This spring, the AALS Executive Committee approved two new provisional sections: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Professionals; and Firearms Law. These additions bring the total number of unique AALS Sections to 107. The two new sections are available to join now, and will have programs at the 2023 AALS Annual Meeting in January.
The purpose of the Section on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Professionals is to promote the communication of ideas, interests, and activities among members of the section; with a primary focus on race, equity, and commitment to the inclusion of all historically excluded law school populations. When appropriate, the section will also make recommendations to the association on matters concerning race, equity, and inclusion.
The purpose of the Section on Firearms Law is to promote the exchange of ideas, interests, and activities among its members; fosters scholarship on legal issues surrounding firearms law and related topics, firearms policy development, and curriculum development and teaching methodology for firearms-related courses; promotes a greater diversity of perspectives within legal education on issues related to firearms law; and makes recommendations to the association on matters concerning firearms law.
Section on Criminal Justice Splits
The AALS Section on Criminal Justice, with just over 1,100 members, split into the Section on Criminal Law and the Section on Criminal Procedure effective this summer. The Section on Criminal Law will primarily be focused on substantive criminal law and the policy implications of criminal regulatory approaches. The Section on Criminal Procedure will be primarily focused on constitutional criminal procedure and the doctrinal and policy responses to Supreme Court case law in that field.
New Platform for Online Section Activities
Members of AALS sections likely noticed a significant change to their discussion lists in August. The platform that manages section discussion lists and other resources received a major upgrade to Higher Logic’s “Connected Community.”
