New SDG Associate, Elizabeth A. Murad

I am delighted to join the SDG team as a new Associate, and thought it would be nice to introduce myself.

I have spent the last three years learning the intricacies of family and matrimonial law: theoretically through my education at Albany Law School, and practically through my involvement with the Family Violence Litigation Clinic and The Legal Project, through which I successfully litigated a variety of family matters.

My educational foundation from Union College, where I focused my studies on the intricacies of domestic violence, continues to shape my legal advocacy. I received my degree in philosophy and psychology, and authored a thesis entitled Akrasia: An Explanation of the Perpetration of Domestic Violence: Love Shouldn’t Hurt. Through that thesis, I synthesized the philosophic theories of Aristotle and the psychological phenomenon of domestic violence.

I have a continued interest in nuanced and up-and-coming issues, and through chairing Albany Law’s 31st Annual Domenick L. Gabrielli National Family Law Moot Court Competition, I authored a fictitious case and court decisions involving legal issues of a transgender child and conflicting parent and grandparent desires and visitation rights. Twenty-Four teams from across the nation competed in this competition, which required them to submit appellate briefs and engage in oral advocacy.

I have a passion for people and community. While at Albany Law, I served as President of the Class of 2019. Through that role, I executed a mentor/mentee program between students, assisted in selecting the 2019 commencement speaker, which was the Honorable Janet DiFiore, Chief Judge of the State of New York, and planned the graduating class’ “Farewell” party which was hosted at the New York State Museum for the first time. I also served as President of the Women’s Law Caucus. Through that role I planned and organized a team to raise funds for and participate in the annual Breast Cancer walk, planned Albany Law’s annual Domestic Violence Awareness Vigil, which for the first time included an open invitation to speak out about personal stories, and assisted in the selection of the Kate Stoneman 25th Anniversary Keynote Award Recipient, which goes to an individual that furthers or has furthered women’s rights and occupancy in the legal field. The 2019 recipient was the Solicitor General of New York, and former Attorney General of New York, Barbara Underwood.

I stay active with both the Union and Albany Law communities by serving as an alumni agent of the class for both, through which I encourage alumni participation, and spread news of the campuses.

I was born and raised in Utica, New York, with my parents, the Honorable David Murad and Susan Murad, and brother Michael. I was a competitive swimmer and figure skater, and served as teen ambassador for Sweet Steps: A Walk to Cure Diabetes.

In my spare time I enjoy a variety of crafting including painting, wood-burning, and knitting, running, my two cats Luna and Rufus, and socializing.

It is a pleasure to join the SDG team, and I look forward to working with you all!