Written by: Hannah Huston 

James Toomey, associate professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, received the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Aging and the Law Emerging Scholar Award. The award was presented during the AALS Awards Ceremony on Friday, Jan. 9, in New Orleans at the AALS Annual Meeting.

"It is a great honor to receive this award. I've long appreciated the work the AALS Section on Aging and the Law does to promote elder law scholarship and teaching, and I am deeply humbled to be recognized for my own work in the field,” said Toomey.

Toomey, an expert in health law, bioethics, elder law, and private law, joined the Iowa Law faculty in 2024. His research applies philosophical and empirical methods to essential questions at the intersection of bioethics and private law theory, from whether genes can be owned to when the law ought to intervene in the decision-making of those with dementia.

The Section on Aging and the Law promotes the communication of ideas, interests, and activities related to aging and the law. The section also makes recommendations on issues affecting the aging, the law related to aging, and the development of legal education programs focused on aging and the law.

AALS hosts more than 100 sections for law school faculty, administrators, and staff organized around academic disciplines, affinity groups, and professional interests. Sections engage members year-round through conversations on emerging scholarship, newsletters and webinars on timely topics, annual awards, mentorship programs, and the compilation of teaching resources.

The AALS Annual Meeting brings together legal educators from across disciplines, roles, and institutions to celebrate excellence within the legal community. This year, AALS Sections presented more than 90 awards recognizing outstanding contributions by legal faculty.