This program provides the AALS general membership with an opportunity to discuss and develop ideas emanating from the May 25-27, 2009 International Association of Law Schools Canberra Conference which focused on The Role of Law Schools and Law School Leadership In A Changing World. In Canberra, leading legal educators from around the world focused on a comparative perspective on the goals and objectives of their law schools in their primary role of educating students. They addressed a variety of issues. Should law schools go beyond producing competent and ethical lawyers? Should they train lawyers to stand up for the rule of law, to work for law reform, to be community leaders? Is this part of professional responsibility? What is the impact of globalization? Are we training lawyers for local, national, transnational, or international practice? What research, capacity building, community service projects should law schools undertake? How do we achieve our goals?
Included in our roster of speakers is a diversified group of legal educators from around the world.
The following papers were published in the Penn State International Law Review:
Introduction to the AALS Symposium on the Role of Law Schools and Law School Leadership in a Changing World by Louis Del Duca and Gianluca Gentili
Educating Lawyers for What? Reshaping the Idea of Law School by Michael Coper
Educating Our Students for What? The Goals and Objectives of Law Schools in Their Primary Role of Educating Students—How Do We Actually Achieve Our Goals and Objectives? by Louis F. Del Duca
A Comment on Argentina’s University of Buenos Aires Law School (Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Buenos Aires) by Mónica Pinto and Alejandro Gomez
The Role of a Law School Dean: Balancing a Variety of Roles and Interests. The American University Washington College of Law Experience by Claudio Grossman
European Legal Education: The Maastricht Experience by Aalt Willem Heringa
Goals and Objectives of Law Schools in Their Primary Role of Educating Students: South Africa—The University of Cape Town School of Law Experience by Chuma Himonga
The Role of Law Schools and Law School Leadership in a Changing World: On Being an “Outside Dean”—The University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law Experience by Elizabeth Rindskopf Parker
The Goals and Objectives of Law Schools Beyond Educating Students: Research, Capacity Building, Community Service—The National University of Singapore School of Law Experience by Cheng-Han Tan
Goals and Objectives of Law Schools: A Brief Discussion of Universals and Differences—China and the United States by Francis S.L. Wang