Celebrating Clinicians at the 2026 Annual Conference on Clinical Legal Education

AALS kicked off the month with over 840 clinicians at their annual Conference on Clinical Legal Education, held May 1 – 5, 2026, in Portland. The meeting’s theme, “Holding the Line: Clinical Education in Defense of Democracy,” highlights the legacy and promise of clinical legal education to promote civic engagement and justice.

“Experiential legal education is growing throughout our member schools as we all continue to meet the needs of a changing legal profession that expects our students to be increasingly further along in their professional development as they graduate. It was an honor to gather with the clinicians, externship directors, and other educators at the forefront of experiential legal education,” said Kellye Testy, AALS Executive Director and CEO, addressing attendees of the 2026 Conference on Clinical Legal Education. “We admire and appreciate their many contributions to excellence in legal education and look forward to continuing our robust support.”

2026 AALS President Danielle Conway (Penn State Dickinson Law) delivers her welcoming remarks at the Opening Plenary: Engineering Democratic Renewal

Opening Plenary: Engineering Democratic Renewal. L-R: Nadia Anguiano (University of Minnesota School of Law); Joan C. Williams (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco); Megan Ming Francis (University of Washington); Catherine Lhamon (University of California, Berkeley School of Law); Lena Miller (Urban Academy)

Opening Plenary: Engineering Democratic Renewal

Joan C. Williams (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco) speaks at the Opening Plenary: Engineering Democratic Renewal

The plenary session after the welcome, “Engineering Democratic Renewal,” examines the effects of the deterioration of democratic norms and legal safeguards regarding national security, civil rights enforcement, and minority communities. Moderated by Alina Ball (University of California, Berkeley School of Law), speakers included Nadia Anguiano (University of Minnesota Law School); Megan Ming Francis (University of Washington Department of Political Science); Catherine E Lhamon (University of California, Berkeley School of Law); Lena Miller (Urban Alchemy); and Joan C. Williams (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco).

Programming

During the conference, more than 450 speakers and 125 sessions covered a broad range of topics in clinical legal education, including the First Amendment, campus dissent, housing justice, safeguarding nonprofits, and rural justice. Several programs discussed topics about managing clinics, such as building resiliency in their programs, boundaries, democracy-defending skills, political interference, legal storytelling, assessment, and risk management. Attendees also received support related to case selection, collective bargaining, pedagogical approaches, cross-clinic collaboration, and professional identity.

This year’s programming included the biannual Workshop for New Law School Clinical Teachers. Workshop attendees were given insights and foundational principles for clinical teaching and professional development. The workshop goal is to provide new clinicians with confidence and connection to peers and experienced clinical legal educators to thrive in this field. The Workshop was held before the conference on Friday, May 1, commencing in the afternoon and ending on Saturday, May 2, at noon.

Clinicians connect and collaborate between sessions

Poster Presentations at the AALS Reception

“It is the highlight of my year to attend the AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education,” said conference planning committee member Andrew Budzinski (American University Washington College of Law). “This community of educators and justice-oriented practitioners offer a rich and generative space to share unique perspectives on lawyering and teaching, to improve our pedagogy, and to restore as we reflect on the past year of fighting for justice with our students and clients. This year in Portland was no exception — every session I attended gave me ideas and hope for the year ahead. I am grateful to my colleagues and friends for their wisdom, their insight, and their solidarity. It was a particular honor to help plan the conference that, every year, enriches my own practice and pedagogy.”

At a reception on Saturday evening, attendees presented over 20 posters on various projects, courses, and topics related to clinical legal education. The posters were also displayed near exhibit tables throughout the conference.

“Data, Democracy, and Accountability: Teaching Students to Track Misconduct” presented by Meagan Hurley (Mercer University School of Law)

“Incorporating Social Work Into Clinical Pedagogy to Improve Outcomes for Clients & Students” presented by Rachel Dick (University of Nebraska College of Law)

“Clinical Pedagogies of Hope in Carceral Spaces” presented by Sarah Gerwig and Meagan Hurley (Mercer University School of Law

“Twenty Years of Righting Systemic Wrongs: The Mercer Habeas Project and Post-Conviction Advocacy as a Democratic Imperative” presented by E. Addison Gantt (Federal Defenders of the Middle District of Georgia, Inc.), Sarah Gerwig and Meagan Hurley (Mercer University School of Law)

“Property Justice: Drafting Practice Guides and Establishing New Practice Areas to Defend the Rights of Unhoused People” presented by Sara Rankin (Seattle University School of Law), Ron Hochbaum and Tori Larett (University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law)

“Anchoring Democracy” presented by Daniel Ellman, Rebecca Robichaud, and Jane Warkentin (Wayne State University Law School)

“Collaboration Across In-House Law Clinics” presented by Shahrokh Falati and Jae Ryu (New York Law School)

“From Spanish for Lawyers to Lawyering in Spanish” presented by Evelyn Cruz (Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law)

“Collaborative Justice: Engaging Community Partners to Help Lift-Up Underserved Communities” presented by Min Jian Huang, Nicholas Rossio, and Kathryn Smolinski (Wayne State University Law School)

“Harnessing Housing Clinics to Transform the Tenant Right to Counsel Movement” presented by Erica Braudy (New York Law School)

“Risk Assessment and Safety Planning in a Legal Clinic Setting” presented by Karon Rowden (Texas A&M University School of Law)

