Seattle University School of Law recently concluded one of its most successful showings ever at the Association of American Law Schools Annual Meeting, held in San Francisco in early January. A large contingent of faculty, staff, and administrators presented on a variety of topics, met with area alumni at a special reception, and showcased the breadth of innovation and scholarship taking place at the law school.
“This was a banner year for Seattle U Law at the annual meeting of the learned society for legal educators,” said Dean Anthony E. Varona. “Our efforts reminded our colleagues from across the country about how Seattle U Law is a center of activity and innovation around legal education and scholarship. I kept hearing from attendees that our law school is the place to be.”
For the first time ever, all 14 of the nation’s Jesuit Catholic law schools held a joint reception, which was initially conceived of and then organized by Varona and Seattle U Law.
“The reception was amazingly successful, drawing hundreds of our colleagues from across the country,” Varona said. “We used it as an opportunity to collaboratively and collectively showcase the uniqueness of Jesuit legal education and how each law school embodies the powerful themes of access to justice, diversifying the legal field through access to law school, bridging innovation with an ethical approach, and much more.”
Seattle U Law also organized a reception for alumni currently living and practicing in the Bay area, hosted by John Worden, partner and trial lawyer at Venable LLP in San Francisco.
“It was an excellent opportunity to strengthen our community by connecting with our graduates in a meaningful way and learn more about the incredible careers they are building,” said Feven Teklu, assistant dean for development and alumni relations.
Additional highlights include:
- Professor Sital Kalantry participated in a Book Talk about her recently published book, “Court on Trial: A Data-Driven Account of the Supreme Court of India.”
- Varona partnered with Erwin Chemerinsky, the esteemed dean and law professor at the University of California Berkeley School of Law, on a hot topic panel about legal education under the incoming Trump Administration. Moderator Charlie Martel, a law professor at Lewis & Clark Law School, wrote, “Tony and Erwin personify… courage in their teaching, scholarship, and leadership.”
- Professor Steve Bender was introduced as an honoree at the AALS Annual Latinx Law Professor Dinner
- LeighAnne Thompson, associate director of Law Library Innovation, organized (with assistance from Professor Margaret Chon) a special workshop titled “Expanding Access to Justice Through Legal Tech Innovation and Education.”
Seattle U Law faculty and staff presented or participated in the following AALS sessions:
- Deborah Ahrens, Professor of Law
Session: Evidence
- Thomas M. Antkowiak, Professor of Law
Session: Law in the Americas and International Law Joint Program, Co-Sponsored by Environmental Law, Global Engagement, and International Human Rights
- Steven Bender, Professor of Law, Associate Dean of Strategic Initiatives
Sessions: Critical Theories; Poverty Law, Co-Sponsored by Clinical Legal Education and Pro Bono & Access to Justice
- Kathryn Boling, Assistant Professor of Law; Director, Legal Writing Program
Session: Teaching Methods, Co-Sponsored by Legal Writing, Reasoning, and Research
- Kristin N. DiBiase, Associate Dean of Student Life, Diversity, and Inclusion
Session: Student Services, Co-Sponsored by Balance & Well-Being in Legal Education, and For the Law School Dean
- Pilar Margarita Hernández Escontrías, Assistant Professor of Law
Session: Education Law, Co-Sponsored by Teaching Methods
- Sital Kalantry, Professor of Law, Associate Dean of International
Session: Law and South Asian Studies
- Tayyab Mahmud, Professor of Law
Session: Law and South Asian Studies
- LeighAnne Thompson, Associate Director, Law Library Digital Innovation
Session: AALS Symposium
- Anthony E. Varona, Dean and Professor of Law
Sessions: AALS Committee on Recruitment and Retention of Minority Law Teachers and Students; AALS Workshop for Pre-tenured Law School Teachers of Color -Session Three: Teaching; Law Professors with Disabilities and Allies, Co-Sponsored by Disability Law, Minority Groups, Law and Mental Disability, Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Issues and Women in Legal Education