Albany Law’s presence at The Link, Inc., Cookin’ With Jazz XII Event

On Sunday, October 18, 2009, six third-year Albany Law students, two alumni, the Director of Diversity and Professor Stephen Gottlieb  and his wife were joined by Mrs. Eleanor Baker, who is a lifelong Links member and wife of the late John T. Baker, Albany Law School’s first African-American Dean & President and a Professor Emeritus)  were among the over 200 people to attend the Albany District Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Event:  Cookin’ With Jazz XII “From Jazz to Swing” at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Downtown Albany.  Proceeds raised at this women’s run event will benefit The Links, Foundation, Inc. in support of Albany District Links’ signature service program, “Believers and Achievers”, and charitable programs throughout the Greater Capital Regions.   

An Albany Law’s alumnus were among the 30+ Gourmet Chefs to serve tasty food from over 15 countries.  As we enjoyed the delicious dishes, we listened to the sweet smoky sounds of Jazz and watched Swing dancing demonstrations.  One of our students, Patrick Harkins, ‘10 accepted the challenge of dancing with the professional instructor (see photo below).  The evening wrapped up with the naming of prizes for their fundraiser raffle of great items.   A Very Special Thanks for the generousity of  one of our own, a Links member:  Professor Lenese Herbert  –who brought this great event to our attention and sponsored our students.  THANK YOU to the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Susan Feathers in supporting this event, co-sponsoring students and encouraging attendance and participation.    Photo Gallery:

Director of Diversity, Pershia Wilkins is joined by Albany Law students.

Ali Chaudhry, ‘10 & Jillian Kasow, ‘10 enjoys the food served by 30 Gourmet Chefs.

Our own Patrick Harkins, ‘10 takes the dance floor with a professional Swing dancer.

Attendees enjoy the sounds of Jazz and Swing music.

Professor Gottlieb and his wife greets Links member Mrs. Eleanor Baker, wife of John T. Baker, Albany Law School’s First African-American Dean & President.

U.S. President Obama Visits the Capital Region Today, September 21, 2009

President Barack Obama acknowledged two Albany Law School graduates, N.Y. State Senate Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson ‘91 and the state’s Attorney General Andrew Cuomo ‘82 at the beginning of his remarks earlier today at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) in Troy, N.Y.   Photo gallery from HVCC today, Here.

A script of the President’s speech, from www.whitehouse.gov, HERE.
Hudson Valley Community College, Fall 2009 –Fact Sheet, HERE.

 President Obama visited HVCC today to talk about education, workforce development, and technology-based economic development, especially in the area of clean energy. The invitation-only crowd was limited to approximately 200 people, including elected officials, business leaders, reporters and 60 HVCC students.

Inaugural Upstate NY AABANY presentation

APALSA and the Diversity Office at Albany Law School in collaboration with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) an affiliate of NAPABA, invites you to attend an Inaugural Upstate New York AABANY networking presentation and luncheon on Saturday, September 19th, from noon – 2 p.m. in Matthew Bender Room (Room 425 – in Building 1928) at the Law School.  James Chou, AABANY’s President, will be in attendance.  Over 10 attorneys from DC area, NYC and Upstate will be on hand to offer mentor matches and advice to law students. 

The Language Project, volunteers needed

 The Language Project engages multi-lingual Albany Law School students to provide free translation/interpretation services to local public interest firms and organizations.

The Language Project serves various ends. To law students, it provides an alternative means of professional development, while using their language skills. Students gain knowledge about judicial and administrative proceedings and develop legal skills in client counseling, advocacy and litigation through the second-hand experience of being a practicing attorney. Also, it allows students to incorporate community services and outreach as a part of their legal training in their early stage of professional development. To the local legal community, the Project provides quality interpretation/translation services with law students who have prior exposure to and knowledge in law.

The Language Project raises a social awareness within the local immigrant community. Members of the Albany community can enjoy the benefits of effective legal representation and the importance of diversity and individual uniqueness, regardless of their culture, race, religion, sexual orientation, language, national or ethnic origin.

