Albany Law School News

Albany Law Celebrates Class of 2013 at 162nd Commencement

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:55:23 GMT

Approximately 200 students walked across the stage today at Albany Law School's 162 Commencement, held at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Nina Totenberg, legal affairs correspondent for NPR programs such as All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, delivered the keynote address to a packed and elated crowd comprised of the Class of 2013, Albany Law faculty and staff, and family and friends.

"Think about the long haul: what you can do, what you can be, and what matters most," advised Totenberg, who went on to cite examples from the history of law, as well as more contemporary political events.

Totenberg and Justice Karen Peters of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, received honorary doctorates at the ceremony, and New York State Bar Association President Seymour James, Jr., received the Dean's Medal.

Professors Recognized for Teaching, Scholarship, Service

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:38:46 GMT

Each year, Albany Law School presents three awards at Commencement to recognize outstanding faculty for their contributions in teaching, scholarship and service.

This year, the Excellence in Service award went to Professor Deborah Kearns, director of the Tax Clinic. During this past academic year, Professor Kearns oversaw the representation of more than 90 cases, either supervising students who worked on the cases or handling them directly.

Professor Kearns started her legal career as an associate in the Private Clients department of White & Case, New York, N.Y., and worked for several years as a tax lawyer in private practice, as well for The Ayco Company, L.P., a Goldman Sachs Company. Along with directing the Tax Clinic, Professor Kearns is the immediate past chair of the Taxation Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the New York State Bar Association.

Chosen from more than a dozen other nominated candidates, Professor Beverly Cohen was recognized with the Excellence in Teaching award, with support from the greatest number of students who called her “outstanding,” “talented” and “dedicated.”

Professor Cohen, who was a partner at Hinman Straub, Albany, until she joined the faculty in 2002, also received the Excellence in Scholarship award. She is set to retire this year.

Withington '81 Honored by Legal Aid Society for 30 Years of Public Service

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:26:03 GMT

Mary Withington '81 was honored for her more than 30 years of public legal service at the annual dinner and 90th anniversary celebration of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc., on May 2, 2013.

Withington received the organization's Ruth M. Miner Award, named after a 1920 graduate of Albany Law School who went on to be the first staff attorney and executive director of the Legal Aid Society. The award is conferred each year to a woman who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the Legal Aid Society.

After graduating from Albany Law in 1981, Withington joined the Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney, and she has been a supervising attorney since 1986, focusing on disability and family law. She is also a 1998 recipient of a Denison Ray Civil Legal Services Staff Award, which is presented by the New York State Bar Association Committee on Legal Aid.

Also at the ceremony, Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman received the Arthur J. Harvey Award, named after a 1930 graduate of Albany Law and conferred to an individual demonstrating passionate commitment to civil legal services.

The Legal Aid Society, now in its 90th year, provides free legal services and education, as well as advocacy, for people with low income or other barriers to legal representation.

Albany Law School Hosts Russian Delegation

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:57:16 GMT

Three administrators from the Tolstoy State Pedagogical University in Tula, Russia, visited Albany Law School as part of the Albany-Tula Alliance, which pairs the two cities to promote cultural and commercial ties.

Dean Penelope (Penny) Andrews, as well as Professor Mary Lynch, Professor Bridgit Burke and Professor Christian Sundquist, met for breakfast with Vladimir Panin, the rector of the university, and Zhanna Fomicheva and Vladimir Andreev, both of the institution's Office of International Cooperation and Education.

The Russian group’s four-day visit included a tour of several Capital Region high schools and colleges, as well as several other events, with local representatives of the Albany-Tula Alliance.

Tula is located about 120 miles south of Moscow. The Tolstoy State Pedagogical University educates interpreters, many of whom end up working in the Russian legal system.

Professor Farley Named to Lawyers of Color's 50 Under 50

Wed, 15 May 2013 19:38:53 GMT

Professor Anthony Paul Farley has been named to Lawyers of Color's 2013 50 Under 50 list, a catalog of the most influential minority law professors 50 years of age or younger.

