For much of the last century, the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) has had a quiet yet significant role in the development of American law. Founded in 1900, the Association is composed of 162 U.S. law schools, each of whose faculty members are AALS members. The Association sponsors a number of events annually, the most significant of which is its annual meeting, at the beginning of January, which typically attracts between 3,500 and 4,000 participants.¹

Over a span of four days, this meeting features exhibits, breakfasts, luncheons, receptions sponsored by various law schools and organizations, field trips, half- or full-day "workshops" on particular topics, a plenary session (regarding a broad topic or theme), and numerous sessions sponsored by one or more of the AALS's sections (i.e. groups focused on particular fields of law or topic areas).²