Student organizations provide a variety of services as well as social
activities and professional development, no matter what a student's
interests. Each class in the law school annually elects officers
to plan activities and represent the class. Student organizations
provide opportunities for service, professional development,
and social activities. Find a complete list of KU Law student organizations here. Contact information for registered organizations
is available on the Student Involvement & Leadership Center section of the KU Web site.
The Student Bar Association is responsible for most student activities and plays an important role in law school governance. It conducts all student elections and appoints student members of faculty/student committees, speaks for the student body, dispenses Student Senate funds, administers the Honor Code, and organizes some of the school's traditional social events. Its president and immediate past-president sit on the law school Board of Governors.
The American Constitution Society (ACS) is one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations. The KU chapter continues its mission is to ensure that fundamental principles of human dignity, individual rights and liberties, genuine equality, and access to justice enjoy their rightful, central place in law.
The Asian Law Students Association (ALSA) at the University of Kansas School of Law is a recently formed organization that strives to create a forum in which law students can explore issues and engage in activities related to Asia and law. Moreover, ALSA seeks to promote diversity and heighten cultural awareness within the law school and the legal community.
The KU chapter of the Black Law Students Association provides support and assistance to its members and serves as a vehicle for them to become involved in the life of the law school and the community. BLSA members participate in minority recruiting, mentor new students, work with minority alumni, and serve on the student/faculty assembly. BLSA members have organized an annual food drive, worked with public school students on law-related projects, served as mentors in a juvenile court program, and participated in the Frederick Douglass Moot Court Competition.
The Brief Brief is a monthly student publication established in 2001 by the Student Bar Association. Its goal is to keep students, faculty and staff informed about events and activities at Green Hall. Each issue generally contains a message from the Dean, articles from faculty or staff and updates on social and academic activities.
The Christian Legal Society is a nationwide organization of judges, lawyers, and law students who have a keen interest in integrating their Christian faith with the legal profession. At KU, the society provides a forum for Bible study, fellowship, and discussion of legal issues from a Christian perspective.
The J. Reuben Clark Law Society is an international organization to promote high moral and professional standards in the legal profession. It emphasizes public service, loyalty, and the need for a religious element in every lawyer's life. Established by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the society is open to all law students.
The Environmental Law Society is an active organization of students interested in public lands, wildlife, energy, natural resources, hazardous and toxic substance regulation, conservation, and recycling. It maintains an environmental archive and organizes participation in the National Environmental Moot Court Competition. ELS invites speakers to the law school, operates a recycling program in Green Hall, and researches and helps write environmental legislation and ordinances.
KU's Federalist Society is a chapter of the national Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies, founded on the principles that (1) the state exists to preserve freedom, (2) separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and (3) it is the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. It fosters discussion and debate about applying conservative and libertarian principles to the law and sponsors lectures.
The Hispanic American Law Student Association furthers the interests of Hispanic law students and promotes the study of law among Hispanic students. It provides a supportive cultural, social, and academic climate for Hispanic law students. The association assist in student recruiting and encourages the hiring of Hispanic faculty and staff. HALSA members are involved in law school and community activities and serve on the student/faculty assembly.
The Intellectual Property Law Student Association (IPSLA) was created to respond to the fast growing interested in intellectual property law. IPSLA is dedicated to promoting this growing field and to creating an awareness of events and resources available to the student body.
The International Law Society is an active chapter of the International Law Students Association. ILS fosters interest in and understanding of international law, comparative law, and international relations. ILS sponsors the Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition each fall. It hosts lectures and presentations on current topics in international law.
The Kansas Tax Society was established in 2005 to help provide better information regarding tax issues and tax education to students interested in tax law. The organization also provides students with opportunities to network and develop relationships with other students and alumni involved in tax issues.
The KU Cyberlaw Society organized in 2006 to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion about the intersection between culture, economics, technology and the law. Members participate in active online discussions.
The law school's chapter of the Native American Law Students Association furthers the interests of members and promotes and supports law study by Native American students and the study of Native American law. NALSA develops cultural awareness, and participates in the decision-making process of the student/faculty assembly. The association is involved in service projects and participates in the activities of the Native American Student Association of the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University.
Non-Traditional Students in Law was formed to assist non-traditional students attain their educational goals. Members provide a peer support network to help one another with the unique challenges often faced by non-traditional students. They provide resources for childcare, childcare scholarships and other financial support. Members also participate in an annual "Cleaning Out Your Closets" event to collect business clothing for working women that can't otherwise afford it.
Phi Alpha Delta is the world's largest legal fraternity, with more than 130,000 members in 50 countries. The Green Chapter at KU provides service to the community and legal profession and provides an opportunity for intellectual and social involvement for students. PAD offers leadership development, alumni contacts, scholarships, loans, group membership discounts, and friendships.
The Public Interest Law Society is made up of law students interested in public service. Some members are preparing for a career in the public sector, legal services, or advocacy organizations; others are simply interested in performing community services while in law school. The society sponsors community service projects and guests speakers who explore the relationship between the law and the interests. It also provides information on public interest jobs and opportunities. PILS is a member of the Equal Justice Works (formerly the national Association of Public Interest Law).
The KU Real Estate Club was formed to promote and facilitate student interest and involvement in commercial and private real estate issues.
The Catholic Law Students organization was founded at the University of Kansas in 1978. Reorganized and renamed the Saint Thomas More Society, it continues to foster spiritual and intellectual growth as well as camaraderie through Catholic speakers, discussions and volunteer work in the community. The group also sponsors an annual symposium
The Sports and Entertainment Law Society provides opportunities for students to develop their interests and expand their knowledge of these fields of practice. It brings speakers to campus and sponsors various other activities.
Student Ambassadors are law students selected to represent and promote the KU law school. They work closely with the director of admissions, assist with many law school functions, meet with prospective students and generally help with recruiting activities.
In a program that may be unique to KU, law students serve the university community and develop litigation skills through participation in the Traffic Court, which handles all appeals from campus parking tickets. First-year students serve as prosecuters or defense counsel, and second-year students serve as judges.
Women in Law serves as an advocate for the interests of women in law school. It encourages enrollment of women in law school and ensures equal employment opportunities for women law students. It sponsors mentor programs for first-year law students and for junior high school girls. It presents and sponsors guest speakers and career forums and maintains an active alumni program.
In addition to law student organizations, students may participate in campus chapters of such organizations as Amnesty International, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Douglas County, Douglas County Rape Victim-Survivor Service, Kansas Special Olympics, Queers & Allies, and St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center. For more information about campus-wide organizations, visit the Student Involvement & Leadership Center section of the KU web site.
