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Orientation

Welcome!

Dear New Students,

Congratulations on your acceptance to law school! We are thrilled that you have chosen to take the next step toward your future legal career at Albany Law School and as we eagerly look forward to your arrival on campus, we are planning for your orientation and beyond.  

Pre-arrival planning is critical to your successful start with us. This communication contains several important pieces of information about orientation. Please read it carefully and keep it on hand for reference. 

The goals of Orientation are to provide: important information that will allow you to succeed as a law student and post-grad as well as familiarize you with the structures and policies of Albany Law School; the fundamental skills you will need as you begin your legal education; and provide many formal and informal opportunities to meet our faculty, staff, upper-level students and classmates.

Orientation will take place on Tuesday, August 15 through Friday, August 18.

Participation is mandatory for all first-year students and attendance will be taken. Please plan to arrive at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday for registration. You will also pick up your Orientation packet and meet with your student section advisors who will lead you through the weeks sessions.

On Thursday, August 17, the day’s events will conclude with a brief swearing-in ceremony. Business attire is suggested on Thursday as there will be a light reception and class photo following the swearing-in ceremony. As we get closer, we will provide you with a Zoom link to share with your family and friends so they can view the swearing-in ceremony live.

A preliminary Orientation schedule is attached for your review. Keep in in mind that this schedule is subject to minor changes.

In the meantime, it is important that you check your Albany Law School email address frequently as Orientation and other law school information will now be communicated to that email address. In the next day or so, you will receive an invitation from Canvas, our Learning Management System, to join the Fall 2023 New Student Orientation Canvas course. All Orientation materials and directions will be posted on the Canvas course. 

Please accept the invitation and carefully review the materials contained in the modules section of this course, which will provide instructions on finalizing your preparations to attend Orientation.
On behalf of the entire Albany Law community, we welcome you. Enjoy your summer.
 

Jenean Taranto
Associate Dean for Student Affairs

Andrea Irizarry
Director of Academic and Student Programs

Resources

    TUESDAY, AUGUST 15

    • 8:30am - 8:45am - East Foyer - Registration 
    • 9:00am - 9:30am - Dean Alexander Moot Court Room (DAMC) - Dean’s Welcome 
    • 9:30am - 10:30am - DAMC - Student Services and Support 
    • 10:30am - 10:45am - BREAK
    • 10:45am - 11:45am - DAMC - How To Take Extremely Useful Notes
    • 11:45am - 12:30pm - DAMC - Implicit Bias and Microaggressions Recognition and Interruption
    • 12:30pm - 1:15pm - Lunch with Faculty Advisor 
    • 1:15pm - 1:30pm - BREAK
    • 1:30pm - 2:45pm - Legal Methods/Sample Class 1: Preparing for Class; Reading and Briefing Cases
    • 2:45pm - 3:00pm - BREAK
    • 3:00pm - 4:00pm - DAMC - SBA and Student Panel 
    • 4:00pm - 5:00pm - Campus Greenspace - Albany Law Welcome BBQ
       

    WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16

    • 8:00am - 9:00am - East Foyer - Class Coffee Social
    • 9:00am - 10:15am - Legal Methods/Sample Class 2: Getting Ready for the First Week of Classes
    • 10:15am - 10:30am - BREAK
    • 10:30am - 11:00am - DAMC - Managing Your Finances
    • 11:00am - 11:15am - DAMC - Preparing for the Bar Exam
    • 11:15am - 12:15pm - DAMC - Character and Fitness & Admission to the Bar
    • 12:15pm - 1:30pm - Courtyard & Cafeteria - Pizza Lunch
    • 1:30pm - 2:00pm - DAMC - Albany Law School’s Responses to Sexual and Related Misconduct
    • 2:00pm - 3:00pm - Mental Health Literacy and Support/ Imposter Syndrome: Fact or Fiction
    • 3:00pm - 3:15pm - BREAK
    • 3:15pm - 4:15pm - Mental Health Literacy and Support/ Imposter Syndrome: Fact or Fiction
    • 4:15pm - 4:45pm - DAMC - Making an Impact
    • 4:45pm - 5:00pm - DAMC - Journal Information
    • 5:00pm - 6:00pm - East and West Foyer - Alumni Social

    THURSDAY, AUGUST 17

    • 8:00am - 8:45am - East Foyer - Class Coffee Social 
    • 9:00am - 10:00am - DAMC - Introduction to Professional Identity Formation
    • 10:00am - 11:00am - Professional Communication Workshop
    • 11:00am - 11:15am - BREAK
    • 11:15am - 11:45am - DAMC - Swearing-In Ceremony 
    • 11:45am - 12:00pm - BREAK
    • 12:00pm - 12:15pm - Front Steps, New Scotland Ave. - Class Photo
    • 12:15pm - 1:15pm - Front Lawn - Celebratory Toast

    FRIDAY, AUGUST 18

    • 8:30am - 9:30am - East Foyer - Coffee Social 
    • 10:00am - 1:00pm - Capital Roots
    • 10:00am - 1:00pm - In Our Own Voices

    Student Portal

    To help you with the transition to school, you have access to our Student Portal. This information was sent this summer via email, but here is a refresher.

