This week the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) hosts the national conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. A few years ago, thanks to the resource advocacy of our Director of Teaching and Learning Methods, I attended my very first AALS in the same city.
To write that I was “green” in academia would be an understatement. I remember feeling so overwhelmed at this huge conference. On day one, I sat down for lunch next to three tenure track faculty members from prestigious law schools. For the next forty-five minutes, I engaged in an enlightening (and very much over my head) conversation about block chain theory and their scholarly pieces. Eventually one of them turned to me and said, “what piece are you currently working on?” Not having the courage to explain my role and responsibilities, I discussed an idea for a work in progress that was only “progressing” in my head. Fortunately, my Director of Teaching and Learning Methods found me that afternoon and kindly guided me through the rest of the conference. (Thank you, Rebecca Flanagan!)
In reflecting back on my day one luncheon, I see the missed opportunity to generate buy-in and legitimize academic and bar success with law faculty from another universe. If you are a AALS newbie (and maybe had a lunch today like mine), here are some remaining sessions to put on your agenda (especially Friday morning at 8am*):
Wednesday, January 7
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM New Law Professors
Thriving, Not Just Surviving, As A New Law Professor
2:35 PM – 3:50 PM Student Services Sponsored by Academic Support, Access, Opportunity and Impact, Balance & Well-Being in Legal Education, Pre-Law Education and Admission to Law School, and Professional Responsibility
Compassionate Accountability: Faculty-Staff Partnerships to Elevate Student Professional Development
4:10 PM – 5:25 PM Family and Juvenile Law, Sponsored by Academic Support, Children and the Law, and Trusts and Estates NextGen Bar
Thursday, January 8
9:35 AM – 10:50 AM Exhibit Hall Presentation by BARBRI | West Academic
Teaching the Modern Learner: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovations
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM Part-Time Division Programs, Sponsored by Clinical Legal Education
Challenges and Innovations in Experiential Education in Part-Time, Hybrid, and Online Programs
9:35 AM – 10:50 AM Women in Legal Education, Sponsored by Disability Law, Employment Discrimination Law and Law Professors with Disabilities and Allies
Unpacking Harassment and Bullying in the Legal Academy
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Empirical Study of Legal Education and the Legal Profession, Sponsored by Law and the Social Sciences and Pro Bono & Access to Justice
Innovations for Delivery of Legal Services: Promoting Access and Equity
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Pre-Law Education and Admission to Law School
The Shifting Financial Aid Landscape: Policy and Research Implications for a New Era
2:35 PM – 5:25 PM Critical Theories, Sponsored by Civil Rights, Criminal Procedure, Education Law, Law and the Humanities, and Poverty Law
2025 to 2050: Legal Education in (what was?) the United States
4:10 PM – 5:25 PM Post-Graduate Legal Education, Sponsored by Aspiring Law School Leaders, East Asian Law and Society, Global Engagement, Law School Administration and Finance
Adapting Post-Graduate Legal Education with Intention: Cultivating Excellence, Impact, and a Growth
Friday, January 9
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM Academic Support
Fostering Impact and Resilience: Institutional Academic Support for Law Students and ASP Faculty
**Academic Support Business Meeting & Awards Reception to immediately follow
9:35 AM – 10:50 AM Law School Administration and Finance, Sponsored by Institutional Advancement and Pre-Law Education and Admission to Law School
Trends in Law Schools Financial Aid, Revenue, Admissions, and More
Oh – and don’t forget to head to the Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall is a great opportunity to network with publishers, pitch book ideas, and sometimes grab a resource or two to take home. Finally, if you are not having fun in New Orleans and instead starting your semester, happy spring and godspeed! You got this!
(Amy Vaughan-Thomas)
