Member Spotlight
Amanda Connors	Amanda Connors, a third year student at Albany Law, currently serves as a Note and Comment Editor for the Albany Law Review."  I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Albany Law Review legacy," says Amanda."  It has been a truly gratifying experience to work with such a talented and energetic group of individuals."           Amanda is originally from Colonie, New York and graduated from Siena College in 2006, where she received a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in psychology.  Amanda was a Teaching Assistant for the biology department, assisting with the Comparative Anatomy Laboratory.  Amanda was also a cheerleader
for the Siena men’s basketball team."  I still enjoy going to the basketball games and cheering the Saints on to victory!"           During her time at Siena, Amanda participated in Habitat for Humanity, where she traveled to North Carolina to help build a home for a single mother and her three children."  My trip to Crystal Coast was, without a doubt, one of the most rewarding experiences of my life," says Amanda.           After graduating from Siena, Amanda moved to New Jersey, where she worked as an analytical chemist for a pharmaceutical company."  As much as I loved New Jersey, I knew I wanted to return to New York for law school.  I am an upstate New York girl at heart."           Amanda currently works part-time at a local intellectual property law firm, Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts LLP. Last summer, Amanda worked as a Summer Associate at the Rochester office of Nixon Peabody LLP, and plans to return after graduation.

 

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Sanjeev Devabhakthuni

Sanjeev Devabhakthuni, originally from Fairmont, WV, is currently the Executive Editor for Research and Writing of volume 73 of the Albany Law Review.  Devabhakthuni attended West Virginia University where he studied political science before coming to Albany."  I went to a big undergraduate school and kind of got lost in the shuffle," he says, "so it has been great to be in a smaller environment like Albany Law School."  Devabhakthuni says that the best part of the Law Review is the closeness among the members.  "Something I have always loved is being part of a great team," he says."  "Not just a good team but a great team.  The Law Review has provided that for the last

the last year and a half.  It is incredibly rewarding to play a small role in contributing to the success of our journal."           After his first year of law school, Devabhakthuni worked at the Government Law Center, a legal and policy research center in Albany.  A big summer project for the think tank was updating Anderson’s Zoning and Planning treatise.  "The GLC is a great place for a law student to get his feet wet," says Devabhakthuni.  "I had done very little legal research and writing up to that point and learned a great deal while working on a national treatise."  Last summer, Devabhakthuni clerked at the downtown Albany law firm, McNamee Lochner Titus & Williams.  He has continued to work there part-time during the academic year."  McNamee is another great environment for a law student or young attorney," he says.  "They have attorneys in almost every area of civil practice and provide their clerks with a lot of autonomy."           Devabhakthuni has accepted a position as an appellate court attorney for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department in Rochester, NY and will begin working there shortly after graduation.

Albany Law Review Events

Call for Submissions for BP Oil Spill Issue

The Albany Law Review is currently seeking submissions for the BP Oil Spill Symposium book that will be published in conjunction with this Fall's symposium.  If you are interested in submitting an article, please click here for additional details.

Albany Law Review to Host Fall Symposium on the Gulf Oil Spill Disaster

On October 14, 2010, the Albany Law Review is presenting a symposium exploring the aftermath of the continuing oil spill.  The immediate legal impact of the oil spill lies in the countless pending and forthcoming actions against BP.  We plan to explore lawsuits arising from the private sector, as well as civil and criminal claims from several state and federal government agencies.  Dissecting these actions will not only help gauge the repercussions of causing such terrific economic and environmental harm, but it will outline how legal action can be used to shape the new laws and regulations that will undoubtedly arise from this ordeal.

For more information, visit our Symposia page by clicking the tab above or contact the Executive Editor for Symposia, Joe Dier, at jdier@albanylaw.edu.

Law Review Hosts Lieutenant Governor Ravitch for Town Hall Discussion on the State Budget

On Monday, April 19, 2010, the Albany Law Review hosted Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch who spoke about the impact of the nation's fiscal crisis on New York and his work to stabilize the state's economy.  The Lieutenant Governor recently published a short essay on this subject for the symposium issue of volume 73.  To listen to the event, please click HERE.

Chief Judge Lippman Moderates Symposium on Wrongful Convictions, Manhattan DA Vance Announces New Initiative 

On March 4, 2010, the Albany Law Review hosted its fourth annual Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke State Constitutional Commentary Symposium on Wrongful Convictions: Understanding and Addressing Criminal Injustice.  As opening speaker and moderator, New York Court of Appeals Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman led a discussion on wrongful convictions and efforts to address this issue of state and national importance.  Speaker Cyrus Vance, Jr., Manhattan District Attorney, announced his creation of a Conviction Integrity Program that will address many of the issues and concerns discussed by the panel.  The event followed Chief Judge Lippman’s recent appointment of a permanent New York State task force on wrongful convictions. 

To view a video of the event, please click HERE.

Albany Law Review News

Inaugural Albany Law Review Alumni Reception Held in NYC

On April 8th, the Law Review, with special appreciation to our generous host, Dan S. Grossman '78, held its inaugural alumni reception at the New York office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.  The event was an outstanding success with over 100 Law Review alumni in attendance.  Over a half century of members were on hand to celebrate the proud tradition of the Albany Law Review, with attendees ranging from the Class of 1958 to our most recent 2009 graduates.  

Albany Law Review Announces Partnership with the School of Criminal Justice, University at Albany

In partnership with the University at Albany School of Criminal Justice, the Albany Law Review will publish an annual issue entitled "Miscarriages of Justice," which will be dedicated to exploring injustice in the criminal justice system.  The issue will invite legal, social science, and policy perspectives on topics including wrongful convictions, actions and policies that impede the apprehension, prosecution, and punishment of the guilty, and other subjects that explore how and why the criminal justice system falls short in achieving its objectives or can enhance its truth-seeking and other functions.  The format of the volume will consist of an Articles section and a section for Notes and Comments.  The Miscarriage of Justice issue will also have a Professional Board of Editors comprised of faculty members of the School of Criminal Justice, Albany Law School, and other scholars and professionals with relevant expertise.  The inaugural issue has an anticipated publication date of Fall 2010.

Albany Law Review Publishes Biannual E-Newsletter

To facilitate contact with alumni, faculty, staff, students, and the broader legal community, the Albany Law Review publishes a biannual E-Newsletter.  This publication highlights current developments of the Law Review, as well as recent successes of our alumni.  If you want to receive the E-Newsletter, or have content you would like included please contact Rachel Clattenburg at RClattenburg@albanylaw.edu.