AALS President’s Message: This Is the Time for Leadership, Courage, and Action

By AALS President Melanie Wilson, Dean, Washington and Lee University School of Law

This past academic year, law schools found themselves in the middle of intense controversies, free speech debates, and protests. On campuses, there were verbal and physical clashes between police and students, police and non-student protestors, police and faculty, students and other students. It was tense. Whether your school was at the center of these conflicts or not, we all felt the effects.

A Conversation with New AALS Executive Director & CEO Kellye Testy

By Barbra Elenbaas

Kellye Y. Testy began her role as AALS Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer on July 1, 2024. She succeeds Judy Areen, who retired after serving in the role for the past 10 years. Over the summer, Testy sat down with AALS News to discuss her new role, the importance of legal education, and her goals for the organization.

Update your Information in the AALS Directory of Law Teachers

Have you published a new paper, chapter, or book? Won an award or moved to a different law school? Tenured, tenure-track, long-term contract, and emeritus faculty are welcome to update their biographies in the AALS Directory of Law Teachers at any time throughout the year at dlt.aals.org

Spotlight on Sections: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues

By Zaena Ballon

As part of the ongoing “Spotlight on Sections” series, AALS sat down with the chair of the Section on Section on Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Issues to discuss the latest developments in the field and plans for the section.

Spotlight on Sections: Law and Mental Disability

By Zaena Ballon

The leadership of the AALS Section on Law and Mental Disability discuss section activities, privacy and mental health, and how law professors can get more involved.

Remembering Former AALS Executive Director Betsy Levin

Betsy Levin was the first tenured woman on the faculty of Duke Law School and, for a time, the only woman law dean in the US. AALS honors and remembers Levin for her commitment and lasting impact to AALS and the entire legal academy.

Highlights from the 2024 Workshop for New Law School Teachers

By Zaena Ballon

AALS welcomed 74 attendees to the AALS Workshop for New Law School Teachers from June 6-8 in Washington, DC. Experienced law professors greeted new faculty and presented sessions focused on balancing the competing demands of teaching, scholarship, and institutional service.

Journal of Legal Education Issue Explores Approaches and Teaching Methods from Law Schools Around the World

The recently published double issue (72-1&2) of the Journal of Legal Education examines international perspectives on legal education. Law professors from around the world discuss their experiences and research, offering insights into the advantages of various approaches and teaching methods.

Highlights from the 2024 Conference on Clinical Legal Education

More than 700 legal educators attended the AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education, May 1-5, 2024 in St. Louis. The meeting’s theme, “Unfinished Arcs: Resistance & Resilience Amid Backlash,” explored how teachers, scholars, and advocates can advance justice in the face of political pushback.

2025 AALS Annual Meeting

We are happy to be returning to San Francisco for the 2025 Annual Meeting. The meeting will take place in a familiar neighborhood and a familiar venue: the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Parc 55 San Francisco will again host some special programs and additional guest rooms.

AALS Honors Charles Ogletree with Triennial Award

AALS is honoring the late Professor Charles Ogletree (1953-2023) with the 2024 AALS Triennial Award for Lifetime Service to Legal Education and the Legal Profession, the association’s highest honor.

AALS Institutional Advancement Conference

Registration is now open for the 2024 AALS Institutional Advancement Conference. We invite law school development, alumni relations, and communications professionals to join us on September 25 for this year’s half-day conference.