Grace Chamoun Taranto, Esq. ’16 returned to the Brooklyn Campus to discuss her journey from St. Joseph’s University, New York graduate to Brooklyn Law School student to her current her role as a high-net worth matrimonial attorney for one of the top firms in the U.S. The common hour event held on March 24 was organized by the Law & Justice Society.
Chamoun Taranto was candid with students, sharing details about her life—from growing up in a single-parent immigrant household—to what she faced during her final semester at St. Joe’s, when both her mother and grandmother were diagnosed with cancer, all while she was working full time, attending classes and preparing for the law school admission test (known as the LSAT).
In a nutshell, her story is one of perseverance, and her advice to students was clear: invest in yourself.
“At the end of the day, you need to be accountable. You need to be willing to invest in yourself,” she told students, recounting her willingness to work hard, study and stay the course, even during tough times and while many of her peers were out having fun.
Chamoun Taranto’s work ethic paid off in short order.
After graduating from law school in 2019 with a Doctor of Jurisprudence, she joined Blank Rome LLP in New York City. Today, she is currently an associate for the “Am Law 100” firm, specializing in matrimonial matters, after prior work in general litigation and complex commercial litigation. AmLaw 100 refers to American Lawyer’s annual ranking of the top law firms in the U.S.
During her hour-long conversation with the students, Chamoun Taranto fielded questions and shared insight about the legal realm—such as the differences between working for a large and small firm and how she navigates complex issues, such as high-stakes divorce cases where children are involved.
Chamoun Taranto, who was in the Honors Program at SJNY, told the students that a law degree can lead to many opportunities beyond being lawyer and litigator.
“A law degree can lead to a wide variety of jobs,” she said.
She also reminded students to network—but she didn’t mean just attending organized events.
“Networking isn’t always intentionally networking,” Chamoun Taranto said. “It is being kind to everyone—it is about being human, because you never know when you may cross paths with someone again.”
In 2021, Chamoun Taranto was named to Marquis Who’s Who, which profiles individuals based on their position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in their field. She was also the inaugural recipient of Blank Rome’s Pro Bono Rising Star Award, a recognition of her pro bono efforts serving clients in domestic violence cases and military appeals.
