New law school faculty joined experienced teachers, mentors, and industry contacts in Washington, D.C, from June 4 – 6 for the AALS New Law Teachers conference. This annual Workshop brings educators from around the country who are new to academia, and delivers a multi-day program of practical guidance and valuable insights on becoming an effective law classroom teacher, a productive legal scholar, and a valued member of the legal academy.
Each annual Workshop begins with small-group discussions on Thursday evening, grouping attendees together with a speaker-mentor to make connections and establish goals for the workshop. These groups reconvene on the final day to reflect and recap the weekend’s lessons.
Also on Thursday, AALS President Danielle Conway (Penn State Dickinson Law) delivered a keynote on “Emancipate. Academic. Freedom: In Context for the New(er) Law Teacher and Knowledge Worker,” introduced by Workshop planning committee chair Trilby Robinson-Dorn (University of California, Irvine School of Law).
“It was important to the workshop planning committee to offer the legal academy’s new faculty colleagues various learning and community-building opportunities,” said Robinson-Dorn. “These included panel discussions, interactive teaching sessions where attendees could receive feedback, small group conversations, and shared meals. We are grateful for our fantastic and diverse group of experienced faculty and deans for accepting our invitations to speak on a range of research, teaching, and service-related topics.”
On Friday morning, representatives from the AALS Sections on Criminal Procedure, Professional Responsibility, Shared Governance, and Women in Legal Education hosted coffee hours to introduce attendees to the Section structure and future opportunities.
The opening session followed, featuring AALS Immediate Past President Austen Parrish (University of California, Irvine School of Law). “Every day you are in the classroom, you can make a difference in some way,” he said. “I feel grateful to work in this profession. Every time I speak with students or get ready to teach class, it reenergizes me.”
The session highlighted new AALS initiatives for early-career faculty. Monthly New Faculty Teaching Office Hours hosted by AALS Advisor Howard Katz (Cleveland State University College of Law) offers a recurring, candid and confidential venue to discuss classroom inquiries, book selection, or questions that may arise. “Everyone presenting at this workshop is available as a future resource, but it is officially my job…” said Katz. “This is part of AALS building out support for new professors.”
Speakers also highlighted the New Faculty Works-in-Progress Workshop, hosted by AALS Senior Counselor Alena Allen (Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center). Each presenter will receive feedback from a senior scholar outside their institution with subject matter expertise in the relevant field. Presentation slots will be available from September 2026 through April 2027.
Workshop programs across Friday and Saturday included general interest sessions that offered guidance on the three pillars of an academic career: teaching, scholarship, and service:
- Foundations for Excellent Teaching reviewed academic research on student learning, teaching theory, and teaching strategies, then provided attendees with approaches to apply these findings in their teaching
- Classroom 101 examined course planning methods and the incorporation of technology in the classroom, such as polling, class websites, visual aids, and more.
- Assessment covered different methods to evaluate students and provide feedback throughout the semester, plus exam creation, grading, and post-exam review.
- The Demands and Delights of Institutional Citizenship: Exploring a Range of Service Opportunities offered junior faculty advice on managing institutional priorities.
- Scholarship included advice on designing a research agenda, building a scholarly community/network, distributing scholarship, and engaging in scholarship and advocacy.
- Keeping it All Together discussed various techniques to promote work/life balance among teachers and students.
“I hope that attendees feel welcomed and supported as they make the transition to legal academia,” said Robinson-Dorn, chair of the workshop planning committee. “We meant it when we said that planning committee members, presenters, and the AALS are all here to serve as resources for you. I also hope that each attendee learned a few concrete new things about teaching, service, and research that will serve them well in the early semesters of their new careers.”
Saturday programs also provided time for hands-on practice with concrete skills that will be valuable in the classroom on day one. Putting it into Practice sessions included a mock classroom to test teaching methods and receive advice from experienced teachers, plus an opportunity to create and receive feedback on syllabi.
“AALS strives to create community and add value at each stage of a faculty member’s career,” Kellye Y. Testy, AALS Executive Director and CEO. “We strive to welcome each year’s new cohort of educators and support them on their journeys. The cross-institutional relationships built through AALS are vital for faculty members’ teaching, scholarly, and service activities and success.”
Saturday’s luncheon for attendees included a talk featuring Erwin Chemerinsky (University of California, Berkeley School of Law) and Melanie B. Jacobs (University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law), moderated by Haider Ala Hamoudi (University of Cincinnati College of Law). “Meeting the Moment: Teaching, Mentoring, and Inclusion Across Difference” discussed the obstacles faculty face during this polarizing time and offered recommendations to create inclusive environments in and outside the classroom.
AALS hosted a number of industry and publishing experts as exhibitors at the Workshop, including Animal Legal Defense Fund, Aspen Publishing, Carolina Academic Press, Cubby Law, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and West Academic.
Workshop attendees are invited to participate in a reunion at the 2027 AALS Annual Meeting in New York this January to reflect on their first semester in the academy.
“It is invaluable to maintain connections with your fellow new law professors, who will be a great source of information, advice, support, and camaraderie as you progress in your careers,” said Robinson-Dorn. “We truly enjoyed meeting and learning from each of you. We look forward to being your colleagues, and to the impact you will make on your students and on the legal profession.”
We extend our thanks to the workshop planning committee:
- Haider Ala Hamoudi, University of Cincinnati College of Law
- Melanie B. Jacobs, University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law
- Natalie Nanasi, SMU Dedman School of Law
- Trilby Robinson-Dorn, University of California, Irvine School of Law, Chair
- Ezra E. Rosser, American University, Washington College of Law
- Carlos M. Teuscher, Boston College Law School