Section Calls for Papers

This WIP program is designed to foster constructive, collegial feedback. Participants will be assigned to small groups (typically 2–4 presenters and additional commenters per table). Each WIP presenter will comment on others’ papers and receive feedback from fellow presenters and designated faculty discussants. See below for 1)instructions on submission for those who want to be considered for the WIP presentations and 2)the form to volunteer as commentators.
Both sections encourage submissions from faculty at all stages of their careers, and we especially encourage untenured faculty members to apply. This is an excellent opportunity to refine developing ideas, build relationships, and expand your scholarly network in a supportive setting. Projects already accepted for publication are not eligible. Our WIP session will be followed by an informal happy hour offsite for attendees who wish to continue the conversation and connect with colleagues.

To present a WIP, please submit this google form by October 10th. It includes:

1. A one-paragraph description of your project (500 words max)

2. A statement confirming the work has not been accepted for publication

3. Your tenure status (pre-tenure, post-tenure, or non-tenure-track)

4. Name and email

Please note: Due to AALS deadlines, we cannot accommodate late submissions.

Selected presenters will be notified by October 20th, 2025, and will be asked to submit a draft of up to 15 pages by December 1, 2025. If your full manuscript exceeds 15 pages, please indicate which section should be the focus of discussion.

If you do not have anything ready to present, but want to serve as commentator, please fill this form by Nov. 3rd, 2025.

Submission details

We want to hear about your experiences, suggestions, and ideas for teaching property now and going forward. Presentations will be ten minutes. Please submit an abstract of approximately 300 words, in a Microsoft Word document. Send your abstract by email to Matthew Festa at [email protected], and Kalyani Robbins at [email protected]. Be sure to include your institution and contact info. Submissions must be received by October 15, 2025.

Submission review

Submissions will be reviewed by members of the Property Section’s Executive Committee. The Committee will select the three presenters no later than October 30, 2025.

Program description: “Teaching Property in the Next Generation.”

We all know that law teaching in general, and property specifically, is facing new challenges for the present and the future. Some of these are generational; some are technological; and others are institutional. A few suggestions for topics on which to share your ideas include, but are not limited to.

• The NextGen Bar. How can professors modify their Property courses based on the NextGen scope (if at all), along with tips and resources for the NextGen bar?
• Relatedly, generational change. Millennials; Gen Z; and the Alphas are coming. Any suggestions for adapting or understanding different learning methods for Property?
• Professionalism: Ideas for integrating professional identity formation into Property
• AI: it’s here. Are there any practical, simple, helpful ways to integrate the use of AI and legal research into Property?

Submissions on any pedagogical Property topics are welcome. The concept is for a robust discussion of practical ideas for teaching Property that will get us all thinking about teaching.

This program will allow scholars who are relatively new to the community of Property scholars to share their ideas and drafts, and to receive feedback and mentorship from colleagues. At least one or more experienced scholars will be designated to read the paper and provide constructive feedback and discussion at the session.

Submission details:

Eligibility: Junior scholars who work at AALS member schools who have been teaching full-time for seven or fewer years are eligible and encouraged to apply. Unfortunately, faculty at non-AALS member schools, adjuncts, fellows and others who are not full-time AALS faculty are not eligible.

However, the paper must not have been submitted for publication or be under review before January 2026 (that’s the point of the feedback!)

Send your abstract of no more than 300 words by email to Matthew Festa at [email protected], and Kalyani Robbins at [email protected]. Be sure to include your institution and contact info, and—importantly—tenure status and number of years of full-time teaching. Submissions must be received by October 15, 2025.

Submission review

Submissions will be reviewed by members of the Property Section’s Executive Committee. The Committee will select the participants no later than October 30, 2025.

Program description: “New Voices in Property.”

Works-in-progress in any Property or Property-related are welcome and encouraged. We like to think of Property as a broad, interdisciplinary, and inclusive community. We also encourage all members of the section to attend, learn, and grow in the spirit of collegiality.

Call for Commentators; The goal is to pair each junior scholar with a more senior scholar to serve as a reader and to provide feedback and discussion. If you are interested in serving in this role, please email Matthew Festa at [email protected], and Kalyani Robbins at [email protected].