Faculty and staff in the Government Law Center at Albany Law School teach courses that help law students build connections with practitioners in the field and expose students to the real-world impacts of law and policy on vulnerable populations.

This semester, Patrick Wildes ’16, Director of the Government Law Center, and Prof. Rose Mary Bailly, Special Consultant in Aging and Disability Law, co-taught Disability Justice with Dean Rosemary Queenan, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Albany Law School. This seminar for 1L students examined how law has defined disability and the limitations of federal disability rights laws that guarantee equal access to and treatment of people with disabilities in areas such as schools, employment, facilities, mental health, and in the criminal justice system. 

Guest speakers included:

• James Sandman '20H, Esq., former President of Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and Distinguished Lecturer and Senior Consultant to the Future of the Profession Initiative at University of Pennsylvania Penn Carey Law School, who discussed the gap between the civil legal needs of low-income Americans and the resources available to meet those needs;
• John Robinson, Founder and CEO of Our Ability; Benjamin Thapa, Esq. ’12, Associate Director in the New York State Office of the Chief Disability Officer; Ryan Williams, Esq. ’16, staff attorney at Disability Rights New York, and Lisa-Michelle Houck, Esq. ’23, Assistant Attorney, New York State Workers' Compensation Board, who discussed the challenges individuals with disabilities face in employment;
• Honorable Patrick G. Radel, who discussed the evolution of the rights of children with disabilities in classroom settings;
• John V. Tauriello, Esq. ’80, Senior Advisor and Counsel for the Mental Health Association in New York State, and Arvind Sooknanan, Member of the Board of Directors of Fountain House, discussing the mental health continuum of care, including the legal process known as involuntary commitment and the complications of the relationship between mental illness and homelessness;
• Maria Lisi-Murray, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, Jessica Pidgeon, Chief of Staff, and Tony Ryan, Chief of Investigations, who discussed the intersection of disability justice and the criminal legal system, and the legal protections, systemic challenges, and advocacy efforts for vulnerable populations; and
• Willow Baer, Esq. ’07, Commissioner of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), Haldan Blecher, Esq., Deputy Counsel, and Chester Finn, nationally recognized disability rights advocate, who discussed the role of OPWDD at the intersection of developmental disabilities and aging, and efforts to preserve the autonomy of individuals with developmental disabilities.

In addition, Prof. Bailly teaches Elder Law each year. The course provides an overview of legal and policy issues facing aging adults, including decision-making capacity, financial, physical, and emotional abuse, limited income, living and transportation arrangements, and medical and related care. 

Guest speakers this semester included:

• Former Sandman Fellow Samantha Bardwell, Esq. ’22, who discussed decision-making capacity and supported decision-making;
• Former Sandman Fellow Benjamin Pomerance, Esq. ’13, who discussed the unique legal needs of veterans and service members;
• GLC Fellow Andrew Jensen ’27, former Deputy Director of the Emergency Management Agency of Augusta, Georgia, who discussed emergency preparedness for older adults;
• Dr. Carine Nzodom, Medical Director of Housing and Homeless Services in the New York State Office of Mental Health, and Tracey Wilson, Chief of Staff for the OMH Office of the Executive Deputy Commissioner, who discussed homelessness among older adults; and
• Patrick Wildes, Esq. ’16, Director of the Government Law Center, and former Assistant Secretary for Human Services and Mental Hygiene in the Governor’s Office, who discussed the role of the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs.

This fall, Government Lawyer-in-Residence Prof. Robert (Bob) Batson ’75 co-taught a field placement course with Prof. Deborah Mann ’79. Albany Law students participating in the Field Placement Program are required to participate in field placement classes taught by practitioners to supplement their experiential learning.