E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy Celebrates 125 Years with Albany Law School Prize  

TROY — Local law firm E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP is celebrating the milestone of 125 years in business by giving back, partnering with Albany Law School to sponsor a prize for the school’s Senior Prize Trials.

The Karen C. McGovern Senior Prize Trials are an annual legal competition for third-year students providing a simulated courtroom experience. According to a press release, E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP will award $2,000 to the winners of the Senior Prize Trials annually for the next five years, starting in 2024.

Teams of two compete by litigating fictional cases before a judge and a jury in an experiential learning opportunity that prepares prospective lawyers for the courtroom environment. 

The semester-long competition will kick off Monday, Sept. 18 and conclude with an event in November to announce the winning team. This is the first year that students will receive a monetary prize for their efforts, the release states.

“One of the commitments I am most proud of throughout 125 years of business is our steadfast commitment to supporting the community,” said E. Stewart Jones, Jr., partner and third-generation lawyer at E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy LLP, in the release. “Our firm is proud to support the next generation of lawyers as they get their first taste of the courtroom experience. We hope that this is the first of many courtroom victories for Albany Law School’s 2024 class.”

“Albany Law School is grateful for the continued support from E. Stewart Jones Hacker Murphy, an historic and acclaimed local law firm that employs several alumni of Albany Law School. The sponsorship of a monetary prize for our annual senior prize trials will add a well-deserved reward for the competitors, who voluntarily participate in this immersive educational experience outside of their courseload,” said Jenean Taranto, associate dean for student affairs at Albany Law School, in the release.