Third-year Nebraska Law student Hannah-Kate Kinney will present her research at the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Dispute Resolution Section Works-in-Progress Conference, Sept. 24-26, at the University of Missouri School of Law.
Kinney’s paper, “Here to Stay: The Case for Litigation Stays in Arbitration Matters,” was selected for presentation at the conference, which brings together dispute resolution scholars from across the country to discuss emerging research and receive feedback on works in progress.
The project began as a seminar paper exploring litigation stays in arbitration matters. As Kinney continued developing the topic, the research evolved into an independent study under the supervision of Professor Kristen Blankley. Blankley and Kinney plan to continue refining the paper following the conference and will co-author the finished work.
The paper examines the role of litigation stays when disputes are subject to arbitration and analyzes recent developments in arbitration law. Kinney argues that litigation stays serve an important function in supporting the arbitration process.
For Kinney, the AALS conference offers a chance to engage directly with legal academics whose work has informed her own research.
“What began as a seminar assignment quickly became a topic I wanted to explore more deeply,” Kinney said. “Now I have the opportunity to continue researching the issue, strengthen my analysis, and engage with questions that are currently being discussed by scholars across the country.”
Blankley said the project demonstrates the potential of student scholarship when paired with strong faculty mentorship and sustained intellectual curiosity.
“Hannah-Kate identified an important and timely issue through her seminar paper and has continued to ask thoughtful questions,” Blankley said. “Her willingness to engage deeply with the research has allowed the project to grow into a scholarly contribution that will benefit from national discussion and feedback.”
Presenting at the national level is just one of the highlights for Kinney.
“For me, this experience has emphasized the value of working closely with faculty,” Kinney said. “Professor Blankley has challenged me to think more critically, and to approach the research process as a scholar.”
