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← ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS INC

Form 990 for tax year 2024

Filed by ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS INC.

Totals

Total revenue
$6,354,385
Total expenses
$7,234,846
Contributions and grants received
$282,778
Grants paid
$0
Program service revenue
$5,730,712
Investment income
$329,019
Other revenue
$11,876
Total assets, end of year
$16,528,968
Total liabilities, end of year
$3,492,218
Net assets or fund balances, end of year
$13,036,750
Program services expenses (Part IX)
$6,116,317
Management and general expenses
$974,837
Fundraising expenses
$143,692
Program service expenses (Part III)
$6,116,317

Program services were 84.5% of total expenses calculated — Part IX's program-services column over total expenses, both as filed.

Line items

Every line the filer filed in Parts VIII, IX and X, as filed and in filed order. Blank columns are left out, and the lines are not forced to add up to the totals above.

Revenue

Part VIII, the statement of revenue.

  • 1f · All other contributions, gifts and grants

    $282,778

  • 1g · Noncash contributions included above

    $15,268

  • 2a · Program service revenue: MEMBERSHIP DUES

    total $3,670,197 · related or exempt $3,670,197

  • 2b · Program service revenue: ANNUAL MEETING INCOME

    total $1,016,300 · related or exempt $1,016,300

  • 2c · Program service revenue: WORKSHOPS

    total $436,940 · related or exempt $436,940

  • 2d · Program service revenue: NON-MEMBER SCHOOL FEES

    total $322,950 · related or exempt $322,950

  • 2e · Program service revenue: FACULTY APPT SERVICES

    total $198,890 · related or exempt $198,890

  • 2f · All other program service revenue

    total $85,435 · related or exempt $85,435

  • 3 · Investment income

    total $309,416 · excluded $309,416

  • 5 · Royalties

    total $11,876 · related or exempt $11,876

  • 7a · Gross sales of assets other than inventory

    securities $346,909

  • 7b · Less cost or other basis and sales expenses

    securities $327,306

  • 7c · Gain or loss

    securities $19,603

  • 7d · Net gain or loss

    total $19,603 · excluded $19,603

Functional expenses

Part IX, the statement of functional expenses.

  • 5 · Compensation of officers, directors and key employees

    total $999,171 · program services $786,427 · management and general $189,277 · fundraising $23,467

  • 7 · Other salaries and wages

    total $2,224,993 · program services $1,984,087 · management and general $171,600 · fundraising $69,306

  • 8 · Pension plan contributions

    total $211,310 · program services $181,578 · management and general $23,652 · fundraising $6,080

  • 9 · Other employee benefits

    total $184,973 · program services $158,947 · management and general $20,704 · fundraising $5,322

  • 10 · Payroll taxes

    total $235,175 · program services $202,085 · management and general $26,323 · fundraising $6,767

  • 11b · Fees: legal

    total $4,400 · program services $4,044 · management and general $283 · fundraising $73

  • 11c · Fees: accounting

    total $33,363 · management and general $33,363

  • 11f · Fees: investment management

    total $30,000 · management and general $30,000

  • 11g · Fees: other

    total $461,656 · program services $237,158 · management and general $219,326 · fundraising $5,172

  • 12 · Advertising and promotion

    total $48 · program services $48

  • 13 · Office expenses

    total $78,150 · program services $68,063 · management and general $9,291 · fundraising $796

  • 14 · Information technology

    total $331,062 · program services $300,088 · management and general $24,640 · fundraising $6,334

  • 16 · Occupancy

    total $220,525 · program services $189,497 · management and general $24,683 · fundraising $6,345

  • 17 · Travel

    total $196,422 · program services $67,328 · management and general $128,827 · fundraising $267

  • 19 · Conferences, conventions and meetings

    total $1,667,507 · program services $1,667,507

  • 22 · Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    total $198,017 · program services $170,155 · management and general $22,164 · fundraising $5,698

  • 23 · Insurance

    total $44,674 · management and general $44,674

  • 24a · Other expenses: JOURNAL OF LEGAL EDUCAT

    total $58,384 · program services $58,384

  • 24b · Other expenses: SURVEYS

    total $27,385 · program services $27,385

  • 24c · Other expenses: DUES & SUBSCRIPTIONS

    total $11,081 · program services $10,536 · management and general $545

  • 24d · Other expenses: STAFF DEVELOPMENT

    total $6,359 · program services $3,000 · management and general $3,359

  • 24e · All other expenses

    total $10,191 · management and general $2,126 · fundraising $8,065

Balance sheet

Part X, book values.

