General Information

Why Attend?
Clinical legal education emerged in response to social and political movements of the 1960s and was designed to address the perceived irrelevance of traditional legal education. In the context of live client clinics, the first clinical teachers used innovative alternative, teaching methods – videotapes, role play exercises, simulations, supervision and feedback sessions. Today, clinical teaching models range from externships to simulations to representation of live clients. Clinical pedagogy is analyzed in an expanding body of legal scholarship.

Today’s clinical programs are also influenced by new forces that affect the overall future of legal education including globalization, specialization, expanding technology, interdisciplinary approaches, multijurisdictional and multidisciplinary practice. At the same time, social and economic conditions for many of our clients have worsened.

This conference will focus on several themes. First, we will consider the competing interests that impact maintenance and choice of clinical programs given social justice and skills training goals, client needs, law school administration edicts and other factors. Second, we will use fundamental education theory and practice, to examine or re-examine innovative ways to teach in clinical settings, e.g., how do students learn professional skills, judgment and values? Third, while earlier clinical programs focused on individual representation and law reform, today’s political climate requires more sophisticated strategies such as the application of state law constitutions and international law in domestic cases. Accordingly, we will consider new strategies for expanding social and economic justice.

In the context of reflecting on the past we will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education as well as Grutter v. University of Michigan and Lawrence v. Texas which provide a lens on the future.

Finally, in an effort to allow for indepth analysis of some of the most cutting edge issues in clinical education, the last day of the conference will consist of Workshops for the Future. Topics for these workshops include: Technology; Ethics, Professionalism and Reform; Immigration and International Human Rights; Community Development/Small Business; Innocence Projects; and Career Paths.

Who Should Attend?
This conference will be of interest to veteran as well as novice clinicians.

When?
The conference will begin on Saturday, May 1 with a plenary session at 1:45 p.m. The program will include four days of plenary sessions, concurrent sessions and small group discussions. The last session of the conference will conclude at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4. In addition to the program sessions, California Western School of Law will sponsor a reception on Saturday and University of San Diego School of Law will sponsor a reception on Sunday. There will be a reception on Monday and luncheons on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Where?
The conference sessions and sleeping accommodations will be at the Hilton San Diego Resort, 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego, California. The room rate is $159 for single or double occupancy. This rate is subject to a nightly sales tax of 10.55%. To make a reservation on-line, click here, or complete the Hotel Reservation Request and mail it to the Hilton San Diego Resort or, if paying by credit card, either call 1 (800) HILTONS or fax the form to (619) 275-8944. The cut-off date for making a room reservation is April 12, 2004. Specify the AALS Conference on Clinical Legal Education when making a reservation in order to receive the special rate.

Local Transportation
San Diego International Airport is six miles from the hotel and is served by major airlines. Cloud Nine Shuttle provides shared bus service from the airport to the hotel every day of the week, 24 hours each day. The fare is $9.00 per person each way. For reservations, call (800) 9.SHUTTLE or visit www.cloud9shuttle.com. Taxi fare is approximately $16.00 each way. Shuttle and taxi services are located at the Transportation Plazas across from Terminals 1 and 2.

Hotel Parking: Daily rate: $10 per day; Valet Parking: $14 per day.

Airline Discounts
AALS is pleased to announce that it has been able to secure special discount agreements with both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Reservations can be made by you or your professional travel consultant.

United Airlines offers a 10% off the unrestricted mid-week coach fare or 5% discount off the lowest applicable fare, including First Class, to AALS attendees. An additional 5% discount will apply when tickets are purchased at least 30 days in advance of departure. Discounts apply on domestic segments of all United Airlines, United Express and United code share flights (UA*) operated by US Airways, US Airways Express and Air Canada. Call United's Meeting Desk toll free at 1-(800) 521-4041 and refer to the Meeting ID Number 598BS (7 days a week, 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. EST.) Mileage Plus members receive full credit for all miles flown to this meeting.

Avis and Alamo rental car companies will offer discounts of 10% off the applicable rental rates when reservations are made in conjunction with United Airlines air reservations.

Delta Air Lines offers 5% off published round-trip fares (applicable restrictions must be met) and 10% discount off unrestricted domestic coach fares with no advance ticketing required. An additional 5% will apply when ticketing 60 days in advance of departure. Special round-trip zone fares are also available for savings on mid-week travel to the meeting (two day minimum stay; no Saturday night stay required; 7-day advance ticketing; fares are fully refundable less administrative service fee). Call Delta Meeting Network® toll free at 1-(800) 241-6760 and refer to File Number 197425A (Monday - Sunday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST).

Babysitting Services
Babysitting can be arranged through the hotel concierge. Neither the hotel nor AALS recommends these services but provides this information for your reference.