The 2026 AALS Annual Meeting, organized by the Association of American Law Schools, is scheduled to take place from January 6 to 9, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. This event marks the 125th anniversary of the Association and serves as a significant gathering for legal educators, scholars, and professionals from across the United States and beyond.
The meeting's theme, "Impact. Excellence. Resilience. The Enduring Contributions of Legal Education," will guide a diverse array of sessions and programs. Attendees can expect discussions on the historical and ongoing impact of legal education, the evolution of law curricula, and the role of law schools in addressing contemporary societal challenges. The program includes over 200 sessions organized by various AALS sections, covering topics such as environmental law, intellectual property, civil rights, and more.
In addition to the educational sessions, the conference offers numerous networking opportunities, including receptions, section meetings, and an exhibit hall featuring the latest resources and services for legal education. Notable speakers and panelists from leading law schools will share their insights and research, contributing to the rich discourse of the event.
This meeting is ideal for law school faculty, administrators, and legal professionals seeking to engage with peers, stay informed about developments in legal education, and contribute to shaping the future of the field.
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Speakers(35)
Alex Erwin
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Commentator at the 'Environmental Law & Natural Resources and Energy Law Joint Program (Works-in-Progress)' session.
Angi Porter
American University Washington College of Law
Recipient of the Junior Faculty Award at the 2026 SALT Awards.
Annie Brett
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Commentator at the 'Environmental Law & Natural Resources and Energy Law Joint Program (Works-in-Progress)' session.
Annie Lai
UC Irvine School of Law
Speaker at the 'Teaching Methods, Sponsored by Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research, and Women in Legal Education: Teaching in Turbulent Times' session.
Austen L. Parrish
Dean and Chancellor’s Professor of Law at UC Irvine School of Law
Introduction and Moderator at the 'AALS Presidential Program – Legal Education, the Courts, and the Profession' session.
Brenda Smith
American University Washington College of Law
Recipient of the SALT Great Teacher Award at the 2026 SALT Awards.
Charles Duan
American University Washington College of Law
Speaker at a panel on intellectual property pedagogy.
Chaz Brooks
American University Washington College of Law
Speaker at sessions on community economic development and experiences of minoritized law faculty.
Collins J. Seitz, Jr.
Supreme Court of Delaware
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Program – Legal Education, the Courts, and the Profession' session.
Danaya C. Wright
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Speaker at the 'Minority Groups Section Program: Property Rights and Racial Dispossession' session.
Daniel B. Rodriguez
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Panel One – AALS at 125: Reflecting on History and Impact' session.
Daniel G. Aaron
University of Utah, S. J. Quinney College of Law
Speaker at the 'Legislation and Law of the Political Process' session.
David Jaffe
Associate Dean of Student Affairs at American University Washington College of Law
Participant in a session on law and mental disability.
David Snyder
American University Washington College of Law
Participant in a session honoring the late Juliet Moringiello.
Jane O’Connell
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Moderator at the 'Law Libraries and Legal Information, Sponsored by Technology, Law and Legal Education: Standing Against Desertification of the Internet: How Can We Protect Information Integrity and Availability?' session.
Jasmine C. Abdel-khalik
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law
Speaker at the 'Intellectual Property' session.
John Stinneford
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Speaker at the 'Criminal Law, Sponsored by Criminal Procedure: Bounding the Modes of Punishment' session.
Juan P. Caballero
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Speaker from a Call for Papers at the 'Administrative Law Section Program: New Voices in Administrative Law' session.
Judith Areen
Georgetown University Law Center
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Panel One – AALS at 125: Reflecting on History and Impact' session.
Judy Perry Martinez
Simon, Peragine, Smith, Redfearn LLP
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Program – Legal Education, the Courts, and the Profession' session.
Kellye Testy
Association of American Law Schools
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Program – Legal Education, the Courts, and the Profession' session.
Kerry Abrams
Duke University School of Law
Speaker at the 'Advanced Workshop for Experienced Deans - Hot Topics for Deans' and 'Deans Forum - ABA Council Conversation Breakouts with Deans Breakout 1' sessions.
Kristen V. Hardy
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Participant at the 'AALS Discussion Group: Leaning into GenAI to Elevate Teaching Legal Skills' session.
Lauren K. Robel
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Panel One – AALS at 125: Reflecting on History and Impact' session.
Mario L. Barnes
UC Irvine School of Law
Speaker at the 'AALS Committee on Recruitment and Retention for Law School Faculty – Existential Threats to Recruitment and Retention of Law Faculty and Law Students' session.
Maru Smith-Opabola
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Presenter at the 'Federalist Society Faculty Conference – 7-Minute Works-in-Progress (Panel 1-C)' session.
Mary Basick
UC Irvine School of Law
Moderator at the 'AALS Open Source Program: Teaching So Gen Z Students Can Learn' session.
Merritt McAlister
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Moderator at the 'Federalist Society Faculty Conference – Young Legal Scholars Papers' session and speaker at the 'Advanced Workshop for Experienced Deans – Hot Topics for Deans' session.
Michelle A. Behnke
Boardman Clark
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Program – Legal Education, the Courts, and the Profession' session.
Nicholas Christopolis
University of Florida Levin College of Law
Participant at the 'AALS Discussion Group: Leaning into GenAI to Elevate Teaching Legal Skills' session.
Nikia L. Gray
National Association for Law Placement
Speaker at the 'AALS Presidential Program – Legal Education, the Courts, and the Profession' session.
Priya Baskaran
Professor at American University Washington College of Law
Professor Priya Baskaran participated in a panel examining academic freedom and clinical legal education at the 2026 AALS Annual Meeting.
Rachel E. Croskery-Roberts
UC Irvine School of Law
Moderator at the 'Teaching Methods, Sponsored by Administrative Law, Constitutional Law, Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research, and Women in Legal Education: Teaching in Turbulent Times' session.
Robert S. Chang
UC Irvine School of Law
Speaker at the 'AALS Symposium: Panel 2 – Support for the Rule of Law through Scholarship and Service' session.
Ryan C. Williams
Dean's Research Scholar and Professor at Brooklyn Law School
Professor Ryan Williams spoke on a panel titled 'Legal History: The Declaration of Independence at 250' at the 2026 AALS Annual Meeting.
Event Details
- Date
- January 6-9, 2026
- 4 days
- Location
- 🇺🇸 New Orleans, United States
- Hilton New Orleans Riverside and Loews New Orleans Hotel
- Pricing
- $535 - $685
- Audience
- Law school faculty, administrators, and legal professionals.
- CLE Credits
- CLE accreditation pending
- Attendees
- Over 2,000 attendees.