Albany Law School

The classroom component for client advocacy placements combines both civil and criminal practice and addresses common issues of indigent client representation.

Civil - Public Interest
The Public Interest and Advocacy Placements offer students the opportunity to learn about lawyering while contributing to the betterment of the lives of people who sometimes have no voice in the legal system: those at the bottom of the economic scale, the victims of domestic violence, tenants, public assistance recipients, the disabled, the mentally ill, the elderly, the homeless and children suffering abuse and neglect. Depending on the particular office, selected students may work directly with clients; complete traditional research and writing assignments; participate in field investigations; prepare witnesses and attend and/or participate in court hearings and/or engage in policy discussions and advocacy.  All responsibilities are performed under the supervision of an experienced attorney in the designated office.  Students will also participate in a classroom session focusing on substantive poverty law areas as well as the legal, political and ethical issues surrounding legal services and public interest advocacy.               

• Albany County Department of Social Services
  
• Capital District Center for Independence            
  
• Capital District Women's Bar Association: The Legal Project
  
• Civil Service Employees' Association (CSEA) - Additional Information
  Additional Application Requirements: writing sample and a current transcript.
  
• Columbia County Department of Social Services - Additional Information
  
• Disability Advocates, Inc.
  
• Empire Justice Center - Additional Information
  
• Legal Aid Offices in Albany or Saratoga Springs - Additional Information 
  Additional application requirements: Although not required, prior experience working with low income or vulnerable populations is desirable. Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.  
  
• Legal Aid Society: Homelessness Unit, Albany - Additional Information
  Additional application requirements:  Although not required, prior experience working with low income or vulnerable populations is desirable. Ability to speak Spanish is a plus.
  
• Mental Hygiene Legal Services
  
• NYS Brain Injury Association (See Health Law placements)
  
• NY Farm Bureau, Inc. - Additional Information
  Additional application requirements: writing sample
  
• NYS Office of Children and Family Services 
  Additional application requirements: writing sample
  
• NYS Office of Children and Family Services - Legal Department
  
• NYS Office of Children and Family Services - Bureau of Child Welfare Services - Additional Information
  
• NYS Office of Children and Family Services - Office of the Ombudsman
  
• NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities- Additional Information (See Health Law placements)
  Additional application requirements: cover letter, writing sample, 
  
• NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence - Additional Information 
  Additional application requirements: writing sample, and submit to a background check. Students with relevant backgrounds or coursework preferred (such as domestic violence, criminal justice, and/or family law).
  
• NYS Office of Temporary Disability Assistance (OTDA) - Additional application requirements: cover letter, writing sample, and unofficial transcript.
  
  • Office of Administrative Hearings - Additional Information
    
  • Office of Legal Affairs - Additional Information
    
• Prisoner's Legal Services - Additional Information
  
• Rensselaer County Department of Social Services - Additional Information
  
• Schenectady County Office of Children and Family Services