Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

Michael Joseph Jackson, an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman passed away today, June 25 in Los Angeles, CA.  Click HERE for a www.cnn.com tribute to Michael Jackson.   Michael was the seventh child of the Jackson family, he debuted on the professional music scene at the age of 11 as a member of The Jackson 5 and began a solo career in 1971 while still a member of the group. Referred to as the “King of Pop” in subsequent years, five of his solo studio albums are among the world’s best-selling records: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991) and HIStory (1995).

Supreme Court rules on teen’s school strip search, with help from Albany Law Students

A former middle-school student who was strip-searched by school officials looking for ibuprofen pain medication won a partial victory of her Supreme Court appeal Thursday in a case testing the discretion of officials to ensure classroom safety. Savana Redding was 13 when administrators suspected that she was carrying banned drugs. No medication was found, and she later sued. The justices concluded that the search was unreasonable but that individual school administrators could not be sued. The larger issue of whether a campus setting traditionally gives schools greater authority over students suspected of illegal activity than police are allowed was not addressed fully by the divided court. 

Albany Law appoints four new members to its Board of Trustees

Albany Law School today announced the appointment of James Benedict and Gail Norris as Term Trustees, Ryan Donovan as an Alumni Trustee, and Vonzell Jones as a Recent Graduate Trustee, all effective July 1, 2009. 

Albany Law welcomes Summer 2009 NY LEO Fellows to campus

On Wednesday, June 17th, the Diversity Office at Albany Law School will host the Summer 2009 NY Legal Education Opportunity (LEO) Fellows.  Fellows will enjoy a visit and guided tour of the NYS Court of Appeals prior to joining us for a student/alumni luncheon in their honor.        

Recently retired Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye has established the New York Legal Opportunity Program (NY LEO) to help ensure a diverse legal community by promoting academic success for individuals historically under-represented in the legal profession. The program assists minority, low-income and educationally disadvantaged college graduates in acquiring the fundamental and practical skills necessary to succeed in law school.  The program is available to qualified candidates who will attend law school in New York State this Fall.  This is an intensive six-week summer program (beginning June 8 – ending July 17) offered by the New York State Judicial Institute.   The Honorable Robert G.M. Keating, the Dean of the  NYS Judicial Institute, administers the program. Students are required to live on campus and participate in the program full-time. Experienced law professors will provide instruction in first-year law school core courses as well as in legal research, writing and analysis. As part of the program, students will have the opportunity to visit courts in session and meet with members of the judiciary and other legal professionals.

Albany Law School is committed to an educational environment that values, respects and reflects a global view of diversity.   Albany Law School support programs such as the New York Legal Education Opportunity Program and has been a member school in the national Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) summer program for the past decade.  These programs ensure that the legal community reflects the client-base and communities it serves. 

If you would like to join us for lunch from Noon-1pm in the Boardroom (in Building 2000) on Wednesday, June 17th or have questions regarding these students, contact Pershia Wilkins, Director of Diversity, at diversity@albanylaw.edu or (518)445-3284.   

Learn more about the fellows visit, Click Here  for agenda & see below photo gallery:

2008 NY LEO Fellows and Albany Law students

Associate Dean Connie Mayer welcomes the 2009 Fellows to Albany Law School

A Luncheon discussion facilitated by Albany Law Alumna Glinnesa Gailliard, Esq. ‘07

Albany Law welcomes fellows to campus

Class of 2009 (NY LEO Fellows) at Albany Law School

Director of Diversity, Pershia Wilkins and Program Coordinator Ms. Joy Beane, joins the 2009 NY LEO Fellows

Albany Law student is appointed to the NYS Young Leader Congress

Jeremy Cooney, who is a 27-year-old, third-year student at Albany Law School- grew up in Rochester, NY was appointed in January 2009 to the Young Leaders Congress, which has 17 members.  He concedes that reviving the state’s economy is beyond the group’s scope, but adds that it can push for programs that will make upstate a better place for the young to live. “The best we can do is push issues forward,” he said. “Then it’s out of our hands. It’s up to state government.”

Law student commentary on Obama’s Policies; & New Federal Govt. Publication on Muslim Americans

On Saturday, May 30th, Albany Law School student Ali Chaudhry was invited for a media interview concerning President Obama’s policy on Pakistan/Afghanistan, and the current situation in Pakistan.  It was conducted by Mr. Vikram Chandra, the CEO of New Delhi TV (NDTV), India’s largest news network. The show is called “The Big Fight” which enjoys a viewership of 35 million.

Albany Law School’s First Women Professors to Retire

The School’s first two female professors are retiring this year: Professor Sandra Stevenson, who graduated from Albany Law in 1971 and joined the faculty in 1974; and Professor Katheryn Katz, who was hired in 1975, and the first professor to hold the Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy.

Click HERE to view the bios of our current professors. 

Four years after joining the faculty as the lone woman, Stevenson served as the first director of Albany Law’s new Government Law Center, the first of its kind in the nation. She is also largely credited for