Faculty from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University took part in the American Association of Law Schools (AALS) Annual Meeting, which was held from January 6 to 9, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event focused on the theme “Impact. Excellence. Resilience. The Enduring Contributions of Legal Education” and brought together legal educators nationwide for panels, workshops, and section meetings.
Several faculty members from Pace Haub Law presented their research and participated as leaders and organizers at the conference. Their involvement highlighted the school’s engagement within AALS sections and committees.
Professor Bridget J. Crawford served as Secretary of the AALS Section on Aging and the Law, coordinating its program titled “Aging with Dignity: Legal Challenges to Federal Cuts and Their Impact on Vulnerable Older Adults.” She also presented her work at multiple sessions: “Working the Unrecognized Shift: Informal Labor, Tax Compliance, and the Structural Limits of Employee Benefits” for the Section on Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, and “Privacy, Personhood, and the Trusts of Tomorrow: Embryos and Emerging Fiduciary Challenges” for the Section on Trusts & Estates annual program.
Professor Lauren Roth is Chair Elect of the AALS Section on Law, Medicine and Health Care and a member of the Executive Committee for Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. She coordinated programming for both sections at this year’s meeting. Roth presented on Trump 2.0’s Impact on Employee Benefits, joined a panel about federal cuts affecting older adults in Aging and the Law, and moderated a works-in-progress session centered on employee benefits law.
Professor Achinthi Vithanage delivered a presentation titled “It Takes Two to Transition: Utilizing AI-driven Digital Twins in the Just Transition” during a flagship panel for Natural Resources and Energy Law. She also attended gatherings for Environmental Law Center directors and participated in an environmental field trip to St. James Parish with Rise St. James.
Visiting Assistant Professor Sara Gonzalez-Rothi joined a Works-in-Progress session focused on Environment, Energy, and Natural Resources by workshopping her paper about applying institutional design principles to marine protected areas in the United States.
Adjunct Professor Danielle M. Kocal was named Secretary of the AALS Section on Balance and Well-Being in Legal Education; she is also part of its Academic Support section.