Professor Farley is the James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at Albany Law School, specializing in constitutional law, criminal procedure and legal theory. He has lectured and published widely, with articles in the Berkeley La Raza Law Journal, Yale Journal of Law & Humanities, the New York University Review of Law & Social Change, the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, the Columbia Journal of Race and Law and many others.

He is a member of the Society of American Law Teachers and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and previously served on the board for both organizations.

Prior to joining Albany Law School, Professor Farley was a tenured member of the Boston College Law School faculty, where he taught for 16 years. He has also served as an assistant U.S. attorney with the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia and practiced law as a corporate/securities associate with Shearman & Sterling in New York City.

Professor Farley earned his law degree from Harvard Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.

Professor Cords Named Chair of National ABA Teaching Taxation Committee

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:42:20 GMT

Professor Danshera Cords was recently appointed chair of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation's Committee on Teaching Taxation for a two-year term starting July 1, 2013.

As chair of the national committee, Professor Cords will oversee committee programs, as well as help identify opportunities for committee members to work with other committees to improve tax law and groom future leaders in the field.

Professor Cords focuses her scholarship on tax law and was most recently a professor of law at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. Before joining Capital's law faculty in 2002, she was an attorney-advisor to the Hon. Maurice B. Foley of the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, D.C. Since joining the Albany Law School faculty, she has taught Federal Tax Practice & Procedure, Federal Taxation of Corporations, Federal Taxations of Partnerships, Introduction to Taxation and the Tax Policy Seminar.

Throughout her career, Professor Cords has published numerous articles on tax law and related issues in many different law reviews and journals, including University of Cincinnati Law Review, St. Louis University Law Journal, Brigham Young University Law Review and University of Louisville Law Review.

Professor Cords earned her B.A. at University of Washington, her J.D. at Seattle University School of Law and her LL.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

L.A. Public Radio, N.Y. Times, Newsweek’s Daily Beast Call Professor Shanks this Week

Thu, 02 May 2013 19:41:13 GMT

This week involved a flurry of media activity for Professor Laurie Shanks, including interviews for public radio in Los Angeles, Newsweek's The Daily Beast, and a forthcoming article for New York Times Magazine.

On April 30, 2013, Professor Shanks was a guest on AirTalk, a Southern California Public Radio program, to discuss the Orange County District Attorney's recently announced plan to publicize the names of individuals who are convicted of soliciting prostitutes.

"I think that the outcome will be that people will lose their jobs, marriages will be destroyed, spouses and children will be humiliated," said Professor Shanks on the radio program.

She continued, "You're really punishing the family members, you're really imposing a penalty that wasn't contemplated. What the prosecutor is saying in this case is, 'Well I'd like to add some penalties, and what I'd like to add is humiliation, what I'd like to add is the public thinking badly of this person, what I'd like to do is let his wife know,' and that's just not appropriate in my mind."

Professor Shanks was also interviewed on this topic for a forthcoming story in New York Times Magazine.

That same day, Professor Shanks did an interview for popular news website The Daily Beast on Judy Clarke, the defense attorney appointed to defend the suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing case.

In that interview, Professor Shanks said “In addition to being a brilliant lawyer in terms of knowing the law and persuading a jury, perhaps her most impressive quality is her ability to connect and understand individuals that the rest of the world despises. She is really able not only to gain their trust but to make their actions understandable to others.”

A frequent resource for journalists on a variety of legal issues, Professor Shanks teaches Client Interviewing and Counseling, Negotiating for Lawyers, Trial Practice I: Criminal Pretrial Skills, and Trial Practice II: Criminal Trial Skills. She also serves on Judge Kaye's task force on wrongful convictions and the state bar's committee on the future of indigent defense, as well as a referee for the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Professor Shanks joined the Albany Law School faculty in 1989 after private practice in Phoenix, Ariz., where she focused on criminal defense and personal injury litigation. While in Arizona, she was also the training director for the Maricopa County Public Defenders Office and served as a judge pro tem.

