Albany Law School

B.S., Siena College
J.D., Albany Law School, summa cum laude
Executive Editor for Business, Albany Law Review
LL.M., New York University School of Law

Professor Kearns joined the law school faculty in 2008. Prior to joining the faculty she represented individuals, for-profit and not-for-profit entities in tax planning, tax controversy and complex tax preparation matters. Professor Kearns started her legal career as an associate in the Private Clients department of White & Case, LLP, 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. She directs the Tax Clinic, teaches tax related courses and conducts research in the areas of tax procedure and administration, poverty law and administrative law. Professor Kearns is the immediate past Chair of the Taxation Committee of the Trusts and Estates Section of the New York State Bar Association and currently serves on the Trusts and Estates Executive Committee as the Third Judicial District Representative.  She is a member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Taxation and the Program Chair of the Section’s Pro Bono and Tax Clinics Committee. She is also a member of the Clinical Legal Education Association and the Association of American Law Schools, Clinical Legal Education Section.

Introduction to Estate Planning, New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (Albany, New York, October 24 2011) (presented and chaired)

Estate Litigation: Ethical Considerations and Attorney’s Fees, New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (Albany, New York, June 2, 2011) (presented and chaired)

Probate and the Administration of Estates: Ethical Considerations and Attorney’s Fees, New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (Albany, New York, October 19, 2010) (presented and chaired)

Taxpayer Advocacy Conference: Addressing Systemic Tensions During Tight Budget Times, October 8, 2010 (presented and chaired).

Estate Planning after Divorce, Planning for the Next Marriage, New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (Albany, New York, June 2, 2010) (presented and chaired)

Using Technology and Backward Design to Help Students Acquire the Attributes of Effective, Responsible Lawyers, AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education (Baltimore, Maryland, May 8, 2010)

Introduction to Estate Planning, Charitable Planning, Life Insurance and Qualified Plans, New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education (Albany, New York, October 20, 2009)

Everything You Wanted to Know about Estate Planning for the Middle Class Client (But Were Afraid to Ask), Qualified Plans, Tax and Non Tax Considerations, New York State Bar Association CLE (Albany, New York, May 20, 2009)

Program Chair, Estate Planning in Uncertain Times, Tax and Non-Tax Considerations, New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates Law Section Spring Meeting (Amelia Island, Florida, March 19 – 22, 2009).

Reverse Mortgages, Senior Citizens Law Day, Albany Law School (Albany, New York, October 25, 2008)

Estate Planning Update, Curran Investment Management (Albany, New York, February 27, 2008)

Estate Planning Update, New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, (Albany, New York, November 29, 2007)

Reverse Mortgages, Senior Citizens Law Day, Albany Law School (Albany, New York, October 27, 2007)

Multi-Jurisdictional Practice and the New Model Rules, UJA Federation (New York, New York, February 10, 2004)

Lexis/Nexis Skills and Values Series, Federal Income Tax co-author, Michelle Drumbl, Washington & Lee University) (2011)