Biography
B.A., New York University
J.D., Harvard Law School
Professor Mary A. Lynch is the Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy. A magna cum laude graduate of New York University and a cum laude graduate from Harvard Law School, she served as an assistant district attorney in New York County from 1985-1989. She joined the Albany Law School faculty in 1989 and for the past twenty years has directed the Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic. During her tenure at Albany Law, she taught and directed the Disabilities Law Clinic, the Field Placement Clinic and the Post-Conviction Remedies Clinic. In 1997, while serving as director of Albany Law’s Domestic Violence Law Project, she and seven Albany Law School students won a groundbreaking clemency case for an incarcerated battered woman who killed her abuser.
The range of courses she has taught includes Criminal Procedure Adjudication, Disabilities Law Seminar, Domestic Violence Law Seminar, Pre-Trial and Trial Practice Courses (civil and criminal), and Litigation Planning and Skills. Her scholarship has focused on multicultural awareness in legal education and law practice, gender bias, violence against women and legal education reform. From 2001 to 2009, Professor Lynch directed or co-directed the Albany Law Clinic & Justice Center. Albany Law School has honored her with the Excellence in Teaching Award (2014) and the Kate Stoneman Special Recognition Award for contributions to the advancement of women in the legal profession (2014).
Professor Lynch has played a leadership role in the movement to modernize legal education. From 2007 to 2020, she served as the Editor and frequent contributor of the award-winning Best Practices for Legal Education Blog and from 2009 to 2020 as the Director of the Center for Excellence in Law Teaching (CELT) at Albany Law School. Nationally, she has served as co-president and on the board of the Clinical Legal Education Association (an organization with over 1200 members) and as an executive committee and board member of the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Section on Clinical Legal Education. Within New York State, she served on the state bar’s Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar (LEAB) from 2011-2015 and from 2010-11 on the Future of the Legal Profession Taskforce, chairing the subcommittee on “Educating and Training New Lawyers”.
Professor Lynch has served on countless statewide and community coalitions and taskforces related to over her 30+ year career. She has been honored by the National NOW’s Capital Region division with the Making Waves award and as an Irish Legal 100 Honoree by the Irish Voice and as a Top 100 Irish-American by Irish America magazine.
Evaluation Process
Evaluation is an important part of the clinical process. Students enrolled are evaluated throughout the semester. Feedback is shared with them formally and informally throughout the semester as well.
Formal Evaluations
Written Reviews of Simulations - After all major simulations students are given a written evaluation of their performance in the simulation.
Mid-semester Evaluation
At mid-semester all of the students have an individual meeting with the professor to discuss the students performance to date. The student is asked to complete a self evaluation form at that time.
End of Semester Evaluation
At the end of the semester the students have an individual meeting with the professor to discuss the students performance. The student is asked to complete a self evaluation form at that time. After the end of semester meeting the student is sent a written evaluation of their performance.
Grading and Evaluation Criteria
There are four general criteria used in assessing your performance. These criteria are described briefly below.
I. Pre-performance skills/planning: Students are expected to demonstrate competent skills in case-planning, case organization, collaboration and time management. Students are also expected to demonstrate that they have acquired knowledge of the applicable law and procedure and familiarity with the necessary facts to plan for activities on the assigned case(s).
II. Performance skills: Students are expected to demonstrate competent ability in engaging in lawyering activities such as: client counseling, interviewing, fact investigation, negotiating, research and writing, drafting legal documents, examining witnesses, oral advocacy, and corresponding with clients and relevant parties. Students are also expected to demonstrate sensitivity to client needs, concerns and goals during the course of representation.
III. Post-performance skills/reflection and correction: Students are expected to be reflective and self-corrective. Students must demonstrate the ability to assess and critique their own and others' performances. Students must show that they have learned from their initial experiences and can incorporate that knowledge in the next experience. Students are expected to share their experiences with other students in a positive way to foster cooperative decision making. Students must demonstrate the ability to critically review and evaluate the legal system through the clients' experience and reflect on their role within the system.
IV. Professional Responsibilities: Students must behave in a professionally responsible manner at all times in dealings with clients, the community, colleagues and opposing counsel. Students must demonstrate knowledge of ethical rules. For example, students must represent their clients zealously, preserve client confidences, respect client autonomy and exercise independent professional judgment on client's behalf. Students are also expected to act responsibly and sensitively in their lawyering roles.
Related Links
American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence
Equinox
In Our Own Voices
National Association of Counsel for Children
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
National Network to End Domestic Violence
NYS Coalition Against *Domestic Violence
NYS Crime Victims Board
Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
The Department of Justice Violence Against Women
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY
The Legal Project
Unity House
YWCA Services to Families in Violence
In the News
Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy; Director, Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic Mary Lynch was quoted in the Spectrum-TV story, "Albany Law School professor discusses New York discovery law changes,” on April 5, 2022.
Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy and Director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic Mary Lynch was featured in the WNYT-TV news story, "Albany Law professor analyzes Cuomo apology," on March 4, 2021.
Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy and Director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic Mary Lynch was featured in the Spectrum TV News story, "Albany Law Professor Explains Charlotte Bennett and "Dog Whistle" Sexual Harassment," on March 2, 2021.
Professor Mary Lynch was quoted on the Spectrum News website in "Susan Arbetter's The Schmooze: A Compromise on Bail Reform?" on Jan. 20, 2020.
Professor Mary Lynch was quoted in the Albany Times Union article, "Issue of judicial discretion becoming focus of bail reform," on Jan. 15, 2020.
Professor Mary Lynch was quoted on Spectrum News in the segment "Albany County: New Law to Let Defense Attorneys Visit Alleged Crime Scenes" on Jan. 9, 2020.
Professor Mary Lynch was featured in the WNYT-13 TV news story "Classifications of 'non-violent' crimes concerning to some" on Dec. 20, 2019.
Professor Mary Lynch spoke with Spectrum News in the segment "Proposal To Close Loophole That Does Not Protect Intoxicated Rape Survivors" on Dec. 18, 2019.
Professor Mary A. Lynch and Professor Christine Sgarlata Chung joined "The Capitol Pressroom" for a discussion on the Kavanaugh nomination and FBI investigation, and the larger conversation surrounding sexual assault on October 3, 2018.
Professor Mary A. Lynch and Professor Christine Sgarlata Chung joined "The Capitol Pressroom" for a conversation on how we discuss sexual assault on September 25, 2018.
Selected Achievements
Professor Mary A. Lynch 's blog, Best Practices for Legal Education , was named to the ABA Journal's Blawg Hall of Fame , Class of 2018. Best Practices had previously appeared several times on the ABA Journal Blawg 100, an annual list of the top blogs for a legal audience.
Professor Mary A. Lynch's blog, Best Practices for Legal Education, was named to the ABA Journal's Blawg Hall of Fame, Class of 2018. Best Practices had previously appeared several times on the ABA Journal Blawg 100, an annual list of the top blogs for a legal audience.
Professor Mary A. Lynch's blog, Best Practices for Legal Education, was named to the ABA Journal's Blawg 100 for 2016.
Professor Mary Lynch's blog, "Best Practices for Legal Education," again earned a spot in the ABA Journal's Blawg 100, an annual list of the top blogs for a legal audience.
Professor Lynch was named co-president of the board of directors for the national Clinical Legal Education Association.
Professor Lynch's "Best Practices for Legal Education" blog won first place in the ABA Journal Blawg 100’s Careers / Law School category.
Professor Lynch began her co-presidency of the national Clinical Legal Education Association.
