Page 35 - NYLS Magazine • 2015 • Vol. 34, No. 1

Cynthia Senko Rosicki ’86 Launches London Fellowship in Law and Dramatic Arts
Students in the NYLS London summer program receive training from prestigious academy in the drama of law
Cynthia Senko Rosicki ’86
New York and London are often referred to as sister cities. Recognizing the relationship between these two major global hubs, New York Law School has, for a number of years, offered a London summer program, with courses in International Business Law, International Corporate and Financial Services, and International Intellectual Property.
This year, the program was diversified through the generosity of alumna and Trustee Cynthia Senko Rosicki ’86. Ms. Rosicki is a co-founder of Sparkling Pointe Vineyards and Winery on Long Island’s North Fork and the founding partner
of Rosicki, Rosicki & Associates, P.C., a law firm that employs approximately 400 people. She was honored with a Groundbreaker Award at New York Law School’s 2012 Gala (rescheduled to February 2013 in the aftermath
of Superstorm Sandy) for embracing innovation.
Through the Cynthia Senko Rosicki ’86 Fellowship in Law and Dramatic Arts, students in the London program had the opportunity to attend a half-day course on “personal impact” at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA.) Ms. Rosicki, who herself attended RADA,
was present for the course along with her husband, Tom, and Professor Lloyd Bonfield.
RADA tutor Charlie Walker-Wise teaching the “personal impact” course
Through theater-based exercises, the RADA tutor, Charlie Walker-Wise, taught highly practical physical and vocal presence skills to help the NYLS students become effective in their legal advocacy work. For example, he demonstrated
how physical power, presence, posture, and gestures in the courtroom can add extra impact and authenticity. The course included physical and vocal warm-up work—exactly the same skills that a lawyer might want to practice before walking into a courtroom or client situation.
Klodiana Malellari 2L Evening, one of the students who attended, said, “I am glad I participated in the session held at RADA. It taught me how to achieve a strong vocal and physical presence, while at the same time I learned how to improve my personal impact. These are very useful tools for new attorneys, no matter where they are—in a courtroom, in the office, or even in daily life. I would recommend it to everybody. A special thank you to the Rosickis for their contribution, which made possible such a great experience.”
This “personal impact” course is intended to increase participants’ personal impact by giving a deeper understanding of the importance and qualities of clear and focused communication skills.
Participants were asked to make a short speech to the group at the beginning and at the end of the workshop. Each
Left to right: Klodiana Malellari 2L Evening, David Ventoso 3L, and Emily Holt 3L at the RADA course
participant received feedback from Mr. Walker-Wise, who identified areas for further development. The group size was small enough that each student could benefit from enough time to present and receive personal feedback.
“The RADA/NYLS combination is a natural,” said Ms. Rosicki. “Basic acting skills such as voice projection, word emphasis,
and body language translate naturally into lawyering. The Fellowship occurred to me on my last trip to RADA. How beneficial—and fun—to marry them!”
Ms. Rosicki observed, “The students who bravely attended this inaugural session experienced a transformation that was clearly apparent to all. My husband Tom and I participated—as did Professor
Lloyd Bonfield—and freely shared in that process. It reminded me of the time I spent at RADA before college.”
Ms. Rosicki added, “I can’t wait for the next RADA/NYLS course!”
RADA boasts alumni that include Richard Attenborough, Sir Kenneth Branagh, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney, Sir John Gielgud, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Tom Hiddleston, Sir Anthony Hopkins, John Hurt, Andrew Lincoln, Sir Roger Moore, Peter O’Toole, Clive Owen, Jonathan Pryce, Alan Rickman, Liev Schreiber,
and Susannah York, among many other distinguished stage and screen actors. •
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