This Program is organized by the Diversity Office, volunteers commit to at least one assignment per semester

Judging the Judge: The Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings

As reported on: www.cnn.com:   “If  Sonia Sotomayor fulfills her long-held dream to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, she would have the prestige of joining the highest court in the land, lifetime job security and a public forum as the first Hispanic on that bench.    

Albany Law’s Class of 2009 Commencement

Congratulations to the Class of 2009! 

Two-hundred-and-fifty-five students received degrees at Albany Law School’s 158th Commencement ceremony, which took place at 11 a.m. on May 15, 2009 in the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).

The Honorable Jonathan Lippman delivered the keynote address at the commencement ceremony. Chief Judge Lippman was appointed to his position at the New York State Court of Appeals by Governor Paterson in January 2009 and confirmed by the New York State Senate in February 2009, replacing retiring Chief Judge Judith Kaye.

Of the graduates, 218 received their Juris Doctorate, 10 their LL.M., and 27 their M.S. in Legal Studies with a concentration in Technology Transfer.

For the first time, the Albany Law School Commencement ceremony was webcast live. Family and friends could watch the event via the Internet.    Unfortunately, this is not something that can be accessed afterwards, recorded, or downloaded. Once the ceremony has ended the live feed will end as well.

Remember if you are interested in purchasing a DVD of the ceremony, you can visit www.EventVideographyTips.com , click on GRADUATIONS, and Albany Law School to purchase a copy via the web.
Click Here for Podcast of Chief Judge Lippman’s commencement address.    Three faculty members received awards, Click Here 

~Albany Law’s Dean & President Thomas Guernsey announces offer of free CLEs and other benefits to recent graduates. Click Here  
  
~A champagne reception was held after the ceremony for graduates, their families, and attending faculty and alumni. For more information on the 2009 Commencement or past events, contact Tammy Weinman at 518-445-3210 or twein@albanylaw.edu    

LLM Candidates at SPAC

Commencement Ceremony

Professor Deborah Mann is honored by our Dean

Graduates celebrate the end of an era

Kofi Sansculotte, ‘09 beeming after receiving his diploma

Helen Torres, ‘09 and her classmates celebrate

Graduates recognize and applaud their family and friends

Director of Diversity Pershia Wilkins & Deisnel Cardenas, ‘09

Graduating MS Students

Diversity in the Judiciary: Expanding the Pipeline

The Diversity Office in collaboration with three local bar associations CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND a roundtable discussion on: DIVERSITY IN THE JUDICIARY: EXPANDING THE PIPELINE

DATE:  TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009
TIME: Lite Fare Reception: from 5:15pm – 6pm
PANEL: 6pm – 7:30pm
PLACE: NYS Bar Association, Great Hall, One Elk Street, Albany

DISTINGUISHED PANELISTS:
HON. CARMEN BEAUCHAMP CIPARICK, NYS Court of Appeals, Senior Associate Judge
HON. THEODORE JONES, NYS Court of Appeals, Associate Judge
HON. LESLIE STEIN, NYS Supreme Court Justice, Appellate Division, Third Dept.
HON. HELENA HEATH-ROLAND, Albany City Court Judge   
    
In this annual roundtable discussion, the panelists will discuss their path to the judiciary, how having gender and racial diversity on the bench impacts and improves our justice system, and ways to expand the pipeline to increase diversity in the legal profession and judiciary.

This is a great Networking event!   Over 40 members of the state and local bar associations will be in attendance!

RSVP to: Albany Law  School alumni: Ricja Rice, Esq.  ricjanyc@yahoo.com OR Kate McGuirl, Esq. katemcguirl@yahoo.com

For more details view FLYER

Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman, NYS Court of Appeals delivers the Welcome Address

Chief Justice Jonathan Lippman meets with the new President of the NYSBA

Director of Diversity Pershia Wilkins, Kate McGuirl, ‘04, Judge Kretzer and Molly Breslin, ‘09

Presentations by panelists

Moderator: Alumna Ricja Rice, ‘03 addresses attendees

Alumna Kate McGuirl, ‘04 introduces distinquished panelists

Panelist: l-r: The Honorable: Helena Heath-Roland, Leslie Stein, Theodore T. Jones and Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick. Moderator: Matthew Kelly, Esq.

