Albany Law School has a storied history of supporting women in the law. Kate Stoneman, Class of 1898, was the first woman admitted to practice law in New York State—and the first woman to graduate from Albany Law School— paving the way for thousands to follow.

The Women’s Leadership Initiative at Albany Law School is dedicated to normalizing female success and continuing that legacy through the development and advancement of Albany Law School students, alumnae, and members of the broader community. This special edition of the podcast is a conversation with the initiative's founding donor, Albany Law School trustee K.C. Petillo-Décossard '05 (hosted by Assistant Dean of the Career and Professional Development Center Mary Walsh Fitzpatrick).

The Women’s Leadership Initiative (WLI) is an innovative effort by Albany Law School’s Career and Professional Development Center and Office of Alumni Engagement, which will work together to:

- arrange leadership training opportunities for students and alumnae;

- organize networking events and integration with the law school’s Alumni Initiative in Mentoring program;

- develop a fellowship program.

The WLI will draw on the partnership, counsel of senior partners, and alumni leaders throughout the country, particularly in the Capital Region and New York City.

More about Kimberly C. Petillo-Décossard ’05: https://bit.ly/37eLP2p

Today we are speaking with rising 2Ls  Mina Mirzaie and Julia Bertolino who took the initiative to create the very popular Albany Law Literary Circle which is a book club designed to connect the Albany Law School community through reading and discussion. 

The club is open to all members of the Albany Law School community and participants will be grouped with others who have similar genre interests and availability. Group discussions will be scheduled based on the members' availability and will be held on Zoom this summer.

More about the circle: https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/s/977/18/interior-one-col.aspx?sid=977&gid=1&pgid=2958&cid=5835&ecid=5835&crid=0&calpgid=2100&calcid=3514

Contact Mina: [email protected]

Contact Julia: [email protected]

Today we are speaking with Ava Ayers who is the Director of the Government Law Center and an Assistant Professor of Law here at Albany Law School.

Prof Ayers gives her thoughts on how the current pandemic will change perceptions of government, rural law in New York, and share a behind-the-scenes story about her time clerking for now-Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor.

The Government Law Center: https://www.albanylaw.edu/centers/government-law-center

GLC Fellows Program: https://www.albanylaw.edu/centers/government-law-center/students

Rural Law Initiative: https://www.albanylaw.edu/centers/government-law-center/the-rural-law-initiative

NYSBA report and recommendations about rural law: https://www.albanylaw.edu/about/news/2020/Pages/Government-Law-Center-Works-with-New-York-State-Bar-to-Promote-Rural-Justice.aspx

Elder Law in the GLC: https://www.albanylaw.edu/centers/government-law-center/aging

Community Police Oversight: https://www.albanycprb.org/

Virtually visit Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/connect-with-admissions/visiting-albany-law

Information for Accepted Students: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/accepted-students

Welcome to another entry in the Meet the Student Series here on the Albany Law School Podcast.

Today we are speaking with Shellee Daniel who is building quite a resume at Albany Law School: Teaching Assistant, one of the Editors with Albany Law Review, Moot Court Champion, Vice President of the Black Law Students' Association, Vice President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society, a Student Representative for Barbri, a Student Ambassador with the Admissions Office and, of course, a J.D. Candidate with the Class of 2021.

Student Organizations at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/students/organizations

Speak with Shellee or any of our student ambassadors: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/connect-with-admissions/student-ambassadors

Albany Law updates: https://www.albanylaw.edu/coronavirus

Admissions: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions

Virtual visit: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/connect-with-admissions/visiting-albany-law

Resources for accepted students: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/accepted-students

Today we are speaking with Visiting Assistant Professor and Director of the Family Violence Litigation Clinic within The Justice Center at Albany Law School Jaya Connors.

We discuss how the clinic is structured, how it is carrying out its mission in the age of COVID-19, resources for victims of domestic violence, and some of the best places to grab a bite to eat in Albany.

Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence Q&A: https://www.albanylaw.edu/coronavirus/resources/intimate-partner-violence-domestic-violence-question-and-answers

Family Violence Litigation Clinic: https://www.albanylaw.edu/faculty/directory/profiles?ind=Connors,%20Jaya

More about Prof. Connors: https://www.albanylaw.edu/faculty/directory/profiles?ind=Connors,%20Jaya

NYS confidential texting and chat line for survivors: 844-997-2121 or visit www.opdv.ny.gov

Welcome to another edition of the "Meet the Students" series of the Albany Law School Podcast.

Today we are speaking with second-year law student Alicia Johnson who had a remarkable year in the Moot Court program and has also been a contributor to the Albany Law Review. She also goes in-depth on the transition to online learning, how she spends her downtime, and her favorite experiences at Albany Law.

Moot Court at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/mootcourt

Law Reviews at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/academic-life/experiential-learning/journals-and-publications 

Connect with our student ambassadors: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/connect-with-admissions/student-ambassadors

Virtually visit Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/connect-with-admissions/visiting-albany-law

Information for Accepted Students: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/accepted-students

Today, in this episode of the podcast we are talking to Professor Mary Lynch, who is the Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy, director of the Center for Excellence in Law Teaching, and director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic within The Justice Center at Albany Law School.

We are also joined by third-year law student Candace White, who has worked in Lynch's clinic, is an editor on the Albany Law Review, and recently accepted a job at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

More about Mary Lynch: https://www.albanylaw.edu/faculty/directory/profiles?ind=Lynch,+Mary+A.

PBS report referenced by Prof. Lynch - What ‘shelter at home’ means for those who aren’t safe there: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-shelter-at-home-means-for-those-who-arent-safe-there

Domestic Violence Q&A from Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/coronavirus/resources/intimate-partner-violence-domestic-violence-question-and-answers

More about Kate Stoneman and Kate Stoneman Day: https://www.albanylaw.edu/katestoneman

The Justice Center at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/centers/the-justice-center

Message to Our Clients from The Justice Center at Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/coronavirus/message-from-the-justice-center

Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic: https://www.albanylaw.edu/centers/the-justice-center/our-clinics/in-house-clinics/domestic-violence-prosecution-hybrid-clinic

In this episode of the podcast, we are talking about the Wellness Initiatives at Albany Law School with Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Professor of Law Rosemary Queenan and Carly Dziekan who is a 2020 J.D. Candidate. 

Carly is also an M.S. Candidate at Albany Medical College, the Editor-in-Chief of Vol. 30 of the Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, and a Colby Fellow in the Wellness Initiative.

Wellness programs and initiatives include:

Rise in Wellness - The Wellness Initiative at Albany Law Blog: https://wellness.albanylaw.edu/

Health, Wellness & Counseling Support Network: https://www.albanylaw.edu/students/health

Welcome to the Albany Law School Podcast and today we are speaking with Director of the Career and Professional Development Center Joanne Casey.

Joanne gives an overview where Albany Law School graduates go after law school and some of the things that the Career Center does to help get them there. 

She could also star in a Fast & The Furious movie if she had to.

Career and Professional Development Center: https://www.albanylaw.edu/careers

Student Career Services: https://www.albanylaw.edu/careers/students

Alumni Career Opportunities: https://www.albanylaw.edu/careers/alumni

Career and Professional Development Center Staff: https://www.albanylaw.edu/careers/career-and-professional-development-center

Virtually visit Albany Law School: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/connect-with-admissions/visiting-albany-law

Information for Accepted Students: https://www.albanylaw.edu/admissions/jd-admissions/accepted-students

Welcome to the Albany Law School Podcast. Today we are speaking with Bob Bilotti, who graduated from Albany Law School in 1989 and is now Chair of the Board and CEO of Grand River Bank in Michigan.

Bob shares some memories forged on New Scotland Avenue, advice for law students and young attorneys, and how his bank has responded to the novel coronavirus.

Grand River Bank: https://www.grandriverbank.com/index.html