NPR's Nina Totenberg to Deliver Albany Law School’s Commencement Address

Tue, 14 May 2013 19:13:23 GMT

Nina Totenberg, legal affairs correspondent for NPR programs such as All Things Considered, Morning Edition and Weekend Edition, will deliver the keynote address at Albany Law School's 162nd Commencement. She will also receive an honorary degree.

Watch Commencement live starting at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013.

Justice Karen Peters of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department will receive an honorary doctorate, and New York State Bar Association President Seymour James, Jr., will receive the Dean's Medal.

The ceremony will take place at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Friday, May 17, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. Watch the event live.

Totenberg has received numerous accolades and widespread recognition for her coverage of the Supreme Court and legal affairs, including her ground-breaking report in 1991 about University of Oklahoma Law Professor Anita Hill's allegations of sexual harassment by Judge Clarence Thomas, which led the Senate Judiciary Committee to re-open Thomas's Supreme Court confirmation hearings to consider Hill's charges.

Totenberg was named Broadcaster of the Year and honored with the 1998 Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcasting from the National Press Foundation – the first radio journalist to receive the award. She is also the recipient of the American Judicature Society's first-ever award honoring a career body of work in the field of journalism and the law. In 1988, Totenberg won the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton for her coverage of Supreme Court nominations.

The American Bar Association has honored Totenberg seven times for continued excellence in legal reporting, and she has received a number of honorary degrees. A frequent contributor to major newspapers and periodicals, she has published articles in The New York Times Magazine, The Harvard Law Review, The Christian Science Monitor, Parade Magazine, New York Magazine and others.

Before joining NPR in 1975, Totenberg served as Washington editor of New Times Magazine, and before that she was the legal affairs correspondent for the National Observer.

Dean Andrews Addresses Three Bar Associations in Three Days for Law Day

Mon, 06 May 2013 23:56:26 GMT

Dean Penelope (Penny) Andrews traveled to Oneida, Saratoga and Warren counties over three days to address each region's bar association in a series of Law Day celebrations.

On Wednesday, May 1, Dean Andrews delivered remarks at a luncheon on “Women and the Law: Then and Now” for Oneida County bar members in the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre in Utica, N.Y.

On Thursday at noon, she was the keynote speaker for the Saratoga County Bar Association at Canfield Casino in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The theme of the event, in accordance with Law Day, was "Realizing the Dream: Equality for All."

Finally, on Friday, Dean Andrews joined the Warren County Bar Association in Queensbury, N.Y., to give another talk within the theme "Equality for All."

President Dwight Eisenhower established the first Law Day in 1958 to mark the nation's commitment to the rule of law. In 1961, Congress issued a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for celebrating Law Day.

Dean Andrews' teaching and advocacy for the indigenous populations, with a focus on women’s rights, span numerous countries. Her most recent book is From Cape Town to Kabul: Rethinking Strategies for Pursuing Women’s Human Rights.

An annual award in her name—The Penelope E. Andrews Human Rights Award—is given by the South African law school at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Sandman Fellow to Study Care of Individuals with Mental Health Issues

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:50:41 GMT

Felicia Valle '14, through Albany Law School's Government Law Center (GLC), will conduct substantive legal research on New York state guardianship statutes for individuals with mental health disabilities, culminating in a comprehensive report released to law and policy makers, as well as advocates.

Many people throughout the state are affected by regulations such as Article 17-A of the Surrogate's Court Procedure Act and Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law. Valle will examine the complexity of these regulations, and her report will propose ways to streamline guardianship proceedings and improve outcomes for individuals and families.

