Student Organizations at Boston University School of Law

BU Law Student Organizations

Reflecting the diverse interests of our students, the School of Law supports more than 30 student organizations. Getting involved in organizations is a great way to meet your fellow students as well as alumni and other legal professionals, and to participate in programs aimed at increasing your knowledge in specific areas of the law. Following is a listing of the student organizations at the School of Law. To learn more, contact the organization directly or contact the Student Affairs Office.

Unless indicated all the organizations below are active in the current academic year.

American Constitution Society

The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) is one of the nation's leading progressive legal organizations. Founded in 2001, ACS is a rapidly growing network of lawyers, law students, scholars, judges, policymakers and other concerned individuals. Our 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 American law.

The Boston University chapter of ACS brings dynamic, progressive speakers to the School and offers students networking opportunities with local, like-minded lawyers and students. For more information, please email: busl.acs@gmail.com

Visit student-run American Constitution Society Web site
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Art Law Society

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Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA)

APALSA’S mission is to bring to light issues facing the Asian American community to help establish a balance between it and mainstream society. In so doing, APALSA hopes to help its members define their roles not only in the legal community, but in the larger community as well. APALSA accomplishes these goals by sponsoring social activities for its members, as well as networking opportunities within BU Law and beyond. For example, its networking events include a mentor program (both with upperclass students and with practicing attorneys) and alumni events. Also, BU APALSA cofounded a coalition of Boston-area APALSA groups and has strong ties with the Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts(AALAM), APALSA’s professional counterpart. Its community activities have included participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) and a volunteer divorce clinic.

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Black Law Student Association

A member of the National Black Law Student Association, this organization serves to promote awareness of race and relationship issues in the American legal system. BLSA is committed to volunteering in the African-American community. Their Annual Alumni Dinner and Awards Ceremony attracts African American graduates from considerable distances who want to maintain contacts with faculty and friends. In the fall of every year, the Black Law Student Association has a faculty/student dinner and an annual Kwanzaa event, and in the spring, they organize various events for Black History Month. BLSA also participates in Fredrick Douglass moot court, the moot court for the National Black Law Student Association.

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BU Law Foodies

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Business Law Society

The Business Law Society provides students with the opportunity to pursue their interest in business law beyond the classroom. We host networking and speaking events aimed at bringing successful professionals to the law school. We seek out opportunities to provide basic business law services in the community. We promote interaction and networking between various student groups and schools. 

Visit student-run Business Law Society Web site
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China Law Society

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Communication, Entertainment, and Sports Law Association

This organization sponsors lectures by experts in the field of communication, entertainment, and sports law; maintains a library of relevant periodicals; and fosters contacts with Boston-area professionals who are available to answer questions about work in this field.

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Education and School Law Association

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Environmental and Energy Law Association

This organization sponsors lectures, seminars and field trips related to environmental law issues, and links students to practitioners in the field. They also coordinate the School's white paper recycling program, as well as community service activities with Boston-area environmental groups.

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Federalist Society

This national organization is a group of libertarians and conservatives who are interested in the current state of the legal order. It is founded on the principles that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be.

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Health Law Association

This group invites guest lecturers and organizes discussions related to issues in the health law arena.

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Human Rights Law Society

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Immigration Law and Policy Society

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Intellectual Property Law Society

Visit student-run Intellectual Property Law Society Web site
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International Law Society

The International Law Society (ILS) promotes awareness of global events and a greater understanding of diverse legal cultures and their role in the world today. ILS sponsors a variety of events throughout the year to bring students, faculty, law professionals and other interested people together to learn more about this important area of law. In the past, speakers have included faculty members, government experts and visiting scholars with particular areas of expertise. Events range from language tables, sponsored film series, hosted seminars, luncheons and round table discussions on issues of international concern. Such social activities and speakers encourage cultural exchange and vibrant academic discussion about this exciting field of law. For more information, contact us.

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J. Reuben Clark Law Society

The J. Reuben Clark Law Society seeks to affirm the strength brought to the law by a lawyer's personal religious conviction. It also strives through public service and professional excellence to promote fairness and virtue founded upon the rule of law.

Many of those who participate are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but members of all faiths are welcome. For more information, please write to JRCLS@bu.edu.

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Jewish Law Student Association

The Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA) is an organization working with Jewish students at BU School of Law to help them achieve their social, cultural, religious, and professional networking goals. This group holds events roughly once a month, and is open to all students and alumni, giving all an opportunity to connect on a personal level and learn more about modern Judaism in law and society. For more information on how to get involved, please e-mail jlsabu@gmail.com.

