WHO WE ARE
The International Association of Law Schools is a private, non-political, non-profit, volunteer, collaborative, learned society dedicated to serving the worldwide legal education community. It is an association of more than 250 law schools and departments from over 60 countries representing more than 12,000 law faculty members. Our primary mission is the improvement of legal education throughout the world. The idea for an international association of law schools emerged from several meetings of legal educators from around the world who recognized the growing inter-relationship of norms from transnational legal systems. The first such meeting was held in Florence, Italy in the year 2000, and consisted of 50 invited legal educators from twenty-seven countries. This meeting led to additional meetings of international legal educators, and during the May 2004 meeting in Hawaii, 130 legal educators from forty-seven different countries unanimously adopted a resolution to form the International Association of Law Schools. In May 2005, a select group of legal educators from fourteen different countries, representing all types of the world’s legal systems, gathered in Istanbul, Turkey, and agreed to the terms of a charter for the International Association of Law Schools. In October 2005, the IALS was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia in the United States of America.
WHAT WE DO
Since its transition in 2014 to a new charter and an independent Board of Governors, the Association has embarked upon an ambitious and innovative agenda of developing a global consensus on the fundamental principles, guidelines, and outcomes of a legal education. To that end we have convened over 65 meetings, forums, conferences and workshops to ensure that all voices of our worldwide community of law teachers be heard and respected. These foundational documents could only have been concluded through such cooperative and consensus-building efforts. Our discussions and decisions are informed by the mission and experiences of all our members. These discussions have resulted in the adoption of the: Singapore Declaration on Global Standards and Outcomes of a Legal Education, Madrid Protocol on the Principles of Evaluation of a Legal Education, Judicial Standards on a Legal Education. They have also created the Doctrinal Study Group Program and Evaluation, Assessment, and Certification Program, along with more programs and committees.
CONFERENCES
Annual Meeting: Our annual gathering brings together legal professionals from around the globe. Attendees from every corner of the world converge to learn from experts, engage in insightful discussions, and forge lasting. All are welcome, including law school members and non-members, faculty, students, judiciary, and professionals.
Global Law Deans Forum: Every other year, law school leaders from around the world come together at the Global Law Deans Forum. This exclusive gathering provides a platform for sharing best practices, exploring emerging trends, and shaping the future of legal education. By fostering dialogue and collaboration across regions, the Forum enriches the global legal landscape. All law school leaders are welcome, current, and past. The Forum is combined with the Annual Meeting, this conference features combined and separate concurrent sessions.
