Deans Services

Legal Education Leadership Advisors

Planning, Operations, Strategy & Search Services 

Drawing on the expertise of former law school deans and nationally recognized leaders in legal education, AALS offers practical, confidential guidance tailored to the unique needs of law schools and their universities, and the deans that lead these institutions. As legal education navigates unprecedented change, AALS helps institutions address challenges related to finances, enrollment shifts, regulations, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, program innovation, and access to legal education. AALS is also available to support individual law school leaders in their professional journey.

AALS provides consulting services to university and law school leaders.

For institutions:

• Dean and associate dean search and placement services;
• Strategic planning and budgeting;
• Accreditation compliance and site-visit preparation;
• Employee mediation;
• Development of online, hybrid, and new degree programs;
• Experiential learning and NextGen Bar readiness initiatives;
• Faculty affairs and governance;
• Development of outcome based assessments.
• Retreats for faculty, staff, and administration;
• Marketing recommendations;
• Artificial intelligence integration planning;
• Leadership succession planning;
• Partnerships that expand access and opportunity;
• Enrollment pipeline development and student recruitment;
• Institutional effectiveness and organizational development, and;
• Emergency crisis management and support.

For law school leaders:

• Leadership mentoring;
• Development of a fund-raising strategy;
• Executive and leadership coaching;
• Executive compensation and contract review, and;
• Relationship building with university administration.

Whether your institution is evaluating new revenue opportunities, preparing for changes in ABA standards, developing innovative academic offerings, or advancing student success and practice readiness, the Law School Resource Corps serves as a trusted partner in planning, leadership, and operations. The Resource Corps is also a valuable advisor for individual law school leaders.

Contact [email protected] to learn more about these services or to discuss how AALS can support you or your institution’s leadership, strategy, planning, and operational needs.

Our Advisory Team

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Additional Resources, Services, & Meetings

A complete list can be found on the Deans Resources page.

Deans Steering Committee

The Committee identifies issues affecting legal education and to develops strategies to assist law school deans in building great schools and improving legal education. 

Deans Mentoring Program 

AALS pairs new deans with experienced deans. Request for a Dean Mentor can be found under Dean Mentorship on the Deans Resources webpage. 

AALS Deans Only Discussion List (login required)

A discussion list for current law school deans to connect with one another to seek advice, discuss current issues and share resources in a deans-only space. 

Deans Resources Webpage

The webpage includes the AALS Clearinghouses, information on upcoming programs for deans, research studies, and other helpful information for deans.

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Publications & Website

Deans Directory (login required)

(An annual directory of every AALS Member and Fee-Paid Law School Dean. The directory is published and sent to deans in September. 

AALS Rosenblatt’s Deans Database 

Created by Dean Jim Rosenblatt in 2008 and acquired by the Association in 2025, the AALS Rosenblatt’s Deans Database includes a wide array of information on deans such as gender, ethnicity, educational background, biographical details, and transition details for incoming and outgoing deans including positions before and after the deanship. The AALS RDD can be found at lawdeans.com. 

Relentless: The Pressures Shortening Law
School Deanships and What Must Change

This 2026 study explores the factors contributing to declining dean tenure and identifies steps institutions can take to better support current and future law school leaders.

The American Law School Dean Study 

Study based on a survey of sitting and former deans serving between 2010-2020.

AALS LENS 

A multimedia news site that includes the weekly Legal Education News Digest 

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Meetings

Deans Forum 

An all-day gathering for deans to work together on institutional and national matters of importance to legal education. The Deans Forum takes place in January at the AALS Annual Meeting. 

ABA/AALS Deans Workshops 

A week-long professional development opportunity that includes three events: the New Deans’ Workshop, the Deans’ Workshop, and the Law School Development Conference. Held every July. 

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Virtual Meetings

Deans Dialogues

Webinar series for current law school deans featuring updates from legal education organizations and . Held once a month on Wednesday at 3 pm – 4 pm, Eastern/12 pm – 1 pm, Pacific

2026: September 10, October 1, November 19, December 3 

2027: February 11, March 11, April 8, May 6 

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AALS Calendar

2027

Annual Meeting
January 5 – 8
New York, NY 

Conference on Clinical Legal Education
May 2 – 5
Chicago, IL