Vinoo Varghese (CAS ’96), Criminal Defense Attorney, on Why He Mentors NYU Students

Vinoo Varghese (CAS ’96) of Varghese & Associates, P.C., has hired a number of NYU students over the years, to battle prosecutors. From left to right: Charles Calkins (CAS ’18), Vinoo Varghese (CAS ’96), Katie Lanphere (CAS ’18), and Shirley Foo (CAS ’18)

Vinoo Varghese frequently appears as a legal expert on CNN, CBS News, and Fox Business News, among other television networks. He has been rated as a New York Metro Super Lawyer and a Martindale AV Preeminent attorney in the white collar criminal defense arena for the past several years. Since 2014, he has acted as an alumni mentor to NYU College of Arts and Science students. We caught up with Vinoo at the Varghese & Associates, P.C. offices to find out his advice for the Class of 2018.

What did you study at NYU?

I majored in Philosophy and studied Religion while I attended NYU. I’d competed in Speech and Debate in elementary school and high school, and during my first year at NYU. During my junior and senior years, I had a great experience acting as a Resident Assistant (R.A.) in Goddard, and I was a Conference Assistant for two summers. I grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, so I was a local.

During my sophomore year, I became the President of the NYU South Asian Students Association aka Shruti, which was very active on campus. I also started a successful petition to have Hindi added to the curriculum, and in my senior year I got to take the first Hindi class offered at NYU.