School of Law Faculty Members presented at the AALS Conference on Clinic Legal Education
July 9, 2024
School of Law faculty members presented at the AALS Conference on Clinic Legal Education this past May in St. Louis. The conference had more than 700 legal educators and advocates in attendance to engage in discussion and education about law advancements and policy challenges in times of barriers and backlash. Conference topics included clinic design, strategy, and roles in supporting clients, community, and students.
Associate Dean Serge Martinez and Professor Allison Freedman attended the conference and drawing experience from their nonprofit, the New Mexico Center for Housing Law (NMCHL), presented their poster highlighting collaboration opportunities between clinics and non-profits. Their presentation was titled “Clinical Collaborations: The New Mexico Center for Housing Law.” Alongside Professor Freedman, Associate Dean Martinez presented in a session titled “Navigating Bar Admission Reform as Clinicians: The NextGen Bar Exam and Alternative Paths to Licensure.” Professor Freedman is part of the Clinical Section Executive Committee and Associate Dean Martinez serves on the Board of Directors and as the co-chair on the advocacy committee for the Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA).
Professor Freedman explained that the conference is a wonderful way to “connect with clinicians around the country who are working on pressing legal issues” and that she “enjoyed engaging in lively conversations while presenting on the intersection of clinical and nonprofit work.”
Professor Gabe Pacyniak and Professor Carol M. Suzuki also attended the conference and presented their respective research. Professor Pacyniak explained that “one of the highlights of the conference are the discussion sessions, where we get a chance to spend several hours talking with clinicians in our subfield about the nuts and bolts of our clinical teaching work.”
