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 reappointed for a two-year term as a member of the Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department’s Office of Attorneys for Children Advisory Committee. The reappointment commences August 1, 2016.
Professor Melissa Breger received Albany Law School's Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching on May 20, 2016.
Professor Melissa Breger was invited to join the Editorial Advisory Board for a new journal being launched through Addleton Academic Publishers entitled Sociology and Social Work.
Professor Melissa Breger was invited to review and critique a manuscript for inclusion in the open access journal LAWS, published quarterly by MDPI in Basel, Switzerland.
Professor Melissa Breger's works were cited in eight statutes (two in Michigan, six in New York) in 2015.
Professor Melissa Breger's NYS COLLATERAL CONSEQUENCES OF CRIMINAL CHARGES (website) Website designed, Columbia Law School Clinic, NYC, Fall 2005 Project launched, State of Judiciary Address, Albany, February 2006 Next colloquium, State Judicial Institute, White Plains, June 2006.
