Albany Law School

[upbeat music] You're listening to WCNY's The Capital Pressroom.

I'm Pat Wilds, director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, filling in for David Lombardo.

You may have heard the title commissioner or executive director of a state agency and correctly assumed that the person is in charge.

Less often discussed, though also incredibly important, is the second person on the depth chart in state agencies, often referred to as an exec dep by insiders.

Today, we're gonna change that.

With us is Laura Darman, who's currently the executive deputy commissioner, AKA the second person in charge, at the Office of Children and Family Services.

A trained attorney and grad of Albany Law School, Laura previously served as the number two person at the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs after spending early years of her career in several more traditional legal roles.

Laura, welcome to The Capital Pressroom.

You're listening to WCNY's The Capitol Press Room.

I'm Pat Wilds, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, filling in for David Lombardo.

From navigating local public health challenges to negotiating statewide policy reform, the pressure on local leaders has perhaps never been higher.

Joining us now to discuss this and more is Assemblymember Amanda Septimo, a Democrat who represents Assembly District 84.

Covering a number of core neighborhoods in the South Bronx, Assemblymember Septimo has been a vocal advocate for expanding economic opportunities and protecting working families.

She also brings a unique vantage point to her legislative work, balancing her legislative responsibilities by day with her evening studies as a student at Albany Law School.

Assemblymember, welcome back to the Capitol Press Room.

Thank you so much.

As you mentioned, I am General Counsel of Malbec, which is a contract lifecycle management company.

I also am an adjunct professor of law at Albany Law School.

And I really see myself as a legal tech and AI educator.

I'm really here to help cut through the noise and the hype and help people really understand the practical effects of AI and legal tech and see how it fits into the broader legal tech ecosystem.

You're listening to WCNY's The Capitol Press Room.

I'm Pat Wilds, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, filling in today for David Lombardo.

As New York State navigates an array of modern policy challenges, including civil rights overhauls, affordability concerns, and the accelerating realities of extreme weather, demand for highly skilled, government-ready attorneys has arguably never been greater.

Joining us now to discuss how higher education here in our state's capital city is evolving to train the next generation of public service leaders.

And to share a little bit about her own cutting-edge legal research as it pertains to state government is Dean Cinnamon Carlarne, the 19th president and dean of Albany Law School.

She also happens to be my boss.

Dean Carlarn was recently appointed to a five-year term as the law school celebrates its 175th anniversary this year.

Pleasure to have you here.

She was my favorite professor in my entire undergrad course of study.

She tried to convince me to become a lawyer, just go to Albany Law School, and then she's like, "Yeah, I'll make sure you get hired at my firm." But I just couldn't pull it.

Uh, I was already in crushing debt from undergrad, which I was the first person in my family to ever go to, so the, the numbers didn't add up.

And so I ended up joining the Navy, thinking I was gonna do four years, get out, and then go to law school.

You're listening to WCNY's The Capitol Press Room.

I'm Pat Wilds, Director of the Government Law Center at Albany Law School, sitting in for David Lombardo.

Joining us now is Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh, who represents the 112th Assembly District.

That district spans parts of Saratoga, Schenectady, and Fulton counties.

As a minority leader pro temp, serving on the powerful ways and means and judiciary committees, Assemblywoman Walsh is the floor leader for her conference and a driving voice in state fiscal policy.

She's also a proud alum of Albany Law School and has practiced law for over 30 years.

Assemblywoman, welcome back to the show.

Very happy to be here.

You can get in with a fucking Greyhound ticket back in the day.

Oh, you came to Albany on Greyhound? Here's a voucher to enroll in Albany Law School, for fuck's sake.

This is this bitch's fucking resume.

You went to Syracuse.