Donna Jo Morse Client Counseling Competition
The Donna Jo Morse Client Counseling Competition is held during the fall semester and is designed to promote greater knowledge and interest among Albany Law students in the counseling function of law practice. The objective is to simulate a law office consultation in which law students are presented with a typical client problem. Competitors participate in pairs and conduct an interview with a person playing the role of the client while advising them about their legal problem. In the interview, the competitors are expected to elicit the relevant information concerning the problem, outline the problem, and propose a solution. Following the interview, the competitors will complete a brief self-critique.
2023-2024 Committee:
Justin M. Aragosa, Competition Chair
Kevin P. Hoenig, Competition Associate
Prof. Joseph Connors, Faculty Advisor
Competition Requirements:
To prepare for this competition, each team must formulate a strategy designed to elicit the necessary information from the client.
Competition is open to all second-, third- and fourth-year Albany Law students who have a GPA of 2.0 or above. First-year students are encouraged to volunteer as clients.
The competitors will be required to address a different problem for each round of the competition.
2022 Morse Client Counseling Competition Results:
The Finalists competed in front of the following judges on October 27, 2022:
Hon. Richard Rivera ’91
Hon. Christina L. Ryba '01
Andrew R. Safranko, Esq. ’98
Winners
Ellen J. Gabelmann ’24 & Christina C. Jefferson ’24
Finalists
Shivani R. Damera ’23 & Nikita Nayar ’23