As with our section’s first call for papers in 2007, the theme of the submissions coordinates with the theme for the AALS’s annual meeting. The theme for the AALS’s annual meeting for 2010 is Transformational Law. Thus, the papers submitted should be related to the transformative nature of the law. Included in that broad category are any papers that suggest legal reform. Papers might focus on legal initiatives to help remediate the current economic crisis. Papers might more generally suggest legislative reform, policy initiatives, or particular judicial perspectives or interpretations. Papers might also focus on the intersection of law with other social sciences to better address needs and suggestions for social and political transformation.
Yes. Nonetheless, when you flip it, you realize there’s a deep normative point here (whether they understand that or not). For example, I’m not sure Don Braman has a paper to present at this conference.
The theme for the AALS’s annual meeting for 2010 is Static Law. Thus, the papers submitted should be related to the static nature of the law. Included in that broad category are any papers that show how the law helps things remain exactly the same. Papers might focus on how legal initiatives to help remediate the current economic crisis will not help one effing bit. Papers might more generally suggest why we shouldn’t bother with legislative reform or policy initiatives, and why judicial perspectives or interpretations are irrelevant to our lives. Papers might also focus on the intersection of law with other social sciences to better address how useless it is to look to the law, as opposed to psychology, sociology, and other fields of study for social and political transformation.