Hearing her speak about immigration matters or negotiation skills, you might not believe Veronica Finkelstein, the lawyer, almost became Dr. Finkelstein, the veterinarian.  

“I would have been an average veterinarian. I’m a much better lawyer,” said Finkelstein, a former Biology major whose college advisor suggested a change. “I love being a litigator. I think it’s the second-best job on Earth after being a professor.” 

Finkelstein enjoys — and excels at — both, working as an associate professor at the Wilmington University School of Law and an assistant U.S. attorney with the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Philadelphia. She also volunteers as a program director for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA), a team of nationwide practicing lawyers, professors, and judges who dedicate their efforts “to the training and development of skilled and ethical legal advocates to improve the adversarial justice system,” according to the NITA website. 

“NITA (gives me) an opportunity to swoop in and empower somebody who is already on their legal path,” said Finkelstein, who travels and teaches seminars about effective questioning techniques, deposition skills, and other key topics. “It’s very satisfying to see the amount of growth (among participants) in such a short period of time.”  

Finkelstein leads custom courses for law firms nationwide, appears on webcasts, and serves on law panels. A former English major at Penn State, she writes for Collective Wisdom, a NITA publication, and for the Department of Justice Journal of Federal Law and Practice. Her recent DOJ articles include “Narrowing in on Notice: Varying Approaches to Administrative Exhaustion” and “Holding the Line: Challenging Corporate Negligence Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act.” 

At WilmU’s School of Law, students benefit from Finkelstein’s way with words. She teaches Legal Writing I and II, as well as Civil Procedures, which she calls “the rules for litigators.” After earning her J.D. from Emory University School of Law, Finkelstein practiced commercial and construction law before joining the DOJ, where she handles civil and criminal cases, including child exploitation, employment law, and medical malpractice.  

“I don’t like to specialize,” Finkelstein said. “I like to try new things.” And she encourages her students to pursue their passions. 

Law school is “about making lifelong connections. It’s about learning how to think and develop your brain. It’s about developing a writing technique,” Finkelstein said, adding some advice for J.D. candidates: “Enjoy the experience while you’re in it.” 

Learn more at Wilmington University.