Category: Presidential Address

I am deeply honored to be invited to speak to such an august group of legal education stakeholders here in Seoul. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our esteemed hosts—the Association of Korean Law Schools, The Yulchon Law Firm, and the Seoul National University Law School—for curating this timely and critical Conference, dedicated to “The Future and Vision of Legal Education."

have long set my sights on becoming President of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). What was it that spoke to me about this organization and its stakeholders? No doubt, it was the degree of intellectualism, the weightiness of formal and informal conversations, and the unexpected, yet crucial relationships with colleagues that grew deeper and more meaningful with every meeting. But in my first encounters with the AALS, I was clearly at the fringe, and this stung.

have long set my sights on becoming President of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). What was it that spoke to me about this organization and its stakeholders? No doubt, it was the degree of intellectualism, the weightiness of formal and informal conversations, and the unexpected, yet crucial relationships with colleagues that grew deeper and more meaningful with every meeting. But in my first encounters with the AALS, I was clearly at the fringe, and this stung.

Almost 125 years ago, in August 1900 in Saratoga Springs, representatives of 35 law schools convened to establish the AALS, as way to strengthen American legal education, with the goal of producing lawyers, judges, and legal thought-leaders with the expertise and integrity essential for the country’s future. Today AALS continues as a critically vital resource to faculty, staff, and law school leaders, at each stage of their professional journey. AALS also continues its advocacy for excellence in American legal education and legal education’s critical role in advancing law, justice, and the rule of law.

It has been a tremendous professional honor to hold a leadership role in an organization that has pursued and supported excellence in legal education for 125 years. When I look back at the individuals who have served as president, I feel privileged, indeed, awed to be among them. Herma Hill Kay, Deborah Rhode, Michael Olivas, Lauren Robel, Erwin Chemerinsky, just examples.