Valle, the 2013 Sandman Fellow, is a member of the Albany Government Law Review and vice president and treasurer of the Latin American Law Student Association. She spent the past summer interning with the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Attorney General's Office, and she has also worked as an intern for the Hon. Thomas K. Keefe '82 in Albany City Court and Hon. Randolph F. Treece '76 in the Northern District of New York. A Diversity Scholarship recipient at the law school, Valle graduated magna cum laude from Quinnipiac University.

The Sandman Fellowship is administered through the GLC’s Aging Law and Policy Program. Since 1993, 30 Sandman fellows have produced 19 reports, contributing significantly to aging law and policy. The first report, "Abuse and the Durable Power of Attorney: Options for Reform," was discussed in The New York Times and on NPR, as well as cited in a case by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Justice Malone '72 Joins Whiteman Osterman & Hanna

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:50:42 GMT

Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Bernard J. Malone, Jr. '72 has joined the Capital Region’s largest law firm, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, as senior counsel.

Justice Malone was a gubernatorial appointee to New York’s Appellate Division, First Department, in Manhattan, and then the Appellate Division’s Third Department in Albany for the past four years. Before that, he served as a trial judge on the New York State Supreme Court in Albany for seven years, He will practice at Whiteman in the areas of corporate compliance, arbitration and mediation.

Justice Malone was a long-time trustee at the Albany Law School and was president of the National Alumni Association. A generous donor, he is an avid fan of fellow graduate Justice Robert H. Jackson, class of 1912, participating in several Justice Jackson Centennial events last year. While enrolled at Albany Law, he was an assistant librarian and a member of the rugby team.

Justice Malone is the co-chairperson with former New York State Court of Appeals Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye of the New York State Bar Association’s Special Committee on Youth Courts and is a founding member of the Federal/New York State Judicial Advisory Council. Prior to being elected a judge, he was an assistant U.S. attorney in Albany and Syracuse for 15 years. Previously, he was an assistant district attorney in Albany.

A graduate of Niagara University, class of 1965, Justice Malone was on active duty in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1969, was a distinguished graduate of the Infantry Officer Candidate School and was awarded the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal for his service in Vietnam.

Justice Malone’s portrait will be unveiled and hung in the gallery of former New York State Supreme Court Justices in the historic Albany County Courthouse.

Letter from Dean Andrews

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:54:05 GMT

Dear Alumnae and Friends of Albany Law School,

With great pleasure I write to update you on some exciting happenings at Albany Law School.

Late last month a site team representing the American Bar Association spent three days on our campus inspecting all areas of the law school. They observed faculty in the classroom; examined our financial records; met with our students, faculty, staff, and Trustees; evaluated our course offerings and curriculum; and assessed every part of our facility, including our technology services, library collection and library services.

This intensive fact-finding mission occurs every seven years for ABA-accredited law schools. As a new dean, I found the preparation and scrutiny valuable. Only a year ago I too was scrutinizing the school as an outsider. Confident that the ABA team would see what I immediately saw, namely, a committed and talented faculty, a hardworking staff, and a streamlined operation designed to address concerns and challenges, the experience spurred healthy self-reflection for the entire school. We look forward to the ABA’s report about their visit to Albany Law School.

Among the many initiatives implemented this year, we are possibly most excited about our Bar preparation efforts. At the center of this effort is an intensive diagnostic test required of all second-year and some third-year students to identify student strengths and weaknesses as they progress through law school and begin their preparation for the Bar examination. The data also helps the students’ advisors better guide their course selection. Finally, it helps us—the administration—direct support services in a smarter and more effective way.

Many of our students have obstacles that prevent them from studying for the Bar in the summer—they may need to work full time or may have childcare issues, for example. We have surveyed the entire third-year class, and we are attempting, within reason, to remove these obstacles for our students. We have come this far together, and it is our responsibility as their Law School to work with them as best we can to cross the finish line.

In the area of Admissions, the number of LSAT takers this year is down substantially, which has resulted in a smaller applicant pool. The Admissions Office has gone into full gear, and our seat deposits to date have shown some promise. We are, however, preparing for a smaller class in the fall. We are fortunate to be positioned financially to absorb this smaller size without affecting any services to the students.

