AUWCL Faculty Led Discussions at 2025 AALS Annual Meeting
The American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) was well-represented at the 2025 Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting, which took place from January 7-11 in San Francisco, California. The conference is the largest gathering of law school deans and professors, providing a platform for sharing ideas and resolving challenges in legal education. This year’s theme, “Courage in Action,” focused on how law schools and legal educators navigate and address significant societal challenges.
“I am so proud of the wonderful contributions and recognition of our faculty at the legal academy's biggest convening,” said Interim AUWCL Dean Heather Hughes. “I am especially humbled to be representing WCL at the AALS Deans Forum. There is always so much to learn at this awesome conference!”
Two AUWCL faculty members, Professors Angi Porter and Anita Sinha, were recognized as 2024 Teachers of the Year by AALS, a testament to their exceptional dedication to teaching and legal education.
AUWCL faculty lead significant discussions across key areas of law, including international human rights, disability law, criminal procedure, and comparative law. Professor Claudio Grossman was honored as the recipient of the Nelson Mandela Award for International Human Rights, a prestigious recognition of his dedication to advancing human rights worldwide.
Robert Dinerstein, AUWCL professor of law emeritus, participated in a session on disability law, co-sponsored by the sections on Law and Mental Disability and Law Professors with Disabilities and Allies. Professor Rebecca Hamilton contributed to a joint program on international human rights and international law, while Professor Emeritus Bob Dinerstein took part in a session on disability law, co-sponsored by the section on Law and Mental Disability and the section on Law Professors with Disabilities. Professor Andrew Ferguson contributed to a session on criminal procedure, co-sponsored by the section on Criminal Law, and Professor Jayesh Rathod participated in a workshop for pre-tenured law school teachers of color, offering insights on effective teaching strategies.
Additional AUWCL faculty presentations included Professor Jamie Abrams, who joined a discussion on teaching methods, co-sponsored by the section on Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research, and Professor Fernanda Nicola, who contributed to a session on comparative law, co-sponsored by the sections on European Law and East Asian Law and Society.
Earlier in the week, Cynthia Goode Works, director of AUWCL’s Stephen S. Weinstein Advocacy Program, moderated a roundtable discussion titled “Better Together: Unlocking Opportunities through Doctrinal and Skills Teaching Collaboration.” This session, spearheaded by Reza Rezvani, director of Trial Advocacy at McGeorge School of Law, and Elizabeth I. Boals, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy at Stetson University College of Law, explored opportunities for collaboration between doctrinal and skills teaching. The discussion highlighted innovative approaches to building connections across the curriculum to enhance student success in law school, practice, and beyond.
AUWCL’s robust participation at the conference underscored its leadership and commitment to advancing legal scholarship and fostering critical discussions on the pressing legal issues of the day.