MEMORANDUM 04-20

Earlier this month the Executive Committee adopted the Association's budget for FY 2005 (July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005), and amended Executive Committee Regulation 3.1 to establish the membership dues for the Calendar Year 2005. The Executive Committee concluded that the dues for Calendar Year 2005 should be increased by 3%. The actual dollar amount of the increase ranges from $155 to $625, depending on student body size. Member schools will be sent invoices in December.

Executive Committee Regulation 3.1 was revised to read as follows:

3.1 Annual Dues. Each year each member school shall pay membership dues to the Association. For the calendar year 2004 2005, the dues shall be $5210 5,365 for a school whose enrollment does not exceed 250 students; $7800 8,035 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 250 students but does not exceed 500 students; $10,410 10,725 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 500 students but does not exceed 800 students; $13,000 13,390 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 800 students but does not exceed 1100 students; $15,610 16,080 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1100 students but does not exceed 1400 students; $18,210 18,755 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1400 students but does not exceed 1700 students; and $20,815 21,440 for a school whose enrollment exceeds 1700 students.

In accordance with Bylaw 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 3.1, as amended, will continue in effect.

Income and Expense Summary. Attached as Appendix A is a summary of income and expense for FY 02-03; FY 03-04 estimated income and expense (based on projections from actual expenditures through March 30, 2004), and the operating budget for FY 2004-05. The operating budget adopted by the Executive Committee for Fiscal Year 2004-05 contemplates operating income of $4,277,995 and expenditures of $4,275,250, for a net gain from operating of $2,745.

Financial Statements: Attached as Appendix B are the AALS auditor's financial statements for FY 2002-03.

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 six 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:    Appendix A: Income and Expense Summary [Not available on web]
                    Appendix B: AALS auditor's financial statements for FY 2003-03 [Not available on web]

cc:    Executive Committee
        Audit Committee

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