Student Organization Leadership

Manage Your Student Organization

We are deeply grateful for the rich contributions you add to our community! The following page is designed to provide the information you need to execute your group’s goals.

For additional resources & information please access and sign-in to the BU Law Docket!

Frequently Accessed Sites/Forms

    Overview of Student Leadership at BU Law

    The following are the different categories of student leadership at BU Law. Each of these categories is subject to rules and practices based on its unique place in our community.

    Overview Of The Year

    Re-Registration (April-June)

    All formal and informal student organizations are required to register in the BU Law Docket each year.

    Group’s Choice: Summer Planning (June-August)

    Groups must decide how they would like to use the summer. For some groups, summer will be a period of intense planning and setting of group norms. For other groups, leaders are focused on their summer legal work, and cannot devote much time to student organization business. Groups should beware of any deadlines from SGA or the use of donated funds.

    Prepare to Welcome 1Ls (Late August/Early September)

    In late August or early September, student organizations should prepare to welcome and integrate the incoming 1Ls and transfer students.

    Student Affairs hosts a Student Organization Fair. This is typically held on the first Friday afternoon after classes begin. Each group is provided with the opportunity to sign up for a shared table (and can strategize to share with related groups or overlapping leadership). Groups should be prepared to communicate their group’s purpose, potential plans for the year, and begin building their group’s membership roster.

    Fall Event Planning (September-December)

    SGA Grants

    SGA will typically offer a fall grant cycle for events from September through December, and also include grant requests for any events over $1,000. SGA will provide additional guidance on that before school begins.

    Room Reservations

    Room reservations for fall events do not typically open until the week of Orientation or the first week of classes.

    For large events, events requiring contracting with a vendor or location, or atypical events, groups should expect an extended planning timeline. Groups should not spend money until funding is approved, the event is approved, and all processes for funding are followed. Groups seeking to use donated funds must follow any restrictions for use of those funds.

    Spring events (January-May)

    SGA will again offer a spring grant cycle for events from January to May. Room reservations for spring events typically do not open until the week before classes begin. The spring semester typically has many, and more complex, events because of the lead time required to plan these events. Calendaring is especially important to manage this.

    Elections (January/February)

    Elections are typically scheduled for late January or early February. In the past, we have held an “Election Day” to coordinate in person elections, but groups may also plan their own. Detailed guidance on elections is covered on BU Law Docket.

    Welcoming the Next Incoming Students (March)

    Each year, the Admissions office invites student leaders to welcome prospective students during student organization fairs held on admitted students’ days. This offers groups an opportunity to pre-recruit potential members for next year, and to show off all of the wonderful things that student organizations contribute to the BU Law community. Admissions will be in touch well in advance of these events, which typically occur on Friday afternoons in mid- to late-March.

    Training & Transition (April)

    Around mid-April, we will hold a Training & Transition event. This will include some basic training information, but will primarily focus on building your group’s team, and connecting with the outgoing officers to plan an effective transition. Groups have the discretion to transition after this date, but most choose to use the remainder of the semester to shadow leaders, learn about significant events, and begin to connect as a team. Often, groups will make their transition official during re-registration in April.

    Re-Registration (April-June)

    Student organizations will need to re-register their group during this period. Dates and instructions will be announced closer to when the window for re-registration opens.