AALS welcomed more than 100 attendees to the AALS Workshop for New Law School Teachers from June 5-7 in Washington, DC. Experienced law professors greeted new faculty and presented sessions providing valuable insights and practical information on how to become an effective classroom teacher, a productive scholar, and a valued member of the legal academy.
On Thursday, programming began in the evening with small group discussions to introduce attendees to one another and establish their goals for the workshop. The various groups reconvened on the final day and reflected on the discussions.
The Thursday evening session closed with a welcome by workshop planning committee chair Melanie B. Jacobs, Dean of University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law followed by a keynote from AALS President Austen Parrish (Dean, University of California, Irvine School of Law) on “The Joy of Law Teaching and Scholarship.”
AALS President Austen Parrish, Dean, University of California, Irvine School of Law. 
Workshop planning committee chair Melanie B. Jacobs, Dean of University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law. 
AALS President Austen Parrish, Dean, University of California, Irvine School of Law delivers the workshop keynote address. 
AALS President Austen Parrish, Dean, University of California, Irvine School of Law.
“The bread and butter of law schools has always been, and will continue to be, teaching students how to think critically at a higher level,” said Parrish. “This higher-level critical thinking, enabling students to be adaptive, creative, and flexible to serve clients and solve problems, is more important now than it has ever been. What we do in law schools, however, isn’t only about preparing new lawyers. Law schools—through their faculty, clinics, centers, initiatives, programs, and more—make a critical difference to their communities, advance our understanding of law and legal institutions through research, and help those in need, improving access to justice for the benefit of society.”
“Whether it’s your first year of teaching or your third year of teaching, we hope that this workshop will provide some wonderful takeaways with respect to your pedagogy, your scholarship, and how to approach the work you’re doing within your institution,” said Jacobs.
Workshop attendees. 
Workshop Attendees during a session. 
Designing Your Research Agenda and Building a Scholarly Community/Network panelists Kevin Tobia (Georgetown University Law Center) and Hilary J. Allen (American University, Washington College of Law). 
Workshop attendees during the session “Foundations for Excellent Teaching.” 
Kayonia Whetstone and Catlin Meade (George Washington University Law School) during a session on course design and classroom implementation for legal writing classes. 
Attendees at the Welcome and Keynote.
On Friday, the conference started with an opening session with a welcome from Kellye Y. Testy, AALS Executive Director and CEO, and a workshop overview from Jacobs. Both speakers emphasized the importance of staying involved with AALS beyond the workshop.
“There is power in a collective voice no matter how strong your school,” said Testy. “Know that we want and need your involvement to stay strong. AALS is what you make it, and we need every one of us rowing this boat together to get where we need to go. I look forward to working with all of you.”
“An important takeaway of this workshop is for new faculty to get more involved in AALS and stay involved throughout their careers,” Jacobs said in an interview before the workshop. “AALS has enriched my life as a law professor and now as a dean. The association has a section for everything and everyone. There are so many ways to build networks and friendships and to find mentors.”
The morning continued with a general session on “Foundations for Excellent Teaching,” with Olympia R. Duhart (Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law), Lawrence C. Levine (University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law), Russell A. McClain (University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law), and moderated by Michael Hunter Schwartz (University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law). The session focused on academic research in student learning, teaching theory, and teaching strategies, followed by recommendations on how to incorporate the findings into the classroom.
Panelists at the session “Foundations for Excellent Teaching.” 
Russell A. McClain, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Michael Hunter Schwartz, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and Olympia R. Duhart (Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law). 
Attendee asks a question. 
Michael Hunter Schwartz (Dean, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law). 
“Classroom 101 (Course Design + Teaching with Technology)” with Susan S. Kuo (University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law), Howard E. Katz (Cleveland State University College of Law), Jamie R. Abrams (American University, Washington College of Law) and Michael Hunter Schwartz (University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law). 
Michael Hunter Schwartz (Dean, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law).
After the general session, break-out sessions on teaching included course design, using technology to teach, and teaching legal analysis, writing, and research.
During lunch, a session on “Fostering Diversity and Academic Freedom Without Divisiveness, Inside the Classroom” was moderated by Dean Nicola Boothe (University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) with speakers Michelle E. Boardman (Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University), Llezlie L. Green (Georgetown University Law Center), and Elizabeth A. Keyes (University of Baltimore School of Law). The panel discussed the difficulties faculty face during this polarizing time and provided suggestions on creating inclusive environments in and outside the classroom.
The afternoon also included general sessions on “Assessment” presented by Kris Franklin (New York Law School) and Rory Bahadur (Washburn University School of Law) with an introduction from Nicola Boothe (dean, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law) and “The Demands and Delights of Institutional Citizenship: Exploring a Range of Service Opportunities” with Eric R. Claeys (Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University), Tianna Gibbs (American University, Washington College of Law), and moderated by Jacobs. The program provided advice to junior faculty about juggling institutional priorities.
Saturday opened with breakout sessions on scholarship included designing a research agenda, building a scholarly community/network, distributing scholarship, developing scholarship on clinical/experiential legal education, and engaging in scholarship and advocacy.
New this year are two “Putting it into Practice” sessions where attendees implement some of the skills and techniques learned during the workshop. First, attendees participated in a mock classroom where they tried out teaching methods and received feedback from experienced teachers. The second session provided attendees with an opportunity to build and receive feedback on their syllabus.
The breakout session was followed by the general session “Keeping it All Together,” moderated by Jacobs and included speakers Renee Nicole Allen (St. John’s University School of Law), Janice L. Craft (The University of Richmond School of Law), and Russell A. McClain (University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law). The session explored ways to promote work/life balance among teachers and students.
During the workshop, AALS Sections hosted informal networking sessions for attendees to connect with leaders and explore opportunities in the section. The Section on Professional Responsibility, the Section on Education Law, and the Section on Women in Legal Education hosted an informal session on Friday. The Section on Constitutional Law and the Section on Criminal Procedure hosted a gathering on Saturday.
“After this workshop, I hope attendees feel more confident setting foot in the classroom, going into their first faculty meeting, and feel less surprised come August when they start at their new school,” Jacobs said.
Several exhibitors attended the conference and met with attendees between sessions and during receptions, including Aspen Publishing, Carolina Academic Press, LexisNexis, and West Academic. Learn more about exhibits and sponsorships at AALS events on the Annual Meeting sponsorship page.
AALS also hosted booth to introduce new faculty to AALS services including section membership, the AALS Annual Meeting, and the Scholarly Papers Competition for faculty with less than five years of teaching experience.
Attendees are also invited to participate in a reunion at the 2026 AALS Annual Meeting in New Orleans this January to reflect on their first semesters in the academy.
“Every law school has its own culture, and that’s one of the things that new law teachers have to figure out,” Jacobs said. “It’s valuable to be able to have peers and colleagues at other schools who will answer your email, text, or phone call when you run into something that is challenging and have a network outside of your own institution.”
The workshop planning committee included:
- Renee Nicole Allen, St. John’s University School of Law
- Melanie B. Jacobs, University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, Chair
- Nicola Boothe, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
- Heather M. Kolinsky, University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law
- Michael Hunter Schwartz, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law