A Journey of Dedication: Nicholas Discala’s ’25 Impact at Albany Law School

Nicholas Discala ’25, had his sights set on Albany Law School and the Capital Region long before he stepped foot on campus. Growing up on the outskirts of New York City, Discala credits his parents for instilling the value of higher education in him from an early age, shaping the path that would eventually lead him to his future. Discala earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Siena College in a fast tracked three-by-three program with Albany Law School.

“That program was a big draw for me knowing I wanted to go to law school after undergrad,” Discala said. “And just knowing that the strong connection that Siena has to Albany Law School, and both being institutions here in the Capital Region.”

Discala has fully immersed himself in the Albany Law School community, with each experience reinforcing the decision he made during his college search.

“I really am so blessed to have been able to come here and to experience all that I've been able to experience. Also because of the programming that this law school offers, both in terms of its curriculum and in terms of the extracurricular programming, the internship opportunity, and just the fantastic alumni network that we have,” Discala said. “We really are an incredible institution in the state of New York. I think the fact that we are coming up on our 175th anniversary does say something about the longevity and long-lasting nature of a degree from Albany Law School.”

For Discala, being a student at Albany Law School represents the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to his studies. Reflecting on the moment he first set his sights on law school, he recalls a pivotal decision in middle school: faced with the choice between STEM electives and a law class, it was an easy choice.

“Being someone who was more so inclined to humanities-related coursework, I just gravitated towards that option. Because I couldn't play an instrument, I couldn't sing, I couldn't dance, and I absolutely hated math class,” he said. “So really law was the only option left for me. And I remember taking that class and I had some fantastic public educators who really instilled in me this desire to learn more about the law and learn what it means to be a member of a society built upon laws and the rule of law.”

During his time at Albany Law School, Discala has embraced nearly every opportunity that came his way. Eager to dive in, he volunteered with the Anthony V. Cardona ‘70 Moot Court Program in his first year, and today, he serves on the Moot Court board as the Gabrielli Appellate Advocacy Chair. Beyond moot court, Discala was a sub-editor for the Albany Law Review, held a position on the board for Phi Alpha Delta, and contributed to various committees within the Student Bar Association. Perhaps most exciting for him, however, was being chosen as the student trustee during his third year, representing the entire student body to the Albany Law School Board of Trustees. When asked how he has balanced all of this with the demands of his coursework, Discala’s response was simple: ‘It’s easy when you feel fulfilled.’

“I'm not going to do something that isn't going to not only fulfill me professionally and personally, but also help me achieve the goals that I have in mind for giving back to a community that has given me so much,” he said. “So, for me, it's not a question of balancing as it is a question of priority. And I prioritize not only doing well in my academics and taking classes that are going to prepare me for the bar exam, that are going to prepare me for practice, while also doing the things that in conjunction with those classes will make me an effective member of this community once I graduate, come May 2025.”

All of his hard work and careful prioritization are already paying off, as he has secured a clerkship at the New York State Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department.

“I'm really excited to be starting my legal career off in that way with some amazing professionals and amazing people that I think will really help mentor me,” Discala said.

As he reflects on his impactful, yet incredibly busy, time at Albany Law School, Discala has one piece of advice for young and aspiring law students: don’t blink.

“When you're sitting in a property class and the clock is ticking second by second and it's going slow, and you're struggling to understand what a mortgage is, it feels like it's not going by very quickly,” Discala said. “But now, as I get ready for the bar exam and I'm looking back at all the material that I was studying my first year, I do realize how quickly it has come up on me. But also how much I've been able to do in those three years. I think my time spent here at Albany Law School has been so formative in the career that I'm going to be having as I step out from Albany Law and enter the legal profession."