    Through a single login, you will have access to Self-Service for Students (registration, schedules, financial aid, billing, etc.), Outlook Web Mail, campus events, important announcements, notifications and more.

    Check your email for both your user ID and your temporary password.

    Change Password 

    Using the User ID and the Temporary password, change your password immediately: albanylaw.edu/changepassword

    Your password must be complex, at least 8 characters long, contain upper and lower case letters and at least one number or special character.

    Once you have changed your password, you will be prompted for a back-up alternative email or phone number and multifactor authentication (MFA) to secure your account.

    Sites to Access 

    Portal: https://my.albanylaw.edu

    Email: https://webmail.albanylaw.edu

    Albany Law email address is the first letter of your first name and the first four letters of your last name. Example: John Smith - jsmit@albanylaw.edu

    After Password Change 

    Complete the ITS Policy Acknowledgement no later than two weeks after the start of classes or computer privileges will be suspended.

    Familiarize yourself with Self-Service Menu for Students once you are logged into the portal and you can view your class schedule.

    Task List

    STUDENT ID (IN PERSON)

    Visit the Business Office Suite on the second floor of the 2000 building between 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. to get your student ID. This should be completed prior to Orientation.

    _______ Student ID 

    _______ Parking Pass (If planning to park on campus)

    SELF-SERVICE FOR STUDENTS (on Portal)

    ______ User Profile

    ______ Chosen Name

    ______ Preferred Pronouns

    ______ Address/Phone

    ______ Emergency Information

    ______ Review, Update and Confirm Emergency Contact Information

    Required Agreements

    _______ FERPA/Directory Withholding

    _______ Audio Recording Policy 

    _______ Student Handbook 

    _______ ITS Policy Acknowledgement

    _______ Drug and Alcohol Policy

    CANVAS [Click Here]

    _____ NameCoach Roster 

    _____ NameCoach Recording

    ______ Modules 

    Orientation Materials 

    ______ Legal Methods Reading Assignments

    ______ Parking Permit Application

    ______ Shared Responsibility and Community Safety Agreement

    ______ New Student Communications Release 

    ______ Pledge of Professionalism

    Presentations and Trainings (Required)

    ______ Computer Access and Information 

    ______ Max Financial Literacy

    ______ Public Safety

    ______ Pro Bono Program Orientation

    Additional Forms and Selections

    ______ Notify Student Affairs of Orientation Dietary Restrictions

    ______ Academic Accommodations Form (if needed)

    ______ ESL Accommodation Form (if needed)

    ______ Immunization Form (if not already submitted)

    Kindly plan to arrive at Albany Law School no later than 8:30 a.m. on Monday to register and receive your Orientation packet. Upon registration you will be officially confirmed as a first-year law student (1L).

    The main program and introductions, will begin at 8:45 a.m. in the Dean Alexander Moot Court Room (DAMC). Current Albany Law students who are serving as Albany Law Student Section Advisors will guide you to the DAMC, which is on the 4th floor.

    SUGGESTED ATTIRE

    Appropriate dress during Orientation is business casual (no t- shirts, jeans, or sneakers, please). We suggest business attire as there will be a swearing-in ceremony and your class photo.

    FOOD ACCOMMODATIONS

    If you have any special dietary needs (gluten allergy, milk allergy, vegan, etc.), please email the Student Affairs Office at studentaffairs@albanylaw.edu so that we can ensure there is a menu option available for you. Please be sure to notify us in advance so we can make these arrangements.

    PARKING

    You may park in the parking lot immediately adjacent to the law school off of Holland Avenue. This lot is reserved for 3L students, but as an exception, you may use it during Orientation.

    For the school year, you will need a parking permit, which you may apply for via Canvas. Permits will be issued. After completing the Permit Application on Canvas, please stop by the Business Office Suite on the second floor of the 2000 building to pay for your permit and pick up your parking hang tag.

