children’s local elementary school administration where students, teachers, school administration, and community members gather after school in early June to kick-off Pride month and decorate the front walkway to the elementary school with colorful and positive chalk creations and messages of support. Additionally, this past year, with Junior Women’s Club of Bellerose, she created and organized a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging scholarship at her local elementary and high schools.

When asked how her law degree has assisted her in her professional and personal goals, Jessica said, “A law degree is an invaluable tool, which has helped me advocate for myself and others. The important work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and ultimately a sense of belonging is largely based on advocacy and education. Having a legal background has definitely given me the confidence to create change within my local community.”