The American Law and Economics Association is holding its annual meeting May 15-16 at the University of San Diego. The deadline for submission is January 9th, but it is hoped that most people will submit papers by mid-December.

The annual meeting is a lot of fun. In past years (and this year as well, I assume), panels last about ninety minutes, and three people present papers and take questions from the audience. Panels cover the standard fields—contracts, torts, intellectual property, and so forth. One doesn't have much time for questions but participation at the conference is a good way to get exposure for one's work and to learn about the work of others.

To present, you must submit your paper, which is screened by an area organizer. You don't have the option to put together your own panel, as you can at other conferences. Although for some panels relatively few papers will be accepted because of the large number of submissions, this is not the case for panels in all fields, and my impression is that area organizers try to make sure that younger scholars have a chance to present their work. In recent years, organizers have increased the number of panels, so that more people can present their work (albeit to smaller audiences). Even if you don't want to present a paper, participation in the conference is a good way to meet and get to know other scholars in your field. Students and fellows who are interested in an academic career in law and economics should attend if they can.

To submit a paper, or to obtain additional information about the ALEA, go to the ALEA website.