  • 2 · Savings and temporary cash investments

    beginning of year $6,367,080 · end of year $4,773,953

  • 4 · Accounts receivable

    beginning of year $15,910 · end of year $12,740

  • 9 · Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

    beginning of year $116,951 · end of year $168,521

  • 10a · Land, buildings and equipment: cost or other basis

    $7,324,678

  • 10b · Land, buildings and equipment: accumulated depreciation

    $2,351,504

  • 10c · Land, buildings and equipment, net

    beginning of year $5,108,979 · end of year $4,973,174

  • 11 · Investments: publicly traded securities

    beginning of year $5,603,977 · end of year $6,483,082

  • 15 · Other assets

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $117,498

  • 17 · Accounts payable and accrued expenses

    beginning of year $940,801 · end of year $418,545

  • 19 · Deferred revenue

    beginning of year $1,826,948 · end of year $1,919,656

  • 23 · Secured mortgages and notes payable

    beginning of year $1,301,631 · end of year $1,036,519

  • 25 · Other liabilities

    beginning of year $0 · end of year $117,498

  • 27 · Net assets without donor restrictions

    beginning of year $13,143,517 · end of year $13,036,750

Mission and programs · 2024

Mission

THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS' MISSION IS TO UPHOLD AND ADVANCE EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL EDUCATION.

Activities or mission (Part I)

THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN LAW SCHOOLS' (AALS) MISSION IS TO UPHOLD AND ADVANCE EXCELLENCE IN LEGAL EDUCATION. IN SUPPORT OF THIS MISSION, AALS PROMOTES THE CORE VALUES OF EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP, ACADEMIC FREEDOM, AND DIVERSITY, INCLUDING DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS AND VIEWPOINTS, WHILE SEEKING TO IMPROVE THE LEGAL PROFESSION, TO FOSTER JUSTICE, AND TO SERVE OUR MANY COMMUNITIES - LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL.

  • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: THE 2025 ANNUAL MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO DREW OVER 2,100 ATTENDEES AND FEATURED MORE THAN 200 PROGRAMS, INCLUDING A WORKSHOP FOR PRETENURED LAW TEACHERS. THE 2025 CONFERENCE ON CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION IN BALTIMORE BROUGHT TOGETHER OVER 800 EDUCATORS. THE NEW LAW TEACHERS WORKSHOP IN JUNE HOSTED 100 FACULTY IN WASHINGTON, DC. ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS INCLUDED AN APRIL WEBINAR FOR ASPIRING LAW TEACHERS AND AN AUGUST VIRTUAL WORKSHOP FOR ADJUNCT FACULTY AND LECTURERS, WHERE EXPERIENCED TEACHERS SHARED GUIDANCE ON CLASS PREPARATION, TEACHING, ASSESSMENT, AND USING STUDENT FEEDBACK. FOR DEANS, AALS CO-HOSTED A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS WITH THE ABA IN JUNE AND HELD THREE ONGOING WEBINAR SERIES.

    Expenses $3,146,661 · Revenue $1,474,140

  • MEMBER SERVICES: AALS IS AN ASSOCIATION OF 174 MEMBER LAW SCHOOLS REPRESENTING MORE THAN 7,000 FULLTIME U.S. LAW FACULTY. MEMBERSHIP REQUIRES ADHERENCE WITH CORE VALUES, INCLUDING EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP, ACADEMIC FREEDOM, AND DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS AND VIEWPOINTS. AALS REPRESENTS U.S. LEGAL EDUCATION AND THE LAW PROFESSORIATE TO OTHER ENTITIES. ITS FACULTY APPOINTMENT SERVICES INCLUDE A WEBPAGE ON BECOMING A LAW TEACHER, AN ONLINE REGISTRY OF FACULTY CANDIDATES, AND A PLACEMENT BULLETIN OF FACULTY OPENINGS. MORE THAN 100 VOLUNTEERDRIVEN AALS SECTIONS PROVIDE NETWORKING, IDEASHARING, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND SUPPORT FOR TEACHING AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR LAW SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF. PLANNING ALSO STARTED FOR A VIRTUAL FACULTY RECRUITMENT CONFERENCE AND SIX REGIONAL FACULTY RECRUITMENT EVENTS HOSTED BY AALS MEMBER LAW SCHOOLS.

    Expenses $1,630,317 · Revenue $4,192,037

  • COMMUNICATIONS: AALS SHOWCASES MEMBER SCHOOLS' INNOVATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, REGULARLY UPDATING WEBSITE CONTENT AND SHARING NEWS ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA. THE HOMEPAGE FEATURES A CALENDAR OF LAW SCHOOL SYMPOSIA AND A LIST OF RECENT BOOKS BY LAW FACULTY, ALONG WITH RESOURCES FOR LAW DEANS, INCLUDING CLEARINGHOUSES ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM/FREE SPEECH, ANTIRACISM, THE RULE OF LAW, AND STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. AALS ALSO PRODUCES SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS: THE DIRECTORY OF LAW TEACHERS, A COMPILATION OF LAW SCHOOLS AND FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES; THE JOURNAL OF LEGAL EDUCATION, EDITED BY FACULTY AT TWO MEMBER SCHOOLS FEATURING ARTICLES ON TEACHING, LEGAL THEORY, SCHOLARSHIP, AND THE PROFESSION; AND AALS LENS, AN ONLINE MULTIMEDIA OUTLET PROVIDING NEWS ON ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES AND ISSUES IN LEGAL EDUCATION. IN 2024, AALS ALSO PRODUCED A BOOK ON ITS HISTORY TO CELEBRATE ITS 125TH ANNIVERSARY, A REPORT ON THE AMERICAN LAW SCHOOL FACULTY STUDY, AND AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE ANNUAL PRO BONO STUDENT HOURS STUDY.