“Dogs as a Tool in Trauma Responsive Lawyering” presented by Lindsay Hanson and Stacey Steinberg (University of Florida Fredric G. Levin College of Law)

“Dues Clues: Funding the Work That Moves Our Section Forward” presented by Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law) and Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco)

“Law School with a Purpose: Using Public Interest Fellowship Proposals to Teach Professional Identity and Practice Development” presented by Jyoti Nanda (Southwestern Law School) and Vivian Wong (LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles)

“Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Clinical Efforts in Implementing the California Racial Justice Act” presented by Timothy Casey (University of California, Los Angeles School of Law), Christopher Hawthorne and Anna Strasburger (LMU Loyola Law School, Los Angeles)

“At What Cost: Assessing the Pedagogical Risks of Resistance” presented by Richard Frankel (Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law) and Spencer Rand (Temple University, James E. Beasley School of Law)

“Immigration Detention and Triage Lawyering” presented by Ezra Brown (Cornell Law School), Jocelyn Cazares Willingham (University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law), Sara Cressey (University of Maine School of Law), Jaclyn Kelley-Widmer (Cornell Law School), Erica Schommer (St. Mary’s University School of Law), and Anna Welch (University of Maine School of Law)

Since 2002, the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education has hosted the Bellow Scholars program to support the pioneering work of clinical law professors and provide them with mentorship and opportunities to present. The program was founded to reflect the ideals of Gary Bellow, one of the founders of clinical legal education, who played a crucial role in establishing legal services for the underserved.

On Tuesday, the final day of the conference, the 2026-27 Bellow Scholars class delivered empirical research presentations and received feedback from conference attendees and program advisors. Projects explored environmental law, criminal justice, immigration, economic justice, and civil rights.

L-R: Rachel T. Goldberg (Cornell Law School), Jyoti Nanda (Southwestern Law School), Anna VanCleave (University of Connecticut School of Law), Bellow Scholars Committee on Lawyering in the Public Interest Co-Chair Alina Ball (University of California, Berkeley School of Law)

The conference also featured exhibitors from various legal and technology-related organizations that interacted with participants during breaks in the programing, including:

Awards

At the conference, the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education and Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) honors several faculty members and clinics for their distinguished careers and accomplishments.

The following awards were presented by the AALS Section on Clinical Legal Education:

The Shanara Gilbert Award, honoring an outstanding clinician with less than 10 years of experience in the field, was presented to Jessica Rofé (Rutgers Law School)
The Ellmann Memorial Award for Clinical Scholarship was presented to Jessica Rubin (University of Connecticut School of Law)
The William Pincus Award for outstanding contributions to clinical legal education was given to Deborah Epstein (Georgetown University Law Center).
The Impact on the Externship Field Award was presented to Gillian Dutton (Seattle University School of Law)

The Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA) presented the following awards:

The Award for Excellence in a Public Interest Case or Project was presented to the Health Justice Policy & Advocacy Clinic at George Washington University Law School.
The Award for Outstanding Advocate for Clinical Teachers was presented to Julie Dahlstrom (Boston University School of Law)

Jessica Rofé (Rutgers Law School) accepts the Section on Clinical Legal Education M. Shanara Gilbert Award

Section on Clinical Legal Education M. Shanara Gilbert Award winner Jessica Rofé (Rutgers Law School) with section Co-Chairs Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco) and Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law)

Section on Clinical Legal Education Co-Chair Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco) at the Awards Luncheon

Deborah Epstein (Georgetown Law) accepts the Section on Clinical Legal Education William Pincus Award

Section on Clinical Legal Education William Pincus Award Winner Deborah Epstein (Georgetown Law) with section Co-Chairs Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco) and Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law)

Julie A. Dahlstrom (Boston University School of Law) accepts the CLEA Outstanding Advocate for Clinical Teachers Award

CLEA Outstanding Advocate for Clinical Teachers Award winner Julie A. Dahlstrom (Boston University School of Law) with Neha Lall (University of Baltimore School of Law) and Kathryn P. Banks (Saint Louis University School of Law)

Section on Clinical Legal Education Co-Chair Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law) at the Awards Luncheon

Section on Clinical Legal Education Ellmann Memorial Award for Clinical Scholarship winner Jessica Rubin (University of Connecticut School of Law) with section Co-Chairs Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco) and Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law)

Gillian Dutton (Seattle University School of Law) accepts the Section on Clinical Legal Education Impact on the Externship Field Award

Section on Clinical Legal Education Impact on the Externship Field Award winner Gillian Dutton (Seattle University School of Law) with section Co-Chairs Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco) and Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law)

Emily A. Benfer (The George Washington University Law School) accepts the CLEA Award for Excellence in a Public Interest Case or Project on behalf of the Health Justice Policy & Advocacy Clinic at George Washington University Law School

L-R: Sarah Gerwig (Mercer University Law School), Kathryn P. Banks (Saint Louis University School of Law), Neha Lall (University of Baltimore School of Law), Nira Geevargis (University of California College of the Law, San Francisco), and Allison Freedman (University of New Mexico School of Law)

The 2026 AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education Planning Committee included:

Jabeen Adawi, Children’s Law Center
Alina Ball, University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Dena Bauman, Cornell Law School
Sarah R. Boonin, Suffolk University Law School
Andrew Budzinski, American University, Washington College of Law
Laurie Hauber, Scholz Nonprofit Law Firm, formerly with University of Oregon School of Law
Lauren Rogal, Vanderbilt University Law School, Chair
Laura L. Rovner, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

AALS thanks to the committee for making the conference a success.