Why Albany Law School?
Albany Law School is the nation's oldest independent law school, offering a hands-on curriculum with unparalleled access to New York's state government and courts in the capital city.
Albany Law School is a moderately selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 50.2%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.54 GPA and 155 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.16–3.75 GPA and 153–158 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 199 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the most recent older reporting cycle, Albany Law School admitted 2 transfer students into the 2L class.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- #120
- Median GPA
- 3.54
- 25th–75th: 3.16–3.75
- Median LSAT
- 155
- 25th–75th: 153–158
- Acceptance rate
- 50.2%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 199
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1New York
- 2New Jersey
- 3Massachusetts
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Albany Law School's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Albany Law School" essay where they align with your interests.
- Community Economic Development ClinicStudents provide transactional legal services to individuals, startups, small businesses, and nonprofits in the Capital Region.
- Family Violence Litigation ClinicStudents represent individuals who have experienced violence from intimate partners or family members in court.
- Health Law ClinicStudents offer legal services to families and individuals with legal issues related to HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other chronic health conditions.
- Housing Justice ClinicStudents represent clients in New York housing court, focusing on eviction defense and housing law.
- Immigration Law ClinicStudents provide legal representation in various immigration matters.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Albany Law Review— Publishes critical and analytical articles by legal scholars, judges, and students, including dedicated issues on state constitutional law and New York appeals.
- Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology— Focuses on cutting-edge issues in legal and scientific communities.
- Albany Government Law Review— Publishes articles on legal aspects of government and public policy, leveraging the school's location in the state capital.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
Climate Justice
- Cinnamon Carlarne· also Environmental Law
Judicial and Constitutional Law
- Vincent Bonventre
Public Interest Law
- Raymond Brescia· also Civil Litigation
Children and the Law
- Melissa Breger· also Family Law
New York Civil Practice
- Patrick M. Connors· also Legal Ethics
Community Economic Development
- Edward W. De Barbieri· also Pro Bono
Immigration Law
- Sarah F. Rogerson· also Director of the Edward P. Swyer Justice Center
Health Law
- Evelyn Tenenbaum· also Bioethics
What makes Albany Law School distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Oldest independent law school in the nation, founded in 1851.
- ·Strategic location in New York's capital city provides unique access to state government, courts, and agencies for experiential learning.
- ·Affiliation agreement with the University at Albany offers numerous dual degree programs (e.g., JD/MBA, JD/MPA, JD/MSW, JD/MPH).
- ·Offers a Flex JD program, a primarily online Juris Doctor with specializations in Business Law, Environmental Law, Government Law and Public Service, and Social Justice and Public Interest.
- ·The Pathways Program organizes student experience around defined structures of curriculum, field placements, and mentorship in six key areas.
Using this for your "Why Albany Law School" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Albany Law School
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Albany Law School?▾
Albany Law School's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.54 and a median LSAT of 155. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.16–3.75 GPA and 153–158 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Albany Law School's acceptance rate?▾
Albany Law School's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 50.2%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Albany Law School offer?▾
Albany Law School's notable clinical programs include: Community Economic Development Clinic, Family Violence Litigation Clinic, Health Law Clinic, Housing Justice Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Albany Law School publish?▾
Albany Law School's notable student-edited journals include: Albany Law Review, Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, Albany Government Law Review.
Where do Albany Law School graduates work?▾
Albany Law School graduates concentrate employment in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to Albany Law School
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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