Shenker Russo & Clark participated in a virtual meeting on April 8th, hosted by the Diversity Internship Program Committee of the Albany County Bar Association. The meeting was held to celebrate the 2021 Spring Semester Internship Program. This was a semester like no other in the twenty-year history of the Program. With twelve applicants interning at twelve local private firms, all having to navigate a pandemic with in-person, virtual and hybrid scenarios, it was a challenge for everyone. The virtual celebration included all participants, law firms, interns, ACBA Board Members, Albany Law School career services members and the Diversity Committee to celebrate all that had been accomplished and for those that helped make it happen. The meeting also allowed students and law firms to discuss issues confronting law students today.
The Albany County Bar Association Diversity Internship Program commenced in September of 2000 in an effort to broaden the opportunities for minority law students at Albany Law School to be exposed to practice in a private law firm setting. The Association received awards for the program from both the New York State Bar Association (2002) and American Bar Association (2003). Since the program’s inception, hundreds of law students have received paid internship opportunities at law firms in the Capital Region. Many of the interns subsequently obtained full-time law firm employment and now are members of the Albany County Bar.