Biography
Lauren DesRosiers is a Visiting Assistant Professor and the Director of Albany Law School’s Immigration Law Clinic (ILC). She first joined the law school in 2021 as the ILC’s staff attorney and has since taken on various roles, including prior appointments to direct the ILC and teach Immigration Law.
Before coming to Albany, Lauren spent several years with the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) representing queer and trans survivors of violence in immigration matters and related civil proceedings, first as an Equal Justice Works Fellow and later as a Senior Staff Attorney. She was a visiting professor and Judith S. Kaye Teaching Fellow with the Historical Society of the New York Courts and Bard Early Colleges, where she developed and taught an undergraduate course that explored New York State’s place in the historical development of U.S. immigration law and policy.
Lauren began her legal career as a litigation associate at a large law firm in New York City, where she represented clients in civil matters in state and federal courts while maintaining an active immigration pro bono docket.
Lauren received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and B.A. from Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
In the News
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was interviewed on WRGB for the story, "Immigration law expert breaks down impact of Trump policy changes on due process, deportations," on July 17, 2025
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers spoke with CBS6 for a July 17, 2025 story titled: "Tim Coll tells Saratoga residents to call ICE, Congress, in response to immigration raids."
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was interviewed on WRGB for the story, "Immigration attorney breaks down legal parameters of ICE in courthouses, Lander arrest," on June 18, 2025
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was quoted in the Gothamist story, "How a shoplifting arrest in upstate NY summoned ICE and separated a family," on June 11, 2025.
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was quoted in the WAMC.org story, "CANA hears from local officials about Albany’s response to changing federal immigration policy," on March 14, 2025.
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was quoted in the Times Union story, "ICE detains immigrant, questions green card holder in Kingston" on February 27, 2025.
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers appeared on WAMC's Midday Magazine, "Legal battles to follow Trump’s proposal ending birthright citizenship, which is in the Constitution," on January 21, 2025.
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers appeared on Spectrum News Capital Tonight, "Immigration law clinic director from Albany Law School discusses Trump’s executive actions" on January 20, 2025.
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was quoted in the Times Union article "Upstate immigrant advocates fear local effects of Trump’s deportation plans" on November 17, 2024.
Director of the Immigration Law Clinic Lauren DesRosiers was quoted in the Hell Gate article "The Adams Administration Is Denying Roughly Half of Migrants’ Shelter Applications" on June 20, 2024.
Lauren DesRosiers
Assistant Professor of Law; Director of the Immigration Law Clinic