Legal research · investigations · public service

Ryan Rosenthal

I’m interested in the part of law where research becomes practical: finding the facts, understanding how rules affect real people, and turning complicated information into something clear and useful.

Explore selected work →View résumé ↗Email me ↗

01 / Profile

A legal career built on curiosity, precision, and people.

I like the point where a rule stops being abstract and starts affecting a real person, family, business, or community.

I came to law through a mix of interests: how institutions make decisions, how those decisions affect people, and how the facts of a case can change the way a rule operates in real life.

Family law and child welfare are areas I have studied deeply, but I do not see my career as limited to one practice area. I’m equally interested in the day-to-day craft of legal practice, from research and drafting to litigation support, trusts and estates, and investigative work.

My experience with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General reinforced what I enjoy most: reading closely, organizing complicated records, asking the next question, and helping turn information into something that can move a matter forward.

02 / Selected Work

Research I’m proud to put my name on.

A small, intentional collection of legal, policy, and political research. The first two pieces are the work I feel best represents me.

Featured research · Independent legal research · 2025

Best Interests or State Interests?

Law and Psychology in New Jersey Termination of Parental Rights

A multidisciplinary examination of New Jersey’s termination-of-parental-rights framework and the “best interests of the child” standard. The paper asks whether permanency timelines and administrative interests can overshadow children’s developmental needs, using New Jersey case law alongside research in attachment theory, foster-care instability, and childhood trauma.

Family LawChild WelfareConstitutional RightsDevelopmental Psychology

Why I chose it

This was my final major jurisprudence research project and the work that most clearly reflects my interest in family law, child welfare, and the human consequences of legal decision-making.

Read the paper ↗

Published & collaborative · Montclair State University Digital Commons · 2024

Addressing Youth Cannabis Poisonings in Paterson, NJ

Contributing Author · Chapter 2: Age Requirements for Cannabis Products Sales

A public-policy white paper developed with classmates for POLS 324. My contribution focused on age requirements and policy responses to youth access to cannabis products, including enforcement, retail access, education, and evaluation of proposed interventions.

Public PolicyNew JerseyRegulationCommunity Safety

Why I chose it

I like that this work moved beyond a normal class paper. It was collaborative, policy-focused, and ultimately published through Montclair State University’s Digital Commons.

Official publication ↗PDF copy ↗

03 / Comparative law & politics · 2024

Restoring Justice: Poland’s Path to Reclaiming Judicial Independence and Democratic Integrity

Research on judicial independence, democratic backsliding, EU legal institutions, and the relationship between courts and political power.

Read selected research ↗

04 / Field research · 2025

Study on Ten Participants in Clifton, NJ

Original interviews and survey research on New Jersey public opinion, trust in state government, education, public safety, immigration, and political leadership.

Read field research ↗

Additional writing

Digital Assets — A focused policy analysis of federal digital-asset regulation, consumer protection, enforcement, innovation, and regulatory tradeoffs. Read PDF ↗

03 / Experience

From records to facts to next steps.

The work that has taught me most about organization, judgment, accountability, and communicating clearly with people.

Sept–Dec 2025Newark, New Jersey

New Jersey Office of the Attorney General · Division of Consumer Affairs

Intern Investigator

I supported consumer-protection investigations through document review, legal and regulatory research, investigative writing, complaint intake, and case-file management. I worked with contracts, service agreements, business records, and case data inside an active government enforcement environment.

What stayed with me: the importance of being able to explain why a fact matters, not simply finding it.

2022–May 2026Montclair, New Jersey

Montclair State University · School of Communication & Media

Equipment Desk / “The Cage”

I support students with equipment checkouts and returns while helping manage inventory, loan records, and day-to-day desk operations. The role strengthened my attention to detail, accountability for shared resources, and ability to explain procedures clearly.

2020–2026Clifton, New Jersey

Target · Store 1822

Inbound, Receiving, Consumables & General Merchandise Expert

Long-term retail and operations experience gave me a practical foundation in teamwork, accountability, inventory accuracy, conflict resolution, and communicating clearly with people in fast-moving situations.

Earlier Experience

I started working while I was still in high school.

Before college and legal work, I was balancing two pool jobs at the same time. I keep them separate from my main professional timeline because they represent where I first learned responsibility, safety, and what it means to have people counting on you.

2019–2021

Pentagon Pools

Lifeguard / Pool Technician

Safety-focused work alongside hands-on pool operations and maintenance responsibilities.

2019–2021

Tavistock Hills Swim Club

Lifeguard

Patron safety, rule enforcement, emergency readiness, and maintaining a safe pool environment.

04 / Education

Two disciplines, one legal foundation.

