MEMORANDUM 03-21

In May the Executive Committee adopted the Association's budget for FY 2004 (July 1, 2003- June 30, 2004), and amended Executive Committee Regulation 10.1 to establish the membership dues for the Calendar Year 2004. The Executive Committee concluded that dues for Calendar Year 2004 should be increased by 3.5%. The actual dollar amount of the increase ranges from $108 to $705, depending on student body size. Member schools will be sent invoices in December.

Executive Committee Regulation 10.1 was revised to read as follows:

10.1 Annual Dues. Each year each member school shall pay membership dues to the Association. For the calendar year 2003 2004, the dues shall be $5030 5210 for a school whose enrollment does not exceed 250 students; $7540 7800 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 250 students but does not exceed 500 students; $10,055 10,410 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 500 students but does not exceed 800 students; $12,565 13,000 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 800 students but does not exceed 1100 students; $15,080 15,610 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1100 students but does not exceed 1400 students; $17,590 18,210 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1400 students but does not exceed 1700 students; and $20,110 20,815 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1700 students.

In accordance with Bylaw Section 5-4, unless objection is received from at least ten member schools within 60 days of mailing a copy of this regulation, Executive Committee Regulation 10.1, as amended, will continue in effect.

Income and Expenditure Summary. Attached as Appendix A is a summary of income and expenditure for FY 00-01, FY 01-02 estimated income and expenditures for FY 2002-03 (based on projections from actual expenditures through 3/31/03), and the operating budget for FY 2003-04.

The operating budget adopted by the Executive Committee for Fiscal Year 2003-04 contemplates income of $4,066,550 and expenditures of $4,260,838. After recognizing interest income and equipment replacement expenses, we will transfer $114,888 from reserves to cover the difference.

Financial Statements. Attached as Appendix B is the AALS auditor's financial statements for FY 2001-02.

Comment: As you know, the Association of American Law Schools is the learned society for law faculty and provides a number of services to its member schools and their faculty. These services include publications such as the Directory of Law Teachers, newsletters from both the national office and many of the 80+ sections of the AALS; an annual Faculty Appointments Register and Faculty Recruitment Conference; professional development programs for faculty and administrators; and representation of legal education to the larger world of higher education, the government, interdisciplinary societies, international law school/faculty associations, and the general public.

In the past five years, the Association has dramatically expanded the scope of many of those services. The expanded services include publishing the Faculty Appointment Register online in searchable fields for school recruiters, and expanding and upgrading the Association website which publishes reports such as the Pro Bono Project, Equal Justice Project, and special reports of various committees. Although our current website provides a significant amount of information, that information is often difficult to locate. Most of the cost of these upgrades and new services is being funded through spending a significant part of the Association's reserves, with a small portion being funded through this dues increase.

Enclosures: [not available on website]
Appendix A: Income and Expenditure Summary
Appendix B: AALS auditor's financial statements for FY 2001-02

cc:   Executive Committee
       Audit Committee

CCM:bas

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