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MEMORANDUM 02-31
August 21, 2002
| To: | Deans of Member and Fee-Paid Schools |
| From: | Carl C. Monk |
| Subject: | AALS Directory of World Law Schools |
As many of you know, the AALS sponsored the first ever Conference of International Legal Educators (“La Pietra” Conference) in May 2000 at New York University’s Villa La Pietra in Florence, Italy. At the conclusion of that conference, participants continued their deliberations in working groups which met by listserv to make recommendations for future activities. The “Information Resources” working group recommended that AALS endeavor to publish a directory of law programs throughout the world that would contain certain basic information regarding each program. The AALS Executive Committee approved that recommendation and we have begun the process of gathering information. A copy of the survey instrument that is being sent to law programs is attached.
We are currently sending the questionnaire to all law programs for which we have contact information. Some of that information comes from records of the AALS and ABA, but the principal three sources we are using are from the World Law School Directory, 2nd Edition, published by William S. Hein & Company in 1998, the Directory of the Society of Legal Scholars, (United Kingdom); and Law Association for Asia and the Pacific Directory of Law Courses in Asia and West Pacific Regions, published in 1995. While these listings are quite comprehensive, some of the information is outdated and there are undoubtedly some new law programs that are not listed. We seek your help in obtaining the best possible contact information. Many of you have a relationship with law programs in other countries and could advise us to whom we should send the attached questionnaire. Please provide all contact information that you have (name of person, email, fax, telephone, address) so we can reach the largest possible number of schools.
Because of his substantial international experience, and his experience with gathering and publishing information about law schools we have asked James P. White, Indiana University - Indianapolis, and the former Consultant on Legal Education to the American Bar Association to serve as Editor of the Directory. I am pleased that Jim has agreed to undertake this responsibility.
We of course recognize that even with the best of efforts, the Directory will not include many law programs in the world. We do however, hope to obtain sufficient information to publish a reliable directory, and provide some aggregate analysis based on such factors as type of legal system, continent, etc.
Please send the information to Darla Reed at dreed@aals.org, or to the fax number or address on this letterhead. Thank you for assistance with this project.
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