As many of you may know, the ABA now collects more detailed employment data from law schools than in the past, in an effort to provide more transparency for prospective students. I encourage you to visit our website to see our 2012 employment statistics. While the legal job market remains significantly different than it was five years ago, there is a sense that the market has settled and a new employment landscape is beginning to emerge.

Albany Law graduates landed jobs because the school’s alumni created opportunities. You interviewed the students, advocated for them within your organization, recommended them within your network, or helped guide them as mentors. Though my tenure here has not been long, I have met almost the whole student body and feel confident they will be productive and impressive legal professionals. You have created the opportunity for them to demonstrate this—and I thank you.

As always, change brings challenges and opportunities. On a campus where students come first, a smaller class, despite lower revenue, will enable us to deliver more academic, professional and career development services for each student.

We have several exciting initiatives taking shape around areas such as science and technology, financial services, health law, and the Government Law Center. We will tell you about these as our plans become more concrete.

If you talk to a current student, you will learn that everything that we are currently engaged in at Albany Law School is student-centered. This new sense reverberates throughout our law school community.

The campus has been extraordinarily vibrant this semester, with a range of exciting events. For example, in March, the entire New York State Court of Appeals and several judges of the Third Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court hosted programs at the law school. We held numerous student-driven symposia, a full slate of moot court competitions, an exceptional week of events around the Kate Stoneman celebrations, and much more. Locally, we had a great time this past weekend hosting the Historic Albany Foundation’s “A Moveable Feast.” Webcasts of some of the programs can be viewed here.

A lengthy article in the upcoming alumni magazine will detail our long-term vision and strategies for prospering during these challenging times. This vision is centered on the professional development of Albany Law School students.

Sincerely,

Penelope (Penny) Andrews
President & Dean

Albany Law School Announces New Director of Alumni Affairs and New Assistant Director of Annual Giving

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:25:36 GMT

Albany Law School recently promoted Kristin H. Sheehan to Director of Alumni Affairs and Morgan Morrissey to Assistant Director of Annual Giving.

Government Law Review Surges to 33 out of 146 in Nation

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:52:07 GMT

The student-run Albany Government Law Review (AGLR) now ranks 33 out of 146 comparable journals in the country, according to Washington Lee School of Law's most recent analysis of journals covering public policy, politics and the law. The ranking system is based largely on the number times AGLR articles have been cited by other academic works and court cases.

Last year, the AGLR ranked 65, and its previous best ranking was 62 in 2009.

Katie Valder '13, the AGLR's editor-in-chief, attributes the new ranking to a combination of factors, including making decisions with an eye to the future needs of the legal community.

"When we sat down at our planning meetings, we made it a strong priority to consider what types of legal scholarship would help academics, practicing attorneys and others within the next five or 10 years," said Valder.

The AGLR organized its spring 2013 symposium to tackle human trafficking and sex slavery, a global issue affecting millions of people. The event, "Voiceless Cargo: Human Trafficking and Sex Slavery in the Modern Era," attracted participants from around the world, including Ms. Rashida Manjoo, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Violence Against Women, as well as significant media attention. The journal will publish papers from the symposium in its fall 2013 issue.

Valder noted that the AGLR's next symposium will focus on the increasing use of drones and associated legal implications, and that the editorial staff is currently working through submissions related to the War on Drugs.

"Our biggest focus this year was on becoming more forward thinking," said Valder. "We also wanted to facilitate broader conversations. Even when we look at global issues like human trafficking, we can look more closely and ultimately discover a significant impact on government and citizens at the national, state and even local levels."

The AGLR, launched six years ago, is staffed by 42 law students and one faculty advisor, who produce two issues each year and also maintain the Albany Government Law Review Fireplace Blog, an online outlet for brief, well-researched commentary on recent developments in government law and policy, with an emphasis on New York state government.

