American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL) proudly hosted the National SJD Roundtable 2026, welcoming doctoral candidates and scholars from across the United States and beyond for a full day of academic exchange, collaboration, and community building.

The event drew 36 SJD/JSD presenters and more than 50 participants representing leading law schools nationwide. Across twelve panels, emerging legal scholars presented their research, engaged in rigorous discussion, and strengthened connections within the broader academic community.

Presentations spanned a wide range of pressing legal issues, including constitutionalism, electoral reform, global governance, human rights, technology regulation, economic regulation, transitional justice, free speech, democracy, and comparative legal frameworks. The program created a dynamic and supportive space for doctoral-level inquiry and scholarly collaboration.

Scholars represented an impressive range of institutions, including Columbia Law School, Yale Law School, Stanford Law School, the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, the University of Michigan Law School, George Washington University Law School, among others. AUWCL's own SJD community was also actively engaged throughout the day, contributing to the depth and diversity of discussions.

The Roundtable's success was a collective effort. Faculty, moderators, and staff worked to ensure a well-organized program where ideas could be shared openly and meaningfully reflecting the kind of collaborative spirit the event was designed to cultivate.

The National SJD Roundtable reflects AUWCL's ongoing commitment to advanced legal scholarship, interdisciplinary dialogue, and building a global network of future legal academics and leaders. Events like this underscore the law school's role as a convener of some of the most innovative and consequential legal thinking happening today.