Artfully pivoting to a career in law
Matthew Pfeffer ’27, an economics and art history major, never planned on a career in law — until his Brandeis education helped him thrive at a top New York firm and sparked a new career path.
By Julian Cardillo ’14
Photography by Alex Kaplan
August 18, 2025
Matthew Pfeffer ’27 is spending the summer interning with the New York law firm Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP, which seems like a curveball given his economics and art history double-major and Near Eastern and Judaic studies minor — that is, until he describes the parallels between his classroom experiences at Brandeis and the nature of the legal field.
Pfeffer, a native of Woodberry, New York, sought out the internship at the encouragement of one of the firm’s founding partners, fellow alumnus Andrew Krinsky ’73. A few weeks into his internship, Pfeffer is now strongly considering applying to law school.
“All my papers, whether for economics, art history, or Near Eastern and Judaic studies, are argumentative,” explains Pfeffer. “Structuring arguments, thinking critically and writing persuasively has really prepared me for this work. The communication skills I’ve developed through a liberal arts focus at Brandeis, really the ability to know how to learn — it’s all so applicable here.”
Tarter Krinsky & Drogin is located on Broadway in midtown Manhattan. Pfeffer commutes to the office by train three days each week and works remotely from his family home Mondays and Fridays. He says he enjoys commuting to the office because it makes him feel connected to New York in a special way — and it gives him the chance to catch up with friends who are also interning across the city.
Pfeffer is one of four college interns at the firm this summer — the others are already in law school. His responsibilities include assisting attorneys with preliminary research and familiarizing himself with different legal documents. This opportunity has included exposure to bankruptcy, mergers and acquisitions, construction and even art law.
“It’s really incredible how much I’ve learned,” Pfeffer says. “One day I might be researching a law for an attorney, another day I’m going to court with a lawyer. The work is so varied.”
He enjoys the firm’s culture, too and believes it’s giving him a small taste of what his future career might hold. In particular, Pfeffer appreciates the abundant opportunities to meet lawyers, seek out mentorship and network across sectors.
He even finds the firm’s culture similar to that of Brandeis.
“It really does remind me of Brandeis — everyone is so collaborative and welcoming,” Pfeffer says. “The attorneys really take the time to teach me. They’re not just coworkers, but mentors as well. It’s super inclusive, not adversarial at all. People here work with each other.”
“Brandeis has really prepared me,” he adds. “It’s given me the skills and confidence to succeed beyond the classroom — and to know that I can thrive in any environment. I’m not sure yet which area of law I want to practice, but I’m drawn to bankruptcy, mergers, maybe even international law. The idea of negotiation and fostering dialogue is really important to me.”
Brandeis undergraduates who undertake unpaid internships in such fields as social justice, Jewish service, politics, public service and more may pursue a World of Work fellowship, a competitive grant that helps reduce financial obstacles, offered through the Hiatt Career Center.
