Legal Definitions - AALS

The AALS, which stands for Association of American Law Schools, is a non-profit organization representing the vast majority of accredited law schools in the United States, and some in Canada. Its primary mission is to uphold and improve the quality of legal education and scholarship. The AALS achieves this by setting standards for member schools, promoting faculty development, fostering diversity, and advocating for the value of legal education. It serves as a forum for law school deans, faculty, and administrators to collaborate on issues affecting legal education and the legal profession.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the AALS:

• Example 1: Setting Standards for Legal Education

  A newly established law school, aiming to demonstrate its commitment to academic excellence and institutional integrity, applies for membership with the AALS. By undergoing the rigorous application process and meeting the Association's criteria, the school signals to prospective students, employers, and the wider academic community that it adheres to recognized national benchmarks for legal education, covering aspects like faculty qualifications, library resources, and curriculum design.

• Example 2: Fostering Faculty Development and Scholarship

  A law professor specializing in intellectual property law attends the annual AALS meeting to present their latest research on copyright in the digital age and to participate in a workshop on innovative teaching methods. This illustrates the AALS's role in fostering legal scholarship and professional development by providing a platform for faculty members to share research, discuss pedagogical techniques, and network with peers from various institutions, thereby advancing legal knowledge and improving teaching practices across member schools.

• Example 3: Advocating for the Legal Profession

  The AALS publishes a white paper advocating for increased funding for public interest law programs across all law schools, arguing that such programs are vital for ensuring access to justice for underserved communities. This demonstrates the AALS's function as a collective voice for legal education, engaging in advocacy and policy discussions to represent the interests of its member schools and the broader legal academic community on issues ranging from student debt to diversity initiatives, influencing the future direction of legal training and the legal profession.