The Academic Success Program, ASP, is an integral part of Albany Law School's commitment to provide the opportunity for all students to succeed in law school. The ASP is a collaborative effort involving law school administration, faculty and students with the goal of assisting students in developing and enhancing the critical skills necessary for academic success in school, success on the bar exam and as an attorney. Our academic support services are coordinated by the Associate Professor of Academic Success.

The program consists of several components including a required first year class for selected students which focuses on skill development in the context of substantive coursework, a series of skill development workshops for first year students which is voluntary, a writing center, individual tutoring in both substance and lawyering skills, counseling students, and an alumni mentoring program as well as a specialized bar support mentoring program for third year students.

Applied Legal Reasoning
A required first‑year course for selected students, Applied Legal Reasoning concentrates on enhancing students' basic lawyering skills through intensive and concentrated study of the requisite skills necessary for success. It involves completing written and oral exercises for example, in reading, case briefing, analyzing and synthesizing, note taking, outlining, and communicating. The course also addresses study habits, time management, stress reduction, and exam taking skills.

Applied Legal Reasoning Teaching Fellows and Aces (Academic Commitment to Excellence and Success)
Selected fellows are assigned to sections of the Property II course (other second semester first year courses may be assigned), as a teaching fellow. The fellows attend an orientation. The fellows attend the regularly scheduled Property and Applied Legal Reasoning classes, assist in developing problems, conduct or assist in conducting small group review and question and answer sessions for the ALR students in the substantive area assigned to the teaching fellow and review and critique individual students' written responses to sample questions, problems, and exams.

Aces Teaching Tutors
Tutors work with students assigned to the majority of first year doctrinal courses and assist the students with working through problems and understanding the doctrinal coursework as well as developing their skills

Sponsler Fellows
This is an Honors Teaching Fellowship program where the fellows are assigned to a section of first semester Introduction to Civil Procedure course as a teaching fellow. The fellows attend the regularly scheduled classes conduct or assist in conducting small group review and question and answer sessions for the first year students: create review and critique individual students' responses to sample questions and problems approved for distribution by the faculty member teaching that section.

The Lewis A. Swyer Lectures and Workshops
The Swyer Academic Success Workshops are a multi‑semester program which stress active learning, designed to enhance academic skills and performance in the areas of case analysis, synthesis of material, outlining, and test taking. The Swyer Programs are open to all students.

The Swyer lectures and workshops continue into the second year to assist students' in enhancing skills in the context of a substantive course. Although a voluntary program, students are invited to attend based on their GPA.

Writing Center
Available to all students, with preference given to first year students, the Writing Center offers students help with writing beyond what is available in their regular law school courses.

Alumni Mentoring Program
As a first‑year student, you may choose to be matched with an Albany Law School alumnus: who will provide support, advice, and guidance as you navigate your way through law school.

Bar Preparation Course
Albany Law School offers a customized non‑credit bar preparation course during your third year of law school. The weekend course exposes you to review in specific substantive areas of law and emphasizes development of exam‑taking skills with an opportunity to complete exams and have the exams graded. The program also includes speakers from the Board of Law Examiners, a Judge from the New York Court of Appeals and alumni presenting on topics such as disciplined preparation, stress reduction, and motivation for success.

We also offer bar preparation for invited students who have been unsuccessful on the bar exam. Albany law school faculty offer an intensive two day workshop where students are instructed in two subject areas and learn how to answer multiple choice and essay questions.

Bar Exam Mentoring
We also provide a bar mentoring program for third year students. The Bar Exam Mentoring Program provides students with an opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance on study tips, test procedures, and other general questions and concerns regarding the exam.