Presenting and ‘Building Bridges’: Albany Law Highlights from 2019 AALS Annual Meeting

[In February 2020, Professor Ava Ayers announced that she is transgender. This article has been edited to reflect her gender identity. Read more here.]

The Association of American Law Schools' annual meeting is a highlight for legal scholars and educators across the country. This year's conference—held January 2 to 6 in New Orleans, La.—was no different as it featured an impressive slate of programming on the theme "Building Bridges."

Albany Law School again had a strong presence: 11 members of the faculty and administration presented on a broad range of issues, while others were elected to leadership positions. Among the highlights:

President and Dean Alicia Ouellette presented on the practice of the law school dean during the session "Law Schools and the New Accountability Paradigm." Prior to the conference she was elected Chair-Elect of the AALS Section on Law School Deans.

Prof. Ava Ayers, director of the Government Law Center, presented during the panel "Rural Access to Justice."

Prof. Ray Brescia, Hon. Harold R. Tyler Chair in Law and Technology, presented during the panel "Building Bridges and Social Justice through Collaborative Centers and Initiatives." He was also featured as part of the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Author in Residence program.

Prof. Edward De Barbieri, director of the Community Development Clinic, presented during the discussion group "Building Bridges: Examining Race and Privilege in Community Economic Development."

Prof. Anthony Paul Farley, James Campbell Matthews Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, was elected to the Society of American Law Teachers (SALT) Board of Governors.

Assistant Dean for Program Development and Distance Education Jason Fiske presented during the session "Navigating Third Party Vendors in Post-Graduate Programs Including Programs for Non-US Lawyers."

Prof. Peter Halewood, Governor George E. Pataki Distinguished Professor of International Commercial Law, moderated the works-in-progress session "New Voices in Human Rights and International Law."

Prof. Robert Heverly presented during the panel "The Internet of Bodies: Cyborgs and the Law." (Read more at Legaltech News.)

Prof. Mary A. Lynch, Kate Stoneman Chair in Law and Democracy and director of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Hybrid Clinic, presented during the discussion groups "Bridging the Divisions with Professional Identity Learning Outcomes that Encourage Cultural Competency in the Profession" and "Building Bridges Across Curricular and Status Lines: Gender Inequity throughout the Legal Academy."

Associate Dean for Student Affairs Rosemary Queenan presented during the panel "Assessment in Law Student Affairs."

Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Troy Riddle moderated the panel "Free Speech on Campus: A Delicate Balancing Test."

Prof. Christian Sundquist, Director of Faculty Research and Scholarship, presented during the panel "Bias in the Courtroom." He was also elected Chair-Elect of the Evidence Section, Chair-Elect of the Minority Groups Section, and an Executive Board member of the Associate Deans Section.