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Latin American Law Student Association

Open to all School of Law students, this group seeks to enhance camaraderie and to ensure a cultural society responsive to the needs of Latino American law students.

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Law Christian Fellowship

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Law Students for Reproductive Justice

Law Students for Reproductive Justice is committed to educating, organizing, and supporting pro-choice law students to ensure that a new generation of lawyers will be prepared to successfully defend and expand reproductive rights. As part of a national organization, the BU chapter of Law Students for Reproductive Justice organizes with other law schools and pro-choice organizations to bring attention to the issue. In the past, LSFC has hosted speakers, volunteered at pro-choice facilities, sent student representatives to national conventions and trainings and facilitated discussions on a myriad of issues affecting reproductive rights. For more information please visit Law Students for Reproductive Justice.

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Legal Follies

This annual variety show is written, performed and produced by law students to remind their friends and professors of the humorous side of law school and their chosen profession.

For more information email us at follies@bu.edu.

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Muslim Law Students Association

The purpose of MLSA is to provide an accessible resource to Boston University School of Law students and faculty on Islam and Muslims in order to educate and promote tolerance and understanding on campus. The MLSA is open to all law students and seeks to address issues concerning Islamic Law, Muslims in the United States, and the Islamic Tradition.

For more information, please email this group at BUMLSA@gmail.com.

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National Lawyers Guild

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National Security Law Society

The National Security Law Society (NSLS) at Boston University School of Law strives to create an effective, non-partisan forum for informed discourse on U.S. national security policy and foreign affairs. Our mission is to foster interest in, and understanding of, the legal aspects and ramifications of national security by sponsoring speakers and programs concerning the many issues covered by this umbrella; to aid members in their pursuits of careers in these fields; and to contribute to the development of national security law.

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Native American Law Students Association

Visit student-run Native American Law Students Association Web site
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OutLaw

OutLaw is Boston University School of Law's student group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied students. OutLaw provides leadership and educational opportunities and strives to connect Boston University School of Law to the GLBT legal community. This year, we're looking forward to continuing where we left off last year with the "Defining Equality" lecture series, in which we examined all aspects of the rights of GLBT people in Massachusetts. We're also excited this year to hold events with other GLBT law student groups in Boston. We hope you'll join us.

Visit student-run OutLaw Web site
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OWLS (Older Wiser Law Students)

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Phi Alpha Delta

Phi Alpha Delta is a professional law fraternity composed of law students, attorneys, judges and educators. Phi Alpha Delta is dedicated to promoting professional competency, service and achievement within the legal profession. P.A.D. sponsors professional, social, academic and community service programs designed to broaden the professional experience of its members.

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Public Interest Project

This organization focuses most of its activities on raising funds to provide fellowships to first- and second-year students who work in summer public-interest jobs. It sponsors the Annual Public Interest Auction, one of the most popular events in the School of Law calendar.

>>More information

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Running Club

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Scotch Club

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Shelter Legal Services

Boston University School of Law's Shelter Legal Services is a student group that supplements the work of our parent group, Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc. Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc. increases access to quality, pro bono legal services for the poor. Since 1991, Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc. has combined the volunteer efforts of law students and attorneys to represent and advise more than 3,800 homeless and poor people. Shelter Legal Services Foundation, Inc. now includes student volunteers from Boston College Law School, Boston University School of Law, New England School of Law and Suffolk Law School. We hold weekly legal clinics at two Boston shelters and three Cambridge locations. Student volunteers, with the assistance of attorneys, staff the weekly legal clinics, advise clients and advocate in courts and administrative agencies throughout the Commonwealth.

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Softball

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South Asian Law Students Association

This organization promotes the professional development and cultural needs of its members, increases awareness of South Asian culture throughout the BU Law community, and maintains affiliations with the Boston-area South Asian legal community.

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Student Government Association

As the student government of the School of Law, administered by an elected Board of Governors, this organization represents the student voice in Law School affairs and sponsors several social events during the year.

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Women's Law Association

The mission of the BU Law Women's Law Association (WLA) is to promote a recognition and understanding of the unique contributions and the position of women in the law school setting, the legal community at large and the global community in general.

In accordance with that mission, the Women's Law Association facilitates communication and discourse on legal issues concerning women, and strives to improve student life for female law students through speakers/panel events, volunteer activities, as well as informal social gatherings with BU Law administration, faculty, alumnae and student mentors.

All individuals at BU Law are welcome to participate in WLA activities and programs. Visit our Web site for our up-to-date calendar and please join us at one of the upcoming events. Feel free to stop by our office in the Sadie Lipner Schulman Women's Lounge on the second floor of the law school or contact us at wlabu@bu.edu.

Visit student-run Women's Law Association Web site
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