    Expenses $1,339,339 · Revenue $64,535

As filed on the 2024 return. The filer continues this part on Schedule O, which is not shown here.

Listed in Part VII

  • Judith C Areen

    EXEC DIR. AND CEO (TO JUN '24)

    Total calculated
    $650,604
    From this org
    $549,510
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $101,094
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $544,423
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $5,087
    Deferred
    $77,105
    Nontaxable benefits
    $23,989
    Filer's total
    $650,604

  • Kellye Y Testy

    EXEC DIR. AND CEO (FROM JUL '24)

    Total calculated
    $344,363
    From this org
    $262,761
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $81,602
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $260,826
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $1,935
    Deferred
    $46,044
    Nontaxable benefits
    $35,558
    Filer's total
    $344,363

  • Austen L Parrish

    PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8

  • Danielle M Conway

    PRESIDENT-ELECT (FROM JAN '25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    8

  • Mark Alexander

    IMMED. PAST PRESIDENT (TO JAN '25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Melanie D Wilson

    IMMED. PAST PRESIDENT

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Leonard M Baynes

    BOARD MEMBER (FROM JAN '25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Anthony W Crowell

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Risa Goluboff

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Renee Hutchins Laurent

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Stacy Leeds

    BOARD MEMBER (FROM JAN '25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Eloisa Rodriguez-Dod

    BOARD MEMBER (TO JAN '25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Kevin Washburn

    BOARD MEMBER (TO JAN '25)

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • John Valery White

    BOARD MEMBER

    Total calculated
    $0
    Hours/week
    6

  • Elena Kukanova-Carpenter

    CFO

    Total calculated
    $234,449
    From this org
    $198,397
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,052
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $190,133
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $8,264
    Deferred
    $20,480
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,572
    Filer's total
    $234,449

  • Tracie L Thomas

    DIRECTOR OF MEETINGS

    Total calculated
    $196,618
    From this org
    $157,133
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $39,485
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,324
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $8,809
    Deferred
    $19,800
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,685
    Filer's total
    $196,618

  • Marisa Guevara-Torres

    CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

    Total calculated
    $186,683
    From this org
    $155,450
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $31,233
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $148,984
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $6,466
    Deferred
    $15,766
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,467
    Filer's total
    $186,683

  • James Greif

    DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

    Total calculated
    $171,167
    From this org
    $138,604
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $32,563
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $135,610
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $2,994
    Deferred
    $17,160
    Nontaxable benefits
    $15,403
    Filer's total
    $171,167

  • Mary Dillon Kerwin

    DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

    Total calculated
    $167,874
    From this org
    $131,352
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $36,522
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $125,637
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $5,715
    Deferred
    $16,320
    Nontaxable benefits
    $20,202
    Filer's total
    $167,874

  • Mary Cullen

    ASSOICATE DIRECTOR OF MEETINGS

    Total calculated
    $150,647
    From this org
    $116,472
    From related orgs
    $0
    Other
    $34,175
    Hours/week
    37.5

    Schedule J breakdown matched by us

    Base
    $110,822
    Bonus
    $0
    Other
    $5,650
    Deferred
    $14,340
    Nontaxable benefits
    $19,835
    Filer's total
    $150,647

Compensation is as filed in Part VII: reportable pay from this organization and from related organizations, other compensation, and hours per week. The total, marked calculated, is our sum of the three dollar columns, with a blank column counted as $0; the form itself has no total. On a Form 990-EZ the columns are Part IV's instead, and on a Form 990-PF Part VIII's — compensation, contributions to benefit plans, and expense account — and the total sums those. A Schedule J breakdown is as filed: base pay, bonus, other, deferred compensation and nontaxable benefits from this organization, with any from related organizations beside each, and the filer's own total. It is shown with the Part VII listing of the same name on the same return. The form gives no key between the two, so that pairing is ours, and is marked matched by us.

Schedule J

Answered yes

  • 3 · Compensation committee
  • 3 · Written employment contract
  • 3 · Compensation survey or study
  • 3 · Approval by the board or compensation committee

Answered no

  • 4a · Severance or change-of-control payment
  • 4b · Supplemental nonqualified retirement plan
  • 4c · Equity-based compensation arrangement
  • 5a · Pay contingent on this organization's revenues
  • 5b · Pay contingent on a related organization's revenues
  • 6a · Pay contingent on this organization's net earnings
  • 6b · Pay contingent on a related organization's net earnings
  • 7 · Other non-fixed payments
  • 8 · Paid under the initial-contract exception

Part I's answers as filed. A line not listed was left unanswered; on lines 1a and 3 that means the box was not checked.

Grants on this return

No itemized grants to organizations on this return.

Provenance

Return type
form_990
Tax year
2024
Filed
23 February 2026
IRS schema version
2024v5.5
Source object
202600559349301400

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