For some bizarre reason west put this press release behind a paywall so here’s what the AALS say
The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) has partnered with West Academic, a BARBRI company, to deepen the legal academy’s engagement with artificial intelligence (AI).
New Orleans (January 7, 2026) — The Association of American Law Schools (AALS) and West Academic, a BARBRI company, announced a new multiyear strategic partnership aimed at deepening the legal academy’s engagement with artificial intelligence (AI). This collaboration, revealed during the 2026 AALS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, will focus on three initiatives: a national webinar series, developing online resources related to AI, and research on faculty and student attitudes toward AI.
Drawing upon West Academic’s standing as a prominent provider of legal education content and tools and AALS’ 125 years of expertise bringing law faculty together, the collaboration seeks to further understanding about how AI is reshaping legal education and the legal profession as well as equip academic leaders with the tools and insights to navigate this transformation.
“This collaboration combines resources of our two organizations to advance understanding of artificial intelligence and emerging technology,” Kellye Y. Testy, AALS CEO & Executive Director. “By joining forces on content expertise, audience reach, and a shared commitment to thought leadership in legal education, together we are providing the legal academy with a trusted and established source for guidance on AI.”
Designed for deans, faculty, and administrators, the webinars will provide practical insights and foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities that AI presents. The series will feature leading experts from law schools and the legal profession on several topics including: approaches to integrating AI into curriculum; risks and limitations of AI; emerging tools; promoting professional readiness; and ethics, regulation, and policy.
Complementing the webinars, the two organizations will develop online resources offering examples of how law schools are responding to AI including pedagogical shifts, ethical considerations, and best practices in institutional policies and planning.
The two groups also plan to collaborate on new research related to perspectives on AI within legal education and the legal profession. This effort seeks to explore attitudes across key stakeholder groups—faculty, students, administrators, and practitioners—to understand how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and practice-readiness. The research will explore faculty confidence, student trust and use of AI tools, administrator policy decisions, and practitioner expectations—helping identify gaps and guide schools in preparing students for an AI-driven profession. Together, AALS and West Academic aim to provide actionable insights that inform policy, pedagogy, and professional standards in an era of rapid technological change.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming the way law is taught and practiced, and legal educators need a reliable resource to navigate this change,” said Pamela Siege Chandler, Chief Content and Learning Officer at BARBRI. “Through this partnership with AALS, West Academic is committed to providing information and resources that help law schools prepare students for success in an AI-powered legal profession.”
West Academic and AALS have been partners in advancing excellence in legal education for more than 75 years, beginning with the first volumes of the Journal of Legal Education, Directory of Law Teachers, and the AALS newsletter. This partnership continues today with this new initiative and West Academic’s continuing support of the AALS Annual Meeting.
About AALS
The Association of American Law Schools (AALS), founded in 1900, is a nonprofit association of 174 member and 19 fee-paid law schools. Its members enroll most of the nation’s law students and produce the majority of the country’s lawyers and judges, as well as many of its lawmakers. The mission of AALS is to improve and advance legal education. AALS carries out its mission by promoting the core values of excellence in teaching and scholarship, academic freedom, and diversity of backgrounds and viewpoints, while seeking to serve our many communities–local, national, and international. In support of its mission, AALS serves as both the institutional membership organization for law schools, and as the learned society for law faculty.
About West Academic, A BARBRI Company
In 2021, BARBRI acquired West Academic. West Academic offers industry-leading legal education materials and digital learning resources for law schools. Rooted in a rich history of legal expertise and innovation, West Academic delivers trusted resources that support faculty instruction and enhance student learning.
BARBRI is the global leader and largest provider of tech-enabled legal learning solutions for law students, law schools, universities, professionals, law firms, and organizations.
BARBRI has been the number one brand in legal education for over 50 years and has forged a trusted relationship with more than 1.5 million legal professionals around the world. BARBRI’s ongoing commitment to innovation in technology, learning science, and expert content and curriculum — developed by renowned experts — empowers global legal learners at every step of their career journey. From helping aspiring lawyers prepare for the LSAT and succeed in law school, to delivering effective U.S. Bar and SQE preparation courses and a lifetime of legal education through professional development courses, BARBRI’s exceptional resources, data insights, and personalized support help legal learners, law schools and organizations achieve their goals and provide excellent learner outcomes.
BARBRI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices in the United States and United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.barbri.com.
