....In preparation for the submission of proposals on professional development programs to the Executive Committee, the Committee on Professional Development will convene at the AALS headquarters this fall. Among other things on the Agenda, the Committee will recommend the Association’s professional development calendar for the 2010-2011 academic year.

....If your section believes that it would be an opportune time for the AALS to offer a professional development program in areas of interest to your section during 2010-2011, the Professional Development Committee invites you to submit a proposal for such a program. To ensure a comprehensive review of these proposals and facilitate the request for any additional information, the deadline for submission is May 29, 2009. Proposals received by then will receive preference in the selection process.

....The Association’s professional development programming consists primarily of one-day workshops at the Annual Meeting and two-day workshops and three- to five-day conferences at the Mid-Year meeting. Programs need not fit any particular format, but many past conferences and workshops have fallen into one of the following categories:

(1) subject matter programs aimed at faculty who teach particular subjects or types of courses such as the 2008 Mid-Year Meeting Conference on Evidence and the 2009 Mid-Year Meeting Conference on Business Associations;

(2)programs for groups with similar interests other than subject matter such as the 2008 Annual Meeting AALS Workshop on Local Government at Risk: Immigration, Land Use, National Security and the Battle for Control and the 2007 New Law Teachers Workshop on Thriving and Surviving the Academy: Concrete Steps for People of Color and Their Law Schools;

(3)programs that cut across subject matter lines or integrate traditional subject matter such as the 2005 Annual Meeting Workshop on Evaluating Students and Evaluating Outputs: Vision, Revision, Envision: Critical Perspectives in Assessment and the 2009 Mid-Year Meeting Workshop on Transactional Law;

(4)programs that focus upon a type of skill or discipline as in the 2006 Mid-Year Meeting Conference on New Ideas for Law School Teachers and the 2009 Annual Meeting Workshop: Progress? The Academy, Profession, Race and Gender: Empirical Findings, Research Issues, Potential Projects and Funding Opportunities;

(5)programs dealing with matters of law school administration or legal education generally such as the 2008 Mid-Year Meeting Workshop for Law Librarians and the 2010 Annual Meeting Workshop on Pro Bono Public Service; and

(6)programs exploring the ramifications of significant developments in or affecting the law such as the 2008 Annual Meeting Workshop on Fair and Independent Courts.

....Proposals should be as specific as possible, including a description of the areas or topics that might be covered, in as much detail as possible, and an explanation of why it would be important and timely to undertake such a program in 2010-2011. The Professional Development Committee particularly encourages proposals for programs that are sufficiently broad that they will interest more than the membership of a single AALS section. The AALS strongly encourages proposals that contemplate different or innovative types of programming or develop interdisciplinary themes. A sample of a well-developed proposal is available for review Here.

....The Association welcomes suggestions for members of the planning committee and potential speakers, along with a brief explanation as to their particular qualifications. It is helpful to the planning committee to have as much information as possible about potential speakers in advance of its meeting. Since planning committees prize diversity of all sorts, we encourage recommendations of women, minorities, those with differing viewpoints, and new teachers as speakers. Specific information regarding the potential speaker’s scholarship, writings, speaking ability, and teaching methodology is particularly valuable.

....While proposals are solicited from sections and those proposals are extremely valuable as a starting point for the planning committee, the Association’s professional development programs are not section programs. Rather, they are Association-sponsored programs recommended by the Professional Development Committee and approved by the Executive Committee. Planning the actual program, including the choice of specific topics and speakers, is the responsibility of the planning committee, which is appointed by the AALS President. The planning committees normally include one or more individuals who are in leadership positions in the relevant section or sections, but also will include others who are knowledgeable about the program topic or have general experience with AALS professional development programs. Because the planning committee is asked to bring its own perspectives to the planning of the program, it is not customary to appoint the author of a proposal to the planning committee. Instead the proposal is given to the planning committee in advance of its meeting, and members of the planning committee may consult with the proposer and a host of other faculty before the planning committee meeting.

....As indicated above, proposals should be submitted to AALS Deputy Director, David A. Brennen, by May 29, 2009. Please send an electronic copy of your proposal by email to profdev@aals.org. Deputy Director Brennen also would be pleased to discuss proposal ideas with you and to answer any questions you have about the Association’s professional development programs. Please send your questions by e-mail to dbrennen@aals.org.