Sherrin Wins $18 Million Refund for Health Care Clients

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:00:41 GMT

Jeffrey Sherrin '75, president and senior health care litigator at O'Connell and Aronowitz, recently won an $18 million refund for overpayment of fees charged to approximately 230 New York and out-of-state laboratories under the New York State Department of Health (DOH) Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program. Commenced in 2009, the lawsuit returned more than half the fees assessed against the labs represented by Sherrin to pay for the costs of their regulation by the DOH.

This is the second time in three years that Sherrin has recovered millions of dollars for independent and hospital-based clinical laboratories from the DOH, with a 2009 trial victory that netted more than $5 million. Sherrin is an accomplished litigator for health care, commercial and employment matters, principally representing providers and their trade associations across the country.

His clients include hospitals, clinical laboratories, alcohol and substance abuse providers, mental disabilities providers, nursing homes, home health care agencies, adult care facilities, DME and respiratory suppliers, physician practices, ancillary health care practitioners and other providers. He has successfully represented health care clients in two appeals before the United States Supreme Court.

Sherrin was formerly in charge of litigation for the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene and was an adjunct professor of law for Union College's graduate program in health care administration. While at Albany Law, he was editor-in-chief of the Albany Law Review. He has been listed in the publication The Best Lawyers in America for more than 20 years, and has also been listed for several years as a Super Lawyer in health care law for Upstate New York.

Ranked in the 2013 list of “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News Media Group, O’Connell and Aronowitz has more than 35 attorneys and offices in Albany, Saratoga and Plattsburgh.

Albany Law Hosts Chinese Delegation

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:06:46 GMT

A delegation from the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade (SIFT) in China is currently visiting the Albany Law School campus. For years, the two insitutions have held educational and cultural exchanges for students and faculty.

Professor Cai Jianmin, who teaches at SIFT, has been a visiting scholar at Albany Law for the spring semester, and he is currently teaching the law school's Introduction to Chinese Law course. On April 23, he will conduct a faculty workshop on "The Characteristics of the U.S. Legal Education and its Comparison with Chinese Law School in the Perspective of a Chinese Law Scholar."

Albany Law has an ongoing relationship with SIFT for cooperative educational programs and collaborative research initiatives for students and faculties in both countries. This semester, Albany Law students and faculty members toured China for several days, meeting with alumni in the country, visiting Chinese legal institutions, and attending seminars about Chinese and U.S. law.

In addition to the annual trip to China, Albany Law hosts study tours of SIFT students and faculty each year.

Associate Dean Mayer Delivers Ella and Raymond Smith Lecture

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:08:01 GMT

Associate Dean Connie Mayer, who was recently named the Ella and Raymond Smith Distinguished Professor of Law, delivered the lecture "Future Projects to Continue Service to the Law and the Public" at the law school on April 23, 2013.

Associate Dean Mayer took on the title of Ella and Raymond Smith Distinguished Professor of Law at Albany Law School late last year. She is also the law school's Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and a Clinical Professor of Law.

She served as interim president and dean during the 2011-2012 academic year while the school searched for a new president and dean. Along with overseeing the school’s curriculum, Dean Mayer has been instrumental in aligning the school’s teaching toward graduating practice-ready students. She currently teaches Legal Ethics and New York Practice, and has also taught Federal Civil Procedure, Disabilities Law Seminar, the AIDS/HIV Law Seminar, Negotiating for Lawyers, and Trial Practice I and Trial Practice II. She recently served on the New York State Bar Association Committee on Legal Education & Admission to the Bar, and was the 2011 Recipient of the law school's Excellence in Teaching Award.