New York State of Appeal Justice Smith and his colleagues on the Bench join us at the Reception

ACBA Diversity Interns visit the NYS Court of Appeals

Chief Judge Judith Kaye hosted the Fall 2008 Diversity Internship end of semester Reception at the NYS Court of Appeals on November 19.   Twelve Albany Law students received placements with local law firms this Fall.  Established in the Fall of 2000, the Albany County Bar Association’s Diversity Internship Program goal is to increase the representation of students of color in law firms and corporate legal departments in the Capital District and to provide students with a private sector work experience. Through this program, interns (second- and third-year students) will be provided with a meaningful work experience, appropriately supervised, with assignments equivalent to a junior associate’s actual work situation. Ten-week internship (100 hours; minimum of 10 hours per week during the semester, with a $1,800 stipend) with an assigned employer. Application deadline date for the Spring 2009 Internship program is January 5, 2009.  Visit the Career Services Manager (CSM) for more details and to apply. 
Photo Gallery:

Albany Law students meet with Judge Kaye

Presentation by Judge Kaye

Judges Jones and Treece at the Reception

Albany Law students on the Bench

Judges from the Court, joined by Judge Treece & Peter Pryor, Esq. ‘54

Chief Justice Kaye with Umair Khan, ‘09

This will be a historic election, no matter what the outcome

Over 130 million Americans are expected to the polls in record numbers on November 4th, election officials have predicted.  In preparation for the election, a total of eleven student groups collaborated to bring renowned experts from across the nation to speak at this special event under the guidance of Professor Maria Grahn-Farley.  The symposium was also co-sponsored by the Diversity Office.  On October 30, three panels discussed issues ranging from: Race, Immigration, and Foreign Policy; Religion, Privacy, and the Constitution; to Health Care, Individual Autonomy and Fundamental Rights.   The evening was capped off by a Debate on Energy Policies and the Economy by representatives from the John McCain and Barack Obama Campaigns, it was moderated by the President & CEO of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, Alan Chartock.  You can view the results of the election HERE.

If you missed any of the panel discussions, you can read all about them at Albany Government Law Review’s blog, titled Fireplace, HERE.

Or, you can listen to the podcasts of each of the panels HERE.

View the brochure, flyer, and photo gallery below:

ELECTION SYMPOSIUM BROCHURE

ELECTION SYMPOSIUM FLYER

2008 NY LEO Fellows visit Albany Law School

Eighteen NY Legal Education Opportunity (LEO) Fellows visited Albany Law School on July 9.  The NY LEO Program was created to promote diversity in the legal community and prepares students to succeed in law school.  Albany Law School faculty members (Acting Dean Connie Mayer and Prof. Kathe Klare, Professor of Academic Success), alumni, staff and students joined fellows for lunch.  Prior to visiting our campus the fellows received a guided tour (conducted by the Clerk of the Court) of the New York State Court of Appeals.    

Albany Law School is committed to diversity in the legal profession and supports program such as the New York Legal Education Opportunity (NY LEO) Program and has been a member school in the national CLEO summer program (Consortium on Diversity in Legal Education). These programs ensure that the legal community reflects the client-base and communities it serves. 
To learn more about the NY LEO program, click on: http://www.nycourts.gov/attorneys/leo/

Photo gallery:

group in front of 1928 building

Acting Dean Connie Mayer welcomes fellows

Dr. Richard Ludwick & fellow

John E. Higgins, Esq. ‘89, Nixon Peabody LLP

Susan Terwilliger addresses fellows

fellows outside the Diversity Office

Pershia Wilkins and fellows

fellows before they depart campus

Fellows, law students, and staff