UMass Law hosts over 65 Academic and Bar Support faculty from across the country at the annual NECASP conference.
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Academic and bar support professionals gathered for a day at UMass Law for the annual NECASP (North East Consortium of Academic Support Professionals) Conference. Hosted and coordinated by UMass Law’s Assistant Director of Bar Success and NECASP President, Erica Sylvia, the conference, entitled “We’re All in This Together”: Bridging the Gaps Between Faculty, Students, and Academic Success in a Changing Educational Landscape, focused on the evolving challenges and opportunities in legal education in light of changes in generational culture, technology, and the bar exam. The hybrid event, held on December 13, 2024, brought together over 65 academic and bar support educators from over 50 different law schools. A welcome address was given by UMass Law Dean Sam Panarella.
"This conference was designed to foster meaningful discussions about how we can better equip law students for success, both in the classroom and on the bar exam," Sylvia said. "It was inspiring to see so many dedicated professionals share their experiences and collaborate on solutions to pressing issues in a time of great change in bar exam testing and legal education."
The conference featured a variety of individual and panel presentations, chosen by the NECASP executive board. Each was led by academic and bar support faculty from across the country. One of the presentations was directed by UMass Law Professor & Director of Academic Success Amy Vaughan-Thomas.
The conference concluded with a networking session, allowing participants to exchange ideas and discuss potential collaborations. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing appreciation for the opportunity to engage in forward-thinking discussions about the future of legal education. The conference was made possible thanks in part to sponsors Themis Bar Review and Kaplan Bar Review.