In order to investigate the effect o green microstructure on the sintering behavior and properties of AlN ceramics, samples were prepared by slip casting and dry pressing. The slip cast samples had high green density, fine pore size and narrow pore size distribution. They showed much higher sinterability and more homogeneous sintered microstructure compared to the dry pressed samples. Both increased thermal conductivity and flexural strength for samples prepared by slip casting could be attributed to the improved microstructural homogeneity with isolated second phase(s).