    You will need to present a picture ID and current vehicle registration. Only vehicles registered in the name of the applying student, the student’s parent, guardian, or spouse are eligible for a permit.

    STUDENT IDS

    All members of the Albany Law School Community must have a valid law school photo identification card. You are encouraged to stop by the Business Office Suite (2nd floor of the 2000 building) to have your photo taken for your identification card. The office will be open daily from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. All incoming students are required to complete this process.

    HOUSING

    If you are still looking for housing, please note that the Student Affairs Office maintains a Housing Listserv that is open to all faculty, staff and students. The listserv can be used to advertise an apartment, to find a roommate, or to look for a sublet or an apartment. The Student Affairs Office will email housing information from local landlords as it becomes available. If you would like to be added to the Housing Listserv, please email studentaffairs@albanylaw.edu from your law school email address. Once you have been added to the Listserv, you can email the group at housing@albanylaw.edu.

    PREPARING FOR ORIENTATION

    As you begin to prepare for Orientation, please keep in mind that it is important that you check your Albany Law School email address frequently as updates will now be sent to this email.

    TASK LIST AND REQUIRED PRESENTATIONS

    The Task List identifies important documents and presentations that will provide essential information on a wide range of administrative matters, including parking, accessing your email, and student policies for all incoming students. Please use the task list to be sure you have completed all necessary items to make the start of law school easier. Some of the tasks will be in person, on canvas or on the Self-Service for Students Menu on the portal landing page.

    As an incoming student, you are required to view each presentation and complete each required agreement prior to the start of Orientation/classes.

    ORIENTATION ASSIGNMENTS & READING

    You must read and prepare several assignments for the Orientation Course which is found on the Canvas Platform. You can access Canvas through the Albany Law School portal: https://my.albanylaw.edu.

    PREPARING FOR WEEK 1 OF LAW SCHOOL

    On the law school portal, you will also find information about the various law school departments/offices, your reading assignments for the first week of school, and forms you may need throughout your time at Albany Law School.

    COURSE SCHEDULE & 1L ACADEMIC SECTION

    As a first-year student, your course schedule is preset.  You will be able to view your schedule using self-service.  Please sign in to the portal with your Albany Law credentials.  https://my.albanylaw.edu

    The self-service menu is located on the bottom right.

    BOOKSTORE

    To “welcome” you, The Bookstore, is offering you a 30% coupon for a one (1) time use on certain full-price clothing, supplies or gift items. You must “sign-up” using the provided link on the postcard (enclosed) in order to obtain the 30% discount. The 30% discount cannot be combined with other offers and expires 30 days from the date of activation so don’t “activate” too soon.

    Activate the coupon code

    To order your textbooks for in-store pick-up or home delivery, go to The Bookstore’s website. You will need your course schedule to locate your textbooks and an I.D. at the time of your in-store pickup. We also ask that you have your online order confirmation number (72800000) which can can locate your order.

    NAME COACH

    All students are required to record the pronunciation of their names using NameCoach. To do so, you can click Name Coach Roster on the left sidebar of the New Student Orientation Course and click record.

    FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES - ASSIGNMENTS

    To prepare for class the first day, read and brief each case in the assigned readings (you will learn how to brief cases during the sample classes at Orientation). Your professor will also expect you to have your assigned text books in class. Your reading assignments for the first week will be posted on the Student Affairs page of the Portal.

    ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS

    Please contact academicaffairs@albanylaw.edu at your earliest opportunity if you have a disability or English is your second language and you intend to request accommodations during the academic year. Our law school community is inclusive of all our students and provides appropriate support to them. You can start the accommodation process now by submitting a Request for Academic Accommodations Form and/or English as a Second Language Form, which can be found on the Portal (Student Affairs page). If you would like your accommodation in place by the first day of classes, you must return your documentation to the Academic and Student Affairs Office or email it to academicaffairs@albanylaw.edu.

    SEATING ACCOMMODATIONS

    You will have assigned seats for all of your 1L classes. If you have a documented disability or a physical impairment that requires a special seating accommodation, please email studentaffairs@albanylaw.edu with Seating Accommodation in the subject line. You will receive an email with directions to access the seating assignments in preparation for classes.

    FACULTY ADVISOR

    At Albany Law School, Faculty Advisors assist students throughout their academic careers. On the first day of Orientation, you will have the opportunity to have lunch with your assigned Faculty Advisor. We hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity to work directly with a faculty mentor in planning the rest of your law school experience.

    FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR

    Your 1-credit hour first year seminar class will be taken in the fall.  The Registrar’s Office will contact you.