Associate Dean Mayer practiced law with East Texas Legal Services and subsequently worked in a private criminal and civil law practice prior to joining the Albany Law faculty in 1986 as the Director of the Disabilities Law Clinic. In 1992, she became the Director of the Clinical Program and expanded the clinic, adding the AIDS/HIV Law Clinic, which she directed from 1992-1996; the Domestic Violence Clinic; and the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic. She continued as the Director of the Clinical Legal Studies Program through 2001 while also serving as the Associate Dean for Student Affairs from 1999 through 2005. In 2005, she became the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Named for Raymond Smith, a respected Albany attorney, and Ella Smith, a community advocate, the Raymond and Ella Smith Distinguished Professorship was funded through bequests from Mr. and Mrs. Smith that named Albany Law School as beneficiary.

Albany Law Holds 28th Annual Watkins Rugby Tournament

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:33:56 GMT

The Albany Law men's and women's rugby teams will hold the 28th Annual Memorial Watkins Tournament on Saturday, April 27, 2013, attracting teams from across New York state and New England, as well as a large crowd of student and alumni spectators.

Most games will be played at Christian Brothers Academy High School, 12 Airline Drive, Albany, with the championship games to be played at Albany Law School. See below for the full schedule.

On Saturday afternoon, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Dean Penelope (Penny) Andrews will host a Meet & Greet with rugby alumni in the law school's courtyard. After the championship games, there will also be a dinner for rugby alumni and spouses at the German-American Club in Latham at 7:00 p.m. RSVP for the Meet & Greet at alumni@albanylaw.edu, and for the alumni dinner at brian@lydalaw.com.

The Watkins Tournament opening ceremony will be held on Friday, April 26, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at McGeary’s Pub, 4 Clinton Square, Albany. Closing ceremonies will take place Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m. at Duffy’s Lucky Charm, 766 Clinton Avenue, Albany.

Albany Law Students Log More than 2,000 Pro Bono Hours this Year

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:54:52 GMT

Albany Law School students provided more than 2,000 pro bono service hours during the 2012-2013 school year. They were honored at the 4th Annual Pro Bono Society Reception, held in the gym at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, 2013.

Lisa Frisch, executive director of The Legal Project, delivered a keynote speech, and several community partners and members of the law school faculty were recognized for their efforts. Eleven students were recognized for logging at least 75 hours of pro bono service prior to graduation, and 24 were recognized for completing at least 30 hours of qualifying service during the most recent academic year.

Benjamin Pomerance '13 earned the Pro Bono Student of the Year designation for amassing more than 500 pro bono hours during his time at Albany Law, more than any other student in his class. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Project was also recognized for serving the most clients.

Other pro bono projects at the law school include the Veterans' Rights Project, the Anti-Human Trafficking Legal Project, the Matrimonial & Family Law Project and several others.

Hitti '13 Drawn to Litigation through Field Placement

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:55:42 GMT

Edward Hitti '13 is spending part of his final law school semester as an intern in the Real Property Bureau of the New York State Office of the Attorney General.

"This field placement has really opened my eyes to the challenge and appeal of litigation," said Hitti, who plans to take the New York state civil service exam in addition to the bar exam. "It's not just a case in a book anymore; I've watched attorneys argue points in the courtroom that I've researched and developed."

The Attorney General's Real Property Bureau assists state agencies with any transaction related to real property, including investigating titles, clearing liens and preparing deeds and other closing documents. The Real Property Bureau also handles all of the state's eminent domain cases and court proceedings related to public land disputes.

A Clinton, N.Y., native, Hitti attended Utica College and earned a B.A. in government and politics before coming to Albany Law School.

"I've always enjoyed the process of picking apart an idea and understanding both sides of any given argument," said Hitti, noting that he enjoys classes with professors who are particularly adept with the Socratic method.

He continued, "There are many things I can see myself doing after law school, from public policy to real estate, but my interest in interpreting, arguing and potentially refining the law will remain constant."

Linnan '72 Recognized for $144 Million Jury Verdict

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:05:55 GMT

A $144,690,039.00 jury verdict by James Linnan '72 and his law firm partner Charlene Fallon was featured by Lawyers USA as sixth in the national publication's list of Top 10 Jury Verdicts for 2012.

