Biography
B.S., University of Illinois
J.D., University of Michigan Law School
Professor Melissa L. Breger has been teaching at the law school level for 20+ years, first at The University of Michigan Law School and then at Albany Law School since 2002. Prior to teaching, Professor Breger dedicated her career to children, women and families, with her formative years practicing in New York City in a number of capacities.
She is the recipient of several teaching and service awards, both on a local level and on a national level, including the Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare; the Shanara C. Gilbert Award in recognition of her excellence in teaching and contributions to the advancement of social justice from the American Association of Law Schools; the L. Hart Wright Excellence in Law Teaching Award from the University of Michigan Law School; and the 2016 Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2018 Faculty Award for Excellence in Service, and 2019 Faculty Award for Excellence in Scholarship from Albany Law School. Professor Breger also received the Albany County Family Court Children’s Center Award “in recognition of her outstanding and tireless work assisting children and families in need and for her dedication to ensure that law students obtain the skills necessary to provide high quality and compassionate legal services to court litigants” in May 2008.
Professor Breger teaches a variety of courses at Albany Law School, including Evidence, Family Law, Criminal Procedure: Investigation (4th, 5th, 6th A), Gender & the Law, Children, Juveniles & the Law, and Domestic Violence Seminar. She was the Director of the Family Violence Litigation Clinic from 2002 to 2010.
Professor Breger is the co-author of NEW YORK LAW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, a two-volume treatise published by Reuters-Thomson-West, as well as the author of numerous law review articles regarding issues of family law, gender, and justice. Her scholarly interests include the rights of children and families, gender and racial equality, procedural justice in the courtroom, juvenile justice, the increasing epidemic of child sexual trafficking, implicit bias, law and culture, family violence, and the intersections between psychology and the law.
Her book entitled “Exploring Norms and Family Laws Across the Globe” is forthcoming in Spring 2022.
Selected Achievements
Professor Melissa Breger was appointed to the New York State Bar Association's Committee on Children & the Law.
Professor Melissa Breger has been selected as this year's co-recipient of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Children and the Law's Howard A. Levine Award for Excellence in Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare.
Professor Melissa Breger chaired a scholarship panel (virtually) at the Law and Society Association meeting in May 2020 on State Power & the Lives of Children.
Professor Melissa Breger's NEW YORK LAW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE was cited by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in Barrera v. Graham (January 2019).
Professor Melissa Breger's article "Reforming by Re-Norming: How the Legal System Has the Potential to Change a Toxic Culture of Domestic Violence" (44 Notre Dame Journal of Legislation) was selected to be reprinted in the 2019 Edition of WOMEN AND THE LAW (Thomson Reuters).
Professor Melissa Breger received Albany Law School's Excellence in Scholarship Award on May 24, 2019.
Professor Melissa Breger's co-authored treatise, NEW YORK LAW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, was cited by the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands in the decision Gayanich v. Gayanich.
Professor Melissa Breger's treatise NEW YORK LAW OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE was cited in the Supreme Court of the Virgin Islands' opinion in Gayanich v. Gayanich.
Professor Melissa Breger was invited to join the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition based in New York City. She will present to the coalition in June.
Professor Melissa Breger was appointed to the New York State CLE Board by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks.
