Lamarre ’19 Making the Most of Her Journey through Semester in Practice, BLSA, and GLR | Student Spotlight | Albany Law School
  • About
    • Overview
    • ABA Required Disclosures
    • Administration
    • Board of Trustees
    • Campus Policies and Notices
    • Employment
    • Events
    • Fact Sheet
    • General Directory
    • History
    • News
    • Our Affiliation with UAlbany
    • President and Dean Ouellette
    • Staff Directory
    • Strategic Plan
  • Admissions
    • Overview
    • J.D. Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • Special Programs
    • Accepted Students
    • Check Application Status
    • Connect with Admissions
    • Make A Deposit
    • Financial Aid
    • Office of Admissions
  • Academics
    • Overview
    • Courses
    • Areas of Study
    • JD Program
    • Graduate Programs
    • Special Programs
    • Pathways Program
    • Experiential Learning
    • Learning Outcomes
    • Registrar
    • Academic Resources
    • Academic Partnerships
  • Careers
    • Overview
    • Students
    • Employers
    • Alumni
    • Connect to AlbanyLaw Link
    • Employment Outcomes
    • Where Our Graduates Work
    • Career and Professional Development Center
    • Contact the Career and Professional Development Center
    • Women's Leadership Initiative
  • Student Life
    • Overview
    • Campus Resources
    • Commencement
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Health and Wellness
    • Living and Learning in Albany
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Spotlight
    • Veteran Services
  • Centers
    • Overview
    • The Justice Center
    • Government Law Center
    • Center for Excellence in Law Teaching
    • Cybersecurity and Privacy Law Center
    • Center for Judicial Process
    • Institute for Financial Market Regulation
    • Center for Continuing Legal Education
  • Faculty
    • Overview
    • Faculty Directory
    • Faculty Achievements
    • Faculty Scholarship and Research
    • Faculty Spotlight
    • Endowed and Distinguished Professorships
  • Alumni & Giving
    • Overview
    • Upcoming Events
    • Giving
    • Search Directories
    • Regional Alumni Network
    • National Alumni Association
    • Reunion
    • Class Notes
    • Volunteer and Mentor
    • Shared Interest Groups
    • Kate Stoneman
    • Institutional Advancement Team
Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode

COVID-19: Community Updates and Resources

Albany Law School

Calendar
|
Portal
|
Contact Us
|
gift box Donate
Calendar
Donate
Contact Us
Alba
ny
Law School
Back
Sign In
This area will be filled in by content you create in your page layouts.
Skip Navigation LinksHome/Student Life/Student Spotlight/Lamarre ’19 Making the Most of Her Journey through Semester in Practice, BLSA, and GLR

Lamarre ’19 Making the Most of Her Journey through Semester in Practice, BLSA, and GLR

By Chris Colton | 1/31/2019 |
View Archives »
Facebook | Twitter | Email
ContentImg01_250w
MainContent

When Fabienne Lamarre '19—originally from Queens, New York—learned that she could earn a semester's worth of academic credit while getting a taste of professional life back home, she jumped at the chance. Even now, a year later, she remains grateful for the opportunity. Through Albany Law School's Semester in Practice program, not only did Fabienne acquire real-world experience, she also gained valuable insight into herself.

"I think Semester in Practice helped me figure out what kind of lawyer I want to be, and in what kind of setting," Fabienne said of her full-time internship at the New York City Administration for Children's Services. "Because I did work in a large unit but I worked with only two attorneys. It seemed like they were a family. I liked that independence and that kind of setting: we're not competing against each other but more working together to reach a common goal."

Fabienne spent 14 weeks last spring fully immersed in the day-to-day activities of the Administration for Children's Services. As a member of its Special Project Unit, she reviewed policies affecting the agency after New York's move to raise the age of criminal responsibility. She also worked in the Fair Hearing and Compliance Unit, where she assisted staff attorneys with case preparation and discovery.

"I attended a number of administrative hearings with my supervising attorney and I was actually able to conduct a hearing," she said. "My supervising attorney was next to me. I presented all the evidence and stated why I had a strong case, and the judge rendered a decision that was favorable to the agency."

"[W]hen I'm sending an email, when I'm meeting with someone, everything is much more strategic, thoughtful, systematic. Law school has given me that structure."

Though she was away from campus, Fabienne managed to stay involved as a student leader, serving as secretary of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and a subeditor for the Albany Government Law Review. In 2018-19, Fabienne took on a larger role in both organizations: she was president of BLSA for the fall semester and is currently managing editor of research and writing for the Government Law Review.

Fabienne managed various BLSA initiatives during her tenure, including the organization's student-to-student mentorship program.

"That has been interesting because I've actually never had a mentee before," said Fabienne, quick to point out the influence of her alumnae mentors Jellisa Joseph '14 and Jennifer Richardson '04. "I'm trying to figure out, how can I help them navigate the law school waters? I know that the mentorship program has been helpful to the 1Ls—having someone who will check up on you."

With the Government Law Review, Fabienne stays busy managing note and comment submissions from the journal's subeditors. Additionally, she plays a key part in the annual writing competition, reviewing those submissions, and selecting new members.

"Stepping into this new role with GLR, trying to manage the job and also being a student, it has prepared me for the expectations of the real world," she said.

Fabienne advises new law students to "appreciate the journey"—its ups, its downs, and everything in between. After all, at the finish line, after crossing the stage at Commencement, "You'll have a story to tell. And it will be worth it."

Fabienne's own story—her own journey—began in Queens, continued at the University at Albany and then Albany Law School, and will soon turn to a new chapter. Asked to reflect on her three years at Albany Law School, Fabienne, after a contemplative pause, said, "I think with everything, I'm just more thoughtful. Before, I just reacted without thinking. Now, when I'm in conversation, when I'm sending an email, when I'm meeting with someone, everything is much more strategic, thoughtful, systematic. Law school has given me that structure."

As for her career, Fabienne plans to start out at a firm; her ultimate goal is to serve as a general counsel specializing in labor and employment law.

"Looking at the bigger picture, I know it's going to take a while to get there," she said, "but I'm up for the challenge."

Learn more about Albany Law School's
Semester in Practice program

ContentImg02_250w
MainContent02
ContentImg03_250w
MainContent03
ContentImg04_250w
MainContent04

  • Student Life
    • Campus Resources
      • Bookstore
      • Housing
      • Information Technology Services
      • Office of Student Affairs
      • Students with Disabilities
      • Students with Families
      • Transportation and Security
    • Commencement
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Health and Wellness
    • Living and Learning in Albany
    • Student Organizations
    • Student Spotlight
    • Veteran Services
This area will be filled in by content you create in your page layouts.
This area will be filled in by content you create in your page layouts.
This area will be filled in by content you create in your page layouts.

Albany Law School Building Logo

Albany Law School

Better Opportunities. Bigger Impact.
80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208-3494
PHONE: 518-445-2311
  • Consumer Information (ABA Required Disclosures)
  • Events
  • Employment
  • News
  • Fact Sheet
  • Law Library
  • Faculty Directory
  • General Directory
  • Staff Directory
© Albany Law School | Site Map | Campus Policies | Privacy Policy | Contact Us