UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law has been admitted as a member of the prestigious Association of American Law Schools (AALS).

The AALS is a nonprofit association of 164 law schools that was established with the goal of "the improvement of the legal profession through legal education." It serves as the learned society for law teachers and is legal education's principal representative to the federal government and to other national higher education organizations and learned societies.

"The law school's admission to membership in the AALS is yet another indication of its tremendous success and overall excellence," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "The administration, faculty, staff, and students of the law school have accomplished a great deal in the five years of its existence, and they should be congratulated on this achievement."

"This is a very important association for the William S. Boyd School of Law, as the best law schools in the country are members," said Richard Morgan, dean of the law school. "Our membership was achieved at the earliest possible time, as was our accreditation. We are very proud of this accomplishment and delighted to join the respected law schools in the association."

A law school is eligible to apply for AALS membership after it has offered five years of instruction and has graduated its third class; UNLV's law school met both criteria in May. The association bases its decision to admit a law school to membership on several other criteria, including the quality of law faculty scholarship and teaching, the suitability of the school's law library and facilities, and the effectiveness of the school's curriculum.

In a letter to Harter and Morgan advising them that UNLV's law school would be recommended for membership, AALS Executive Director Carl Monk wrote, "The Executive Committee congratulates the school on its accomplishments. The school has developed a strong and diverse faculty with a demonstrated commitment to teaching and scholarship. It has shown success in gaining the strong support of the university, the state, and the community. It has a strong commitment to community service."
The AALS House of Representatives unanimously recommended membership for the law school at its Jan. 3 meeting in Atlanta.