American Bar Association International Section Dublin Conference October 11-15
Date: 20th September, 2011
The ABA International Section Conference was held in Dublin for the first time at the Convention Centre East Wall in October 2011.
Dr Michael Doherty (IALT President 2010-11) represented the Association by co-chairing a session at the Conference, with Prof Imelda Maher of UCD and Professor William Johnston (Univeristy of North Dakota), on “Pathways to the Legal Academy and What You Find There: The Various Roles of Law Professors and Legal Academics”. The program description was as follows:
"In the United States, there is a highly formalized and centralized process for obtaining an appointment as a tenure-track faculty member. Many newly-appointed law professors share certain characteristics, such as graduation from one of a small handful of law schools; experience as an editor of a law review; federal judicial clerkship experience; and a publication record. That pattern has evolved in recent years, although many schools are beginning to emphasize significant experience in practice as another desirable characteristic. Our panelists, all law professors, will explain how to pursue a path in legal academia in the United States and elsewhere, with each speaker explaining the process in their jurisdiction.
The nature of the legal education profession is influenced by the functions it serves. The speakers also will offer insights regarding the various roles law professors play in their jurisdictions. Thus, we will explore not only the pathways to becoming a law professor and functioning as a legal educator, but also what impact they have on scholarship, legal literature, the courts, the administration of justice, and the rule of law."