AALS News – Fall 2024

Melanie Wilson

A Q&A with AALS President Melanie Wilson

Melanie Wilson, Dean and Roy L. Steinheimer, Jr., Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law, will conclude her year as AALS President at the 2025 AALS Annual Meeting in January. In advance of the meeting, Dean Wilson answered questions about her background and vision for the associ­ation and for legal education.

Danielle Conway

Nominations for AALS President-Elect and Executive Committee

The AALS Nominating Committee for 2025 has nominated the following individuals to serve on the AALS Executive Committee: For President-Elect, Danielle M. Conway (Penn State Dickinson Law). For three-year terms on the Executive Committee, Leonard M. Baynes (University of Houston Law Center) and Stacy Leeds (Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University).

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UC Irvine School of Law and New York Law School Chart a New Path for the Journal of Legal Education

University of California, Irvine School of Law and New York Law School are in the process of editing their first issues as the new host schools leading the Journal of Legal Education (JLE). AALS News sat down with the new editors of the JLE to discuss their vision for the journal and scholarship on legal education.

A New Report Details the Career Pathways, Responsibilities, and Job Satisfaction of Law School Faculty

This fall, AALS released its latest major research initiative: the American Law School Faculty Study. The comprehensive new study highlights trends in demographics, career pathways, schol­arship, duties, and job satisfaction.

A New LENS: AALS Newsletter to Move to New Online Format

Starting in 2025, AALS News content will move to an online platform called AALS LENS (an acronym for Legal Education News and Stories). This website will feature a rolling stream of original articles, contributor stories, organizational updates, news highlights, and more.

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.

Spotlight on Sections: Intellectual Property Law

By Zaena Ballon

As part of the ongoing “Spotlight on Sections” series, AALS sat down with the leadership of the Section on Section on Intellectual Property Law to discuss the latest developments in the field and plans for the section.

2025 AALS Annual Meeting

AALS returns to San Francisco for the 2025 Annual Meeting from January 7-11 at the Moscone Center. Check out the latest program details including recently added hot topic sessions.

Camille Nelson and Jessica Steinberg to Receive Deborah L. Rhode Award

Camille Nelson, Dean and Professor of Law at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, William S. Richardson School of Law and Jessica Steinberg, John Marshall Harlan Dean’s Research Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School, will receive this year’s Deborah L. Rhode Award from four AALS Sections.

Olivas Award Goes to Harvard Law Professor Guy-Uriel Charles

Guy-Uriel Charles, Faculty Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice and Charles Ogletree, Jr. Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, is the recipient of the Michael A. Olivas Award for Outstanding Leadership in Diversity and Mentoring in the Legal Academy, a joint recognition by four AALS sections.

Scholarly Papers Competition Winners

AALS Announces Scholarly Papers Competition Winners

Christopher Brett Jaeger (Baylor University School of Law) and Christopher D. Hampson (University of Florida Levin College of Law) have been selected as the winners of the 39th AALS Scholarly Papers Competition.

award winners

2025 Section Award Winners

AALS is proud to announce the winners of its 2025 section awards. The awards are hosted by several of the association’s 108 sections that are organized around various academic disciplines and topics of interest. This year’s winners will be acknowledged during an awards ceremony at the 2025 AALS Annual Meeting on January 9 and various section events.

AALS Logo on Dark Blue Background

AALS Section on Poverty Law Named Section of the Year

First established in 2018, the AALS Section of the Year Award recognizes excellence in member support and other activities that promote the association’s core values. Such activities include: community/pro bono service; expand­ing membership and member engage­ment; supporting faculty scholarship; providing mentorship and teaching support; and developing impactful programming.