America's oldest independent law school, founded 1851, excels in government law and public service.
Albany Law School offers a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with 14 concentrations, including specialized tracks in government law, business law, and public interest. The school also provides Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees and joint degree programs (J.D./M.B.A., J.D./M.P.A., J.D./M.R.P., J.D./M.S., J.D./M.S.W.) in partnership with University at Albany, Russell Sage College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and other institutions. Experiential learning is central to the curriculum, with clinics in health law, community development, domestic violence prosecution, and family violence litigation. The school operates multiple centers including the Government Law Center, Institute for Financial Market Regulation, and Center for Judicial Process.
Located two miles from the New York State Legislature, New York Court of Appeals, and Federal District Court, Albany Law offers unparalleled access to legal institutions and government offices. The Schaffer Law Library holds over 730,000 volumes and includes videotapes of New York Court of Appeals oral arguments dating to 1989. Students engage in moot court competitions, publish three law journals (Albany Law Review, Albany Law Journal of Science and Technology, and Albany Government Law Review), and participate in the historic Albany Law School Rugby Football Club, undefeated in inter-league law school rugby since 1966.
For fall 2024 entry, 47.62% of 1,892 applicants were admitted, with 24.53% of acceptances enrolling. The median LSAT score was 156 and median undergraduate GPA was 3.47. The school offers multiple pathways including a traditional three-year J.D., accelerated two-year program, flex J.D., four-year program, and transfer admissions. Four transfer students enrolled in the class of 2025, and the school reported zero attrition due to poor academic standing.
Albany Law is nationally recognized for preparing students for government and public service careers. In 2024, over half of graduates worked in the public service sector at nonprofits or public defenders' offices. The school achieved 93% employment within 10 months of graduation (class of 2025) and was ranked #1 by preLaw magazine for preparing students for government law careers in 2026. Alumni include two U.S. Supreme Court justices (Robert H. Jackson and David Josiah Brewer), U.S. President William McKinley, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and numerous members of Congress and state judiciary.