The case involved a claim against a hospital for failing to recognize or properly treat a heart attack for Linnan's client, causing severe and permanent damage to her heart. The resulting verdict was not only the sixth largest in the country for 2012, it was also the largest in New York state.

Linnan's firm, Linnan & Fallon, LLP, is based in Albany with offices in Glens Falls, Catskill and Oneonta, and it specializes in representing patients who have been injured while in the health care system. Linnan has tried more than 100 cases to verdict, and he has achieved a number of verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million.

In addition to personal injury law, Linnan has been active in legal representation for the hospitality industry for more than 30 years and is currently the counsel for the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association. He frequently delivers lectures for the New York State Bar Association and American Board of Trial Advocates on topics such as prosecuting medical malpractice cases, civil trial tactics and premises liability.

Active with a number of community and charitable organizations, Linnan is a founding member of the Albany Ronald McDonald House.

Health Law Clinic Offers Help with Living Wills, Proxies

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:14:06 GMT

Albany Law School’s Health Law Clinic will offer free legal services related to advance directives on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in conjunction with the New York State Bar Association’s Mitchell Rabbino National Healthcare Decisions Day.

The program, held at Albany Law School, will start in the gym with a brief introduction to healthcare proxies and living wills. Thereafter, a group of about 20 law students will work under the supervision of local attorneys to assist attendees interested in executing these documents.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact 518-445-2328 or kmangouri@albanylaw.edu.

Albany Law Team Ranks Top Eight at National Moot Court Contest

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:19:30 GMT

Albany Law School's team finished in the top eight of 42 teams from around the country at the John J. Gibbons National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition, hosted by Seton Hall University School of Law in late March.

The law school's team, pictured to the left, was comprised of Robert Smith ’14, Michael Yetter ’14, Jocelyn McGrath ’15, Justin Salkin ’13 (student coach), Professor Donna Young (faculty advisor), and Kenneth “KC” Weafer, Esq. (team coach). The group advanced through multiple rounds before losing to an eventual finalist in the competition.

The John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition, now in its 20th year, focuses on timely issues of criminal procedure and criminal law. Each team writes one brief, representing the party of its choice, and each team also argues both sides during oral argument.

Through the Albany Law School Moot Court Program, which includes interschool and intraschool competitions, more than 50 percent of the law school's students receive intensive practical training in oral and written appellate advocacy, trial advocacy, and client counseling and negotiation skills.

Dean Andrews Announces Changes in Administration

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:20:13 GMT

Alicia Ouellette will become the associate dean for faculty scholarship and professional development, effective April 1, 2013, and Rosemary Queenan will succeed her as interim associate dean for student affairs after Commencement in May.

Symposium to Focus on Cybersecurity, Online Privacy

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:14:30 GMT

Experts from around the country will convene at Albany Law School to discuss issues of cybersecurity, freedom of information law, and other topics related to computer networks and information security.

"Government / Information / Networks / Technology" will take place on Friday, April 5, 2013, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The schedule to date includes:

1:00 p.m.

Watching and Being Watched

Bryan Choi, Yale Law School, Information Society Project

Professor David Levine, Elon University School of Law

Nabiha Syed, Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, LLP

Moderator: Professor Alex Seita, Albany Law School

2:45 p.m.

Cybersecurity and Cyberwarfare: Private and Public Concerns

Professor Annie Antón, Georgia Tech College of Computing

Professor Sanjay Goel, University at Albany

Professor Robert Heverly ’92, Albany Law School

Moderator: Thomas Smith ’82, New York State Office of Cyber Security

4:30 p.m.

Observations, Considerations and Concerns

Professor Peter Swire, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

The symposium, co-sponsored by the Albany Law Journal of Science & Technology and the Government Law Center, is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged. For more information, visit www.albanylaw.edu/cybersecurity or contact 518-472-5855 or mkernan@albanylaw.edu.