Several BYU Law faculty members participated in the 2017 annual meeting for the American Association of Law Schools (AALS), January 3-7 in San Francisco. This year’s theme was, “Why Law Matters.” According to the AALS, the meeting served as an opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues, discuss critical and emerging legal issues, and attend programs focused on fresh perspectives on law and legal education.
Professors Kif Augustine-Adams and Carolina Nunez participated in a discussion group, “The Central American Refugee Crisis: A Discussion of the Current Response and Evaluation of U.S. Legal Obligations under Domestic and International Law.” Professor Michalyn Steele moderated two panel discussions, “The Indian Nations and Indigenous Peoples” and “The Supreme Court's Recent Indian Law Jurisprudence.” Professor Aaron Nielson presented at The Federalist Society’s Young Legal Scholars program, "Chevron Step One-and-a-Half.” Dean Gordon Smith participated in a panel discussion, "Business Law in the Global Gig Economy: Legal Theory, Doctrine, and Innovations in the Context of Startups, Scaleups, and Unicorns;" he moderated "Ethics in Business Transactions;" and he presented the Deans Forum Workshop Plenary Session – Hot Topics, "Law and Leadership." Professor Jim Rasband moderated and presented the AALS workshop for Site Evaluators.