The Government Law Center at Albany Law School

Albany Law School tops preLaw magazine's ranking for government law programs Albany Law School has been announced the top ranked school for government law by National Jurist's preLaw magazine.

Director Patrick Wildes '16 joined CBS6 Albany to discuss @albanylaw.bsky.social's #1 rank in government by preLaw Magazine: “We're working across our career center, our clinic, [and] government law center to make sure that students are prepared for careers."
cbs6albany.com/news/local/a...

🎉 #1 in the Nation for Government! 🎉

National Jurist’s preLaw magazine has named @albanylaw.bsky.social the top law school in the country for government in its 2025 back-to-school issue.

Read more: www.albanylaw.edu/the-albany-a...

Patrick Wildes '16, Director of the Government Law Center at
@albanylaw.bsky.social recently joined The Capitol Pressroom to unpack recent state and federal actions concerning homelessness and involuntary psychiatric confinement.

Listen to the interview here: capitolpressroom.org/2025/08/07/t...

The GLC's latest explainer untangles the Medical Aid in Dying Act, a complex and controversial bill that was approved by both houses of the state Legislature and now awaits the Governor's decision to sign or veto the legislation. Read more: www.albanylaw.edu/government-l...

The Government Law Center at @albanylaw.bsky.social trains students for meaningful careers in public service. GLC Fellows and interns share how their experiences have shaped their law school journey, built their network, and prepared them for impactful legal careers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDf2...

Photo of Pat Wildes, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, speaking into a microphone at a lectern. Pat has fair skin, short dark brown hair, and wears glasses. He is wearing a gray suit with a white button-up shirt and blue tie. Overlay: USA TODAY Logo, with screenshot of article headline: "Drastic changes coming to homeless services, new Trump order promises," followed by "Trump wants to lock up people with drug or mental health challenges. Advocates say lack of housing is the real problem." Albany Law logo

Patrick Wildes, Director of the GLC @albanylaw.bsky.social, spoke with @usatoday.com about a recent executive order on homelessness. Wildes stressed the importance of centering solutions around housing—especially for individuals with mental illness and substance use disorders. bit.ly/4l9CJIu

Read the article here: archive.today/Oc1il

Photo of Pat Wildes, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, speaking into a microphone at a lectern/podium. Pat has fair skin, short dark brown hair, and wears glasses. He is wearing a gray suit with a white button-up shirt and blue tie. Overlay: The Washington Post Logo, with screenshot of article headline: "Trump order pushes forcible hospitalization of homeless people" followed by "Trump's executive order could increase hospitalization of homeless individuals with mental health and substance use disorders."

Pat Wildes '16, Director of the Government Law Center at @albanylaw.bsky.social, recently provided expert commentary in a @washingtonpost.com article about President Donald Trump's new Executive Order, “Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets."

www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

Bennett Liebman, Government Lawyer in Residence at Albany Law School and expert on gambling and racing regulations in New York, discussed the NYC casino license bidding process with Newsday and Bloomberg last week.

Newsday: archive.ph/Es0bO

Bloomberg: archive.ph/atcSu

With early voting in primary elections underway, it's election season in New York!

The GLC's latest explainer examines barriers to voting access for individuals incarcerated in local jails across the state and potential statutory reforms to address such barriers: www.albanylaw.edu/government-l...

The GLC is proud to have partnered with the League of Women Voters of Albany County to host a Candidates Forum for the City of Albany Mayoral Race Democratic Primary.
Thank you to all the candidates for sharing their visions and to the community for engaging in this important conversation! 🗳️

The forum is presented by the Government Law Center at Albany Law School and League of Women Voters of Albany County.

The forum will be moderated by Bria Barnes-Coleman, Director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative and Community Engagement at @albanylaw.bsky.social.

This free event is open to the public. For more details and to RSVP, visit: bit.ly/albanymayorf...

NEXT WEEK: Democratic primary candidates for Mayor in the City of Albany will participate in a public voter education forum at @albanylaw.bsky.social on June 12 from 6 to 8 PM. Candidates will address questions submitted by community members.

Submit your questions by June 9: bit.ly/albanymayorq...

