The IALS was conceived through meetings of many worldwide legal educators who understood the growth of legal system relationships on a transnational level. In the year 2000, in Florence, Italy, approximately 50 legal educator invitees from twenty-seven countries converged, with each subsequent meeting experiencing a rapid increase in attendance. By May, 2004 in Hawaii, around 130 legal educators from around the world adopted the resolution to form the IALS, and the IALS charter terms were drafted in May, 2005 in Istanbul, Turkey, after which it was officially incorporated under District of Columbia law in the United States of America in October, 2005.
The IALS regularly hosts meetings of interest to members, such as general assemblies on the role of law schools concerning legal education, teaching, human rights and strategic planning. Held at various membership school locations around the world, the conferences are designed to create a collaborative, informative and administrative benefit service to its members. Members are encouraged to view and make employment opportunity submissions for consideration to the IALS Job Board. Information submitted must include the university name, company or organization, job title, description, location, applicant instructions, contact information and deadline.
Types of educational institutions that are eligible to become voting members include basically any school or faculty of a school or law department that offers either legal education or recognized law degrees and admission to practice. Non-voting members may include law school educators and associations of law schools. In addition, institutions or individuals may be considered for membership if they demonstrate an appropriate legal education role to the IALS Membership Committee.
To be considered for membership, each individual or officiating law school administrator must complete the IALS application. Once approved, each Association member must adhere to the mission and principles of the Association as set forth in the Charter. Dues are paid annually in accordance with the Governing Board's established fee structure. Members must also satisfy all other requirements as the General Assembly may later introduce.
All IALS members are required to pay annual dues in amounts mandated by the Governing Board, which are fundamentally based upon the ability to pay. Therefore if a school is not in a position to afford the dues level presented, they may contact the IALS membership department for information on how to arrange a more affordable dues fee. Individual membership fees begin from $50.00 and advance toward $1,000 for law schools and other educational facilities.