Will the mood be jovial in the hallways of the Wardman Park Marriott in Washington during the Association of American Law School's annual meeting, which kicks of Jan. 2? After all, improved bar pass rates and an uptick in applicants in 2019 are reasons for optimism.

Or will the somber atmosphere of years past prevail given that law schools continue to close down and the actual number of new students this fall dipped slightly? The AALS' annual meeting, which is the largest gathering of law professors in the country with about 2,400 attendees expected this year, is a good place to take the pulse of legal education.

Ahead of the meeting, Law.com caught up with incoming association president Darby Dickerson, who is dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago John Marshall Law School. Dickerson has had a busy year, overseeing the merger of the formerly independent, 120-year-old John Marshall Law School into the University of Illinois at Chicago. That move gave the Windy City its first public law school and reduced tuition. We asked Dickerson about the status of legal education, its biggest challenges, and what not to miss at the upcoming meeting. (Hint: An appearance by the Notorious RBG is on tap.) Her answers have been edited for length and clarity.

How is legal education doing as a whole? The state of legal education is as strong as it has been in the last decade and improving. Some of the things I'm happy to see are the experimentation and innovation that's going on and the emphasis on experiential education and training students how to be client-centric. I'm also glad to see more schools are emphasizing holistic education, not just what goes on in the classroom but what do our students need to succeed day in and day out in law school and to be long-term members of the profession? That means mental health issues, or food insecurity, or how to pay off their debt and still be happy in the profession. I'm heartened that there are so many exciting things going on.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing legal education? One I've been thinking about a lot is the rate at which things change and making sure we're teaching students how to become lifelong learners and how to adapt rapidly to change. The cost proposition is still a serious one, although I think law schools have been doing a good job of addressing that. I think that the price tag of law school still excludes people who we really need in the profession. There are ongoing questions about how we can address students' holistic experience, like the mental health issues.

We've seen the number of law schools contract in recent years. Do you think we'll continue to see schools close, and is that a good thing for legal education? My gut tells me we will see a few more closures. I think that's just part of being in any sector. As things change, some schools aren't able to make that adaptation. I'm neutral in the sense that I don't wish closure on anyone. But I think universities and law schools should always think carefully about whether they are adding value and are they doing this for the right reasons and meeting goals?

We heard a lot about attorney mental health in 2019. What can schools do better on that front given the competitive and stressful nature of law school? It's about time. This is not a new problem. It's an issue that has been on the table for a long time and universities and law schools are finally coming around to seeing how important it is and trying to devote more resources to it. I think there are a lot of things that can and are being done. My school and others have counseling centers embedded in the law school so students don't even have to go across campus to get that sort of help.

I think professors and senior staff need to become educated about these issues so we can talk to prospective students and students about strategies and so we can identify students who are in distress. I also think debt plays into it and having honest conversations about debt can help.

Tell me about the theme you've chosen for your year as AALS president. My theme is the power of words. I am from the legal writing field, so the theme pays homage to my area of specialty. Also, lawyers and legal educators are professional communicators whose words are our instruments and how we practice our craft.

What are you most looking forward to at the upcoming meeting? I think the presidential plenary on the role of universities and law schools in constitutional democracy is not to be missed. I'm very much looking forward to the session you've written about on reimagining the law journal publication, which is something of interest to me and the entire academy, I think. I'm personally looking forward to the neuroscience in the law program, and also the program on the class divide among students in serious financial need.

I'm also looking forward to seeing Laurie Zimet of UC Hastings win, basically, the lifetime achievement award for the academic support section. Laurie, I think, has had more influence than anyone else in the academy on bringing to the fore this idea of holistic education. It's a well-deserved award for her.