LSA is excited to welcome U.C. Irvine Law Professor Mario L. Barnes as our 2025-2027 President!
Institution:
University of California, Irvine, School of Law and Criminology
Number of years as LSA member:
25
Number of LSA Meetings Attended:
I am not sure of the actual number. At the urging of law school friends who are also graduates of the Berkeley Jurisprudence and Social Policy (JSP) program, I attended my first meeting as an independent scholar in Miami Beach in 2000. I was “hooked” from that moment on. I returned to graduate school at Wisconsin in 2002 and believe I have attended every meeting–including the two COVID virtual meetings–since Pittsburgh in 2003.
Other Association Affiliations:
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation
Critical Legal Collective
American Law Institute
National Institute of Military Justice
Areas of Research:
Law and inequality
Empirical methods and critical race theory (eCRT)
Favorite Topics to Teach or Research:
It has historically been constitutional law, although that is now changing.
Unique Skill or Fact:
Before my knee surgery in 2019, I had run 6 marathons (San Francisco, Guam-Seiko, Marine Corps, New York City, Chicago, and Las Vegas).
Best time: San Francisco 1994 (3:24).
Best Finish: Guam-Seiko 1997 – Men’s Open Winner (don’t ask how many people were in the race).
Additional Hobbies:
Tennis
Traveling
Walking (because my running days are over)
Wine collecting
Notable Awards:
Justice at Work Solidarity Award | 2024
Fellows of the American Bar Foundation Outstanding Scholar Award | 2023
Association of American Law Schools Clyde Ferguson Award | 2015
Association of American Law Schools Derrick Bell Award | 2008
Education:
LLM, University of Wisconsin
JD, University of California, Berkeley
BA, University of California, Berkeley
What do you find the most beneficial about being an LSA member?
Being an LSA member and attending the annual meetings has situated me within an amazing group of sociolegal scholars. Access to this rich and intellectually diverse community has always benefited me and my work and allows me to participate within a space deeply committed to addressing some of the most pressing issues within law and society.
Why should professionals or students join LSA?
People should only join LSA if they are interested in enhancing their scholarship/research, being a part of a vibrant intellectual community, and establishing meaningful professional and personal connections that will sustain them throughout their careers.
Learn more about Mario Barnes here.