Law and political institutions, supported by a practical concentration in public administration.

Bachelor of Arts

Jurisprudence, Law & Society

Legal institutions, legal reasoning, law and society, research, and the relationship between doctrine and real-world outcomes.

Bachelor of Arts

Political Science

Government, public policy, political institutions, comparative politics, international relations, and empirical research.

Minor

Public Administration

A supporting focus on how public institutions operate, manage responsibilities, and deliver services.

3.876GPA / 4.00

Dean’s ListFall 2022 – May 2026

Presidential HonorsScholarship

Phi Delta ThetaHistorian · Secretary

05 / Areas of Interest

Areas I’m interested in exploring in practice.

Interests, not claimed specialties. I’m still learning where my strengths can be most useful.

Family Law & Child Advocacy

Parental rights, child welfare, and the way courts balance legal standards with consequences for families.

Trusts & Estates

Estate planning, probate, client counseling, and helping families navigate important decisions with clarity.

Litigation & Legal Practice

Case development, legal research, drafting, discovery, client communication, and the practical work behind a strong legal matter.

Investigations & Regulatory Law

Building on government experience with consumer protection, records, regulatory research, fact development, and enforcement matters.

Public Service

Work where legal skills intersect with government, community needs, and institutions that directly affect people’s lives.

06 / Off the Record

The part of the file that isn’t on my résumé.

I take the professional side of this site seriously. I also think a personal website should feel like it belongs to an actual person.

Current matters

Currently on the Docket

STATUS: ACTIVE

WatchingThe PittMedical drama · current watch

PlayingBreath of the WildHyrule remains an open matter

ReadingRobinson CrusoeCurrent reading file

Most recent 10/10ObsessionUnanimous decision

Latest rulings

Recent Verdicts

A few of the most recent matters to reach a ruling.

Film / Horror10.0

Obsession

Unanimous decision. No further argument permitted.

FINAL JUDGMENT

Television9.7

The Pitt

Motion to binge granted.

ACTIVE MATTER

Film / DC9.4

Superman

Acquitted of superhero fatigue. Optimism remains admissible.

ACQUITTED

Film / Horror5.2

Backrooms

The atmosphere made its case. The rest did not persuade the court.

MOTION TO DISMISS

01 / MOVIES

Movie Verdicts

Horror, animation, superheroes, and whatever else makes it onto the docket.

10.0

Obsession

Unanimous decision.

FINAL JUDGMENT

9.8

Fear Street

Favorite horror series. Motion to rewatch permanently granted.

CONTROLLING AUTHORITY

9.7

How to Train Your Dragon · Animated

Still the precedent.

PRECEDENT SET

9.4

The Odyssey

Epic testimony. Court remains impressed.

AFFIRMED

9.4

Superman

Acquitted of superhero fatigue.

ACQUITTED

9.2

Supergirl

Favorable ruling.

APPROVED

9.1

How to Train Your Dragon · Live Action

Respectful adaptation. Petition approved.

PETITION GRANTED

8.9

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Guilty of being exactly my kind of weird.

GUILTY

8.8

Spirited Away

Strange, beautiful, and completely itself.

AFFIRMED

8.7

Detective Pikachu

Charm outweighs all objections.

OVERRULED

8.6

The Big Short

Financial chaos, compelling testimony.

EVIDENCE ADMITTED

5.2

Backrooms

The atmosphere made its case. The rest did not.

DISMISSED

02 / TELEVISION

TV Verdicts

Long-form matters get more hearings, but not necessarily more mercy.

9.7

The Pitt

Motion to binge granted.

ACTIVE MATTER

9.5

TURN: Washington’s Spies

Historical evidence admitted in full.

AFFIRMED

9.2

Lanterns

Case remains very much open.

PROCEEDINGS ONGOING

8.9

FROM

The court has questions. A lot of them.

UNDER REVIEW

8.7

The Midnight Gospel

Philosophically admissible.

ADMITTED

03 / GAMES

Game Verdicts

Hyrule receives unusually favorable treatment from this court.

Exhibit A · 10/10

Breath of the Wild

Hyrule is at its best when I can ignore the main objective for three hours because I saw something suspicious on a mountain.

PERMANENTLY ADMITTED

Exhibit B · 10/10

A Link Between Worlds

One of my favorite 3DS games: great dungeons, the wall-merging mechanic, and enough freedom to make the world feel personal.

PERMANENTLY ADMITTED

07 / Contact

Let’s put something on the record.

I’m interested in opportunities where I can keep building practical legal, investigative, and client-facing experience.

Best way to reach me rjrRyanr@gmail.com

Send an email → Open résumé →

Dumont, New Jersey · Open to legal & investigative opportunities