Albany Law School's New Strategic Plan Approved

Albany Law School is set to embark on a new strategic plan.

“This is an exciting time for the law school and a critical juncture for its place in the greater legal community,” said President and Dean Alicia Ouellette ’94. “This plan will not only help prepare the next generation of attorneys, advocates, and leaders, but it will focus and continue this institution’s growth into a full-fledged graduate school for the study of law.”

“Albany Law School has made tremendous strides over the past few years by successfully executing on the goals of the prior strategic plan. We have created a foundation for the future growth of the school and the success of our students and made Albany Law an ideal destination for a wide range of students seeking to enter the legal profession or hone their professional skills,” said Debra B. Treyz, Esq. ’77, Chair of the Albany Law School Board of Trustees. “I am thrilled about the opportunities this plan will create for the current and future students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Albany Law School.”

The law school’s previous strategic plan led to growth in the quantity, quality, and diversity of its student body, expansion of its academic offerings, and culminated in a record-setting $33 million capital campaign. The new plan rests on three core goals: 

• transformational competencies
• innovation across the curriculum
• student-centered focus

For transformational competencies, the law school's curriculum will prepare students for meaningful and impactful careers that help them meet personal and professional goals by teaching them to develop and hone the critical competencies necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Innovation across the curriculum will ensure that Albany Law strengthens and adds flexibility in programming geared toward the legal professions broadly defined, including expanding and further refining the creation of a graduate school for the study of law. The law school will prepare students for changes to the law and the practice of law and strengthen the ability of faculty and staff to innovate in the classroom, in programming, in the production of engaged and creative scholarship, and in the provision of effective and impactful service to the school and the wider community. 

Finally, the student-centered focus will come from an unwavering commitment to students and their professional success, and a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the community.

In order to achieve the goals of the plan, the law school plans to, among other things: 

• Grow its online graduate programs
• Provide opportunities for those seeking professional credentials in a range of industries
• Develop administrative infrastructure, human capital, and professional expertise in its online graduate programs
• Provide staff for technological infrastructure
• Create innovation leadership position(s)
• Prioritize developing resources for a diverse student body
• Adopt and implement an Institutional Diversity Strategic Plan
• Expand and build partnerships with corporations, law firms, foundations, and other external stakeholders
• Implement a robust, effective, and comprehensive social media and communications plan
• Invest in next-generation classrooms
• Develop facility renewal and revitalization plan to enhance the student experience including a student center in the core of the 1928 building

To read the full Strategic Plan go to: albanylaw.edu/about/strategic-plan.