Richard Rifkin, GLC Legal Director, recently appeared on The Capitol Pressroom to discuss the debate over the constitutionality of a 2023 state law shifting the dates of municipal elections to even years. The law will be reviewed by the state’s top court. Listen to the interview at bit.ly/43t3T6h

The Government Law Center's latest explainer discusses new smartphone restrictions in New York schools enacted through the state budget process. Read more: www.albanylaw.edu/government-l...

The explainer is part of the GLC's efforts to track law and policy enacted through the NY state budget.

Thank you to GLC Research Assistants Genevieve Bombard ’27 and Michael Poulopoulos ’26! This spring, Genevieve and Michael conducted research and prepared legal analysis on a variety of issues as part of the GLC's explainer program and Improving Interbranch Communication Project.

📢 One week from today! 📢

There is still time to register: bit.ly/andersonseries25

#LawSky

The discussion will be moderated by Professor Lauren DesRosiers — Director of the Immigration Law Clinic at the Edward P. Swyer Justice Center, and Visiting Assistant Professor, @albanylaw.bsky.social

Register: bit.ly/andersonseri...

Panelists:
• Cianna Freeman-Tolbert, Esq. — Partner, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP
• Yasmine Farhang, Esq. — Director of Advocacy, Immigrant Defense Project
• Zachary Ahmad, Esq. — Senior Policy Counsel, @nyclu.org

📢 Webinar: State and Local Impacts of Federal Immigration Policy 📢

📅 May 22, 2025
⏰ 12 - 1 p.m.
🖥️ Zoom
🎟️ Free, open to the public. RSVP: bit.ly/andersonseri...

Panelists will examine the interplay of state and federal immigration law and policy, and how recent changes impact matters in New York.

RECORDING AVAILABLE: Last week, national security expert and former FBI Special Agent Asha Rangappa visited Albany to present a thought-provoking talk examining how complicit actors allow corruption to take root and flourish. Learn more: bit.ly/corruption25

The discussion will be moderated by GLC Director Pat Wildes '16.

This program is free & open to the public. The Zoom webinar link will be shared after registration: alumni.albanylaw.edu/anderson2025

CLE professional practice credit is available for NYS-based attorneys who attend the full program.

Panelists:
• Jennifer Quijano, Esq. — Director of the Shelter Advocacy Project, City Bar Justice Center
• Ken Zimmerman, Esq. — CEO, Fountain House
• Keith Brown — Public Health Director, Schenectady County
• Luke Sikinyi — Vice President of Public Policy, The Alliance for Rights and Recovery

Attorneys in NY: Our next virtual CLE, The State of Homelessness in New York, will take place at noon on April 23. An expert panel will discuss pressing legal and policy issues which impact New Yorkers experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.

Register at alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

In a new op-ed in @statnews.com, Government Law Center Director Patrick Wildes provides insights on the impact of the federal government's proposed funding cuts to programs providing mental health and substance use disorder services. www.statnews.com/2025/03/27/s...

The Government Law Center at @albanylaw.bsky.social is pleased to announce its spring programming calendar. These events are free and open to the public. Registration is required. To learn more and register, visit alumni.albanylaw.edu and click "Events."

Local Governments Can Go on Offense to Protect the Environment Albany Law professor Jonathan Rosenbloom says local governments should coordinate their push to shore up environmental policies to stop federal resistance.

Only 2 weeks left until our program on climate change law in New York! Register at alumni.albanylaw.edu/anderson2025

In the meantime, read @albanylaw.bsky.social Prof. Jonathan Rosenbloom's op-ed on the role of local governments in mitigating climate change: news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...

GLC Director Patrick Wildes '16 was recently interviewed on the Lawyers in the Making Podcast. Pat discussed his career journey, the importance of mental health in the legal industry, and the GLC's efforts to support @albanylaw.bsky.social students on their unique journeys.

Listen at bit.ly/3DrCPeQ

Join us on March 27 for a virtual CLE on New York's climate agenda. Cinnamon P. Carlarne, President and Dean @albanylaw.bsky.social, will facilitate a panel discussion with experts from the NYS Public Service Commission, @nysdec.bsky.social, and the @sabincenter.bsky.social.

bit.ly/andersonseri...